Suggestions for Patriots watching in LA...

(Chris Forsberg / Globe Staff) Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica, Calif. is a popular Boston bar.

In the June 24 Patriots mailbag, the following question was posed from Imran of Waltham, Mass.:

“I was wondering if there is any equivalent to "MLBTV" (the internet source to watch MLB games) for the NFL? I'm going to be in LA for school and I was hoping there is some way to watch Patriots games outside of buying NFL Sunday Ticket. Thanks for the help.”

Fellow readers have stepped forward with some assistance…

In response to the Imran from Waltham question about watching games in LA:

The best Boston bars in LA (no specific order):

• Sonny McLean's (Santa Monica)
• Fat Face Fenner's Fish Shack (Hermosa Beach)
• The Poop Deck (Hermosa Beach)

I don't believe they charge a cover and are full of die-hard NE fans ... myself included.
Josh, Hermosa Beach

In response to a question on how to view Patriots games (or any NFL games) without getting Sunday ticket here is the answer: Go to www.sopcast.com and just sign-up. It's a free service and simply provides a webcast of all local TV broadcast channels in the USA and many abroad, so you can tune into any game. It's free and legal as they are only webcasting the broadcast complete with the local commercials ect. Enjoy!
Steve, Sharon

This is special to Imran from Waltham, who wanted to watch the Pats on TV here in L.A. this season. THE Boston sports place is Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica on Wilshire Boulevard. The owner, Jimmy, is from Mass, as are many of the staff.
Anthony, Los Angeles

Though I live in Plano, TX currently, I wanted to reply to Imram about watching Patriots games while in Los Angeles as I used to live there. There are actually numerous places that he can go to watch the games on Sundays. Depending on where Imram is in "Los Angeles", he could head up to Santa Monica to Sonny McClean's. If he's in Anaheim, there is the National Sports Bar or if he's closer to the Orange County Spectrum, there is a group that meets at the Fox Sports Grill. One last word, the Patriots Web Site, at one point, had Patriots' fan clubs register with them. I'm not sure if they still have that or not, but those are just a few suggestions. I know that there are at least 2 Pats fan clubs in Orange County (they are sister clubs), but maybe the Pats web site will help Imram out even more. Go Pats.
Jeremy, Texas

This is in response to the reader who wanted to know if the NFL had an MLBTV equivalent for out of market games. The answer is no. You can listen to games on the radio for a fee with Field Pass at NFL.com but the only way you can watch them is on DirectTV Sunday ticket. Just go to a sports bar.
Leslie Fenn, New Mexico

In regards to Imran from Waltham's question about watching Patriot Games in LA, tell him to find a sports bar and go watch the games there. Most sports bars show all NFL games each and every week and I'm sure LA is no exception.
Larry

To help out Imran from Waltham in your last mailbag...

I'm currently in San Francisco. I've found that most sports bars open up at 9:30-10 a.m. to cater to the football crowd. I've even watched a game at 7 a.m. in Hawaii using a bar's Season Ticket. There's usually one or more in every city. Sonny McLean's in LA is perhaps the best known Boston sports hub west of the Mississippi (http://www.sonnymcleans.com/).

I suggest he join Yahoo Patriots Group or the Meetup.com website. Both of them have great communities of Boston Sports fans in LA. It's a great way to meet people when you move 3000 miles.

Lastly, he might want to embrace the situation like I have. It might be easier to get Chargers/Patriots tickets in San Diego than any game in Foxborough (or mabye not due to SD's success). I had good luck picking up 49ers/Patriots and Raiders/Patriots tickets. It would be a bit of a road trip for him in LA, but perhaps something to think about.
Brian

One reader asked this week about whether the NFL has a way to follow your team out of market, like MLBTV. Until something better comes along, you can listen to the radio broadcasts at NFL.com for a reasonable price, something like 15 dollars a year I believe. Last year we didn't need it because all but two weeks were on national TV. Hope this helps.
Michael, North Carolina

Mike: One reader asked about whether there was an MLBTV equivalent for the NFL. The only way I can think of for him or her to get to see Pats games over the Internet is from channelsurfing.net. During the regular season, you can select which game(s) you want to see on your computer. The quality is not as great as a regular TV and video is smaller, but it may be good enough for that person.
TommyBrady12

There was a mailbagger asking about Pats games. SONNY MCLEANS!!! Wilshire and 26st in Santa Monica. Home away from Home. saw the trophy there in 2004 and 2 other Pats titles. I was there every Friday night and Sunday for 3 years. It was my home.
Josh, Boston

I've been living out of state for a few years. I think the best way to watch Patriots games that aren't nationally televised is to find a Patriots fan club in your area.
Emily, California

Buy a Slingbox ... about $100 at any Best Buy or Circuit City. Hook it up at your New England area (parents) home to your cable and internet and you can watch all your local TV, including all Boston Sports, on any computer, anywhere in the world. There are no subscription fees and blackouts would only occur if a Pats home game doesn't sell out (yeah, right!) Best entertainment $$ I have ever spent!
Don, Los Angeles

NFL Sunday ticket is now available on your PC. I'm so excited. Check it out here
Kari, Boston

Hey Mike,

This is to answer a previous reader's question on how to watch games when away from New England. I have gone to school in Maryland and am spending this football season in London, and I have never missed a game. The cheapest option I have found is to purchase Slingbox for about $250, which allows you to stream live TV from your home to your laptop anywhere in the world for that one time fee. Pretty much the only other way is to buy Sunday Ticket and get it on your computer, or go to a sports bar every weekend. Always glad to help out other fans!
Aaron, Maryland

Hey Mike, just touching on a question a reader sent it last mailbag. If you're going to be away from home (for school, business, etc) and still want to catch the Pats games, I'd suggest buying a Slingbox. I use it down at school in PA and it allows you to watch any of your local channels from back home on your computer. Costs about $130 if I remember correctly, but you can use it for any TV show you want to watch from back home that aren't showing in the area you're temporarily living in.
Graham, Manchester, N.H.

Mike, a reader asked about watching Pats games in LA. As I travel there frequently, I know the Marriott Hotel sports bar on Century Blvd., just outside LAX shows all the games. There are about 40 or so TVs scattered throughout the room. It's always been a very cool atmosphere when I've been there. Nobody gets out of hand. And the serving staff and bartenders don't grind you to keep buying food or drinks. I've eaten breakfast and lunch there, during games and I've also just ordered a club soda and lime. And while there's a good crowd there, it's never overrun. You can always get a seat. The doors open at 9:55 am PDT for the East Coast games. And they immediately go to the 1 pm (4 pm EST) upon conclusion of the earlier games.
Paul, Chelsea