Sports Products Guru
Birthday Gifts for an Athletic Woman
I’ve been seeing a girl for about three months now and her birthday is this weekend. Gift giving is not my forte, and I have absolutely no idea what to give her. Flowers don’t seem like enough since we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months, but I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars either. We’re going to be going out to dinner, of course, but I obviously need something more.
She’s quite athletic, so my sister suggested that I buy her a ladies sports watch. Like most suggestions my sister makes, I immediately shot it down. But after mulling it over, a ladies sports watch is the perfect gift; it’s not too pricey or flashy, but it still is a substantial gift with a personal touch.
February to September each year without football to watch. During the season, it’s college football from dawn to dusk followed by a full slate of pro games on Sundays. So during the offseason, it’s like I have an extra two days added to my week, but there’s nothing that can effectively fill the void besides football.
About the time preseason rolls around I’m chomping at the bit, donning my team’s NFL watches and replica jerseys practically everyday. Luckily there’s a lot of work to be done in preparation for the season: finalizing my fantasy draft board, analyzing training camps and scouting college players. The new Madden will be here soon, so hopefully that will be able to quench my
Men like objects that shine and sparkle just as much as women, though they’re often hard pressed to admit it. However, men also won’t want to wear objects like necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, as these objects emanate an aura of femininity. Men like jewelry that is functional but not gaudy; in essence, if it serves a purpose other than as a piece of jewelry, they’ll probably like it. When purchasing jewelry for a guy, you want to stray from the kinds of jewelry women wear, and think more about items like mens sports watches, cufflinks, or medallions. These items are more functional, with the exception of the medallion, which can also be displayed on a desk or table, and is more practical than a piece of jewelry worn on the body for a man.
Be sure to recognize the kind of jewelry the guy likes as well; for example, he might find gold too flashy, and prefer silver or platinum. It’s also a good idea to avoid gems all together, most guys prefer jewelry that is more plain.
Best friends typically have similar interest and similar styles – those are the things that attract women to each other and cause them to strike up friendships in the first place. It’s great to have a lot of things in common, but not when it comes to clothes and jewelry. All women like to be unique, and showing up to dinner or drinks in the same outfit as your friend is very embarrassing. Women are naturally competitive, and when they wear the same things, they automatically compare themselves and try to figure out who looks better.
There is no reason to be competitive with a good friend, and it’s better to steer clear of tensions that can arise from having the same clothes and jewelry. Look for unique, one-of-a-kind items that your friends can’t possibly have, even if they wanted them. Most women go for chic timepieces, so I usually wear ladies sports watches to distinguish myself.
With the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, World Cup matches and the conclusion NBA season, the last few weeks have been an unequivocal boon for sports fans. But due to the firestorm of coverage for these marquee events, the MLB season has been largely overshadowed. One player that has managed to steal the national spotlight, however, is rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg.
The Washington National’s pitcher has 32 strikeouts in his first three starts—a new Major League record—including 14 in his first appearance in the Big’s. Not only has Strasburg inspired the Nationals, who are in the cellar of the National League East, but he also has provided much needed media attention for MLB as a whole. It would be difficult for anyone to live up to the hype Strasburg recognized when he was first drafted (albeit Lebron did it with flying colors). But fans across the nation are showering him with praise and investing in Nationals baseball watches and other memorabilia.
As many people expected, the Lakers and Celtics met up in the NBA Finals this year, adding another chapter to their bitter, long-running rivalry. And this year’s edition certainly didn’t disappoint. After losing two straight in Boston, the Lakers headed back to LA down 3-2 in the series, with many people writing them off. In fact, the media and the blogosphere were already speculating as to what another loss to the Celtics in the Finals would mean for Kobe’s legacy.
However, the Lakers rose to the occasion in Game 6, soundly beating the Celtics and forcing one of the most intense sports scenarios—a Game 7 in the Finals. Much to everyone’s surprise, Kobe was decisively off his mark in the game, failing to ever find his stride on the offense side of the court (although he did reach double-digits in rebounds). The unexpected star of the game was the outspoken defensive guru Ron Artest, who offered the Lakers an unexpected spark on offense and hit key shots down the stretch. Although the parade has already taken place, you can bet LA fans will be wearing their sports watches for months to come.
Professional sports teams are the source of elation and misery for fans around the country and the globe. Teams are inextricably tied to their hometowns, which is part of the reason that fans develop such a symbiotic bond with the organizations. When a team succeeds, many people view it as a positive reflection on the city as a whole, and vice-versa.
Unlike virtually any other entity, sports teams have the capacity to imbue a city with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We all know the decimation that Hurricane Katrina left in New Orleans, but when the Saints made their miraculous run to the Super Bowl last season, people viewed it as a sign that the city was back on its feet. It’s no wonder then that people around the world don sports team watches and other memorabilia in support of their hometown squads.
Though the Magic and the Suns were both able to pull off victories this week and foil their opponent’s aspirations of sweeping into The Finals, we appear primed for an LA v. Boston showdown for the NBA Championship. Anyone with even a passing interest in basketball is aware of the storied rivalry between these two franchises. Some of the most heated and memorable Championships were fought for in the heyday of these franchises, when names like Bird, Magic and Abdul-Jabbar graced the hardwood.
Of course, this rivalry was rekindled just recently when the Celtics took the Championship in six games back in 2008. This season, however, the Lakes have added the defensive prowess of Ron Artest and Kobe’s supporting cast looks stronger than ever. As fans put on their NBA team watches and other memorabilia in anticipation of the NBA’s marquee event, there are certainly more than a few fans hoping to see LA and Boston matched up once again.
The MLB season is roughly 10-percent done, and many of the division standings are already beginning to take shape. As can be expected, the New York Yankees have the best record in baseball. Through 15 games however, their archnemesis the Boston Red Sox are below .500 and have been outscored by their opponents 65-82, which may have the Beantown faithful hiding their MLB watches in public.
In the National League, the landscape at the top of the leader boards is akin to last year—except in the West. The Dodgers and Rockies, two playoff teams from last season, are third and fourth in the division, respectively. There are certainly some conclusions that can be derived from the early developments in the baseball season, but it is important to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint; last year the Yankees had a paltry start only to finish the year with the League’s best record and a World Series title.
NFL Ready to Test New Draft Format
Today will mark an unprecedented occurrence for the NFL: The first round of the draft will take place in primetime on a weekday. This deviation from the tradition of holding the entire draft on a Saturday and Sunday is further evidence of how football has become entrenched in American culture. The draft used to only attract those with firsthand involvement with the league and diehard fans, but the event is now filled with pageantry and dominates ESPN coverage for weeks on end.
Despite the change to the event’s format, there are sure to be some traditions that will live on—such as the first overall pick being leaked well ahead of the announcement and New York Jets fans booing their first selection. Some people may not understand the allure of the draft, but for football fans, it serves as an oasis in the desert that is the football offseason. There are certainly going to be more than a few fans donning their NFL watches and memorabilia tonight as they see who will be the face of their favorite franchise in the years to come.