PLB Sports Nation

via Press Release,

Tommy Bahama celebrates the start of the 2010 baseball season with a series of “Collector’s Edition” shirts individually created for eight Major League Baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals. These unique shirts are individually designed for each team with customized graphics, team logos, landmarks and a genuine vintage style.  Only a limited number of each team shirt will be produced, each numbered and accompanied by a Tommy Bahama Collector’s Certificate. Tommy Bahama will release a new series of MLB team shirts at the beginning of each baseball season over the next several years.

The first team shirts to be released will be the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox — just in time for their season opener on April 4th at Fenway Park in Boston.  They will be followed by the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies in mid May; the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs at the end of May and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels in early June. All eight team shirts are currently available for viewing at www.tommybahama.com and select Tommy Bahama’s retail locations. The shirts will be sold exclusively through Tommy Bahama retail channels.

“Major League Baseball continuously looks for ways to provide our fans with new opportunities to connect with baseball and show their team pride,” said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball.  ”We recognize the strength and exclusivity of the Tommy Bahama brand, and are eager to launch this new line at the start of the 2010 season.”

Interesting concept.  A baseball shirt for those fans that don’t necessarily want to look like everyone else, but still want to support their team.  Of course, the Tommy Bahama brand name is going to drive up the price a bit…but its the cost of fashion, right?

There are only three guarantees in life: death, taxes…and New Jersey Nets basketball.

At least, that’s what the Nets want you to think.

In what is certainly one of the more unique promotions of recent years, the New Jersey Nets are offering free tax returns to their fans.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Roni Deutch Tax Center, one of the nation’s fastest growing tax preparation franchise companies, will provide all New Jersey residents 18 years and older who attend the NETS-Orlando Magic game at the IZOD CENTER on Friday, March 5 with a coupon for preparation of a free state tax return.

Through a new partnership with NETS Basketball, Roni Deutch Tax Center will have representatives on site at NETS Tax Night on March 5 to answer tax-related questions before and during the game.

In addition, NETS fans who attend any upcoming home game at the IZOD CENTER this season, other than March 5, can receive a coupon in the NETS Game Program good for up to $50 off of tax preparation services at a Roni Deutch Tax Center in Hackensack, Bergenfield, and Fair Lawn. Upon completion of their returns, Roni Deutch customers will also receive NETS tickets for this season, while supplies last. (via NBA)

Wow.  This promotion is made more interesting by the fact that the Nets are a bad team. Like, historically bad.  So I don’t know how many fans will actually be at the March 5th game, or any of the other games to actually take advantage of the promotion.  On the other hand, if you have a really complex tax return full of itemized deductions and capital gains and the like, maybe you spend a few bucks on a Nets game and save yourself a lot of money on your taxes.

An interesting cost-benefit analysis, if nothing else.

It looks like the sport of tennis is about to get a technological upgrade.

HP, the world’s largest technology company has come to terms with BNP Paribas’ Davis Cup to become the official technology sponsor of the event for the next four years.

In addition to on-court banners and on-site hospitality, HP’s expertise and products will be showcased in Davis Cup ties throughout the length of the agreement.

HP will also advise the ITF on new ways to develop its information technology systems and internet properties.

“Our global reach is as broad as the game itself, and we are pleased to partner with the ITF to deliver innovative technology solutions and services that bring fans one step closer to the court,” Michael Mendenhall, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, HP, said. (via SponsorPitch)

It should be pretty interesting to see what kind of forward-thinking technological innovations HP brings to the Davis Cup over the next four years.  Maybe they could do something about the replay system in tennis?  Showing a picture that looks like an 8-bit video game always made me think that the replay was just made up by someone in the replay booth.

…but maybe that’s just me.

Super Bowl rings. World Series Rings.

…gold medals and pucks?

It looks like the “Miracle on Ice” is coming to your home…assuming you have the money.

DELSON, Quebec, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Classic Auctions, the industry leader with total sales of over $25 million worth of historical hockey memorabilia, is proud to offer for auction on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the United States‘ stunning Olympic upset of the Soviet national team two remarkable “Miracle on Ice” items: a 1980 Lake Placid Olympic gold medal and the goal puck with which Mark Johnson recorded the first of his two tallies in the USA’s historic 4-3 win over the USSR.

With the world’s best Olympic winter athletes once again gathered in Vancouver, our latest historical hockey memorabilia auction features nearly 900 lots of online offerings at www.classicauctions.net. Included along with these two priceless “Miracle on Ice” pieces are the personal collections of Norm Ullman and Borje Salming, two Hall of Famers who have entrusted Classic Auctions with the sale of nearly 70 lots of their own hockey memorabilia.

Wow…I guess you can literally get just about any piece of memorabilia if you look hard enough.  I’m almost afraid to look and see the going rate for a 1980 goal puck…but if you’re interested, head on over to Classic Auctions.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a little less pricey…maybe I can interest you in some of the items sold by PLB Sports?

With all of the news that happens on a daily basis, it unfortunately is so easy for all of us to forget the devastation that happened in Haiti only weeks ago.

Fortunately, there are some people and some companies still determined to make sure we don’t forget.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following event advisory is being released by World Vision:

WHO: Two-time Olympic skier Kaylin Richardson will join World Vision and Best Western International to unveil new self-serve kiosks at the hotel that will allow guests to make direct donations to World Vision’s ongoing relief work in Haiti.

WHAT: Richardson and other Olympic athletes, including Canadian hockey player and Olympian Cassie Campbell-Pascall, will be on site to make the first donations using this new technology.  The first-of-its kind in the non-profit world, the kiosk, nicknamed “Heart for Haiti,” makes it easier than ever for people to support World Vision’s relief and development efforts in Haiti.

WHEN: Saturday, February 27, 2010, 1 – 2 p.m. (local)

Simply put, great event all the way around.  Great to see Richardson and Campbell-Pascall getting involved with World Vision, and its great to see World Vision utilizing the Olympics as a platform to ensure people do not forget the tragedy in Haiti.

Its always great to see athlete’s getting involved with charitable organizations to help bring about change.  That’s actually one of the reasons why we initially did the Flutie Flakes box, so many years ago.

Its just nice to see people in a position of prominence doing the right thing.