The problem with catching Bird live is that the Garden is perpetually sold out. You might have a better chance of seeing the Celtics if you flew out to San Antonio or Seattle for a road game. It might be less expensive, too.

Be prepared to pay a steep price for scalpedtickets.

P.S. Regardless of what you've seen on TV, theWorld Championship banners and retiredjerseys--which really do hang from therafters--are guaranteed to send a chill down youspine upon first visit to the Garden.

Directions: Red Line to Park Street; GreenLine to North Station.

Hockey: The Bruins are a good team. But,let's face it, the pro game just isn't any funanymore. A bunch of guys banging each otheragainst the boards as the crowd screams for blood.

However, if you want to see gore, tickets areavailable.

If you want to see a better brand of hockey,check out the Harvard hockey team. Unlike theprofessional game, college hockey features moreskating skill and less brutality. This year, theCrimson plays 12 homes games at Bright Center,including one against the U.S. Olympic Team, and apair of games in the Boston Garden. The latteraffair is the Beanpot Tournament, a hockey battleroyale featuring four of the areas bestteams--Boston College, Boston University, Harvardand Northeastern.

Directions to the Pros: See above.

Directions to Bright Center. Cross CharlesRiver via North Harvard Street Bridge.

Football: It's a long, long way toFoxborough. But if you've got a car, and you don'tmind making the 45 minute drive, you can catch thePatriots--picked in many pre-season polls to winthe AFC East--in action.

Directions: Route 95 South.

Horse Racing: Admission is cheap. But ifyou don't pick the right ponies, it'll cost you.World-famous Belmont is only a bus ride away. Packup your troubles, stuff your wallet and head overto Belmont.

Directions: Hop on a bus at the Square'snew terminal.

Dog Racing: Yup, they also racegreyhounds in Boston. If you won't be embarrassedto tell your parents' friends that you frequentedthe dog tracks while at Harvard, load up thatwallet again and watch the mutts go 'round.

Directions: Red Line to Park Street; GreenLine to Government Center, Blue Line toWonderland.