It’s not hard to find great gifts for the Pittsburgh sports fan(s) in your life.
Season 3 of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso will arrive in 2023, and you can be ready with this neon “Believe” sign, inspired by the fictional coach’s motivational message to his players. It’s perfect for anyone who loves their hometown team — even when they break our hearts. It’s the hope, after all, that kills you. $377 at customneon.com.
Why enjoy your suds of choice from a boring-old mug when you can drink them out of a Pirates baseball bat? Dugout Mugs makes it possible by carving just enough space for 12 ounces of any beverage into the the barrel of every batter’s favorite tool. And if your recipient has given up on the local 100-loss team, you can get the logo of any team that might make him or her happier branded onto your gift. Mugs start at $49.99 at dugoutmugs.com.
Before your fan drinks from a baseball bat, they’re going to need to open their beverage first. For that, Uncommon Goods has a NHL bottle opener made from the shaft of a hockey stick used in an actual game. You won’t know which player used the stick in question, but you will know the team from which it came. Choose the Penguins or any NHL team that tickles your fancy. $135 for the Penguins option at uncommongoods.com.
Make your pet part of the team with this custom football dog portrait from VanWoof. You can choose the Steelers or any other team. Send a picture of your furry friend and you’ll receive a hilarious image of Fido wearing a jersey and carrying a football. Perfect for any man cave, where – let’s be honest – the dog is probably the most frequent visitor for any big game. Starting at $30.55 at VanWoof’s Etsy store.
Tracking scores on a college football Saturday or NFL Sunday isn’t always easy. Unless your sports fan has this illuminated ticker from GlanceLED. Programmed to show scores from all 32 NFL teams and all 124 major college teams, it allows your fan to watch one game while keeping an eye on all the rest, with details including scores, time remaining and records of the teams involved. $149.99 from GlanceLED’s Etsy store.
Ticket stubs are going away in our digital age, which means the sports fan in your life is going to need a new way to make a physical memory of every game they attend. Fortunately for you, Uncommon Goods has a sporting event log book that allows fans to record the date, teams, location, weather and details of every contest they witness in-person. And they also make a log for rounds of golf if your favorite hacker needs to remember that perfect drive they sent right down the fairway. $20 at uncommongoods.com.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: November 23, 2022, 5:00 a.m.
