By Jillian Melnyk

As the weather gets colder, and we put the warm fall days behind us, we also say goodbye to baseball season. If the end of baseball has left you with a feeling of sports withdrawal, don't fret! Rochester and Upstate New York are filled with great opportunities to satisfy your craving for sweaty men in tight pants (football), macho burly men (hockey), and tall muscular men (basketball).

Watching sports can be a great way to relax, have some fun, and bond with the gals over your favorite sports hotties. So get together with your best buds (and if you're feeling generous maybe invite the guys too) and enjoy some local sports!

Rochester Americans
The Amerks, short for Rochester Americans, is the minor league hockey team affiliated with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. This year marks the Amerks 52nd season as a member of the American Hockey League. Head down to the Blue Cross Arena and check out an action-packed game. This year's team is full of great young players, who won’t disappoint you with their skills on the ice. The season runs from October until April.

Rochester Razorsharks
Founded in 2005, the Razorsharks quickly became stars of the American Basketball Association, loosing only 4 games during their first season. Last season they finished with 24 wins, and only 6 losses, and have been undefeated at home since November 2005. For 2008, the Razorsharks will join the Premier Basketball League for its inaugural season, along with nine other teams, including Chicago, Jacksonville, Dallas and Reading. The league is anticipating an exciting first season, promising to bring a whole new experience to professional basketball fans. The first Razorsharks homegame with the Premier Basketball League will be at the Blue Cross Arena against Reading on January 11.

Shuffle off to Buffalo
Rochester is a great place to enjoy sports, but if you want to see some great pro sports live, attending a Buffalo Sabres hockey game or a Buffalo Bills football game can be a great weekend getaway. While in Buffalo stop by the Anchor Bar and have some authentic Buffalo wings.

Don't feel like making the journey? Bring the game home! Just because it's winter, doesn't mean you can't BBQ. Host a tailgate party while you watch the games. Ask everyone to bring their favorite sports-inspired dish – like burgers, brats or football-shaped cookies. Want to spice it up? Set up a build-your-own taco station, complete with Buffalo wing chicken!

Have fun and cheer loud!