Sling Media Slingbox

The revolutionary Slingbox finds its way onto nearly every top tech list we put out there. That's with good reason, especially for sports fans. If you have tickets to the game but don't want to miss the out-of-town action, this reasonably priced device ($199) stays in your home and beams live TV programming to any Internet-connected Windows laptop or desktop. That includes newer Intel-based Macs running Windows under Boot Camp; owners of older Macs are out of luck. The Slingbox's latest trick is streaming live video to Windows Mobile phones and PDAs. It's the perfect companion for anyone who has an NFL Sunday Ticket or another pricey sports package and doesn't want it to go to waste when they're not home.

Mobile ESPN (with Sanyo MVP)

The bulky Sanyo MVP handset won't win a cell phone tournament anytime soon, but the Mobile ESPN service is the real deal. We're talking real-time scores and alerts, dozens of videos posted daily, a huge stats database, integrated fantasy-team management, and a very sleek onscreen look. This is more than just your generic rehashing of online content for a mobile device; ESPN has done a great job building the ultimate mobile companion for sports freaks. Right now, the service is available only for the Sanyo MVP and the sleeker, more Razr-like Samsung Ace. We haven't tested out the Samsung Ace yet, but its thin form factor and additional skills (Bluetooth capabilities and an MP3 player) look very promising. And a number of other sports-friendly mobile devices are out there, too.

Panasonic ToughBook 74

If you're going to bring a laptop to the game, you'll need one that can withstand gallons of spilled beer, foul balls lined into it, and the occasional Lambeau leap. Get this ToughBook. It's expensive ($3,000 starting price), but we dropped it repeatedly during our lab tests, and it kept on trucking. We even dumped a bunch of coffee on it, and it kept on keepin' on. Its performance is mediocre compared to laptops in its price range, but it makes up for that with resilient, tenacious defense. It even has a handle on it, so you can use it to play laptop curling on a local frozen lake. Just get the three-year warranty first.

Toyota FJ Cruiser (with XM or Sirius)

In addition to being a great tailgating vehicle, thanks to its superwide doors, roomy trunk, and extensive array of uniformlike colors, the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser has more-subtle benefits for sports fans. Chief among them is the selection of either Sirius or XM Satellite radio. Thanks to its exclusive deal with the NFL and NCAA football, Sirius is the obvious selection for hard-core football fans, while XM has an exclusive deal of its own with Major League Baseball. Another nice tailgating extra is a line-in jack for MP3 players and other audio devices. Gas guzzling is this ride's major drawback; it gets only 17 miles to the gallon.

Nike + iPod Sport Kit

For anyone who actually likes participating in sporting events rather than watching them, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit is an amazing piece of workout tech. You'll need an iPod Nano to use it, but it's well worth the $30 if you're a serious runner. You place a small pedometer in your shoe that communicates wirelessly with your Nano, which tracks--in real time--distance traveled, pace, calories burned, and elapsed running time. When you get back home, the unit uploads your running data and charts your overall progress on the Nikeplus.com Web site. Not a bad little motivator.