Gone are the days of free company tickets to see the Cavaliers in action. But even if you can't afford primo seats to Tuesday's game against the Seattle Supersonics, you can be close to the action at any of Gateway's now-burgeoning bars. Here are some of the best viewing options:
Screen Team: Phil the Fire (724 Prospect Avenue; 216-566-7685) has four 50-inch, state-of-the-art plasma screens. It also offers wireless internet access, so you can track LeBron's shot chart on ESPN.com. Some nights, you might catch a glimpse of old-school Cavaliers hanging around the new-school premises.
Star Sighting: On game night, Alice Cooper'stown (2217 East Ninth Street; 216-566-8100) offers $2 drafts and appetizers, and 50 TVs are tuned to Gund-style action. Judging by the celebs who've signed its walls (from Browns and Indians to actress Monica Potter, a Cleveland native), it's pretty popular with famous folk.
Harvestin' Time: With 40 beers on tap and 10 screens tuned to the game, the Boneyard Beer Farm (746 Prospect Avenue; 216-575-0226) has plenty of cheap brews to drown away the agony of defeat. Free peanuts fuel the thirst. -- Matt Leavitt
Muscle Tussle
College wrestlers grapple.
1/16-1/18
More than 1,000 wrestlers from the country's best collegiate teams hit the mats this weekend at the National Dual Meet Championships. The participants in the 48-school field -- including host Cleveland State -- were invited to the tournament based on their rankings from last year's NCAA championships. The meet also features matches between four junior colleges, 10 high schools, and two women's teams. "People in Northeast Ohio are going to get the best collegiate wrestling right in front of them," says CSU coach Jack Effner. The action happens at 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. Sunday at the CSU Convocation Center, 2000 Prospect Avenue. Daily admission is $5 to $12, three-day passes are $20 to $24; call 216-621-0600. -- Cris Glaser
