Baxter's in Hurst could make this sports-bar detractor change teams

There are only a few things in this galaxy that truly annoy me: commercial jingles, motorists who insist on driving just slightly below the posted speed limit and sports bars.

I wouldn't go as far as saying I completely despise sports bars, but they simply don't mesh well with my personality. I have little tolerance for overly macho men screaming obscenities at each other while downing gallons of cheap beer and scratching their bellies.

At least once a month, my friends will hit me with an invite to the latest sporting event at some local sports bar or pub. I'll agree to make an appearance, but only for the chance to put on a display of apparent disapproval. Often, they just laugh, not totally understanding the severity of my rage.

Before you get your jock strap in a knot, though, you should know that there's still hope for me. My attraction to crowded bars far transcends my disdain for any place full of belly-scratchers, and after some research, I discovered Baxter's Grill and Sports Pub in Hurst.

I was promptly greeted and seated at a table next to the dance floor and stage, with an overlooking projection screen playing videos corresponding to the old-school jams being queued by the DJ as mostly older couples crowded the dance floor.

Behind the dance floor was a dining area, and next to that, the bar. To the right of the entrance was the big-kid zone, complete with billiard tables, dartboards, a foosball table and shuffleboard, or basically any game where I could gamble away my life savings while trying to score a win

It's a roomy, mostly wood-laden interior with an exterior that doesn't do it justice -- from the outside, Baxter's looks just like any other bar in a poorly lit shopping center.

Needing the full experience, I ordered enough food to guarantee I'll be using my gym membership for at least a few more weeks. The brisket tacos ($8.99), Baxter's potato chips ($3.99), Cowboy Queso ($8.75) and gyro and fries ($7.99) were sure to keep my digestive system occupied into the next morning.

The quality of the food was what you'd expect from typical pub grub, and the tacos were my favorite of the night. The brisket was somewhat dry, but with enough cheese, lettuce, and tomato piled on top, I was willing to see past that transgression. The Cowboy Queso, an appetizer consisting of a filling chili-cheese dip and a sizable pile of tortilla chips, was a nice starter and big enough to split with several people.

I was a bit underwhelmed by the potato chips, but the accompanying spicy dipping sauce made the appetizer somewhat bearable. Lastly, I tried the gyro (and fries), a pita filled with slices of meat (a combination of beef and lamb), cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. It lacked flavor and was a challenge to eat due to the mess factor, but filling nonetheless. I like my fries crispy, but expect less when you try them at Baxter's.

Surprisingly, there was nothing overly macho about Baxter's. Actually, the sports broadcast seemed like such an insignificant part of the pub, I couldn't help but feel some bizarre sense of vindication. It seemed the place was teeming with after-work people simply wanting to get their drink on while trying to relive their glory days to some vintage music, and that's all right with me.

See? I told you there was still hope for me.