Show Your School and Team Spirit With the Right Sports Gear

When you or someone you know is a fan of a specific professional or collegiate sports team, it is usually clear. Those who have a more laid-back attitude stick to a cap or T-shirt that has the colors and logo of their favorite squad. However, for the more "fanatical" fan, they usually are decked out head to toe in clothes that represent their, and that love extends to their homes, vehicles and office spaces as well. Whatever the level of fandom that you or the person you wish to purchase sports items for, we have the officially licensed gear that will set every fan apart from the pack.

Clothing

The oldest professional sport, Major League Baseball, has been around since 1876 and some teams even longer than that. Even in the 1800s, people who would attend games would show their affection for their hometown squads by waving pennants with the name of their favorite team. Fast forward to the 21st century, and there are many ways that fans can show off their team spirit. Clothing is one of the best ways. Many fans have several items of clothing hanging in their closets or coat racks representing their favorite teams. Why have one item of clothing with your favorite National Basketball Association or National Football League team when you can have 10?

T-shirts that feature team colors and logos are a staple of fan's wardrobes, but certainly not the only one. People who live in cold-weather climates also favor sweatshirts, including hooded sweatshirts, windbreakers and lined jackets. Ball caps are especially popular but certainly not the only kind of headgear available. When the weather turns cold, a knit cap with an NFL or National Hockey League team logo is ideal to warm fans up. A great way to enjoy a lazy day at home watching the game on the TV is wearing a comfortable polo shirt with a favorite NCAA or MLB team's emblem on it and a pair of officially licensed slippers from that same team.

Items for the Home

Walk into the bedroom of a diehard fan, and you might think you have walked into a team's store at the ballpark. A true fan of a team like the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Bulls doesn t have to stop their love affair with their favorite team by what they're wearing. In the bedroom, you might very well find that they have a microfleece throw, pillows and rugs all decked out in their favorite team's colors. Even the drapes and chairs may represent that team as well. If not, those make terrific gift ideas.

Use the bathroom, and you might find that even the shower curtain and shower curtain rings have sports logos on them. Posters of favorite players to hang on their walls also make great gifts for these fans. Speaking of gifts, there a good chance that if you spend some time with them at Christmas, you'll see their Christmas tree decked out with ornaments featuring their favorite baseball or football team.

Fun in the Sun

If they're not at the game or at home, it's a good bet that the true-blue fan in your life is out and about. Just because they are not inside does not mean they can t show their affection for their favorite teams. Many hardcore fans like to tailgate before games, either at the stadium parking lot or at some gathering of friends and family. For those times, a folding chair with convenient beverage holders suits them just fine. For those fans who are masters of the grill, there are grill covers that feature their favorite teams and even grill utensils highlighted with team logos.

While tailgating, a game of bean bag toss might be in order. If so, there are officially licensed game boards and bean bags featuring team logos and colors. For the golfer in your life, there are golf bags and golf balls for them to use while on the links. A good item for golfers of fans of teams who are in heated rivalries (think Red Sox-New York Yankees, University of Michigan-Ohio State University or Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears), buy them golf balls with their rival team's logo on them they'll have great fun hitting those balls from the tee box. It might even improve their scores.