Cal Game Day T-shirt

Here is a sneak peak - pre-order it here.  I like this one more than the last couple of seasons.  

Would you wear a gameday shirt like this for your favorite football team?  Let us know at welldressedsportsfan@gmail.com 

Mauer Power Shirt From Sportscrack

Our friends at Sportscrack have given us a new item to lust after, this fantastic Joe Mauer t-shirt. Check it out here. 

Preview: 2009 All Star Game

All-Star game balloting has begun. Every year, we suggest pretty much the same thing when it comes to All-Star gear.  If you're a fan of the team that is hosting, now is the time to load up on some unique gear.  If you're not really a St. Louis Cardinal fan, however, you probably won't fall in love with the color scheme of the uniforms coming out for this year's game.  

On the other hand, if you happen to be a Cardinals fan, this is your year.  The All-Star Game logo looks great this year and Majestic has come up with some great shirts already.  

We can't really get excited about shorts, unless you plan on buying a pair from your alma matter and wearing them to the gym periodically.  

If you're a Cardinals fan and you want something a bit different to pair with a standard jersey when going to a game, how about this hat?  

The problem with buying All-Star gear when your team isn't hosting is that we rarely remember where the game was held five years ago - making commemorating the event with a shirt or hat seem a bit ridiculous.  If your team does host, however, odds are you'll remember the event and want some sort of keepsake.  

Have fun voting! 

Big Game

Cal defeated Stanford in the 111th Big Game yesterday.  Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin was looking good, rocking a simple blue and yellow Golden Bear t-shirt.  (Getty Images)

Also showing the Golden Bear's some love is Adam Sandler, in his upcoming flick Bedtime Stories.  The shirt is great, but were not thrilled with the plaid shirt - it is a little Happy Gilmorish.  Sticking with the plain tee and jeans would look better, but still not as good as Miss Coughlin.  

Don't be "That Guy"

A recent gem in the St. Paul Pioneer Press chronicled the large number of drunken fans who missed the Minnesota Vikings play the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.  Not only did they drop $40 plus on tickets, they missed an epic game, ending with an Adrian Peterson touchdown scamper and a last second missed field goal.  

I've witnessed first hand the ills of sports drunkenness and I'm here to steer you away from this disease.  It is very important to remember that I am not a doctor, I just consider myself a drinking enthusiast. 

Tip 1: Remember that it takes 45 minutes for the average Joe to process alcohol.  Remember that beer you shot gunned right before heading through the gates?  It is going to hit you right at the start of the second quarter.  This could be a good thing if you had an ever so tiny buzz when you polished off that Bud Light, but if you've already had to much to drink you could be heading for disaster in the middle of the game.  

Tip 2: Know your limit.  This sounds obvious, but a lot of people clearly forget where the line is between having a good time and being so wasted that they won't remember the outcome of the game.  Remember that everyone has a different limit.  Don't force your friend that is three inches shorter and hasn't eaten anything all day to do four shots with you unless you're willing to help him out of the game.  

Tip 3: Make sure you've eaten.  A lot.  That bowl of cereal this morning ain't going to cut it if you're having a few before a noon game.  Go to the game early and eat some protein.  Grill some chicken or have some steak and concentrate on having a good time grilling that, rather than just concentrating on taking shots.  

Tip 4: Limit yourself to one beer at the game.  When I go to a baseball game on a hot summer day, I might leisurely have two beers.  At a football game, you're standing and cheering quite a bit - so it isn't super convenient to have a drink in your hand for four quarters.  I try to take off just before half time to grab a spot in a short line to get a beer.  

Tip 5: Consider drinking after the game instead. This works especially well for dry college stadiums.  If you have season tickets, plan on hitting the bars with your friends after each home game that your team wins.  Bars and restaurants get crowded with the post-game rush, but this adds to the atmosphere if it isn't overly crowded.  The beer is typically less expensive, the selection is better, and you can stand around and re-cap the game with your friends.  

Here and there: A number of Ebbets Field Flannels t-shirts are on sale.  Despite how amused I am by these, please avoid this or this if you are looking to meet a cute female fan at the game. The coolest NFL hat might be this Bills hat.  I think the vast majority of the NFL hats look almost NASCARish.  

Distant Replays is offering a series of Ivy League throwback hockey jerseys that will knock your socks off.  Know anyone who went to Yale?  How about Dartmouth?

Beer *or* Nobody Likes a Sloppy Sports Fan

Let's face it, one of the best reasons to go to a sporting event as an adult is to sit back and have a couple of beers.  Partly for this reason, I've loved day games ever since I became of age.  The sun is out, many people are playing hooky from work or school, and you can drink during the day - it is basically a magic formula for having a good time.  

The following is our guide to drinking at a sporting event without looking like a complete tool:

1. Start with a classy beer and drink it slowly.  By classy we mean higher quality.  Something that you can actually taste.  In newer ballparks you can find beers like Anchor Steam (San Francisco Giants) and Leinenkugel (Washington Nationals) somewhere in the stadium.  A local brew here is, of course, preferred.  Drink this beer slowly, preferably before the game while you walk around the stadium or relax in your seats. 

2. On a hot day, you don't have to be embarrassed to drink light beer at the ballpark.  Start off with something a bit classier, then feel free to move onto cheaper domestic, light brews.  

3. Certain beers just "go" with certain ballparks.  If you visit Wrigley Field, it is almost a sin not to drink an Old Style.  The St. Louis Cardinals play at Busch Stadium and Budweiser can't be missed.  Coors Field in Denver - um, yeah, you should probably have a Coors.  

All this being said, my friends and I have conducted a pretty complete "cheap beer taste test" and Miller Lite has consistently fallen to the bottom of the list.  Go with an MGD or Miller High Life when visiting the Brewer's stadium in Milwaukee.  

4. Have fun, but don't get out of control.  Having a couple of beers at a game is wonderful - but nothing makes you look like a bigger loser than getting out of control.  The mix of adrenaline and alcohol can have devastatingly uncool effects.  Fighting, screaming obscenities, and drooling on yourself are all enormous red flags to girls and potential new friends (surprising to learn, right?).  

Notes here and there:

With the news that the Mets will be relocating its AAA team from New Orleans to Buffalo - it might be time to pick up some new gear.  The Buffalo Bison's main logo is pretty lackluster, but their batting practice cap is fantastic.  

This New Orleans Pelicans shirt has me drooling.  Perfect broken in look, a bird and a baseball diamond.  This shirt is pretty much perfect for any baseball fan.  This shirt is a close second. 

It isn't often that you see Minor League teams offering the Majestic Therma Base Fleece, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have one that looks sweet.  The squad has just switched its affiliation to the Milwaukee Brewers, so I'm sure some fans from the region will be looking to pick up some new gear.  

Check Out Our New Cafe Press Store

We've opened an online store!  Grab one of our t-shirts and throw on your favorite hat and you know you'll look great for the game.

Check it out here.

Quick Tips: Avoid Player Face Tees

Quick Tip: Avoid any t-shirt with your favorite player's face on the front.  Instead, buy something that looks a bit more like a jersey with your favorite player's name on the back.  

The whole - your face - on top of a celebrity's face thing - well, it looks a little creepy.

Favorite Player Traded?

Was your favorite MLB player traded before the trade deadline this week?  Bummer. 

Instead of buying an authentic jersey that can run upwards of $100, why not buy a t-shirt stylized like your favorite team's uniform with a customized name on the back?  Check them out from MLB.com here.

For authentic jerseys, the Well Dressed Sports Fan recommends throwback or retro jerseys. After all, Babe Ruth won't be traded from the Yankees anytime soon, so the jersey is timeless.