If you've read this site for awhile now, you know one of the things I'm fascinated with, are the bags that award shows give out in their gift suites. The athletes and actors are already loaded, but companies give out tons of free stuff, in hopes that the famous person will be seen using their product on TV at some point. Well this year's ESPYs listed of free swag is pretty darn amazing, and LAist has some of the more fancy gear that attendees can take home with them....

* Undefeated and EA Sports: The two companies teamed up for the most practical and most gaudy giveaways. Everybody's first stop was for their custom military-style duffel bag ($225 est), which was used for carrying all the other goodies. They also gave 30 VIPs a personalized PlayStation 3 or PSP, which was laser-engraved while the recipient waited in a lounge serving Patron.
* iHome: The electronics maker handed out a variety of products, including the iH29 speaker case, iConnect Media Keyboard and wireless laser mouse ($179.99), and laptop cooling pads.
* Simmons Jewelry: Yup, there's nothing Russell Simmons doesn't make. Several of his jewelry lines were on display, primarily made of stainless steel. There was one watch with an MSRP higher than most new cars. VIPs were given items worth up to a few hundred dollars.
* NameDrop.com: A new website hoping to be Facebook for the glitterati, they'll promote the pros and charge regular subscribers an introductory $2.99 per month to read their content. For the celebs who signed up this weekend, they handed out a free Flip Cam.
* Muze Clothing: Specializing in t-shirts printed with classic movie lines, Muze came into the pop spotlight recently when Tony Romo was seen wearing their clothes while out with Jessica Simpson. Let's hope his shirt lasted longer than his relationship.
* Skullcandy: Looking to promote their new Decibel Collection, Skullcandy (which produces fashion headphones) handed out a number of their mid-range products.
* Assorted eyewear: We never quite figured out what the eye guy was doing, but he did fit Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma for some prescription Nike glasses and was displaying a pair of Calvin Klein sunglasses with an 8 gigabyte flash drive in the frame.
* Pure Power Mouthguard: Designed to improve jaw alignment and thereby improve athletic performance. You wouldn't think it makes that big of a difference ... but one of their dentists was able to help this writer's strength and balance just by shoving a pen between my teeth. Their sponsored athletes get fancy versions, but apparently weekend warriors can drop a couple grand in hopes of dropping a couple strokes from their golf game.
* Wynn: The Las Vegas casino gave a select crowd gift certificates along with an all-access VIP card for entrance into the clubs and pool. One Laker we talked to wasn't impressed, joking that he gets free three-room suites at a rival resort. Maybe he'll spend it at Tryst.
* Marley Coffee: Ziggy isn't the only one carrying on the family legacy. Turns out Bob always wanted to be a farmer, and his son Rohan is growing beans -- the caffeinated variety. Hardcore sports fans may remember that he was on the 1991 Miami Hurricanes national championship team.
* Axe: Branching out of the spray-on market less than a year ago, stylists worked on guy's hair while they handed out bottles of product.
* Zirh: Not to be outdone, the high-end men's skincare line set up mini-massages and gave away some of their cremes and masks.
* Patron: Besides serving drinks throughout the event, Patron also boxed up some basic party supplies and handed them out.
* Pizza Fusion: Hey, somebody had to cater ... being LA, they had to go organic.
* Sentient: You probably haven't heard of them because you don't fly in private jets. And you won't fly in private jets until you can afford to do so without a coupon. Which is why they were giving coupons to those who could afford it. One of life's great Catch 22's.

From time to time, I like to take a look at what the "stars" are getting in their various gift bags, but I had no idea they put them together for the Scouting Combine. In fact, they get some pretty cool stuff, if you're ultra into Under Armour clothing. From Sports Biz via With Leather....

* 1 Under Armour Combine Bag
* 3 UA Metal apparel pieces -- short sleeve compression, sleeveless compression and short sleeve loose shirt. All are personalized with position and number on the front, with the last name on the back. (UA says the compression shirts have the lightest fabric weight of any shirt on the market at 3.5 ounces.)
* 1 Travel suit, personalized with number and position on jacket.
* 1 pair of customized combine shoes (weigh 8.5 ounces, designed for NFL combine with footing for lateral, linear and vertical drills).
* 1 pair of UA cleats
* 1 pair of UA slides (sandals)
* 1 pair of UA running shoes
* 1 pair of UA trainers
* 1 Fleece Crew top and bottom
* 1 pair of Metal Compression shorts
* 1 pair of Heat Gear Leggings
* 1 pair of Micro-shorts
* 1 pair of Combine short

Each Bowl Season, the sponsoring companies are allowed to put together an Oscars-like gift bag for each player in the game, just as long as it doesn't total over $500. This year's list has both fun and practical items, and a few Bowls even have the gift that keeps on giving. A one-year ESPN the Magazine subscription!!! Well it keeps giving for a year at least.

Here's the list via Sox & Dawgs....

EagleBank Bowl (Navy vs. Wake Forest)
Gifts: Sony 8-inch portable DVD Player, wool hat, 50-by-60-inch custom-woven EagleBank Bowl afghan

New Mexico Bowl (Fresno State vs. Colorado State)
Gifts: RCA video camcorder, Oakley Holeshot Three-Hand watch, Oakley beanie, New Era cap, Ogio travel bag, Oakley backpack, One-year ESPN The Magazine subscription

St. Petersburg Bowl (Memphis vs. South Florida)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Sony noise-canceling headphones, Floppy hat and Ogio bag

Las Vegas Bowl (BYU vs Arizona)
Gifts: Wii System bundle package, Oakley Holeshot Three-Hand watch, Oakley Hijinx sunglasses, hat

R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Troy vs. Southern Miss)
Gifts: Balfour watch, Balfour ring, Nike apparel

Poinsettia Bowl (Boise State vs TCU)
Gifts: Apple 8-gigabyte iPod Touch, Tommy Hilfiger watch, Sport-Tek hooded sweatshirt, Best Buy $50 gift certificate

Hawai’i Bowl (Hawaii vs. Notre Dame)
Gifts: Kicker iKick500 iPod/iPhone dock, Kahala Aloha shirt, Oakley Hijinx sunglasses, Oakley backpack

Motor City Bowl (Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan)
Gifts: Timely Watch Co. watch, Two pieces of Mercury luggage

Meineke Car Care Bowl (North Carolina vs. West Virginia)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Fossil watch, Fossil sunglasses, Armor Gear backpack

Champs Sports Bowl (Florida State vs. Wisconsin)
Gifts: Party at Best Buy, Commemorative watch, $400 of spending at Best Buy*

Emerald Bowl (California vs. Miami, FL)
Gifts: Sony noise-canceling headphones,Fossil watch, Cap, Armor Gear rolling duffel ba

Independence Bowl (Northern Illinois vs Louisiana Tech)
Gifts: Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap, Trek mountain bike

PapaJohns.com Bowl (N.C. State vs. Rutgers)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Sony noise-canceling headphones, Knit cap, Ogio bag

Alamo Bowl (Northwestern vs Missouri)
Gifts: Sony 80-gigabyte PS3 system with game, Fossil watch

Humanitarian Bowl (Nevada vs Maryland)
Gifts: Sony camcorder, Winter jacket, gloves, hoodie sweatshirt, skullcap, baseball cap

Holiday Bowl (Oklahoma State vs Oregon)
Gifts: Insignia LCD 19-inch HDTV/DVD, Tourneau watch, Sport-Tek hooded sweatshirt, $45 Best Buy gift card

Texas Bowl (Western Michigan vs. Rice)
Gifts: Party at Best Buy, Swisstek watch, Under Armour HeatGear long-sleeve T-shirt, Twister pants and cap, commemorative belt buckle, Toppers backpack, $300 Best Buy gift card

Armed Forces Bowl (Air Force vs Houston)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Timely Watch Co. watch, Rolling luggage bag

Sun Bowl (Pittsburgh vs. Oregon State)
Gifts: Sony DVD Handycam, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Armor Gear Dolly Llama luggage, Brut hair dryer

Music City Bowl (Boston College vs Vanderbilt)
Gifts: Sony noise-canceling headphones and MP3 player, Fossil watch, Adidas fleece jacket, New Era cap, Armor Gear backpack

Insight Bowl (Kansas vs. Minnesota)
Gifts: Vizio 26-inch LCD HDTV, Bulova watch, Hat

Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Georgia Tech vs. LSU)
Gifts: Fossil watch, Two Russell hats, Russell travel bag, $300 Visa gift card, Chick-fil-A gift card

Outback Bowl (Iowa vs South Carolina)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Fossil watch, Jostens ring

Gator Bowl (Nebraska vs. Clemson)
Gifts: Bulova watch, Jostens ring, Oakley Split Thump MP3 sunglasses, fitted cap, Two-piece Mercury Luggage rolling duffel and sling bag

Capital One Bowl (Georgia vs Michigan State)
Gifts: Party at Best Buy, Commemorative watch, $400 of spending at Best Buy*

Rose Bowl (USC vs Penn State)
Gifts: Sony DVD camcorder, Fossil watch, Oakley sunglasses, New Era 59fifty hat, Ogio backpack, One-year ESPN The Magazine subscription

Orange Bowl (Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech)
Gifts: Gifting suite, $300 in Sony Electronics^, Tourneau watch, New Era 59fifty hat, Crocs, Ogio backpack

Cotton Bowl (Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech)
Gifts: Watch

Liberty Bowl (East Carolina vs. Kentucky)
Gifts: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Fossil watch, Fossil sunglasses, Armor Gear backpack

Sugar Bowl (Alabama vs Utah)
Gifts: Sony MP3 Walkman, Sony Blu-Ray player, Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap

International Bowl (Buffalo vs. UConn)
Gifts: Timely Watch Co. watch, Two-piece Armor Gear rolling travel duffel bag and computer backpack

Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State vs Texas)
Gifts: Myvu personal media viewer, Apple iPod Nano, Kenneth Cole watch, Hat

GMAC Bowl (Ball State vs. Tulsa)
Gifts: Timely Watch Co. watch, Jostens ring, Hat

BCS National Championship (Oklahoma vs Florida)
Gifts: Gifting suite, $300 in Sony Electronics^, Tourneau watch, New Era 59fifty Hat, Crocs, Ogio duffle bag

* Players can purchase up to $400 of products from Best Buy while at the in-store party.
^ Players can purchase up to $300 in Sony Electronics products that are showcased to them at the team hotels.

It's that time of year folks! The time when you scouring the Internet for gifts that you can purchase for your loved ones that aren't too cheesy or overly expensive. Well have I got the gift for you! I am proud to introduce to you ESPN's "Sports Caster Mic"!!!

Fulfill your dream of being an ESPN announcer with the ESPN Sportscaster Mic, nominated by Time.com as one of the Top Ten Toys for 2008. With its built-in speaker, you can announce the game or make the calls from anywhere you want. Three modes of sounds, football, baseball and basketball make you feel like you're right on the field or court for the big game. And announcer tips, tricks and calls from SportCenter’s Steve Levy make the Sportscaster Mic a must have for any aspiring ESPN anchor.