Posted on Fri, Jun. 06, 2008

The Los Angeles Lakers are once again matched up against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Understandably, basketball fans are basking in the nostalgia of Magic Johnson's epic battles with Larry Bird. However, I've been recently dwelling on my favorite player of all time, Kurt Rambis.

Rambis was ungraceful and an unlikely sports hero, but he was an unrelenting, unnerving adversary on the court, and these virtues made him stand out as the ultimate underdog. Watching him beat the odds and succeed while with the Lakers in the 1980s inspired me to pursue my dream job as well. I offer thanks to my role model because I now drink, and then review, margaritas for a living.

I'll be watching at least a few of the games of the NBA Finals at Cielito Lindo Tres, a Mexican & Spanish Restaurant at 91 E. Prospect Rd. in Oakland Park.

People party here as if it's perpetually Cinco de Mayo. I just missed the mariachi band on Monday. Two mariachis serenade patrons from 6 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Friday night. I tend to show up on Mondays and Tuesdays because 12-ounce margaritas are only $1.99 when you order a meal. My official review on their margarita: Yummy! The perfect ratio of tequila to sour mix is always reached.

On Wednesday, Cuervo Gold margaritas are half-price when you buy dinner. On Thursdays, a 60-ounce pitcher of margarita is only $16 with dinner. The half-price happy hour starts an hour earlier on Friday and Saturday (3 p.m. instead of the usual 4-7 p.m. the rest of the week). And every Sunday, blue margaritas (blue Curacoa added for color and sweetness) are half-price with dinner.

If, unlike me, you're bored with run-of-the-mill margaritas, try a specialty mixture like the Pink Cadillac, mixed with Cuervo 1800 Tequila, Grand Marinier, rasperry liqueur and sour mix.

Of course there's also plenty of tequila and brews like Dos Equis Dark, Tecate and Modelo Negra.

TVs at the 10-seat bar are tuned to sports, and holiday lights in the shape of chili peppers line the top of the bar.

If you have emotional ties to either the Lakers or the Celtics as I do, Cielito Lindo Tres is a perfect place to watch the games. Win or lose, you'll have a great time.

If you prefer to cheer for your team in a more traditional setting, head to Freddie's Anchor Inn and Sports Bar (2312 SW Fourth St., Fort Lauderdale). The diehard NASCAR fans that assemble here are hot for hoops as well.

At the Daisy Duke'sSaloon (10060 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines), you can watch the games on 40 hi-def flat screen TVs while keeping your eyes on the waitresses sporting Daisy Duke shorts and tiny tops.

The three huge TVs at the Hurricane Sports Bar & Grill (370 E. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach) might make the little set you have at home seem inadequate. At halftime, walk across the street to Dania Jai-Alai for a chance to win enough money to purchase your own huge TV.

You better brush up on sports trivia if you plan to watch basketball with the serious sports fans at Bru's Room in Deerfield Beach (123 NE 20th Ave). And just so you know, The Los Angeles Lakers are originally from Minneapolis.

Regardless of where you like to enjoy the games, look out for my hero, the assistant coach of the Lakers, Kurt Rambis.

Coming up:

• One of South Florida's most rockin' bands, Diesel, takes the stage at Original Fat Cats, 320 SW Second St. in downtown Fort Lauderdale at 10 p.m. Saturday. No cover.

• The Crush plays at O'Malley's Beach Bar -- where the slogan is ''No shirt, no shoes, no problem!'' -- (101 N. Ocean Dr., Hollywood) at 3 p.m. No cover.