On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Sporting life: Gifts for the fan who is always on point
The holiday season is inching closer by the minute. If you still haven't wrapped up your shopping, there's still plenty of time and plenty of gift ideas out there. Last week, we touched on a few of them. Here are a few more categories that might help you complete your shopping list.
For those looking to hang a few art prints on their wall
Arturo Torres is a New York Times best-selling artist and recently teamed up with Shea Serrano on The Rap Year Book (another gift idea if you are one of 15 people in the world who doesn't own a copy). His illustrations are always on point and it's a shame that his masterpiece – the James Harden x Studio Ghibli print – is sold out. But for $35, there are plenty of great prints like the Russell Westbrook illustration featured above and this Muhammad Ali illustration.
Originally published in FreeDarko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History, Jacob Weinstein's $75 New York Knicks print is a classic. As an alternative the House of David print for $25 from the barnstorming era is my personal favorite.
J.O. Applegate is one of my favorite illustrators and he's got a series of NBA player prints which you can find here. To celebrate Klay Thompson's 60-point game earlier this week, I recommend this $25 print of the Warriors shooting guard.
Another favorite of mine is Ryan Simpson and this $35 Shaq & Penny print is hard to pass up if only for the shoe details. Other recommendations: this Charles Barkley & Michael Jordan print and this iconic Tim Duncan illustration.
For the jersey collector
The go-to spot for jerseys this time of year (or any time of the year) is definitely Mitchell & Ness. I usually keep updated to their Instagram feed for any new releases and discounts, which they have plenty of around the holidays. Specifically for jerseys, the easiest is probably to browse by sport. For baseball, I love their collection of batting practice jerseys which are comfortable and affordable at $80. My go-to choice would be the Darryl Strawberry Mets jersey. If you're looking to pay a heftier price and really lean into this throwback jersey wave, I'd go with the 1973 Pirates Dave Parker jersey or the 1982 Oakland A's Ricky Henderson.
The old school Houston Rockets jersey design is one of my favorites of all-time so I have to recommend the Hakeem Olajuwon throwback. Two other great additions to your collection would be the 1998-99 Toronto Raptors Vince Carter throwback (how can you ever pass up on the dinosaur design) and the 2009-10 Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry throwback (this jersey design has grown on to over time. Nostalgia is a strange thing).
I might have to shift a mortgage payment to pick up the Deion Sanders Atlanta Falcons throwback. Two other great jersey choices: Pat Tillman Arizona Cardinals throwback and this 1985 Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks throwback.
If anyone knows how to properly pull off wearing a hockey jersey and making it look fashionable, please contact me so I can throw some more money away. In an alternate world where I am able to pull it off, I would start with the Mark Messier Edmonton Oilers throwback then ease my way into a Patrick Roy Montreal Canadians jersey and this very clean St. Louis Blues throwback.
For your friend who is tangentially into sports
If you're into sports or just generally cool podcasts involving two close friends just kickin' it about sports and life, the Jenkins & Jonez podcast should be on your weekly streaming list. Better yet, they put out some cool apparel once in awhile. Their latest Leave Me Alone tee for $32 is worth adding to any collection.
Undefeated is one of my favorite streetwear brands because you can be a 32-year-old hypebeast in this modern world. Their "Renaissance tee" will cost you only (I'm not sure anymore what is a high or low price point for tees) $28 and is very tangentially sports-related.
Another favorite of mine is ONLY NY, and their Stanton Sports division has some of the nicest tees and hoodies around. The Stanton Sports hoodie in particular, printed on a 50/50 Cotton & poly blend Champion hood, will run you $68, but you have to admit it is pretty fresh.
Another alternative selection to the sneakers out there. Android Homme has a new Delta runner sneaker out in three colorways (white, black, wine) at their online store. This shoe features full grain leather with gummy leather side panels with high performance Italian runner soles to compliment the design. They go for $199 but it's a very fresh look.
Another favorite sport-ish brand is Hall of Fame. I love their Legalize Kemp shirt which costs $32. Hall of Fame also has some great collaborations including a recent one with Reebok Classics. That collaboration can be found here, with hats, sneakers, shirts and pants available. Also love their Cassius Clay shirt and don't sleep on their Death Row Records inspired Joe Cool x Riskie collab.
More must-reads:
- Sporting life: Gifts for real fans (that aren't ugly NFL sweaters)
- The HOVG Holiday Gift Guide
- The '2024-25 NFL rushing touchdown leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur Makes ‘Bittersweet Admission After NFL Preseason Win Against Seahawks
Commanders veteran blows final audition with future on the line
The Washington Commanders' final preseason engagement against the Baltimore Ravens represented the last chance for players looking to make a big impression before their respective fates are determined. Some thrived under the pressure, but others wilted. And for one veteran whose future was firmly on the line, their status looks all but sealed after another dismal outing. Things looked promising for Chris Moore earlier in the offseason. The wide receiver caught the eye over early workouts, displaying the reliability and contested catch prowess that managed to stand out in a crowded room. Unfortunately for the player, things have taken a downward turn since. Chris Moore blew another shot to impress in Commanders' preseason finale Moore couldn't keep up his initial consistency at training camp. Things got even worse in the preseason, which began with two crucial drops in Washington's opening warmup outing versus the New England Patriots. With several starters and rotational pieces sitting out at Northwest Stadium, this was Moore's chance to silence his doubters and prove worthy of an extended stay. And his final audition arrived when quarterback Sam Hartman delivered a deep ball down the sideline that fell within his catch radius. The former fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati, who began his NFL journey with the Ravens, needed to make this catch. Much to the dismay of fans, the wideout fluffed his lines. Moore dropped the target when it was makeable. He did bring in one reception for five receiving yards after that, but the damage had been done. And any slim hope he had of making the 53-man roster evaporated in the blink of an eye. Competition for places in Washington's receiver group is fierce. While Hartman and Josh Johnson didn't do their pass-catchers many favors, Moore's problems were self-inflicted. It's hard to envisage how he makes the team now, and even sticking around on the practice squad might be a stretch if others also come through waivers. It'll be an anxious wait for Moore. However, the experienced pro has been around long enough to know what comes next. And when his inevitable fate is sealed, he cannot have many complaints. The Commanders gave him chances to excel. Moore didn't take advantage of them emphatically enough, and this won't go unnoticed by general manager Adam Peters when he starts to trim the fat. Whether Moore comes back onto the practice squad or not is anyone's guess. But after a preseason to forget, even that is hanging in the balance now. More Commanders news and analysis
Winners and losers from Packers' dominant preseason win over Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers have completed their last preseason game before the start of the NFL regular season, doing so in dominant fashion against the Seattle Seahawks. With a final score of 20-7, the Packers got the final word after the two teams had several brutal fisticuffs on Thursday’s joint practice. The team had several players star in their roles during their final auditions before roster cuts on Tuesday, but while Saturday’s game was all Green Bay, several players also missed their chance to leave a lasting impression. Winner: Ty’Ron Hopper impresses with several splash Plays Any Green Bay Packers fans who watched Saturday afternoon’s preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks are now familiar with the name Ty’Ron Hopper. The second-year linebacker out of Missouri was all over the field, making several impressive plays. He finished with three tackles, a sack, and some good plays in coverage as well. Additionally, he had a forced fumble on a fourth-down play where Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe had achieved enough yardage to move the chains, but found himself unable to hold onto the ball. Hopper was not a name getting a lot of attention entering camp, but there’s no chance of him not making the roster following an excellent preseason. With starters Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie cemented as the top three ‘backers for the team, Hopper appears to firmly have his hands on the reins for the fourth spot. Winner: Kalen King makes his presence felt Kalen King may have been an outside shot to make the roster a few weeks ago, but it seems like many think the former Penn State star has done enough. King ran with some of the Green Bay starters on defense during the opening periods of the game and had several important contributions. None stands out more than his fumble recovery, which was one of four turnovers forced by the team on the afternoon. In addition to the fumble recovery, he had a strong tackle on Jalen Milroe as the Seattle quarterback scampered towards the end zone, which resulted in no gain. While the secondary remains an area of concern for the Pack, King looks like he may have done enough to ensure he is a part of it entering the season. Loser: Rookie Anthony Belton still has a lot to learn Rookie offensive tackle Anthony Belton has certainly had his struggles this preseason. Just a week after being called for five first-half penalties against the Indianapolis Colts, Belton continued to show up with some poor moments against Seattle. Although he was only called for one false start on Saturday afternoon, head coach Matt LaFleur was seen ripping into Belton during the late first half. Later, it was revealed that LaFleur was upset with Belton’s stance on a third–down play where the team was hoping to secure field goal position. Belton will likely not be counted on for many snaps on offense this upcoming season. He clearly has a way to go before he can develop into a reliable player. Loser: Sean Clifford fails to impress in third-string QB battle King certainly had a strong day, but for another Penn State alum, it was more of a struggle. Reserve quarterback Sean Clifford did not have his best outing in limited action. Clifford finished 6-9 passing, but managed only 19 yards. He had multiple inaccurate balls on some shorter throws that many would expect him to convert. Competing with Clifford for the last quarterback spot is Taylor Elgersma, who had a better day. He went 6-8 for 33 yards. Even though both QBs did not do much of note against Seattle, Elgersma has had a much better preseason overall. In fact, his QB rating was over double of that of Clifford’s entering the final preseason game. Saturday’s contest was a chance for Clifford to rebound, and he failed to take advantage of the opportunity. One other advantage that Elgersma has is that he is four years younger than Clifford. Despite Clifford being just a second-year pro, he is already 27 years old. Theoretically, Elgersma has more room to grow if he was kept around.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion leaves NHL for Switzerland
Last season was a tough one for veteran defenseman Jan Rutta. He dealt with some lower-body injuries, and when he was in the lineup for San Jose, he was often on the third pairing. That has certainly contributed to his going unsigned through the first seven weeks of free agency, but that is coming to an end. Earlier this week, Blick’s Gregory Beaud (h/t The Hockey News) reported that the blueliner is signing with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland. Rutta played in 54 games for the Sharks last season, picking up just three goals and six assists in a little over 17 minutes a night. However, he took a regular turn on their penalty kill and played some tough defensive minutes. Speculatively, NHL teams could be eyeing him as a PTO candidate to fill a sixth or seventh role if things went well in training camp but clearly, a full contract offer has yet to materialize and at some point, a guaranteed deal overseas could be viewed as a better option than trying to earn a contract off a tryout. Rutta debuted fairly late in the NHL with his first season coming at the age of 27 with Chicago. Since then, he has suited up in 417 regular-season games between four different clubs, putting up 23 goals and 75 assists along with 479 blocked shots. He also has a pair of Stanley Cup rings from his time with Tampa Bay. Rutta will be the third veteran NHL player to join that team this offseason. Previously, it signed wingers Jesse Puljujarvi and Jimmy Vesey and has one import slot remaining that it appears they want to use to bring in a veteran defender.
Browns have major injury concern on offense after starter exits game
The Cleveland Browns have a big concern on Saturday following an injury to a key part of the offensive line. The Browns played their starters against the Los Angeles Rams as a tune-up before the regular season. Per the NFL's website, center Ethan Pocic was ruled out of Saturday's game against the Rams when he suffered a knee injury. Via the NFL: "C Ethan Pocic suffered a knee injury against Los Angeles and will not return to the game. Pocic played eight snaps with starting quarterback Joe Flacco before exiting with his injury. Pocic was injured on a third-and-9 play in the first quarter when Rams defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson ran into his leg while he was engaged in a block on linebacker Brennan Jackson." Pocic's injury is a worry for the Browns ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. The 2017 second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks is a leader on Cleveland's offensive line. He's been with the Browns since 2022. Pocic has appeared in 101 games and started in 84 during his first eight years in the league. The upcoming season is important for the 30-year-old, as he's in the final year of the three-year, $18 million deal he signed in 2023. When Pocic came out of the game, the Browns inserted Luke Wypler in at center. The 2023 sixth-round pick has played in just five games in his career and has made one start. Wypler missed all of 2024 with an ankle injury that required surgery.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
