Majerle’s Sports Grill draws most of the attention in the Phoenix sports bar scene. It’s owned by Suns fan favorite Dan Majerle, it gets the occassional celebrity drop in and it’s in a downtown building with history.

If you just want to watch the games though, Upper Deck Sports Grill in Scottsdale is the much better choice. It’s dominated by a HDTV screen that’s bigger than what many movie theaters offer. Surrounding that main screen are tons of other TVs of various sizes spread over two levels with an open-air front (so you can feel like you’re outside enjoying the Arizona weather even when you’re vegging out on the NBA playoffs).

The main point of Majerle’s seems to be to get you to buy a souvenir T-shirt. The main point of Upper Deck is letting you watch whatever game you want. Being a sports bar doesn’t seem to be enough for Majerle’s. It turns itself into a night club many evenings (which would be fine, if it wasn’t supposed to be a sports bar). Being surrounded by a bunch of 19-year-olds trying to slip in past the bouncer isn’t the best atmosphere to watch Tayshaun Prince prove once again why Joe Dumars was brilliant not to draft Carmelo Anthony and screw up the minutes (at least fellow blogging Michigan man Brandon Tucker will get this). Besides if you want nightclubs, there are only about 25 better choices in the area easy.

Which is the point. Majerle’s fails at what it advertises itself to be (a sports bar) and what it wants to be (a cool, happening place). Upper Deck provides the better food and despite Majerle’s hot spot bent, the cuter waitresses. If you’re lucky enough to draw Onika after a round of golf at an underrated course like Trilogy at Vistancia (stay tuned to GolfArizona.com for more on this), then you’ve had a good day indeed.

And yes, this travel rating business is tough. It takes tireless research. Why do I suddenly feel like Tim McDonald with his competing gift bags?

At least, this one’s a clear choice. Upper Deck over Majerle’s in a landslide. Sorry Thunder Dan.

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