(smartshanghai.com)
Updated: 2008-05-04 11:49

A great man once said: "Football is not about life and death: it's much more important than that." Truer words were never spoken, and with the dramatic finishes to all the domestic European football leagues, and the European Football Championship just around the corner, you're going to need a good pub to watch the all action in.

Add to that the ongoing NBA and NHL playoffs, and a slew of other sporting events large and small, and you're in for an action-packed summer. Here's a run-down of the main sports bars in town, and their essential stats:

**Big Bamboo

These guys are deadly serious about their sport. Not only do they sponsor various sports teams around the city, they also have three of the best sports bars in town, with their flagship venue located on Nan Yang road -- just a stones throw from Tong Ren road. With wall-to-wall football -- even obscure Japanese teams get an airing here -- football fans treat this bar as a home from home. The place has more of a European edge to it (compared to Malone's) with a darker and dingier feel that serious sports fans will appreciate. Unlike the other bars that close by 2am, or claim to stay open past their bedtime, Big Bamboo has promised to show ALL the remaining Champions League games, and, EVERY single Euro match. Not sure you can really ask for more than that.

Also expect Big Bamboo to host the NHL finals. Ever seen a drunken bar fight at 9am that spills out into the street where locals are biking to work? There is nary a more beautiful thing.

Stats: 16 TVs and a large projector, 2 pool tables (Monday league), 4 dartboards (Wednesday and Thursday nights), 1 foosball table, and an air hockey table.

Match-day attire: Manchester United football strip

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