Part of being a sports fan is acquiring the merchandise from your favorite team or sport at large. These items show your admiration and connection to whatever you are choosing to support. While there are a plethora of items on this list, there are ten basic ones that everyone who claims to be a sports fan should own.
10. Equipment
Everyone should have some sort of equipment from the sport they like. Gloves, balls, bats, clubs, pucks, sticks and more are acceptable here. If you are anything like me, you own something from multiple sports.
9. Hats
Even if you have to dress in a suit and tie for work or church, you can still show your support via the noggin! The most awesome thing about hats is that they come in a variety of styles.
There's the fitted, SnapBack, adjustable, adjustable visor, flex fit, knit, hard hat, mock helmet, bucket and even the controversial fedora. Of all of the sports apparel you can buy, hats are probably one of the cheapest options available.
8. A Physical or Online Newspaper Subscription
What's the fun in having a team if you don't follow what the writers are saying? In this day of comment sections on Internet articles, you can let that columnist know exactly why you agree or disagree with his or her opinions about your team. Some writers will even debate with you!
Fans of high school and small college sports (DII, DIII, NAIA) need newspapers because of their in-depth coverage of those areas.
7. Foam Finger
Unlike the previous items listed, the foam finger is one of those "standout" pieces. When you are sitting in the stands, using the finger bumps you to another level of fandom!
Even when your team is down big, your finger reminds them that they are still No. 1! Also, if you put a heating pad in it, the finger doubles as a comfortable glove!
6. Team Tie
When going to work, a wedding, or church, you have to look sharp. However, with a team tie, you can look like a GQ model and support your team at the same time! Win-win? I think so!
5. Collectible Box
One day you will want to share fond memories of your youth with the kids and grandkids. Ticket stubs, that clipping from the newspaper when you were pictured making the game-winning shot and the game program from that Super Bowl you went to can all be saved in your collectible box.
While you are at it, go ahead and buy another box for your children's keepsakes as well.
4. A Blog
After watching a game, you undoubtedly have some thoughts on what you saw. Now, you could just discuss these things with your friends, significant other and your family and be done with it. Or, you could display your insight and knowledge to a larger, global audience.
With blogging, you can sound off on what you saw in that game and have calm or heated debates with those who read what you have produced. The best part is that you can write and publish these posts whenever and as often as you please.
3. Signed Memorabilia
It is one thing to own a baseball. It is quite another to own a baseball signed by one of your favorite players.Acquiring an autograph can be done in a variety of ways.
They include: a.) Buying items from a memorabilia shop, b.) Attending an autograph session at a mall, store or ball park, c.) Winning an item in a contest or, d.) Getting to the game early and getting through the crowd to present your items to the player for a signature.
Once you have the autograph in hand, use a special case or your collectibles box to keep it safe and secure.
2. Literature
Much like Hollywood, the sports world is full of scandals, controversies and dirty little secrets. If you want to know what really happened in those situations, you have to read books!
Sports tell-alls give you almost every detail you could possibly want to know about player/coach fueds, why a trade went down and what happens behind closed doors. For those who are just want good clean fun, there are plenty of books that provide hilarious stories, lists, and motivation/life advice.
If you are into the scandals, I recommend "Those Guys Have All The Fun: Inside the World of ESPN" by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales.
For the good clean fun, lists and motivation/life advice crowd, a great titles is: "The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy" by ESPN's Bill Simmons or "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success" by former NBA head coach Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty (this one is a mixture of motivation/advice and controversy).
1. A Jersey
Sadly,you can't play on the court with Kevin Durant or on the ice with Ryan Getzlaf. However, you can dress just like they will be during the game by virtue of having a copy of their jersey.
Jerseys can range from the screen-printed and even stitched replicas to the exactly what is worn on the field authentic. For the more frugal fan, the jersey T-shirt is a very cool and cost-efficient (usually between $20-$40) alternative.
The coolest thing about jerseys is that they don't get old. Your jersey can show how long you've been a dedicated fan of the team. When I went to Redskins games during the 2012-13 season, it was really awesome to see the old Darrell Green, Lavar Arrington, Art Monk and John Riggins jerseys among the thousands of RG3s, Brian Orakpos and Ryan Kerrigans.
New, throwback, customized or your favorite player's, either way, all sports fans need a jersey.
[tps_footer]If you think I missed something, let me know! In the mean time, get these items if you do not have them already![/tps_footer]
