On television, Channel 38 carries about 80 games a year, mainly away contests and weekend home series.
To get to Fenway: A medium-long walk down the Charles towards Boston, Fenway can also be reached by the subway (Kenmore stop) or by taking a bus from the Square.
The New England Patriots. The Boston-area NFL entry has never quite captured the hearts of local sports fans. Maybe it's because the Pats are located in isolated Foxboro, 45 minutes south of Boston. Maybe it's because the Pats haven't won a playoff game since 1962, and (with the exception of the 1982 strike-year playoff tournament) haven't made the playoffs since 1977.
Tickets are relatively easy to get (although the L.A. Raiders contest is already sold-out) and cost $16.
Channel 4 will carry all away games and any home sell-outs.
Best way to get to Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro: None, particularly. Some trains leave from South Station and the Pats may arrange buses from Boston. Ask the ticket office when you call.
The Boston Bruins. During the 1970s, the Bruins were The Team in Boston, but they now reside in the Celtics' very considerable shadow. Still, with the best defenseman in the NHL (Ray Bourque) and consistent success (the Bruins had the best regular-season record in the NHL two years ago), the Bees shouldn't disappoint any hockey fan.
The Garden holds about 14,500 for hockey, and many good seats will be available when tickets go on sale September 16. They'll cost from 14 to 21 dollars a pop.
Channel 38 carries almost every game.
Boston College. If you can't live without major college football and basketball, then nearby Boston College is probably your best bet.
The Eagles football squad finished fourth in the nation last year, and will play such national powerhouses as Maryland, Miami, West Virginia and Penn State this season. Three of the five home games are on campus (easily reachable via the Green Line) though the other two are at Sullivan Stadium. All tickets cost 15 dollars.
B.C. basketball is the Big East, and your chance to goggle at national powers like Georgetown and Villanova.
The Boston Lob-sters. Professional team tennis. Throw'em back in the Harbor.
THE MEDIA
The Boston Globe. The Globe's sports section is consistently voted the best in the country. Its thorough, well-written coverage will make you forget your hometown rag--unless you want to know what's happening outside of New England. In that case, there's always USA Today
Writers Peter Gammons (baseball), Ron Borges (football), Dan Shaugnessy (basketball) and columnist Leigh Montville are among the best in the country, and the Sunday section--which includes a notes column on each major sport--is a handy procrastination tool.
The Boston Herald. Not bad, but the Globe's here.
Television. Bob Lobel, the Channel 4 sports anchor and the leading area TV personality, gives us Sports Spotlight--a hilarious sports bloopers show--every Thursday night. Don't miss it, and stick with Lobel for all your sports coverage; he usually graces the screen around 6:25 p.m. on the evening shows and 11:20 p.m. on the nightcasts.
Radio. WEEI (590 am) provides the best and most consistent sportscasts--twice-hourly updates and two-hour wrap-ups on weekend nights; it also carries Patriots games. WPLM (1330 am) and WHDH (850 am) carry the Sox, but don't expect objective criticism from announcers Joe Castiglione (a Phil Rizutto sound-alike) and Ken Coleman--the way they talk, you'd think the Sox knew how to run the bases and the World Series was just around the corner, but hey, we all know who signs their paychecks. The Bruins are also on WPLM.