So, you’re not sure if you want to go to the beach this Sunday or watch the Chargers game. Well, why not do both? After all, the AFC West rivalries have already begun for the 2011 season with the Denver Broncos on Oct. 9 and the Kansas City Chiefs (for the second time this year) on Oct. 31. PB Shore Club gives you the feeling of a relaxing day at the beach with the all the excitement and enthusiasm of a serious sports bar. “We are a great hometown bar for Chargers fans,” said manager Vito Lamagese. Personally, I think that’s a standard claim (“Yeah, we serve the most Charger fans here at …”). I don’t want to disparage any local bar that supports sports, but trust me, in writing this column, I hear that claim a lot. That being said, this place goes beyond just being a Chargers bar. I was there during a preseason game. You know, the games that give fans an opportunity to practice their tailgating skills. Anyway, I was sitting at a table watching one of their 25 high-definition TV screens and eating one of their critically-acclaimed fish tacos and some Ninja Wings when the Chargers scored a field goal. Predictably, everyone cheered and gave the person next to them a high-five. But it’s what happened next that blew my mind. Moments after the thrill of scoring, the live game feed on the sound system was cut off. The place was instantly blanketed in silence. Patrons composed themselves and stood tall as if they were taking a position for something very important. Then it happened. It started as a soft rumble and then, as if the Archangel Gabriel was blowing his horn to announce the coming of God Almighty himself, the bar erupted into song, (and in key, may I add): “San-Di-ego …. Super Chargers …. San Di-ego…. CHARGERS!” I don’t say this often, but this is a local beach paper, so what the heck? It was totally awesome! I knew I needed to find out more about this PB Shore Club and how to become a member. I was pleased to find out that membership is easy. The requirements are that you be at least 21 years of age and have a valid state -issued ID (Any of the 50 states will do, but it better not be fake, because that will get you banned from membership). I spoke with Lamagese again. “What was that?” I asked him. He replied: “Every time the Chargers score, we celebrate by playing and singing the ‘San Diego Super Chargers’ song. We are like Qualcomm Stadium on the beach, only we don’t fire off a cannon after the Chargers score, and that’s only because of zoning reasons.” That’s getting into the spirit! This place has everything: a view of the beach, great food and a hometown spirit I have not seen in a bar since that rivals the spirit of any Boston pub. But this Pacific Beach bar does a little extra that puts them over the top as a headquarters for Chargers fans. During every Chargers’ home game, PB Shore Club owners Bill Ramirez and Doug Sondo wake up at 5 a.m. and begin the ritual that they call “feeding the football gods” in their motorhome dubbed “Feed the Beast Machine.” In a converted 1990 Winnebago driven by Larry Alva, the team heads for Section A3 at Qualcomm Stadium and dispenses more than 1,000 free fish tacos to Chargers tailgaters getting ready for the home games. “We believe that when the Chargers are at home, it is our responsibility to ensure that our fans have plenty of energy to support our team,” Ramirez said. “Everybody has a little football god inside them and we want to ensure that it is fed and happy before the game.” If you are planning to go to any of the home games this year, visit the PB Shore Club’s “Feed the Beast Machine” in parking section A3 and feed the little football god inside of you. If, however, you subscribe to the notion “that the world ends east of I-5,” I encourage you to visit PB Shore Club for Chargers football. PB Shore Club is located at 4343 Ocean Blvd. For more information, call (858) 272-7873, or visit www.pbshoreclub.com. — Walter Ruskin is a member of the San Diego Community Newspaper Group’s “Ugly News Team.” Watch for his new video links online at www.sdnews.com.
