LIDS Hat Blog

LIDS Sports Group, NFL Gear Up for Super Bowl XLVII Retail Experience

-- Company to operate the 30,000 square foot NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa --
-- Pop up location will offer shop-in-shop elements as well as interactive fan activities --

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 22, 2013 – LIDS Sports Group, the Indianapolis-based operator of the North American LIDS retail chain, in collaboration with the National Football League, is pleased to announce its plans for this year’s NFL Experience Driven by GMC concessions business – the NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa. In an innovative spin on the traditional concept for this venue, the retailer has switched gears to focus on creating a fan destination for Super Bowl-goers to include the industry’s latest offerings in product customization and entertainment features. The 30,000 square foot pop up shop will be open to the public from January 25 through February 4, 2013.

“We are truly excited for this opportunity to make a statement of how our retail game plan is constantly evolving, and to showcase that we are able magnify what we do every day in our more than 1,000 LIDS and LIDS Locker Room locations to meet Super Bowl fan expectations for years to come,” said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher.

“This is another example of our determination to prove LIDS Sports Group is a major stakeholder in more than just the headwear category.” The specialty retailer and all-inclusive team sports dealer, primarily known for its headwear stores, has been recently fueling its growth through a more localized, team-specific storefront banner with product selections such as jerseys, fan apparel and team-branded novelty items.

“In looking for a world class leader to help us achieve our retail objectives for the NFL Experience in New Orleans, LIDS’ offerings and willingness to push the envelope to provide a unique fan experience stood out – as is evident in their expanding event retailing efforts,” said Leo Kane, NFL senior vice president of consumer products. “We are excited to work with LIDS to deliver to our fans more ways to celebrate their teams and Super Bowl XLVII.”

The NFL Experience shop will offer sports enthusiasts a wide variety of officially licensed Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl XLVII apparel and memorabilia, ranging from the latest fashion trends to on-field gear.

Key NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa retail elements and logistics:

- Player Appearances and Celebrity Interaction Opportunities

- Interactive Features: XBOX Gaming Area, Tailgate Toss, Fathead Photo Booth, and Fitted Test

- LIDS Custom Zone: Custom Embroidery, Custom Screen Printing on Jerseys, Special Event Patches, Personalized Key Chains and Custom Photo Souvenir Footballs

- Limited Edition Product Offerings – Limited Quantities

- Shop-in-Shop Partners: Nike, New Era, G-III and Touch by Alyssa Milano, Fathead, Tervis Tumblers, EA Sports, Mitchell & Ness and ’47 Brand

- NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by Visa hours of operation will be: 
    Date                                                                     Hours of Operation 
    Friday, Jan. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 27             10:00 AM to 7:00 PM 
    Monday, Jan. 28 through Tuesday, Jan. 29         CLOSED
    Wednesday, Jan. 30 through Saturday, Feb.2    10:00 AM to 10:00 PM 
    Sunday, Feb. 3                                                     8:00 AM to 3:00 PM 
    Monday, Feb. 4                                                     8:00 AM  to 2:00 PM


Additionally, LIDS Sports Group will manage other prime locations under the NFL SHOP at Super Bowl Presented by LIDS retail banner in the greater New Orleans area – the French Quarter, Riverwalk, and NFL host hotels – to satisfy customer demand throughout the city leading up to this NFL season’s championship game.


ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.


Twitter – @LIDS4Hats   @LIDSPR   #LIDSSBXLVII     
LIDS Mobile – Text LIDSSB47 to 477493 for Super Bowl XLVII Offers

LIDS Team Sports Official Uniform Supplier of East-West Shrine Game

Sporting Goods Distributor Continues Sponsorship with 88th College Football All-Star Match Up

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 17, 2013 – LIDS Team Sports, a team apparel and equipment dealer operating within all 50 states and a business unit of Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, has extended its sponsorship agreement as the official uniform supplier for the 2013 East-West Shrine Game®. The nation’s longest-running all-star football game will take place Saturday, January 19, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

LIDS Team Sports is providing uniforms as well as practice and travel gear for this year’s participants. The two team rosters include a combination of 115 premier collegiate athletes, representing more than 50 academic institutions across the country.

“We are pleased to yet again be a part of the annual East-West Shrine Game, which is a nice alignment of the nation’s best in college football and the efforts of Shriners Hospital – a cause worthy of the support generated by this association,” said LIDS Team Sports Executive Vice President Matt Geske. “For the players involved, many of whom will advance to the NFL, this game not only provides the opportunity to showcase their athleticism but a chance to truly hone in on their passion to give back.”

The game will again benefit the 22 Shriners Hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico which provide state-of-the-art medical treatment to children in need regardless of their ability to pay. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Shriners provides advanced care for youth patients with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

“This event is truly ‘More than just a game.’ It’s about creating lasting relationships that breathe new life to our philanthropic mission – be it players, coaches, spectators or suppliers,” said Executive Director of the East-West Shrine Game Harold Richardson.

The 2013 East-West Shrine Game will be broadcast on the NFL Network at 4:00 p.m. EST. Visit www.shrinegame.com for more information.

ABOUT LIDS TEAM SPORTS
LIDS Team Sports is a full service team dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods operator based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a division of Hat World, Inc. Hat World is a niche mall-based retailer of baseball caps and team fan shops operating primarily under the LIDS retail brand. LIDS Team Sports was founded in 2009 and is made up primarily of regional team dealers Anaconda Sports (Lake Katrine, New York), the former Brand Athletics (Tigard, Oregon), and the former Impact Sports (Madison, Wisconsin). What began as a modest 10-state sales territory in 2009 now spans 50 states today. The company provides all-inclusive institutional sporting goods to a broad range of customers throughout the United States, including colleges and universities, high schools, corporations, and youth organizations. The business offers a diverse selection of products – jerseys, warm-ups, fleeces, polo shirts, jackets, t-shirts, shorts, shoes and other team uniform sportswear and a complete line of sporting equipment – and services such as team fundraising support. The company also operates the Internet sites www.lidsteamsports.com and www.anacondasports.com, in addition to a LIDS Team Golf division and a catalog business. For more information, one can visit lidsteamsports.com or call (800) 644-4481.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

RELEASE: LIDS Sports Group to Acquire Retail Stores from Fanatics, Inc.

FansEdge and Football Fanatics retail locations in Chicago, Jacksonville and Oklahoma markets to be rebranded under the Locker Room by LIDS retail banner

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., October 31, 2012 – The LIDS retail division, a multi-channel business unit of Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, has reached an agreement with Florida-based Fanatics, Inc. to purchase 12 brick-and-mortar retail stores, comprised of nine FansEdge locations in the Greater Chicago area as well as one in Oklahoma and two Football Fanatics in Jacksonville, Fla.

Through this agreement the locations will be rebranded under the Locker Room by LIDS retail banner, to include region-specific storefronts such as Chicago Locker Room and Oklahoma Locker Room.  “We continue to look for opportunities to expand the LIDS brand, and this acquisition allows us the opportunity to align these new additions – which are positioned in great sports communities – with our evolving sports apparel retail concepts,” said LIDS Sports Group President Ken Kocher.

ABOUT LIDS SPORTS GROUP
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business, and the Internet businesses www.lids.com, www.lidslockerroom.com, wwwlidsclubhouse.com, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.lids.ca. Operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, the retail businesses make up more than 1,000 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. LIDS retail stores offer officially licensed and branded headwear of collegiate teams, major professional sports teams, as well as other specialty fashion categories in the latest styles and colors. LIDS Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories, and novelties which also operates under the Sports Fan-Attic and Sports Avenue retail concepts. Most LIDS and LIDS Locker Room stores also offer custom embroidery capability. LIDS Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce sites. LIDS Team Sports is a full-service team uniform and apparel dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genesco Inc.

“In our mission to establish the LIDS brand as a one-stop shop for the fan, participant or both, this agreement offers LIDS Sports Group the chance to further expose the many other layers of our business to sports enthusiasts who are predominately only familiar with our headwear side,” said Kocher.

The LIDS Sports Group retail division will introduce its Custom Zone in-store customization capabilities to the recently acquired locations, which will carry an assortment of local and regional product offerings of officially licensed apparel and merchandise.  Customers will also be able to take advantage of the company’s gift card and LIDS Club loyalty card programs at each location.

The Campbell-Cardinals Tradition

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid on Twitter

In 1970, when I was five years old, my dad took me to my first St. Louis Cardinals game.  In those days Lou Brock and Bob Gibson were in their prime, coming off of three World Series appearances in six years and winning two (very reminiscent of what just took place these last six years).  I was hooked.  Little did I know though at that young age it would take my beloved Redbirds 12 long years to get back to the World Series. 

For their next appearance, I was a junior in high school and was actually able to celebrate a World Series win.  I’ll never forget it.  The Cardinals then went on to play in the World Series in ‘85 and ‘87, however the team failed to clinch the championship both times and suffered painful loses in Game 7 of each.  Again, little did I know it would be 17 more years until the Cardinals were in another World Series (2004). This time I was 38 years old, married with four children; a stark contrast to being 22 and fresh out of college in ‘87.  The great thing about ’04 was that I had the opportunity to take my dad and return the favor from 34 years earlier, when he passed his love for the Cardinals on to me.

Now I fast forward to what just happened this season.  For Cardinals fans alike it’s already been documented how crazy a month it was, from being virtually out of contention with mere weeks left in the season to winning their 11^th World Series in franchise history.  This latest victory put the team in the top spot for most championships in the National League, and second in the sport overall just behind only the New York Yankees. 

Moments like these are so unpredictable, yet I tried to take advantage of every opportunity to share this experience with my family.  This year my wife and I took our 4 kids to multiple playoff and World Series games in St. Louis, and even had the opportunity to make it to Milwaukee and Texas for games.  Hopefully years from now our kids will understand how special this October was, and they will feel the same nostalgia that I did in 1970 when my dad took me to my first game.  And so the Campbell-Cardinals tradition continues…

A Redbirds fan without an official team cap? Not if we have anything to say about it. lids.com is your headquarters for St. Louis Cardinals hats, and all your favorite MLB team hats and accessories. LIDS has a complete selection of St. Louis Cardinals hats--including Authentic Collection, Franchise and more--in all the sizes and colors you need to support your Cards.

Fan Returns Jeter's 3,000th Hit Ball

 

What would you have done if you caught Derek Jeter's home-run, 3,000th hit?

Well, Christian Lopez a cellphone salesman from Highland Mills, N.Y., who was seated in Section 236, Row 1, Seat 19, found himself in that situation.  The 23-year-old scooped up New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit on Saturday, July 9, 2011.  Instead of auctioning off the piece of Major League Baseball history , Lopez stated he was just going to hand it over to one of his baseball heroes.  Even more astonishing was the fact that Lopez asked for nothing in return for the estimated $250,000 ball; however, the Yankees Organization didn't just take the ball away without any compensation to Lopez.  Sources reveal they rewarded Lopez's generosity with a pretty nice package including almost $70,000 worth of Yankees memorabilia and tickets.

Now that Derek Jeter's bid for one of baseball's most sacred milestones, the 3,000-hit club, is complete, LIDS is pulling out all the stops to commemorate this landmark event in Jeter's career with the Authentic MLB New Era® 59FIFTY®. Now, you can help honor one of the game's biggest stars and the first New York Yankee to reach this milestone.  We can't offer you the actual 3,000th hit ball, but the Authentic MLB New Era 59FIFTY can help you remember this highlight event. 

LIDS Hosts Pete Rose at College World Series

In the wake of a professional baseball career that spanned from 1963-1989, Pete Rose sits atop the Major League Baseball record book for hits (4,256), games played (3,562), and at-bats (14,053). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, a MVP, two Gold Gloves, was Rookie of the Year and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B and 1B).

As one of the pro game’s best, I wondered if “Charlie Hustle” had been among college baseball’s best and perhaps had played in the College World Series. I was surprised to learn during Rose’s appearance at the 2011 College World Series it was his first-ever trip to Omaha, home of CWS since 1950.

LIDS, conversely, is no stranger to “The Greatest Show on Dirt” having operated trailers and temporary stores at CWS every year for more than a decade. On June 20, 2011, LIDS joined forces with Omaha Baseball Village, located just outside TD Ameritrade Park—the brand new home of CWS—to host Rose for an autograph signing. Rose led off the appearance with a radio interview on Omaha’s ESPN Radio affiliate 1620AM The Zone. (Click here* to view and listen to the interview.)

Adding to the excitement for the hundreds of fans that came out to meet The Hit King was a surprise appearance at the signing by fellow Cincinnati star athlete Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco who posted a fun picture later that day on his Twitter.

On behalf of the LIDS family, a huge thanks to Pete for being so generous of your time with LIDS and the fans!

 * The station’s audio was not properly connected for the first few minutes of the interview. The error is corrected at the 9:15 mark.

  
 


 

 

Free UFC DVD at LIDS. Seriously…No ‘Choke’!

An estimated 55,000 rabid fans are expected to pack Toronto's Rogers Centre for Saturday's Ultimate Fighting Championship 129 event. All but a handful are sure to be cheering for Canada’s own and current welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre against Jake Shields in the April 30, 2011 headline match among the 11 bouts scheduled. St-Pierre is from Saint-Isidore, Quebec.

“They are going to be booing me like crazy,” said Shields at a recent press conference. “There’s no way to prepare for 55,000 people booing you.”

It is all smiles and cheers at LIDS, however, as its Toronto-area stores are brimming with the latest UFC headwear. While supplies last, visitors to Toronto-area stores can pick up a free DVD of UFC highlights with a UFC hat purchase.

Fifty-five thousand people to watch two people compete in a 750-square foot octagon – not to mention an international pay-per-view television audience – is pretty impressive. There is no denying the popularity of UFC. According to compete.com, an agency that tracks website traffic, UFC was the sixth most popular sport in the United States back in 2007, and its popularity doesn’t seem to have slowed in recent years.

No matter the sport, you can count on LIDS to have the latest and greatest officially licensed headwear.

Who is your pick to hoist the championship belt on Saturday night, St-Pierre or Sheilds and why?

 

What kind of LIDS Hat are you?

LIDS has a huge selection of hats in every size, color, brand and style to fit the biggest sports fan to the most stylish cowgirl.  But with so many styles to choose from, you might need some help! That’s why expert sales associates are available at a LIDS retail store in your neighborhood mall but in the meantime, take this personality quiz to find out which hat suits you the best.

What Kind of LIDS Hat are you? CLICK HERE and Find Out!

 
   

St. Patty’s Day = True Boston Pride

St. Patty’s day has come and gone, but it will be one to remember (for some). South Boston always throws together a parade you can’t help but get excited for, Irish or not. Being the second largest parade in the country with close to a million people, I couldn’t help but notice my fellow Bostonians reppin’ their green Celtics jerseys and hats. Nothing better than seeing streets filled with true Celtic pride.

St. Patty’s day is a time we say goodbye to winter and I’m confident I speak for everyone in Boston when I say we whole heartedly welcome spring and embrace the warmer weather we’ve been anxiously awaiting. I love my Lids Dog Ear Hat, but I’ll be happy to store it away until next winter. With new styles coming this spring you won’t want to miss a beat. Be the first of your friends to rock your favorite team with styles fresher than Fresh Prince himself. Don’t be “that guy” and show up to a game without sporting your favorite teams’ apparel.

Boston is proud to represent their city, are you? Check out the NEW Lids.com and be sure to support your team if you’re a true fan; don’t be left out! Make sure to check in with the Lids Blog and the Lids Facebook page to take advantage of upcoming promotions for the best Lids deals.

 

Who Would Have Guessed...?

How is your bracket looking? If it's anything like mine, it's probably not looking too good.  If someone were to have told me that two #1 seeds would already be knocked out of the tournament, one region would have 3 of their 4 Sweet Sixteen teams at double digit seeds, and that Duke would get Kyrie Irving back but wouldn't make it to the Elite Eight, I would have told them that they were crazy.  I guess that's why this month is coupled with the term "Madness".  Being a senior at Butler University, I am a huge favorite of under"dawgs" and upsets, but even I couldn't have dreamed up what has unfolded so far.  Not only have two powerhouses, Duke and Pitt, been taken down, but there are still four double-digit seeds going strong, one of which will get knocked out today when VCU takes on Florida State.

Last year, Butler got a title as a "Cinderella" team with their sprint to the national title game, and many people have been talking about who will be this years Butler.  Of course, I would say that Butler is this years Butler; however, the way things are looking, we might have more than one Cinderella team on our hands as we get closer to that final game.  Which underdog team, or teams, do you think can pull out a big upset and don the term Cinderella?

One thing is for sure: Whether your team is an underdog or a top seed predicted to win it all, in the month of March, anything can happen. Some call it luck, others call it madness. But, all remaining teams have gotten there for a reason and they certainly aren't going to back down now.  Richmond guard Kevin Anderson, who plays the Kansas Jayhawks tonight, told reporters: "You don’t get to the Sweet 16 and decide that’s good enough. That’s not really a goal. I don’t want to sell our hard work short. Everyone’s saying we’re lucky to be in the Sweet 16, we’re lucky Morehead State beat Louisville. We want to prove those people wrong. What better way to do that than by beating Kansas?”

Who knows what will happen next? Could Richmond pull off a huge upset?  How many more buzzer beater shots will we see?  Who are your picks now that the field has been narrowed? Whatever happens, make sure to check in with us for all your game time headwear and get ready to cheer on your favorites!

 

Bring on the Madness!

As a college senior, I will tell you that there is no better time to be a college sports fan than in March.  March is home to passion, upsets, underdogs, last-minute shots, Cinderella teams, screaming fans, and most importantly heart. All I can say is bring on the Madness! Last year, I watched my team of Butler Bulldogs march their way to the Final Four and ultimately the National Championship.  A true Cinderella team.  As I gear up to hopefully cheer on my guys for another run this year, there are plenty of basketball teams that are looking to be must watches in the coming tournement.  Some will have to wait to see if their team made the lucky list for the tournement, while others are already making predictions on the title game.  Ohio State?  Jimmer Fredette and BYU?  Duke, again?

Whether your team is at the top of the list or whether you'll be crossing your fingers until the brackets are announced, make sure you have everything you need to support your team the right way. If you are looking to attend the games with a friend, LIDS has plenty of 2 for $25 NCAA Hats!  So, hurry and get the styles you want in order to cheer your team on to a National Championship!

Get ready to fill out those brackets because March is here and the teams are ready to make history!  Who do you think will make it to the Final Four?  What about the title game? And, of course, who is going to win it all?  Let us know your March predictions by leaving a comment on the LIDS Blog! 

 

An All-Star Weekend

With football coming to a close, its time to turn our attention to basketball.  We're about to enter the month of March which is known for upsets, underdogs, heartache and happiness, but before we get too ahead of ourselves we have the NBA All-Star game!  This weekend fans can watch the best of the best as the Eastern conference All-Stars take on the Western conference in Los Angeles.  With so many talented players, it's sure to be a good show.

 
 

Who do you think is going to come away with the win: the East or the West?  Will Blake Griffin live up to the hype or will an underdog come away with the win in the dunk competition?  Do you have an old favorite when it comes to past NBA All-Star Slam Dunk performances?  Let's hear what you have to say about the NBA!

   

      
 
 

Packers Take the Lombardi Trophy Home

The Lombardi Trophy is heading home!  The Green Bay Packers edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 31-25 win to claim the Super Bowl XLV title.  Aaron Rodgers was named the Super Bowl XLV MVP winning a shiny new Chevrolet Camaro.  However, Rodgers appeared to be more excited as teammate, Clay Matthews, gave him a boxing/wrestling style black and gold title belt.  Rodgers often celebrates touchdowns by making the motion of putting a championship belt on his waist.

While not all of us can take home the Lombardi trophy, a shiny new Camaro or a title belt, you can have a piece of the Super Bowl to remember the experience.  Be sure to get your Super Bowl XLV Championship gear to remember the fun--even if it was just as a spectator from the comfort of your own couch.

In the aftermath of all that partying and celebration, here is a recap in the form of stats from the NFL Network research crew. 

• The road less traveled: The Packers joined the 2005 Steelers as the only No. 6 seeds to win a Super Bowl. They’re the sixth Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl, and the third team to do so after winning three road playoff games.

• Teams with a positive turnover differential are 33-3 all-time in the Super Bowl. The Packers were +3 against the Steelers and +6 during the 2010 playoffs.

• Credit the Steelers for nearly winning a Super Bowl despite those three turnovers. The Packers failed to convert a third-down attempt (0-for-4) in the third quarter and had one first down before regaining the momentum late.

• Mike McCarthy improved to 5-2 in the playoffs and joins Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as coaches to win Super Bowl with the Packers.

• Charles Woodson is the fourth player to win a Heisman Trophy, college national title and a Super Bowl.

• Outside of two drops, Jordy Nelson had an MVP-type performance. Nelson tied a franchise playoff record with nine receptions, and his 140 receiving yards are the fourth-most in franchise history. Nelson and Jennings each had 21 receptions during the 2010 playoffs,  a new franchise record.

• With his 37-yard INT return for a TD, Nick Collins is the second player in franchise history with INT return TD in Super Bowl. He joins Herb Adderley, who had a 60-yard INT return TD vs. the Raiders in Super Bowl II.

• The Steelers extended their streak to 17 consecutive playoff games without allowing a 100-yard rusher (tied with Redskins for longest active streak in NFL). The Packers ran the ball 13 times, which tied a Super Bowl record for fewest attempts. 

• Here’s a sign of the longevity and production of Hines Ward: He now has 88 receptions, 1,181 yards and 10 TDs in his playoff career, all ranking in the top five in NFL playoff history. He has 17 consecutive playoff games with a reception.

• LaMarr Woodley recorded a sack, his NFL record seventh straight game with a sack. His 11 career postseason sacks ties Charles Haley for fourth all-time.

Only 363 days until the next Super Bowl in Indianapolis (assuming a CBA is reached and there is a next season).  Let the countdown begin!

Super Bowl Sunday Parties Ramp Up

Are you hosting a Super Bowl party this weekend? Well, if so, you're not alone.  According to Hallmark Cards Inc., the Super Bowl represents the No. 1 at home party event of the year.  It even beats out New Year's Eve.  Whether you love the game and can't wait to see all the action or whether you love the commercials, the Super Bowl is a huge party night in America. According to Yahoo news, at least $55 million will be spent on food and drinks for The Big Game by at home party hosts.  I guess there is one thing that is recession proof in this economy and that's football.

Not everyone stays in for the big game, however.  Plenty of people pack sports bars and other venues for a bigger Super Bowl events.  For instance, Micheal Vick plans on hosting a Super Bowl party in which there is an actual "movie trailer." How many of you can say you attended a party with an actual trailer? I'll bet not many.  If you want to party with Vick though, you can.  Vick is throwing a massive party in Dallas where there will be off-duty SWAT team members patrolling the area to ensure the party doesn't get too out of control. 

 

Are you a stay at home Super Bowl party person or are you like Vick and enjoy a more public venue?  Do you tune in for the game, the commercials, the half time show, or do you just like everything Super Bowl?  Whatever you do, make sure you grab all you fan gear to get ready for the big game.  We'll also have Super Bowl Champ gear available for the winning team at lids.com immediately after the game.

The stage for Super Bowl XLV has been set

The stage for Super Bowl XLV has been set.  On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers were able to take down the Chicago Bears and solidify their place in this year’s Super Bowl, where they will take on the Pittsburg Steelers.  Green Bay fans aren't wasting any time by making sure they have their championship gear and their tickets in hand.  According to the Houston Chronicle, Green Bay fans started buying up their championship t-shirts and hats within hours of the game having concluded.  There are also fans scrambling to get their tickets for the big game with one man saying that he will go to Texas with or without a ticket in hopes of purchasing one once in Texas.   Green Bay fans have not gone to a Super Bowl since 1998 and fans sure are getting ready for this one.  If you're a Green Bay fan or a Steelers fan make sure that you get your championship gear whether you will be heading to the game or watching on your TV at home.   The Packer fans are ready to take home the title, but it won't be easy to take down Roethlisberger and the Steelers.  

Do you think that Green Bay can pull out a win, winning their first Super Bowl in over a decade?  Any predictions on the final score outcome?  
 

   

Fans enjoy playoffs with potential lockout looming

Fans are taking in all the football they can during this year's playoffs. According to the lastest television ratings, NFL fans are viewing in record numbers this playoff season.  While the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game is a huge rivalry game, others fans are tuning in because they aren't sure the next time they'll get their football fix.  With talks of a lockout still looming after this NFL season wraps up, football lovers are soaking it all in. 

The league's collective bargaining agreement will expire on March 4 and many believe that a strike will follow.  With a relatively short amount of time remaining to mend the broken bridge, fans and players are concerned that there may not be a 2011-2012 NFL season. While it remains to be seen whether or not the issues will be resolved before next season, at least we have two great games that are heading our way this weekend. So instead of worrying about next year, gear up in full force and cheer on your favorite remaining team while you still can!

From one concerned fan to another, do you think next year's season will play out as scheduled?  If the NFL season is interrupted, what will you do or watch to occupy your time?

Big Sport's Week for Fans

    
This week has been a big week for sport fans everywhere.  With the start of the NFL postseason playoffs last weekend and the BCS national football championship, fans have had plenty to cheer about.   Auburn finished its perfect 14-0 season on Monday with a win against Oregon, winning the school's first national title in over 50 years.  With a national win under their belts, two Auburn players may be looking  to skip their senior year and enter the NFL draft.  Cam Newton, Auburn's star quarterback, already announced his decision to enter the draft. Lombardi Award winner Nick Fairley will announce his decision regarding the draft today.  If Fairley chooses to skip his senior year, it has been speculated that he could be the NFL draft's top overall pick.  If you are an Auburn fan and haven't had a chance yet to get your hands on a championship hat, stop by lids.com to score yours today!

Auburn fans weren't the only fans with something to cheer about this week.  With NFL wildcard games last weekend, it was the underdog and his fans who prevailed.  Seattle Seahawks beat out last year's Super Bowl Champs last Saturday in their win over the Saints.  Not only were the Saints a huge favorite to win, but the Seahawks were the only team ever to make the playoffs with a losing record.  That losing record came out with a big win on Saturday, and Seahawk fans have their eyes set on the next obstacle, the Chicago Bears. Many have said that Seattle has one of the loudest venues in the NFL.  Without the help of their loud fans at home, will Seattle be able to pull out another huge upset against da Bears?

NFL Playoff Time!

The quest for Super Bowl XLV will kickoff this weekend with the first games of the NFL postseason.  On Saturday, fans will gear up for the first postseason game when the defending Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints, take on the Seattle Seahawks. Fans were ecstatic when the Saints beat the Colts in last year's Super Bowl to win New Orleans their first league championship. With New Orleans as the heavy favorites going into the game, Drew Brees and the Saints hope to give fans a second showing of last year's postseason.  Saturday's second game has the New York Jets looking for a rematch of last year's AFC Championship when they take on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis.  Indianapolis fans hope to provide all the noise they can to give Manning a winning edge at home.  Who do you think will pull out the win?  Will it be the Saints or the Seahawks? The Colts or the Jets?  As for the bigger picture, who are your picks for the NFC and AFC championships? And most importantly, who is going to walk away with Super Bowl XLV?

NFL postseason requires a lot of preparation from players, coaches, and of course all of the fans who will be looking to cheer on their team to Super Bowl XLV.  An interesting video clip, however, shows that it isn't just the teams that have to put in a lot of work for a game.  Turns out that Wilson, the official manufacturer for all official NFL game footballs, puts in a lot of work as well.  The clip shows Wilson's in depth process of making NFL game footballs.

  

One More Basketball Season

Being a college senior seems surreal in so many ways.  One more semester, one more spring break, one more round of finals, and one more basketball season.  After 3 ½ years at the small, yet noteworthy Butler University, I am going into my last semester with nothing more than hope and excitement for a great couple of months.  Most of all, I am anticipating an exciting basketball season much like the 2009-2010 season the school recently had.  The only thing that can top off a great senior year would probably be another trip to the NCAA      Championship Basketball Game, with Butler coming out on top. 

But is this dream possible?

Since Butler’s loss to Duke in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game, the team took time off to focus and get a good start to the upcoming 2010-2011 season.  This past Saturday, Butler gained a 90-70 victory against Florida Southern in the exhibition opener.  The Bulldogs, who will return three starters and eleven letter winners from last year's 33-5 team, will open the 2010-11 campaign at home against the local Marian University, on Nov. 13.  I am personally looking forward to the rematch of Butler vs. Duke, which will occur at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday, Dec. 4. 

My hopes for this season might be hindered by the absence of a few key players: Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley, and Avery Jukes.  Gordon Hayward, following his sophomore season, was taken No. 9 overall by the Utah Jazz and will be absent on the court for the Bulldogs. He was the program’s first NBA player since 1953.  Both Veasley and Jukes were key defensive players for the team last year,and both played their final season with the Bulldogs as seniors. 

Sitting in Lucas Oil watching the seconds tick down during the loss to Duke was probably one of the most heart-wrenching feelings I have ever experienced.  Although the team has lost a couple of its top players, the Butler Bulldog's line-up is full of determined, hard-working, young men.  I have the utmost faith that the 2010-2011 team will put on a great show for the Butler community, and will continue to build the Butler Way in men’s NCAA Basketball.   

For all you NCAA Basketball fans check out lids.com for the latest and greatest styles in NCAA licensed headwear and apparel.

We want to know:  Do you think Butler has a chance this season in the NCAA Tournament?  Who is your favorite NCAA team and why?  Leave a comment or send us a Facebook or Twitter post with your response!

 

Jennifer is a Marketing Intern at LIDS and is a senior at Butler University.  Jennifer writes occasional blogs regarding her experiences as a college student, an intern at LIDS and an avid sports fan. 

A Sweet Deal for Bengie Molina

With the World Series set to begin on Wednesday, everyone is making last minute preparations.  Fans are scurrying to get tickets, make travel arrangements and get their respective team's World Series gear.  The clubs, players and coaches are working to fine tune their strategies, rest up and get mentally prepared for the World Series.  After all, many players work so hard for so long without ever tasting a World Series victory.  No doubt, the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers have come a long way, but for one team, it will be a bittersweet ending to an otherwise amazing season.

However, Bengie Molina's deal is so sweet he might have to have his teeth checked.  While most players worry about falling short after making it to the World Series, Molina is guaranteed to leave with a ring.  You see, Molina has spent the past three and a half years playing for the San Francisco Giants, but was traded to the Texas Rangers midway through the season.  This year, Molina played 57 regular season games for the Giants and 61 for the Rangers guaranteeing that he'll receive a World Series ring despite the outcome of the final series. 

"I think I knew [the Rangers] had a great chance to make it to the playoffs," Molina said. "For both teams to be in the World Series?  Not a chance."  Although the competitor in him likely wants to be on the winning team at the end of the Series, it must be nice knowing that whatever the outcome may be, he helped get the World Series Champs to that point.  "It's going to be a very happy World Series for Bengie Molina. I'm going to try to enjoy it as much as I can," he said.  Enjoy it indeed, because you'll never see these odds again! 

So which World Series ring do you think Bengie will be wearing at the end of the series?  A diamond encrusted Giants or  Rangers ring? 

Texas Rangers Claw and Antler

The Texas Rangers came away with a convincing win in last night's game against the defending World Champs, the New York Yankees.  The Rangers beat the Yankees 8-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 

Cliff Lee became the first pitcher to record three 10+ strikeout games in the same postseason.  Much like Lee's dominating performance last night, the Rangers have domniated the series, despite having a poor eighth inning in Game 1.  If not for the five runs scored by the Yankees in that inning, the team might be 3-0. 

So what do you think, do the Rangers have enough Claw and Antler to keep it going?  For those of you outside of Ranger Nation, the CLAW is a gesture for power and strength  and the ANTLER is a gesture for speed and agility.  The hand signals, said to have been "invented" by Esteban German (claw) and Nelson Cruz (antlers), were quickly adopted by players as a sign of support and solidarity.  When the fans reazlied what the signals meant, they, too, wanted in on the action. 

Will there be enough Claw and Antler to make history?  With the Yankees in the oppostite dugout, you never can be too sure.  What's your vote: Claw and Antler or Hunting Season?

The Texas Rangers MLB Claw and Antler tee is availabe in blue and red and can be found at lids.com. 

A Game of Life or Death?

A devout Michigan State fan refused to undergo heart surgery this past Thursday, deferring the procedure until after Saturday's game against longtime rival Michigan.  Major Hester wanted to be able to watch the game on a television in Ann Arbor, and was willing to risk anything, even his life, to do so. 

The 69-year-old said he put off the surgery until the following week because he didn’t want to risk anything going wrong on the operating table that would prevent him from watching the game.  Hester said his doctor asked him twice if he really wanted to put off the surgery, and his reply both times was, "I'm watching the game."   

Major Hester wasn’t the only Spartans’ fan watching the game from a distance.  The Spartans’ own head football coach, Mark Dantonio, watched the game from a press box.  Dantonio suffered a heart attack on September 19, after the Michigan State overtime win against Notre Dame. 

The Spartans went into Saturday’s game ranked 17^th, while the Wolverines were ranked 18^th.  It was the first time since 1999 that the two teams met undefeated, both 5-0.  Fortunately for Hester and Dantonio, Michigan State pulled off a 34-17 win over Michigan, and ended their 1,071 day losing streak against the Wolverines.  The Spartans are now 6-0 for the first time since 1999.

As always, for you die-hard NCAA fans, don’t forget to check out lids.com for the latest and greatest selection of College Hats and NCAA apparel.

We want to know:  Have you ever put something important on hold just to watch a game? Share your comments with us or send us a tweet or a facebook post. 

Free Shipping on NFL Purchases

FREE Ground Shipping with any regular priced NFL hat or apparel purchase!  This includes the new NFL Breast Cancer Awareness gear that NFL players, coaches and officials will wear throughout the month of October. 

Use code LIDSNFL at checkout to receive free ground shipping when you purchase any full price NFL product.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount and is not valid on clearance merchandise.  Promotion code expires at 11:59pm EST on 10/6/2010.

Happy shopping NFL fans!

NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Hats

If you watched any football this Sunday, you probably did a double take towards the field as flashes of pink darted back and forth between the sidelines.  This Sunday was the start of a monthlong campaign where the NFL will wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The NFL, in partnership with the American Cancer Society, is calling the campaign "A Crucial Catch" which is focused on promoting annual screenings, especially for women who are forty and older.  During the month of October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game hats and apparel, pink ribbon stencils on the field, special game balls and pink coins - all to help raise awareness for this important campaign.

LIDS is proud to offer NFL Breast Cancer Awareness hats and apparel in support of this excellent cause.  The LIDS home office in Indianapolis will also hold several fundraising and awareness events during the month of October to support the campaign.  Additionally, we'll hold a series of contests during the week of October 11th in anticipation for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Indianapolis on October 16th.  Stay tuned to the LIDS Blog, LIDS Facebook and LIDS Twitter pages for additional information on how you could win a LIDS Pink Pride Prize Pack (say that five times fast) in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. 

It's Tailgate Time!

The chill of fall can only mean one thing...tailgate time!  Whether you're a college football fanatic or love to watch the pros play on Sunday, football season is tailgate season!  Of course, the game is important, but just as important are the pregame rituals that bond fans past and present.

This weekend, I'll be heading down to Bloomington, Ind., home of the Indiana Hoosiers, to watch them take on the undefeated Michigan Wolverines.  As excited as I am to see these unbeaten teams face off, I'm also pumped up for the pregame festivities.

It'll all start at 7:30am on Saturday when our individual contributions transform into a well-stocked five car caravan.  Like any good tailgater, we'll be armed with enough food and beverages to feed a small village.  However, what separates professional tailgaters from the occasional parking-lot-partier is all in the details.   Tables bearing red and white tablecloths, pennants and team flags will be covered with team can coozies and tons of great eats.  Bean bag toss boards will be scattered around waiting for the next challenger.  Tailgate tables will serve as the center of attention for party games and conversation about the game.  We'll take a break from the tailgate action just long enough to see the team take The Walk, listen to the band play and take a peak into the storied Assembly Hall.  After we've put in a full day festivities, we'll enter the newly renovated Memorial Stadium and watch the Hoosiers defend The Rock.  Despite the outcome of the game, we plan on making the day a great day of camraderie with friends, family and tailgate fun!

Each team has traditions and rituals that make the tailgating experience unique.  What schools/teams have you visited with the most unique tailgating rituals?  Do you tailgate more often for college or NFL games? 

 

 

 

 

 

UFC Tale of the Tape Presented by LIDS

Just a brief update from this past weekend's UFC 119 fights in Indianapolis.  As we mentioned on Friday, LIDS was the sponsor for the Tale of the Tape introductions before the fights.  For those of you who missed them, we thought we'd share a few pictures.  We also wanted to say thanks to our great partners at UFC! 

Be sure to get your UFC gear at LIDS so that you're ready for UFC 120 on October 16, 2010!  We're looking forward to some great fights in London!

Above: Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop are introduced to the crowd courtesy of the Tale of the Tape sponsored by LIDS.  Below: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ryan Bader meet the crowd during the Tale of the Tape before taking to the Octagon. 

UFC 119: Tale of the Tape Sponsored by LIDS

Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop will step into the Octagon this Saturday night during UFC 119 in Indianapolis.  Before the fights though, be on the lookout for the Tale of the Tape sponsored by LIDS! 

LIDS is headquartered in Indianapolis and this weekend's fights have several Indiana connections.  The Tale of the Tape will proudly introduce Chris Lytle, an Indianapolis native and crowd pleaser, Matt Mitrione, a former Purdue University football player, Sean McCorkle, also from Indianapolis and Steve Lopez who hails from South Bend, Ind.  Look for these and other fighter introductions during the Tale of the Tape...presented by LIDS!  

Whether you're going to the fights in Indy or getting the pay-per-view and watching it with friends, don't forget to get your UFC gear.  We strongly advise looking the part and not necessarily acting the part.  Those beverages might make you feel like you can take on anyone, but you probably can't take on everyone.  So remember, look the part with UFC gear from LIDS, don't act the part...unless your Chris Lytle.

Which fight are you looking forward to the most?  Any predictions for Fight of the Night?

 

 

The Rays Play with Plaid

Last month, the Tampa Bay Rays donned plaid blazers in Rays colors during a trip to the West coast.  Rays Manager, Joe Maddon has embraced the concept of creating theme road trips while the Rays travel.  So far this season, the team has dressed in all white while in Miami (thank you, P. Diddy) and has sported hockey jerseys while in Toronto. The team has also participated in Urban Cowboy and Johnny Cash themed roadtrips, just to name a few.

The plaid Rays blazers, thoughtfully named BRaysers, created quite the buzz after the Rays bullpen donned the jackets while making their way from the dugout to the bullpen. As a result of the fanfare, New Era has created a lmited edition BRayser inspired 59Fifty Cap.  The Rays will wear the BRayser hat during tonight's game in New York. 

If you're a diehard Rays fan or just a fashionista, you'll want to get your hands on one of these hats quickly.  Currently, this limited edition hat is available at both the LIDS and Sports Fan-Attic stores at the West Shore Mall in Tampa, Florida.  If you don't live in the Tampa area, no worries!  The BRayser hat and a BRayser t-shirt will be available for purchase at lids.com in the coming weeks. 

In your opinion, should teams have more freedom to change up their attire or are you an advocate for sticking to the classics?  Share your comments with us or send us a Tweet or Facebook post. 

A New Season, A New Lucky Outfit

While it may not feel like fall--it was a whopping 96 degrees in Indianapolis yesterday, fall officially begins tonight at 11:09 pm EDT.  Like any season, there are some great traditions that are essential to ushering in autumn.  For me, it isn't officially fall until I've had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, lit a fall scented candle, made a pot of chili, spent an entire weekend watching football (preferably with a cold beverage) and got a new lucky outfit for my team--the Colts. 

While some people like to hang onto old hats or jerseys as their lucky charm, I prefer to change up the energy from season to season.  Don't get me wrong, I rewear old hats and jerseys, but each season I have to find a lucky hat, jersey or t-shirt that will be my lucky "go-to" item for the year.  Personally, I snagged this slightly threadbare NFL women's t-shirt that is uber comfy and the Delray Mesh Adjustable NFL hat.  However, I know LOTS of you have been requesting fitted NFL hats to add to your collection and kick off both the football and fall season.

So if you're like me and like to welcome autumn with open arms and a new outfit, check out the latest in NFL fitted hats or grab a new NFL jersey or hoody to create your "go-to" look for the year. 

NFL Fitted Caps at lids.com

Do you have any other traditions that you absolutely must partake in to make it really feel like fall?  Or do you have you eye on one particular item from LIDS that you'd like as your "go-to" outfit? 

If it goes into the stands, is it the fans?

Running back, Brandon Jacobs, lost his cool during the New York Giants' loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night.  It appeared that Jacobs was upset after he was stopped for no gain on a rushing attempt and tossed his helmet into the stands during the third quarter of the game.  He later stated the toss was unintentional and was trying to throw his helmet behind the visitors' bench.
 
The helmet found its way in to the hands of a Colts fan, who refused to give up the helmet when provoked by security.  Eventually, security obtained the helmet, but not before multiple fans put up a fight to keep the authentic NY Giants head gear. 

Do you think the fan should have been allowed to keep the helmet?

Don’t forget lids.com offers a variety of NFL Deluxe Replica Helmets to all those NFL fans who want to get a great helmet at a great value (without the hassle from a security guard)!

Sports Themed Weddings

At the age of 29, it seems I’m surrounded by people getting married. Every wedding I’ve been to has its charms, but truth be told, they’re all pretty similar. Two people are in love, invite a bunch of people, have a ceremony, and host a party. Sometimes inside, occasionally outside, if you’re lucky - with an open bar.

But there’s one wedding I’m really looking forward to next year, and that’s the one that my friend Mel is considering on holding at the Washington Nationals Stadium. Well, that or the Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame. Either way, it’s a win-win for wedding guests and for the sports-loving couple!

At the Washington Nationals Stadium, part of the event package includes batting practice for everyone! And at the Basketball Hall of Fame, everyone can dunk basketballs - you don’t have to be Kobe Bryant tall, either, since the basketball hoops are at varying heights.

So… should you have your wedding at a stadium? Maybe, but you definitely have to want something a little non-traditional. Mel is still planning on wearing a white dress, carrying flowers, and walking down an aisle… but instead of fancy swirls and romantic patterns, her invitations and favors will be sports-themed. Personally, I’m hoping she has a cake shaped like a ballfield or a basketball court since we all know fun cakes taste better too.

Whichever venue Mel and Jake choose, you can bet I’ll be sporting my favorite fan gear. I’ll just have to wait for her to choose a venue before I pick out my hat and jersey (or dress, if she goes the traditional route). My only question is about the gift - if it’s a sporty wedding, should I get the happy couple a sporty gift, like Celtics tickets..?

Have you been to a sports-themed wedding? If so, any tips for a newbie?

 

Photo Source 1: http://www.junshien.com/3815/san-jose-baseball-stadium-wedding/
Photo Source 2: http://www.onewed.com/blog/savvy-scoop/category/ceremony-reception/2009/04/27/bubbly-bride-sports-themed-wedding-ideas/

College Colors Day Photo Contest

College Colors Day is less than five days away!  To help celebrate College Colors Day 2010, LIDS is giving away five $50 gift cards to anyone who proudly shows off their college colors.

It's easy to enter and easy to win.  Simply snap a photo of you displaying your favorite college cap or college apparel, rooting on your team, your favorite spot on campus or even your college marching band hard at work.  We'll take any college related photo that helps celebrate the spirit and traditions that make college great.  You have until noon (Eastern standard time) on Friday, September 3, 2010 to submit photos.  We'll randomly select five winners to receive a $50 LIDS gift card.

Photos can be submitted by posting a photo on our Facebook wall or by sending a photo link via Twitter.   Submitted photos should be appropriate for all ages.  To see some of the great photos we've already received, check out the pics below or visit our College Colors Day 2010 photo album on Facebook.

Submit your photo today--we can't wait to see your pics!

Calling All Fantasy Footballers

NFL training camps are winding down, preseason games are underway and the excitement is palpable which can only mean one thing...Fantasy Football is almost here! 

Working in a sports oriented environment like LIDS, the banter about fantasy sports is a constant!  Whether the current league is  baseball, football, racing or even soccer there is always a league going on and trash being talked.  At times, managing multiple leagues and multiple teams can seem like a full time job (but don't tell our bosses that). 

Right now, everyone is filled with the sense that this year is going to be the year when it all comes together.  The true Fantasy Footballers are busy making their final preparations scheduling mock drafts, picking up the latest fantasy sport magazines and spending an insane amount of time on sports blogs.  Because, as we all know, true champions are made in the off-season.  

Prepare thoughtfully Fantasy Footballers, but don't forget to look the part.  Stop by LIDS today to customize an NFL hat with your Fantasy Football team name or create a Fantasy Football hat by adding a custom design to a blank hat.  Don't let your trash talking co-worker one up you, step your game up with a clever hat from LIDS. 

Real Men of Genius: Here's to You Mr. Fantasy Football Manager Guy

 
Bud Light is brewed to be enjoyed responsibly by adults. Copyright Annheusier-Busch, Inc. Brewers of Bud Light beer. St. Louis, MO

What is the most extreme fantasy sports story you have?  Do you participate in a live draft or a draft online?  What are you doing to prepare for your fantasy football draft?  Who do you believe is the most underrated fantasy player that you hope to draft?

Minor League, Major Craze

LIDS Minor League Baseball selection is yet another example of you wanted it, we listened and now it’s in stock.  In a grass roots effort stemming from customer requests in our stores for hats bearing local MiLB teams, the program initially started out with five skus and has quickly grown to what will be nearly 200.  As online sales through the LIDS website continue to fuel the demand, the question that now comes to mind is whether or not the increase in popularity is due to a fan driven interest in the league or just another fashion craze? 

When looking at MiLB attendance stats,  numbers have been on the rise.  According to the latest digits posted by the league, so far in 2010 more than 21 million fans have come out to root on their favorite teams.  This is up from 2009, which was recorded at nearly one million less for the same period.  Seemingly, the famous American Pastime no longer appears to be a thing of the past.  So are reasonably priced tickets and ballpark food the reason behind the cap craze, or is it something entirely different?  Could it be MLB fans have discovered a new appreciation for the affiliates of their favorite major teams?  

As a fashion-conscious society, it could be that we are just craving a little diversity in our sports fashion.  Spotting local trends, teams representing the colors light blue and dark blue have primarily done quite well.  Other trends could be affected by an affinity for different mascots.  A few teams that have been rocking the popularity charts include the defunct Albuquerque Dukes (they are now the Albuquerque Isotopes), Everett Aqua Sox, Quad Cities River Bandits (primarily due to their new logo) and the Wilmington Blue Rocks. 

 

  

So for all those fans rockin' the latest LIDS MiLB fashions, tell us which one is the reason behind your decision.  Is there a particular local team you follow?  

As always, check out lids.com for the latest and greatest selection in MiLB hats.

Monster Hats

One of the more frequent requests we receive is for Monster Energy hats.  So much so that we have a difficult time keeping them in stock.  However, we currently have two sick Monster Energy hats and a stylish tee available and wanted to share.

The Monster/Bong Fitted (shown right) is a collaboration between Billabong and Monster Energy.  It is a fitted New Era 59Fifty that features an embroidered Monster Energy logo on the front, Billabong logo patch on the back and New Era flag on the left wear side.  Billabong + Monster Energy + New Era = Gotta have it!

Monster Energy is well known among the action sports world for their sponsorship of some of today's top extreme athletes and events.  Monster Energy has sponsored everyone from Ken Block (rally car racer), Rob Dyrdek (skate and MTV reality TV personality), TJ Lavin (BMX and MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge host), Shane Dorian (surfer) and Ricky Carmichael (motocross rider turned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver). 

In addition to his MX duties, Ricky Carmichael is now driving the No. 4 Monster Energy-backed Chevrolet Silverado for the high profile Kevin Harvick All-Stars team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  Known as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), it's only fitting this this cap showcases some of the great brands of all time in the action sports realm.  Without further adieu, the Fox Racing Monster RC Replica Flex hat and Fox Racing Monster RC Replica Tee. 

So what do you think?  Will you be wearing the M-claw loud and proud?  Do you have a favorite Monster Energy sponsored athlete or perhaps a favorite Monster Energy drink? 

A ‘Major’ Return to Greatness: Tiger Woods Chases The Open Championship at St. Andrews

Tiger Woods and a star studded field return to the Old Course at St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, for this year’s Open Championship.  Tiger is hoping to capture his third Open Championship at the historic Old Course and in the process regain his spot as the best golfer in the world with his first victory of the year.  In his pursuit for another major championship, Tiger will try to cure his putting woes and battle the strong Scotland winds dressed head to toe in Nike Golf gear.  For the first time in over a decade, he has swapped out his Scotty Cameron putter for a new Nike putter, completing a full takeover from his Nike sponsorship from his TW hat, to his shoes, to everything golf-related in his bag.

Tiger has been seen sporting the white Nike TW Tour Swoosh Flex Cap in his practice rounds while perfecting his stroke with the new Nike Method putter, which he hopes will lead him to his fourth Claret Jug.  While Tiger has already been seen battling the elements and the British press, he eagerly awaits the first tee where he can slip behind his Nike shades and back into his comfort zone as he aims to take apart The Old Course like he did in 2005.

Will Tiger claim his fourth Open Championship and raise his black Nike TW hat in triumph on Sunday?  Or will defending champion Stewart Cink repeat and show the world another brilliantly colored Nike Golf Tour Perforated Cap like last year? Tune in to watch all the The Open Championship action this weekend and visit lids.com for all your Nike Golf Hats and Sunglasses.

Stay tuned to see whether Tiger can regain his form at the birthplace of golf and outlast the field to capture his 15^th major title by making sure to visit your local LIDS retail store or online at LIDS to grab all your Nike Golf hats and sunglasses.  As always, stay up to date on all the current hat sightings and releases by checking in daily with the Lids Blog.

The Chase Is On: Who Will Sign Lebron James and Other Star Free Agents?

After months of speculation, the NBA free agency signing period has finally arrived! The futures of some of the biggest names in basketball will begin to take shape as stars visit NBA executives all around the country seeking maximum contracts and championship quality teams in an effort to dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers.

As soon as the clock struck 12:01 AM Thursday July 1^st, NBA teams began to roll out the red carpet for the biggest and best free agent class the league has ever seen. 

The most coveted player in the star studded class is none other than Lebron James.  Many NBA teams have been prepping themselves for the summer of 2010 for the last few years in an effort to land the two time league MVP and seriously contend for the NBA title.  The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and New Jersey Nets are all expected to make the biggest pushes to sign the featured attraction of the free agent class prying Lebron out of his hometown away from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Other teams are eagerly awaiting the first domino to fall with Lebron’s decision and then the free agent feeding frenzy can begin.  Where do other top free agents like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh end up?

 
Do the Miami Heat stun the league and sign Wade, Bosh, and Lebron effectively changing the competitive landscape of not only the Eastern Conference, but the NBA as a whole? Can the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and the Phoenix Suns resign their star players in hopes of capturing that elusive NBA championship?  We will begin to see answers to many of these questions as free agency heats up the summer. 

Will Lebron see his name in bright lights in New York for the Knicks or the Nets next year? Or will D-Wade be able to lure him down to South Beach to play for the Heat?  Where do you think Lebron will end up? Are looking forward to possibly a dream team situation in Miami with the Heat signing Wade, Lebron, and Bosh, like I am?

Stay tuned to see where Lebron and other top free agents sign by making sure to visit your local LIDS Store or online at lids.com to cop your favorite player’s new team gear.  As always, stay up to date on all the current hat sightings and releases by checking in with the Lids Blog.

One Game and You Know His Name: Strasburg

Photo from MLB.com

Yesterday (long before last night's game) we received a Tweet requesting LIDS carry Stephen Strasburg player t-shirts.  Like all requests we receive, we pass them along to our Buying Team where they evaluate the request and determine if it makes sense for us to purchase or restock a particular item.

After receiving the request yesterday, we went through the same process.  In this case, we already had the Stephen Strasburg shirts on order, but the shirts were not available to be shipped until he had played six innings in the Majors and was an official Major League player.  After pitching seven innings last night for the Washington Nationals where he struck out fourteen batters, not only did he become an official Major League player, but he quickly cemented his name in the minds of baseball fans everywhere. 

There was plenty of hype surrounding Strasburg's Major League debut, but whether or not he could deliver under that kind of pressure in his first Major League game was yet to be determined.  However, Strasburg squashed any doubts with last night's performance and lucky for you (and us), Strasburg shirts are now on their way!

So if you're ever wondering whether we read each and every Tweet, Facebook post or blog comment, the answer is YES!  We constantly look for ways to hear what you, our customers, want.  Had Strasburg not been cloaked in hype or delivered such a high caliber performance, we would have looked directly to our customers to determine whether player specific product was warranted.  So thanks to all of our loyal customers out there Tweeting, Facebooking and blogging with us. 

We're excited about seeing Strasburg play in the future and imagine it won't be long before Nationals Park is littered with #37 t-shirts and jerseys.  We'll post again as soon as the Strasburg apparel arrives.  In the meantime, you can dress like Strasburg and other Nationals players with the Washington Nationals Authentic Collection cap at LIDS.

As Seen On TV: Stars & Stripes Cap

This past weekend many Americans celebrated Memorial Day by spending time outside with friends and family, enjoying barbecues and of course, remembering and honoring those men and women who have died serving their country.  Major League Baseball was no different.  For the third consecutive year, MLB and New Era have teamed up to produce the Authentic Collection Stars & Stripes cap.  This special Stars & Stripes cap becomes the official on-field cap of Major League Baseball on Memorial Day, Independence Day (4th of July) and Patriot Day (September 11th). 

The Stars & Stripes cap features the American flag etched into the team's logo and for the first time, has an off-white crown with red or blue brims (the Blue Jays hat incorporates a Maple Leaf design instead of the "Stars & Stripes").  As in previous years, MLB Properties will donate all of the proceeds it receives from the Stars & Stripes cap sales to Welcome Back Veterans.  This apolitical program addresses the needs of returning American Veterans and their families.  As a result of the Welcome Back Veterans fund, over 30 non-profit agencies across the country, have received grants totaling more than $8.3 million to focus on meeting veterans' greatest needs, including mental health and job training/placement.

This year, don't miss out on your opportunity to help support a worthy cause and your favorite team.  Check out some pics of these great caps in action and get your 2010 AC Stars & Stripes cap today!

 

Sportin' the Blues - LIDS Club

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, has the blues.  Seen proudly representing the LIDS Club at a recent Toronto Maple Leafs game, Daly pulled his card from his wallet to show a LIDS representative. Daly is in, ARE YOU?

Visit any one of our LIDS locations to join the club, or check out lids.com for more information on how to join, use and save!

  

NHL Hats and Free Canadian Shipping Offer

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are well underway and lids.ca has a great selection of new NHL hats!

 

For a limited time our Canadian customers can receive FREE ground shipping on any regular priced NHL hat or apparel order from lids.ca.  Just enter sales code LIDSNHL during checkout.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts and expires at 11:59pm EST on the 26^th.

Check out all the NHL hats and apparel now and support your favorite team as they play for the cup!

NFL Draft Hats

The much anticipated 2010 NFL Draft kicks-off tonight!  Are you as excited as we are to see which new NFL pro will be sporting the St. Louis Rams draft hat?

Lids.com is currently running a FREE ground shipping promotion on NFL merchandise now through Monday!  If you order any regular priced NFL hat or apparel, including the 2010 NFL draft hat, you can receive FREE ground shipping in the U.S.  Just enter sales code LIDSNFL during checkout.  This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts and expires at 11:59pm EST on Monday, April 26th, so start shop at lids.com now!

Mr. Woods is in the building...

TIGER WOODS 2.0 is back and some say looking more focused than ever! 

Tiger has not played on tour since last September and there are many questions surrounding his return to golf.  Will the layoff effect his world class skills or will he be the same dominant player he has been since capturing his first Masters back in 1997?  The only certainty leading into this week's Masters is that he will be decked out in the hottest new fashions from Nike Golf. 

Lids.com is loaded with Nike Golf hats and are currently featuring two of the hottest styles on the course, the TW Tour Swoosh Flex and the Tour Perforated Cap.  Check out these two hot styles pictured below:

NIKE GOLF TW TOUR SWOOSH FLEX

NIKE GOLF TOUR PERFORATED CAP

Get all your Nike Golf head-wear only at lids.com!!

Bracketology or Bracket-OH MY-ology?

I wondered over the weekend: If i wanted to be assured of winning my men's college basketball tournament bracket office pool by picking every game correctly, how many different combinations are there in the 63-game format?

Having no clue how to calculate such an equation, I whipped out my cell phone and consulted my favorite source for all things trivial and often nonsensical: ChaCha. ChaCha is a mobile search engine that provides answers to questions users ask while on the go via text message. (Simply text your question to 242 242. Normal text charges from your carrier apply.)

I figured the number of combinations was large, but I had no idea how large. ChaCha’s reply: 18,446,744,073,709,551,616.

That’s 18+ quintillion. I had to look that up, too. Thanks Wikipedia. 

If you took 18 quintillion pennies and laid them out flat like a carpet, they would cover the surface of the earth – 36 times.  Talk about a long shot!

I think I’ll stick to my one bracket and just enjoy the “madness.”

Are you a one bracket guy or something more?  How many brackets will you fill out this year?  Leave us a comment on the blog, Tweet us on Twitter or comment on Facebook.  Thanks for reading!

Bracket Bu$ting

As a nation, count on a spike in water consumption today.  That’s because the day after Selection Sunday you can count on there being more proverbial “water cooler” talk around United States businesses than perhaps any other day of the year. College basketball’s tournament may cost U.S. employers as much as $1.8 billion in unproductive wages during the first week of action, according to an annual survey by Chicago-based placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

This figure is based on the 58.3 million people estimated to participate in office pools during the National Collegiate Athletic Association event known as "March Madness," with each devoting 20 minutes per day to watching the games or focusing on the pools.

In a typical office pool, participants pick the winners of all 63 games, deciding which teams will win in the first five rounds and the championship game, which this year is scheduled for April 5 in Indianapolis (the corporate office home of LIDS). 

"March Madness and the subsequent office pools have been going on long enough that employers can no longer claim to be caught off guard by the annual event,” John Challenger, the firm’s CEO, said in a statement. “Some have tried to squash these pools, most simply ignore them and others have found ways to embrace the tournament as a team-building and morale-boosting opportunity.”  The latter has always been LIDS' approach.

A survey last year by Microsoft/MSN found that 45 percent of Americans planned to join at least one college basketball pool. Every 20 minutes spent ignoring work because of the tournament will cost employers $362.2 million, according to Challenger. That figure is based on the $18.70 current average hourly wage for all U.S. workers, provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unscientific survey did not take into account that many employees who participate in office pools devote extra time to finishing their responsibilities.

Last year, Challenger’s study pegged possible employer productivity losses at $1.7 billion, and a year earlier it was $1.2 billion.

Source: Indianapolis Business Journal & Bloomberg News

 

The LIDS Corporate Office and distribution center in Indianapolis, site of this year's NCAA Final Four.
 

Lids.ca is Now Open!

Many of our Canadian customers have been waiting a long time for a Lids Canadian website.  Well, my friends, the wait is over!  We are excited to announce the introduction of lids.ca!  We are pumped to offer this additional convenience for all of our hat-loving Canadians, eh!

Lids.ca will look and feel like the current Lids website; however, you'll notice a few great features that we hope will make your life easier.  

• Lids.ca displays pricing in Canadian dollars--no need for your currency converter here.
• Lids.ca offers FREE shipping to your local Canadian store.  Simply order online and choose which store you'd like to pick your order up.  We'll ship it to your local store at no cost to you and an associate will contact you when your order has arrived.
• Lids.ca rewards you with FREE ground shipping when you purchase $60 or more. 
• Lids.ca is DUTY FREE! All orders are shipped from our Canadian Distribution Center so no duty will be charged to your order.

While lids.ca offers many great new features for our Canadian customers, you'll still see the latest and greatest assortment of hats and caps and superior customer service that you've come to expect.  We're dedicated to bringing you Your Team, Your Style, Your Size!

Check out lids.ca and leave us a comment on your thoughts.  Thanks to all of our loyal customers, wherever you may be.

THE NBA IS BACK!!!!

Basketball season is finally here, and for those hoop junkies looking for a new lid to support their favorite NBA team, Lids.com has what you need!!  Here are a few of the hottest new NBA styles for the upcoming season.  Check them out below.

NBA BG SCRIPT

NBA GRAPHITE

NBA BLACK/WHITE

NBA CENTER COURT

NBA WILDCAT

Whalers Hat - Remember the Whale

Growing up in Connecticut during the 90s, I was a huge Hartford Whalers fan.  Unfortunately for Whaler fans, our favorite hockey team moved south to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.  Besides watching some old Kevin Smith movies or popping in NHL '94 on SNES, remembering the Whale has been a tough go over the past ten plus years since there wasn't much officially released Whaler apparel from the NHL.

But this past summer, Connecticut's trademark on the Whalers expired and the NHL has started to expand the selection.  Whalers jerseys are even making their return in video game land as an alternate uniform on the NHL 2K10. 

Lids recently added some new Hartford Whalers hats, so there are more styles to buy.  My personal favorite Whaler hat is this 59Fifty fitted dogear hat from New Era.  It's great for those cold New England winters.  I also like this classic easy fitted Franchise Whalers baseball cap when it's not so frigid. 

   

Check out this great selection of Hartford Whalers hats and caps at Lids now and help Remember the Whale!

 

Yankees World Series Champions

Yep, that's right.  Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard that the Yankees took home their 27th World Series Championship last night.  Don't these guys look good in their World Series Champ hats and t-shirts?  Of course they do!

In the midst of celebrating, I'm sure you're wondering where you, too, can get your Yankees World Series Champ product.  Well, lucky for you, you've stumbled across the most awesomest blog ever and we happen to know the perfect place to get your World Series Champ hat and t-shirt.  Visit lids.com or select Lids stores (mainly NYC area) to get your Yankees World Series Champ hat and Yankees World Series Champ t-shirt. 

Celebrate the victory in style with your very own World Series Championship gear.  Afterall, you've spent countless hours rooting on your Yankees, following the dating life of A-Rod and defending bogus remarks about salary caps.  While you may not have been on the field, you're as much a part of this win as they are, right?!?

Knit Hats: Are you ready for the cold?

At Lids we take pride in offering the biggest and best selection of cold weather headwear styles in the market.  Whether you prefer to show support for your favorite team or just want to make a fashion statement, we have it all!!!  Visit lids.com or your local LIDS store to see what's new for this winter.  Here is a sampling of some our hot new styles....

TEAM STYLES

BRANDS

FASHION