To satisfy the pleas of their European-born customers and neighborhood regulars alike, Alex Gleason and John Robson have hooked up two wide-screen televisions to air rugby and soccer games on the Setanta Pub Channel.
Since January, the Old Angle Tavern managers have kept the TVs locked onto the Irish-based sports network, which airs daily at their Ohio City pub. The response has been as rowdy as, well, a European soccer match. "It's the difference between those who really care about rugby and soccer, and those who are just curious," says Gleason.
Because of the time difference between Europe and the midwest, most games are reruns from the day before. If a barful of fans is willing to pay for a live telecast on pay-per-view, the pub needs two days' notice. But beware: The price tag could run between $400 and $1,500 per match. "We'll certainly cover a bit of it," says Robson. "We don't necessarily need everybody in here to cover the entire cost. Just drink some beers." The channel is on from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Old Angle Tavern, 1848 West 25th Street. Admission is free; call 216-861-5643. -- Cris Glaser
Holiday Haul
Salute the Fourth with a run.
MON 7/4
The Cleveland West Road Runners Club is celebrating the 31st year of getting up early to work up a sweat on a day off. Bay Days 5-Mile Run and Kids' 1-Mile Fun Run, happening on the Fourth of July, is one of the oldest and most popular annual footraces on the West Side. "We are known among runners as being a very competitive race," says spokesman Greg Goray. "And we are known among families as being a family-oriented, community-oriented race." Each kid who participates gets a medallion, and the first 500 entrants receive a "high-tech singlet," which is just a fancy way of saying they get a sleeveless T-shirt made out of lightweight fabric. Races start at 8:30 a.m. at Bay Village High School, 29230 Wolf Road in Bay Village. Registration is $18. Visit www.cwrrc.org for more info. -- Lucy McKernan
