BY KEVIN FRIEDENBERG

In print | Published November 29, 2007

Well, that time of the year is back, and let me tell you, you better watch out and you better not cry and you best not pout and I’ll tell you why: because there are always tons of great gifts for every sports fan. If you’re like me, you have about 7.5 free minutes during the next few weeks and naturally shopping for the family may be a bit pressed. If you are reading this column chances are you enjoy sports or at the very least need to buy a gift for someone who does. Because I’m in a giving kind of mood, I have decided to take some of the work of looking around for gift ideas off your back. Don’t worry, I’ve located some gifts that those of us on a budget might prefer, so if you’re strapped for cash, I got your back. So sit back, check out a few of my ideas if you want, and remember, it’s better to give than to receive.

Fathead (http://www.fathead.com) – Maybe one of the coolest websites for sports gifts that I’ve seen. Here for a hefty sum ($80-$100) you can get a life size wall-decal replica of any of your favorite sports players, logos and helmets. I mean who doesn’t want a 6’ 6" Brian Urlacher decal staring at them while they sleep? I highly recommend checking out this site even if it’s just for fun because it has literally every kind of wall decal as well as cell phone, laptop, and MP3 skin. It’s really fun to just look around at all they have to offer, and you can even get replica NASCAR cars to stick on your wall if that’s your thing.

Sports Unlimited (http://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com) – This site has tons of available memorabilia, apparel and accessories for all types of sports fans. Perhaps the item I am most fond of is a figurine of your favorite NCAA mascot (ripped out of his mind like Gavin Musynske) choking out a puny rival figurine ($50). Also available for a similar price are a number of personalize-able items such as a photo of your favorite NFL team’s locker room with your name and number on a jersey ($45). I highly recommend browsing this web site since it has tons of items for all athletic leagues for various prices.

Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com) – If you can’t find something on this site then you just aren’t trying very hard. For the literate sports fan you can find just about anything in any sport. One of the coolest looking things I saw was called The Sports Book ($25), and inside its Astroturf binding is a wealth of information on over 200 sports. If nothing else, an Astroturf binding is pretty awesome. Think you got what it takes to step in the ring? Check out Facing Tyson: Fifteen Fighters, Fifteen Stories, which retails for about $18 and can give any boxing fan an inside view of being destroyed by the most deadly man alive besides Jeff Lazarus.

Other Ideas Less Than $10 (from http://www.footballfanatics.com): team Christmas tree ornaments – $7.95; two oz. team logo shot glass – $7.95; NFL team logo fishing lure – $7.95; pad of NFL team helmet sticky notes – $2.95.

Maybe this article at least acted as a muse for your holiday shopping. Maybe you want your 30 seconds of life back. Regardless, however close to the holidays it may be, there are always sports related gifts just waiting for your desperate-shopper eyes to find. So pull yourself away from that Micro textbook for 20 minutes and think about your family. Most of all, just bask in the glory of the holiday season; even if you have a final in the last possible time slot on the last possible day, don’t be a scrooge.

Kevin is a sophomore. You can reach him at kfriede1@swarthmore.edu

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