A few months back, I scoured the depths of Deviant Art and a few other sites to dig up some of the most beautiful athlete fan art that we've ever seen, but a few days ago I realized that I left out another great resource - Etsy. An online marketplace for independent artists, jewelers, and general retailers, Etsy is apparently also a haven for people who love to make unique sports merchandise and memorabilia. Some friends and I have a little game we like to play, as we try to find more obscure and interesting (read: borderline absurd) items to send each other as birthday gifts. After all, why celebrate your friend's team for him when you can induce shame just as easily?
Etsy turned out to be a treasure trove of paintings, knick knacks and clothing, so I did my best to limit the catalog today. But I'm pretty sure with this little collection, including that fantastic painting above, you'll get the general idea of what you'll find if you ever pull on your cyber galoshes and wade through the Etsy waters.
(Banner image via)
To put a little perspective to this one, the seller also has "Annoying Coworker" and Osama Bin Laden pinatas available. Act fast before Nike pulls them and launches the Hater Pinata line.
(Via)
What better way to celebrate Big Ben's wedding in July than by hanging this over your toilet?
(Via)
This is going to be worth a fortune when he retires soon. It feels like only 8 years ago he was a rookie. Damn, time flies.
(Via)
This is sure to wow at the L'il Miss Vicki Volunteer Pageant this year.
(Via)
Perfect for college seniors to wear to whatever event they attend instead of the draft next year.
(Via)
I enjoy this painting because Keith was a well-known smoker. It just makes me disappointed in the next painting.
(Via)
WHERE'S THE COCAINE??? That should also be the name of a sitcom starring them.
(Via)
People call this a great portrait, but the reality is that he was just surrounded with more talented paintings.
(Via)
So many different jokes rolled through my head. I'll just say it's a nice skirt.
(Via)
When you remove it, you shout, "Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooole!"
(Via)
They don't make these for Kentucky because nothing clean is associated with John Calipari.
(Via)
This is perfect for your front porch stone goose or your actual pet goose.
(Via)
Etsy seller JangoArts has created this series of animals imagined as classic baseball players and I want all of them. This is Kid Squirreley.
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/1110/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/LeBron-HS-Stats-180x180.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/taiwan-animation-bulls-heat-180x180.png)
![[image]](http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/Russian-Military-180x90.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.wl.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/04/Will-I-Am-commercial-Noah-180x180.gif)
Seriously considering ordering a cat jersey. I wish they had them in Black Swan.
I may have to build a house around that stuff from JangoArts. I love them so.