Vegas "Madness" and Cactus Capers!

We know that a lot of sports fans (more specifically, diehard football fans) go through heavy-duty withdrawal pains when the NFL season concludes. The post-Super Bowl blues are certainly common among gridiron faithful, many of whom immediately begin digesting the bounds of available information on the upcoming NFL Draft, and others even adopting the Arena Football League and NFL Europa (nee NFL Europe) to satisfy their pigskin cravings in the spring and summer months.

But we’re here to remind sports fans that life doesn’t have to stop after the Super Bowl. There’s plenty of action to keep true connoisseurs of sport interested. And we think March might be the best month of them all.

It’s no secret that we at TGS enjoy the month of March like no other. Sports fans know what we’re talking about. With college hoops building up to its “March Madness” crescendo, the NBA campaign turning into the home stretch, and the first itch of the upcoming Major League Baseball season, it’s no wonder we can’t wait for this particular month every year. Not to mention other sports as well, with the Stanley Cup playoffs looming for NHL fans, the PGA Tour building momentum for the Masters in early April, horse racing fans getting their fixes with the tuneup races for the Triple Crown, and auto racing enthusiasts getting their fixes almost every week from NASCAR and other major events.

And some of us at TGS really get a bigger kick out of March than others!

To give you an idea of what we like to attend and absorb in our favorite month, we’ll provide a little March travelogue that every sports enthusiast ought to appreciate.

We know many of our readers don’t need an excuse to go to Las Vegas. The color, excitement, and action of the city are too much to turn down. At the same time, we know a few others that look for excuses to stay away from “the new” Las Vegas, reckoning that it has grown to the point where it has lost the charm and intimacy it once enjoyed.

And we agree with the latter, to a point. If there’s one thing Las Vegas doesn’t have much of anymore, it’s charm and intimacy. The new mega-casinos can be an assault on one’s senses. Although we can also understand how some of the “we love Vegas” folks can get a rush from the hullabaloo as well.

Whatever. But diehard sports fans have a unique opportunity to experience a full basketball buffet in Las Vegas during March. And we have long believed there is no better time for basketball junkies to visit Sin City than in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Personally, we’ve been doing the March Madness Vegas thing for the past 19 seasons. For a while, it almost seemed like our own little secret, until word got out that this was indeed an experience like no other for hoop addicts.

In short, here’s the deal. It’s a chance to see all of the NCAA Tournament action, right in front of you, at any sports book. Banks of TV sets cover each game, which is a nice thing with four of those battles usually going on at the same time. Better yet, there’s the chance to wager on all of the action, too. We know that once we began to frequent Las Vegas during March Madness, we wondered what took us so long to figure out this was the best place to watch the first rounds of the tournament.

In subsequent years, however, we have witnessed March Mayhem in Vegas becoming a ritual for legions of hoop fans. We have also noticed how, like sheep in a herd, many have followed the pack and flocked to the biggest sports books in town, most of those on the famous Strip. To those poor souls (of whom we really have some empathy), we’re going to offer own own advice for experiencing the Big Dance in Vegas, non-Strip style.

Before experiencing the fun of watching the NCAA Tournament in Las Vegas, fans have to get to town. And the good news is that for those who wish to fly in, the busy and ever-expanding McCarran Airport is doing its best to handle the overflow traffic.

Those who remember the early versions of McCarran in the 1960s wouldn’t recognize the place today. The few “satellite” buildings that made up the bulk of the airport 40 years ago are still in use in 2007 (mostly housing the America West/US Airways traffic), but they are almost lost in the many waves of construction that have consumed the airport since. McCarran has indeed become a “super” airport, and it has done a better job accommodating the demands of present-day air travel than most of the other airports that have gone through their own expansions in the last 10-20 years. McCarran does its best to move the hordes through the security lines and screening areas, and in this regard is light years ahead of other airports we know that simply don’t have the room to funnel the traffic through the new demands of airport security.

Like any airport, however, there are times when the passenger volume is so high at McCarran that it nonetheless strains to handle the load. Which is one reason that officials in Las Vegas have been talking about building a new super regional airport about 25 miles southwest of town, near Jean and the present-day Gold Strike Hotel, which would connect to the city via high-speed rail.

With travelers continuing to frequent Vegas in ever-increasing numbers, the day will come when McCarran simply won’t be able to handle the demand. But for the time being, at least, don’t be deterred by seeing hordes of fellow travelers at the airport. This facility does as good a job as possible at getting the passengers in and out of the facility as any in the country. The lines move pretty fast at McCarran, especially at the newer C (Southwest Airlines) and D (Delta, United, Northwest) terminals.

Here’s a tip that might save some aggravation at McCarran, however. At certain peak travel times (which can happen almost any hour in Las Vegas), the airport queue for taxis can become unbearable. When we were in town last week, the wait for a taxi at McCarran was almost two hours. (Talk about souring a trip before it begins!) Depending upon your plans, renting a car might not be a bad idea. Although finding bargains at the better hotels around town is mostly a thing of the past, rental car agencies are still involved in healthy competition with one another. If you can find a rate around $20 per day for a compact (and those rates can be had), you might end up saving money compared to the taxi trips you might make during your stay. Plus, you’ll have the convenience of your own car.

(The one caution in Vegas is to ignore the temptation to rent from National/Alamo, simply because its facility is terribly inconvenient, being way too far from the airport; most of the other “majors,” plus Thrifty, are a much closer ride from the terminal.) Enough about McCarran Airport and the taxis vs. rental car debate. How about the best places to stay and watch the games?

We suppose this decision is going to depend a lot upon the tastes of the traveler. We don’t begrudge anyone for preferring the finer things Las Vegas has to offer, which means one of the several higher-end hotels on the Strip. But there are other options...even if some unsuspecting travelers don’t know any better. Yet is surprises us no end that hoop fanatics continue to flock the mega “name” hotels on the strip, such as Caesar’s Palace (left), the Mirage, the Wynn, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM, Bally’s, or the nearby Las Vegas Hilton and its “Super Book” a few blocks from the Strip. Those hotels are all spectacular, and their race and sports books superb, but watching a full day of hoops at one of those books would be about as pleasant as enduring the notorious desert turbulence on a flight into McCarran.

That’s because there’s little or no room at any of those places during March Madness!

Indeed, we’re flummoxed when we talk to sports travelers who boast of getting to one of those aforementioned books by 6:30 AM or sooner on game days, simply to claim a rare seat at one of those sports books as if they were Duke students camping out in “Krzyzewskiville” waiting for a prized ticket to a Blue Devils home basketball game. Sorry, but we don’t see the pleasure in any of that (the sports book part, that is) when far better hoop viewing options exist.

We have spent the last two decades searching out the best places to watch March Madness in Las Vegas, and can say unequivocally that the Strip is the last place we’d go to watch the games. Not only are the sports books too crowded, but the Strip itself has become something of a zoo, with crushing traffic making even a short journey seem like an endless adventure. And even when arriving at your destination, often-uncomfortable parking arrangements add another layer of headache to the whole enterprise. Stay away from the Strip!

There are better off-Strip options, including the Orleans Hotel, which sets up TV monitors in a ballroom and brings in portable betting kiosks to handle wagers, and old “Glitter Gulch” downtown, which retains whatever charm is left of old Las Vegas and is usually much less crowded than the often-suffocating Strip. The downtown sports books, however, are generally much smaller than those on the Strip and other outlying locales, so if hoop watching and wagering is your main focus in March, downtown is hardly the best alternative, either.

For several years, we instead located a diamond in the rough out on Boulder Highway, not far from UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium (nee Silver Bowl) on the way to Hoover Dam. Sam’s Town, refurbished and expanded multiple times in the last 20 years, has a worthy sports book to handle the increased crowds of March Madness, and it’s a better and more comfy viewing option than the Strip hotels. But that stretch of Boulder Highway is hardly the choicest real estate in town. Boulder Highway is a large, awkward thoroughfare, and many of the the establishments near Sam’s Town are off the beaten track for a good reason. Sam’s Town has its virtues, but it’s not the place we recommend above all others.

That distinction would belong to Henderson’s Sunset Station! Those who don’t know anything about Vegas other than McCarran Airport and the Strip might be surprised to find out that the city and encompassing Clark County are growing at an exponential rate. The population of the metro area increased 83% between 1990 and 2000 (from roughly 850,000 to 1.5 million) and will approach 2 million by the 2010 census. New development extends in almost every direction. And one of the best (and most convenient) outlying areas is in Henderson/Green Valley, not too far from the airport yet far enough away from the Strip to be in a different world.

And Sunset Station has some amenities that even the Strip hotels can’t touch.

First, access is easy, as despite its own rampant expansion, Sunset Station remains a convenient place. From McCarran, the hotel is no more than 15 minutes away via the relatively new I-215 (toward Henderson). At the Stephanie exit, head north for about a mile and a half, and the hotel tower will quickly be in full view. Ingress and egress is enhanced by the major streets that border the hotel complex (Sunset and Stephanie Roads), plus plenty of convenient parking. There is also a major shopping mall (Henderson Mall) directly across Sunset Road from the hotel, and a variety of other establishments surround the hotel as well, including major supermarkets, a variety of chain restaurants, fast foods, and book stores. One of the nicest Borders bookstores in the country is adjacent to Sunset Station at the Sunset-Stephanie intersection, and a big Barnes and Noble is also adjacent. There is literally every shopping and eating option imaginable a short walk from the hotel.

And the modern hotel isn’t bad itself. Rooms are comfortable and fairly priced (especially compared with the overheated Strip). As one of the flagships of the “Station” chain, the Sunset Station features a Spain-oriented theme, yet maintains a lot of distinctly American touches. Such as the new Hooters Restaurant, adjacent to the sports book, not to mention Fatburger, Sbarro, Quizno’s, Panda Express, and a large NY Deli all just a few steps from the race and sports book. And there's also the obligatory buffet (with dinner prices as low as $10.99, a relative bargain in town) and a few other restaurants to make sure no one ever goes hungry on the premises.

But it’s the sports book that is the real attraction during March Madness. We’ve seen most of them in town during this busy week, and we continue returning to the Sunset Station.

The main reason? Comfort! And we don't mean comfort like those two in the photo at left. The Sunset Station race and sports book is immense, yet retains some semblance of intimacy, and no matter how crowded it becomes, it never seems as if you’re bumping into fellow customers, as is often the case on the overdone Strip versions.

Indeed, there’s room at Sunset Station’s sports book to stretch out, not only on the race book side, but on the sports side as well. We’re not sure if there’s a sports book anywhere in town that gets more equal billing with the horse race side of things as it does at the Sunset Station. One doesn’t have to worry about their seat being taken when they get up to make a bet, or getting something to eat, either. There will always be a comfortable place to sit and watch the games, which appear on multiple big and smaller screens canvassing the sports half of the book, creating a more intimate feel. There are plenty of betting windows open, too, and only during the rush right before tipoff is there any sort of wait in the lines. Even then, you can usually make your bet within 2 minutes of getting into the queue. And with almost any food option literally a few steps away, for twelve or so hours of watching basketball, especially during the first two days of the NCAA Tournament (Thursday and Friday), can there be a better place to enjoy all of the action? So next year, when thinking about doing Las Vegas for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, resist the temptation to follow the pack and endure a miserable experience at the sports books of Caesar’s Palace, the Mirage, or some of the other “biggies” on the Strip. Forget about explaining to your friends that you went out to pleasant Henderson and the Sunset Station instead. Just go and enjoy yourself. You’ll be glad you did!

March also means baseball is around the corner, and hardcore fans have long appreciated the nuances of spring training. And the Phoenix area is a mecca for spring baseball. But much like the March Madness experience in Las Vegas, that “secret” is now out of the bag, too. Major League teams continue to set spring attendance records, and this year’s Cactus League in Arizona is set to exceed one million fans.

We’ve become something of experts on the Cactus League the past few years, but, like March Madness in Las Vegas, we think there are a few warnings that need to be heeded. First of all, travel to Phoenix (or Tucson). Thanks to Southwest Airlines and US Airways/America West, there are no shortage of flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor International, suddenly one of the biggest and busiest airports in the country. Much like Las Vegas, the Valley of the Sun has undergone its own growth spurt, with the difference being that Phoenix was much bigger to begin with, and the Valley now swells with a few million more residents than Vegas. The Valley more than doubled in size between 1980 and 2000 (from 1.5 million inhabitants to over 3 million), and estimates now have the population above 4 million. Phoenix proper is now over 1.3 million residents. By the next census in 2010, the Valley population might exceed five million inhabitants, with the burgeoning illegal immigrant influx likely pushing the “real” numbers even higher.

So, it’s a busy place.

But unlike McCarran, Sky Harbor, as big as it has become, can more easily strain under the masses. More unwieldy than McCarran, Sky Harbor has not been able to adjust as easily to the new security demands at U.S. airports. Thus, long lines at the security checkpoints (right) are commonplace, because there simply isn’t the room necessary to bring in enough metal detectors to make the queue move more quickly in “rush” hour. So give yourself some extra time, especially when leaving from Sky Harbor. You might have a bit of a wait before you get to your gate.

Also, allot some extra time for the new and supposedly “improved” rental car monstrosity that’s been constructed west of the airport. No longer are customers able to do the paperwork for their car rentals adjacent to baggage claim; instead, everyone piles into buses which move passengers to a massive complex a couple of miles west of the airport. And there’s no more “dropping off” at your car, either, as everyone is funneled through the massive rental car terminal. This is a bugaboo for many seasoned travelers who usually prefer rental cars right on the airport premises, instead of the mandatory off-site shuttle rides. The whole process adds at least another half hour (above normal car rental time) both picking up and dropping off your vehicle. Again, plan your time accordingly at Sky Harbor. As well as making sure to reserve your rental car with plenty of time to spare. Unlike Las Vegas, Phoenix rental car prices in the winter and early spring months tend to be higher...a lot higher. If you can rent a car at all, that is. It is not uncommon for last-minute travelers to be shut out of airport car rental reservations entirely, forced to scrap instead for a few remaining rentals at gouge prices (we noticed Enterprise charging an unholy $99 per day before taxes and fees last week, and that was all that was available). So plan your trip wisely, and in advance.

Another unfortunate reality of present-day Phoenix is the traffic mess. The Valley had longed lagged behind the times in freeway construction; the main east-west artery, I-10, stopped short of downtown for years before picking up southeast of town, and for a long while the only other freeway was the curious “Superstition Freeway” (US 60) east from downtown through Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. Car trips to Scottsdale, east and north of downtown, were arduous in those days, and most of the western suburbs were undeveloped because access was so poor. In recent years, the completion of north-south arteries I-17 and AZ-51 have eased some of the traffic from the north, and the newer AZ-101 freeway is a sort of semi-circle that acts as a half-beltway around the northern half of the Valley, making access to Scottsdale a lot easier on the east side and allowing it to connect, albeit arduously, with points north and west, looping around the metropolis to met I-10 west of downtown in Glendale, adjacent to the sparkling new home of the football Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium) and the adjacent Glendale Arena, home of Wayne Gretzky’s Phoenix Coyotes. The new Red Mountain Freeway hugs the Salt River from the eastern-most parts of the big suburb of Mesa, winding past Arizona State University and Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe before intersecting with I-10 near Sky Harbor.

Although the advent of these new freeways has only slightly alleviated the sluggish traffic (thanks to the influx of new residents), it has opened up development of new suburbs to the north and west. Places such as east-lying Fountain Hills are now within reach, while northern-lying suburbs such as Carefree, Cave Creek and Anthem have also sprung up in the last decade thanks to highway 101. To the northwest, cities such as Peoria and Surprise are now within easier reach because of 101, while developments even further west at Goodyear, Estrella Ranch, and Buckeye are suddenly filling in as well. Luke Air Force base, once almost alone in the western portion of a western suburb along I-10, Litchfield Park, is now surrounded by new homes and other developments.

And some of those newer suburbs have become the hot new outposts for spring training baseball.

Of course, there remain some long-term spring training venues still is use in the Valley, most of those on the eastern side. Nearby Sky Harbor is Phoenix Municipal Stadium, once the home of the AAA Firebirds and Giants spring training but now the spring home of the Oakland Athletics. A few minutes away, just south of Sky Harbor and adjacent to I-10, is Tempe Diablo Stadium, now the spring home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after serving as the first spring base of the Seattle Mariners from their first spring of 1977 into the mid ‘90s. The Chicago Cubs now make their spring home at Ho-Ho Kam Park in Mesa (right; at one time the spring home of the A’s during Charlie Finley’s years), about 15 minutes due east from ASU and nearby the new Red Mountain Freeway. Not far away in a rather posh portion of Scottsdale is the “new” Scottsdale Stadium, spring home since 1992 of the San Francisco Giants. The “old” Scottsdale Stadium, which housed the Cubs in springtime during the ‘70s and ‘80s, was a wooden relic that looked as if it had been leftover from the old west days, and the “new” stadium is a comfy improvement.

But it’s in those western suburbs where the new expansion has really taken place. Due west of downtown Phoenix on I-10, about a mile and a half north at the 51st Street exit, is the Maryvale home of the Milwaukee Brewers, who have bounced around the Valley quite a bit since their birth as the Seattle Pilots in 1969. For years the Pilots/Brewers made their spring home in the west-side suburb of Sun City, a Del Webb-created haven for retirees, before moving across the Valley to southeast suburb Chandler in the mid ‘80s. In the late ‘90s, however, the Brewers were enticed back to a western suburb in Maryvale, where its pleasant facility is in contrast to one of the few older neighborhoods in the Valley.

But the big changes in the Cactus League have been happening further to the west. In the late ‘90s, the Mariners and San Diego Padres moved into a spanking new shared facility in Peoria (left), with plenty of space for both teams to conduct their spring affairs while a cluster of new hotels and restaurants sprouted across the street. Peoria is indeed something of a Cactus League heaven, with games featuring either the Mariners or Padres almost every day, and the wide array of accommodations and eateries basically across the street. It was here at the comfy Hampton Inn that we made our home for our Cactus League visit last week. Another 20 minutes further west is the dazzling Surprise complex, spring home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. Both were lured to Surprise in 2003, leaving their longtime Florida spring roots in the process. The baseball facility in Surprise might be the nicest of them all in the Valley, although the developments around the “Recreation Campus” (as it is called) have a long way to go before matching the commercialism and conveniences of Peoria. Surprise has come a long way in the past four years, but it is still a relatively nascent community.

And get ready for more changes, as two more teams will be Valley-bound in 2009. The Chicago White Sox are due to move up from Tucson Electric Park to share a to-be-built facility in Glendale with the Los Angeles Dodgers (moving west from their longtime spring base in Vero Beach, Florida), which will be close to highway 101 and nearby the home of the football Cardinals and hockey Coyotes. With the commercial development already booming in Glendale, this new complex will surely rival Peoria as the jewel of the Cactus League. The Cleveland Indians are reportedly relocating back to Tucson from Winter Haven, Florida to take the Chisox's place at Tucson Electric Park in 2009.

Now, where best to watch the games?

Again, much like the March Madness experience in Las Vegas, it depends upon your particular tastes. If you’re a Mariners or Padres fan, you’ll undoubtedly want to hang out in Peoria. Giants fans will prefer Scottsdale; Cubs fans likewise in Mesa. But, like our March Madness sports book preferences, we definitely have some Cactus League favorites, too.

If you’re not attached to a particular team and just want to enjoy spring training baseball, here are some Cactus League suggestions:

1) If you have kids, or like to collect autographs yourself, the Cactus League is nirvana. Big leaguers are generally available for autographs at most of the venues, but it’s best to arrive early and stake out the best places to catch them. Adjacent practice field are usually good bets to run into players, and most (but not all) will oblige autograph seekers, providing the fans don’t become too obnoxious about it all. As for the players being obnoxious...cross your fingers and hope they're not (there are a few bad apples, to be sure, but for the most part, players seem pretty gracious about the autograph thing in spring, especially if signing for kids). After the games, players are often available as well.

2) If you can get away to watch the Cactus League on a weekday instead of a weekend, the experience will be a lot more pleasurable. Most of the games sell out on weekends, but some don’t come close on the weekdays, which makes for a far-better viewing experience.

3) If you’re in the Tempe/Mesa area, or even Scottsdale (Giants) or Phoenix (A’s), make sure to stop at Ted’s Famous Hot Dogs in Tempe, at the corner of Broadway and McClintock. This is no hot dog shack; instead, it’s a proper fast food eatery, in the design of many a Burger King, but with a far different twist. Ted’s is a Buffalo, New York institution with one outlet in Tempe, of all places. The charcoal-grilled Sahlen's wieners are legendary in western New York, and the plump franks are grilled in front of your eyes by some of the darnedest chefs you’ll ever see, who poke, prod, and otherwise cajole the hot dogs on the grill before deeming them ready for decoration. We have experienced hot dog bliss in each of our visits to Ted’s, whether in Buffalo or Tempe, and we would suggest an order of Ted’s legendary onion rings and a loganberry juice (an imported Buffalo favorite) to drink along with the wieners. An added plus is the Buffalo-themed decor, with pictures galore paying homage to the hometown, other Ted’s restaurants in the Buffalo area, Niagara Falls, the Bills, Sabres, and local schools such as Canisius and Niagara, not to mention a full rack of recent copies of the Buffalo News. You don’t have to be a Buffalo native like Tim Russert to appreciate this place!

4) Arizona is also the western-most state for Waffle House restaurants. Legendary owners Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers, Sr. have made Waffle Houses a staple in the south and much of the midwest, but they are basically unknown in the west (Forkner and Rogers have no intention of ever coming to California with WH, either). The western exception is Arizona, and especially the Phoenix area, where Waffle Houses appear almost as often as they do in Atlanta. This isn’t fancy food, but it’s well-priced (we’ve never paid into double-digits for a Waffle House breakfast!), and one can really chow down at one of these eateries. Waffles are a must, as are the variety of hash browns, in a regular, double, or triple order, adorned with various additions, “covered” (cheese), “smothered” (onions), “chunked” (ham), among other mouth-watering extras. Breakfast at Waffle House and lunch/dinner at Ted’s is a true travel experience!

5) Avoid Cubs games if at all possible. Snowbirds from the Windy City, many of them Cubs diehards, descend upon the Valley like a swarm of locusts anyway, and coupled with the fact that Cubs fans come from all parts of the country, their games are almost always sold out and, most of all, uncomfortable viewing experiences. Forgive us for sounding curmudgeonly about the Cactus League, but in our book, sold out spring training games and wall-to-wall crowds detract from the ambiance and charm of the proceedings. Forget looking forward to a relaxing atmosphere and “stretching out” at a full-to-capacity Cactus League game. Concession lines are long, grandstands are crowded, outfield lawn seating is packed, and, by us at least, the charm of spring training is absolutely lost. If you can avoid a Cubs game, do so.

6) Ditto for the Giants, especially for Scottsdale home games. The same basic rules apply as our Cubs warning. Giants fans are another loyal lot, and even if there aren’t as many total Giants backers as there are so-called Cubs fans, they have less distance to travel from the Bay Area, and descend upon spring training in droves. Which means little or no spring ambiance or customer comforts at their games. Although the Scottsdale facility is a nice one, it has been eclipsed by some of the newer venues in the Valley. Scottsdale is also a heavily-trafficked area, and the downtown shopping district is close by, creating more congestion. By us, shoe-horning into a packed, small stadium is an uncomfortable experience. So, unless you’re a Giants fan, you’ll probably enjoy other venues a lot more.

7) Ditto again for the Diamondbacks, whose official spring “home” is 120 miles south in Tucson, where they share Tucson Electric Park with the White Sox (the Rockies are also in Tucson at old Hi Corbett Field), but obviously have their own hometown fans in the Valley who want to see their team. Thus, D-back “road” games in spring in the Valley are usually crowded, even on weekdays (we were at one last Wednesday, a sellout against the Angels in Tempe).

8) By comparison, the A’s seem to have a more-modest following in Phoenix, and their midweek games usually provide a more relaxed atmosphere. And Phoenix Municipal, built in the ‘60s, is still a decent place to watch the action.

9) At Peoria, Mariners games tend to be more crowded than Padres games, mainly because more fans come down for a long visit from Seattle than do the Padres fans from closer-by San Diego, although it won't be as uncomfortable as watching Giants or Cubs games. Many Pads fans will often wait to make the short trip on weekends, when most of the games will be crowded anyway. The Peoria facility, with its hotels and restaurants adjacent, is a bit larger than most of the others in the Valley, so it can handle the bigger crowds a little better than the others. A midweek Padres home game vs. any foes other than the Giants or Cubs, or perhaps the Diamondbacks, will likely be a pleasant experience, and we would take our chances on the same with the Mariners.

10) Crowds never figure to be much of a problem in Surprise, where the Royals and Rangers perform at the superb Surprise Stadium, arguably the best spring training venue in the Valley. With both cities based a good distance from Phoenix, neither team brings a lot of hometown fans, which is pretty good news for those fans who want to enjoy their spring training in some comfort (like us). And, as mentioned, the Surprise facility is absolutely sublime. But the cautions involving the Cubs and Giants apply to Surprise, too, with the added warning of possible further discomfort caused by traffic. The city is good jaunt from the closest freeway (101), and Bell Road, the main thoroughfare in Surprise, gets crowded most afternoons anyway. The added weight of Cubs and Giants fans crowding Bell Road promise an uncomfortable trek, so pick any other dates to go view this jewel of a ballpark.

11) The best-kept secret in the Valley? It’s Maryvale and Prince Fielder's Brewers! Probably the most-centrally located of the parks in the Valley, with decent access to the airport and most of the other spring venues, Maryvale Park is convenient as well as comfortable. The stadium is pleasant, and it is rarely overcrowded, save again for the dreaded visits of Cubs and Giants fans. And here is where a fan can usually stretch out and enjoy the game in a relaxed environment, where a one can walk up and buy a ticket behind the plate (for $19) if he or she wishes. We recall doing just that four years ago and having the joy of sitting next to a few scouts, including the famous Giants advance scout, former pitcher and one of the four 20-game winners for the 1971 Orioles, Pat Dobson, who unfortunately passed away last November. Listening to the colorful Dobber’s running commentary on the players (pitchers in particular) was a real hoot. And the ambiance in Maryvale is pure Milwaukee, with Miller Park-like concessions (brats and sausages, including the special “secret” Milwaukee stadium BBQ sauce harkening to old County Stadium days) as well as the famous sausage races at the 7th inning stretch.

Although we didn’t get to see the sausage races in our visit last Thursday, when the Brewers hosted the Rockies in, for our money, a “dream-like” spring matchup. But mother nature sure didn’t cooperate. Thunder and lightning storms were bouncing around the valley on Thursday, and a squall line hit Maryvale in the third inning, scattering fans and players alike with a violent hailstorm and deluge that flooded the infield within a minute and forced everyone in the stands to find cover wherever they could. That meant some men running into the women’s rest rooms, and vice versa. We took refuge by jamming under a beer stand canopy with about 30 others, then holding onto the canopy stands for dear life as the wicked winds threatened to blow it over. It was a harrowing few minutes to be sure, with the temperature dropping about 15 degrees in 30 seconds as well when the Texas-like hail began to fall. Not the sort of excitement we were anticipating at the game, but we weren’t alone, as every other game in the Valley was rained out as well that day. So, what is our Cactus League recommendation? Stay in Peoria at one of the comfy hotels adjacent to the Padres/Mariners complex. Make sure to see a Mariners or Padres game, and since they’ll often play at night, make it part of a day-night doubleheader with another venue. A trip to Maryvale for a Brewers game is a must, as is a swing out to Surprise, which isn’t too inconvenient (maybe 20 minutes) from Peoria for a Royals or Rangers game. If you have another day, perhaps a ride to Phoenix Municipal to watch the A’s, or perhaps Tempe Diablo to watch the Angels, and either before or after the game swing by nearby Ted’s hot dogs in Tempe. Unless you’re a Cubs or Giants fan, avoid games involving those two teams if possible. For night games at Maryvale, Peoria, or Surprise, avoid late afternoon drives westbound from downtown on I-10, as you'll be in the teeth of traffic. A day-night doubleheader in Maryvale and Peoria, or Peoria and Surprise, will be a lot easier to navigate than an afternoon game in Scottsdale or Mesa and a nightcap in one of the western suburbs.

And, oh yes, check with the weatherman before you go. You’ll want to avoid a hailstorm if you can!

Bodog.com Has March Madness Covered! Bodog.com has got the goods to make sure you enjoy this year's NCAA Tournament like never before.You'll have the chance to feel the excitement of every buzzer-beating bucket, agonizing upset, and Cinderella victory by enjoying all the interactive NCAA entertainment Bodog has to offer.The first round of the coveted tournament starts on March 15. And we have odds on all 33 games, prop bets on all 65 teams, and a downloadable bracket to make sure this year's March Madness is a tourney you'll never forget.Don't let March Madness pass you by without adding even more excitement. Make Bodog your one-stop shop for the NCAA tourney today!