The Inland Northwest's love of its sports teams is intense. And even if you're not keen on the Zags or the Eagles, and thought that Mike Leach was the name of one of the Garbage Pail Kids, you probably have at least one sports-obsessed individual on your shopping list. Allow us to point you in the right direction.
A CHANCE FOR GLORY
For the first time in more than a decade, there's real excitement surrounding the Washington State football team; local news personality Darin Watkins wants to remind you of the first time Cougar football hit the big time. A Chance for Glory chronicles Washington State College's (as it was known) run to the Rose Bowl in 1916, when the sport of football, especially on the West Coast, was in its infancy. Watkins' book tells of a team of underdogs coached by a guy in a top hat who spent their downtime in L.A. preparing for the game by starring in movies. $23 • Auntie's Bookstore • 402 W. Main
SPOKANE INDIANS SALISH JERSEY
Some sports teams have made a mockery of Native Americans with stereotypical and offensive mascots, but the Spokane Indians, our minor league baseball team, have made big strides to honor the Spokane Tribe of Indians. You can see this in their home jerseys, which spell out the team name in Salish, the tribe's native language. $200 • Spokane Indians Team Store • 602 N. Havana
GONZAGA GROWLER
So you know that friend of yours with the enormous new TV and the deluxe cable package? Well, as we head deeper into the Gonzaga basketball season, you want to cozy up to him. You should do it by bringing along some beer this holiday season in a growler full of team spirit and, of course, beer. Don't give someone an empty growler. That's ignorant. Oh, and you just happened to stop to drop off this gift a few seconds before tipoff? Weird! Better stay for the game. $20 • Growler Guys South Hill • 1314 S. Grand Blvd. #4
BIG SKY CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Fans of either Eastern Washington or Idaho basketball can finally make early plans to take in the Big Sky Conference Basketball Championships now that the tournament has made Reno the fixed site. You very well could see one of these local squads punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament. If your team doesn't fare too well? You're still in Reno, which is like Vegas but with a chance of snow. $100/men all-tournament pass, $30/women's pass • Available through either goeags.com or govandals.com • tournament details at bigskyconf.com ♦
