A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

You gotta love when two of a guy's favorite interests come together to make one great gift idea. Like when you cross America's most popular past-time with the thrill of the grill to form this baseball bat peppermill!

This 28" long beech wood bat is not only a unique gift idea, it's practical too. No more singed knuckles from getting them too close to the grill. Also, the bat can be brandished in a menacing fashion if anyone gets too close to your steaks before they're done!

I love this one for Dad for Father's Day, but it's certainly an ideal gift for any baseball fan who plans to be chillin' and grillin' this summer.

King Pepper Mill Baseball Bat starting at $49.99

A perfect Father's Day for me includes a few hours on the golf course with other dads whose families are gracious enough to give them the afternoon off. And there's nothing better than getting to the first tee looking like you know what you're doing with with some new clubs, a fresh golf shirt and personalized golf balls, like the Nike One Platinum Golf Balls.

Okay, so they don't automatically avoid sand traps or guarantee a round in the low 70s, but they'll definitely add an element of style to his game. I always say, it's really hard to play good, but not too tough to LOOK good — and these golf balls will give him some Father's Day flair on the course.

Nike One Platinum Golf Balls- Personalized starting at $44.99

One of the best things about college — in addition to scheduling Fridays off and all-you-can-eat buffets in the dining hall — is the ability to get around campus on a bike. There's nothing better than waking up 10 minutes before the start of class, throwing on some clothes and peddling to the lecture hall just in time.

This super cool Snake Bike Lock is a fun high school graduation gift that'll ensure that your new grad can always find his or her bike even when it's piled up with countless others on the rack at school. So send them off to college with the most stylish and slithery bike lock out there!

Snake Bike Lock starting at $26.99

What's better than winning an NCAA office pool? Winning two NCAA office pools–which is exactly what I did this year! And since I rode Kansas all the way to two big pool wins, maybe I should look into some of the great championship gear that has just come out. But I don't even like Kansas. 

Anyway, here are some great KU gear that will help Jayhawk fans enforce their new found bragging rights for the next year or so. Of course you've got the Champions Hoodie, but also check out the Jayhawks wall decal and the KU 2008 National Champions "Ring" tee for extra school spirit. All of these make great high school graduation gifts for future Jayhawks too.

Kansas Jayhawks 2008 National Basketball Champions Point Guard Hooded Sweatshirt starting at $41.99

The baseball season is officially underway and that's a great thing because I'm a baseball nut. Every baseball season, I like to pick up a few new books on America's Pastime. And be it a books on stats, a piece of fiction or a book on the game's history, I really get into it. 

Right now, I'm nose-deep in Baseball Prospectus 2008, and I'm looking for my next read. Click here to find more of my favorite picks that ought to please the most die-hard baseball fan out there. Play ball!

Baseball Prospectus 2008: The Essential Guide to the 2008 Baseball Season starting at $17.56 

April 1st ranks up there with my favorite holidays. There may not be zillions of presents (Christmas) or loads of booze (St. Patty's), but it's the only day dedicated to all things funny. And who doesn't love a good practical joke?

You can bet I do, which is why I'll be using these hilarious Dynamite Bursting Golf Balls on all my golfer buddies—and I highly suggest you do the same. These golf balls look just like the real thing, but put them on the tee, take a swing, and bam! Watch them explode and watch all your friends jump out of their skin. It doesn't get any better than that! Happy April Fool's!

Dynamite Bursting Golf Balls starting at $12.95

Need a gift idea? Need it fast? Here's a quick list of gifts we're loving this week.

For the weekend kickoff: This NCAA beverage tub will add team spirit to any March Madness party.

For your Easter bunny: A checkered rabbit harness in spring colors–even pets need to dress in their Easter Sunday best!

For your sweet tween: A little ice cream sundae charm that smells as yummy as it looks. (via Awesome!)  

For the new big brother: A t-shirt stating his new role will let everyone know who's boss in the playroom.

For the chic geek: A Periodic Ring that calls out an element (Au, Pt, Ag) a la high school chemistry class. (via Uncrate)

So what does one wear to a Super Bowl Champions parade? The obvious choice to most (including many of the Giants players themselves) is the Super Bowl XLII Champions Parade Sweatshirt. I'm not making that up! They really designed a Parade Sweatshirt–nice.

But frankly, there are tons of choices for Champions apparel and gear out there now which commemorate the Giants' incredible journey to becoming the top dogs of the NFL. A good call is the Super Bowl Champions Locker Room Hat. You probably saw this one on TV. It's the hat the players were handed the instant they won the big game. But when it comes right down to it, my favorite is the "18-1" t-shirt. It says so much by saying so little and is sure to be worn with pride by any Giants fan.

'18-1' Funny T-Shirt for Men starting at $17.99

It wasn't easy, but we all survived. The first Sunday in a long time without football may have caused cold sweats for some, but the cure is now less than a week away. That's right, this time next week, we will have a new NFL Champion. But until that time, both teams will be very hard at work devising game plans to be unleashed on Super Bowl Sunday. And I suggest you do the same. 

Your game plan is all about putting together an all-star Super Bowl party. First things first–get your Giants and Patriots team gear ready. Next think seriously about upgrading your TV. And don't forget to put together a menu of serious grub that they'll be talking about until next year's game. And lastly, serve it all up on this awesome platter.

As for the big game? Guru's Prediction: Patriots 28 Giants 17.

Well, the Giants and Patriots have their tickets punched and are well deserving of their trips to Scottsdale for Super Bowl XLII. If you ask me, the Giants might want to enjoy the weather because the rest of the trip might not be that pleasant, but then again, I thought they would have been bounced weeks ago. So what do I know?

I'll tell you what I know–I know where to pick up great Giants and Pats team gear. With everything from life-size wall graphics for Eli and Brady, to NFC and AFC Conference Champs gear, you can be decked out with your team's gear and you'll be pretty much the envy of the Super Bowl party. And if you hurry (and are ready to drop top dollar) you might still be able to score VIP tickets to the game.