Sports fans are like geeky uncles. Seems like every family has one and even though they’re obnoxious and overbearing at times, they make you smile with their over-the-top candor about how much they love their team/sport/sporting god.

Let’s give them some love this holiday season with a Christmas gift or two.

When it comes to buying Christmas presents for most sports fans, it’s really not too hard at all. They (and I include myself in this group) are obvious about which sports they love and why. They’re not too picky about what color … as long as it’s Seahawk blue and green or U.W. purple and gold.
But there are a few pitfalls. Let me help with a few general rules:

1. Go small. Winter sports gear is often expensive — skis, snowboards, snowshoes, jackets, etc. — and these are often very personal items. Don’t try to pick out something that you think they’ll like, only to see that faux smile on Christmas day pop up. Go for accessories or even gift cards. Skiers, for example, can always use hats or gloves, a boot bag or wax kit, while snowboarders could use a stomp pad, nose guard, rope tow protective gloves. In this economy, spending less is probably not a problem for most shoppers.

2. Go for experience. This is my theme this year as well. Instead of buying “stuff,” give your sports fan nut a place where he/she can express themselves … in the middle of thousands of screaming fans. If the major sports teams are too costly (and they are by a Clallam mile), seek deals online, target minor league teams (the Everett Silvertips hockey franchise puts on a heck of a sporting experience) or look to the outdoors: the peninsula is filled with hiking, biking and paddling experiences, snow fun (when we get it) at Hurricane Ridge and much more. Plus, buying two tickets means the buyer and the gift receiver get to share the fun.

3. Go for the team — within reason. Just because someone loves a sports team, it doesn’t mean everything with that logo is cool. A pair of socks is still a pair of socks, and a pencil sharpener is still a pencil sharpener, whether it has “Seahawks” on it or not. You’d better hope that sports fan really has cold feet or needs his/her No. 2 chiseled. They may find that kind of gift ho-hum. Unless it’s a toaster … because how cool would that be? I can get my toast to look just like Matt Hasselbeck’s does!

4. Go indoors. Got a soccer fan in your family? Peninsula College (417-6410) hosts an adult indoor soccer league with divisions for coed competitive, coed noncompetitive and women-only players. The Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (683-3344) has pickup volleyball and basketball games each week, plus racquetball courts. A monthlong or 20-visit pass goes a long way toward meeting those New Year’s resolutions. A baseball fan to buy for? Sequim Baseball (683-3357) has batting cages for baseball and softball players, plus an indoor hitting league and much more.

5. Stay home … to shop. As always, I love to buy local or at least semi-local. Find plenty of good stuff (especially for the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen out there) in and around Sequim at: Swain’s Outdoor, 551 W. Washington St., www.swainsoutdoor.com; Far North Surf Sport, 369 W. Washington St., farnorthsurf.com; Fred’s Hobbies and Guns, 349 W. Washington St.; Lost Mountain Surf Company, 261391 Highway 101, www.lostmountainsurfcompany.com; Big 5 Sporting Goods, 171 Valley Center Place in Carlsborg.

I hope this helped. If not, just get ’em socks and a receipt. Just about everyone except runners will return them for what they really want.

Sweet sports gifts under $30

• Nike+ipod
This wireless sensor and receiver combination works exclusively with Nike+ shoes and an iPod nano or iPod touch to give real-time feedback during workouts, letting you track performance via a computer.

• HeatGear Tactical long sleeve T, from UnderArmor
Great gear for gym workouts, running around outdoors or playing around indoors. Plus, it’s got “antimicrobial technology” that “bolsters odor suppression.” So it’s got that going for it. Which is nice.

• Mini pingpong table
A way to get your pong on without having to unfold a massive, space-enveloping table in your garage.

• Bushnell Powerview 10x32 folding binoculars
Great accessory for cross country skiers, kayakers, hikers and Seahawks fans: See? There’s where the season went! To Arizona!

• Primary Simulation Laser Ball Baseball (also comes in softball size)
Who needs a radar gun? These balls are accurate up to 120 mph. Just don’t throw it in the house.


Michael Dashiell is sports editor of the Sequim Gazette. Write him an e-mail at: miked@sequimgazette.com.