Cavs Fan Guide: Gear Up for the 2016 NBA Finals

If you've caught the #ALLin216 fever like us, here is your guide to gear up for cheering on the Cleveland Cavaliers as they return to the West Coast to face off against defending champs the Golden State Warriors when the NBA Finals start June 2. Whether it's a cup of joe or wine-and-gold duds for your pooch, get in the spirit to root on the Cavs with these fun finds. 

Take after Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova and enjoy in a pregame cup of java with his own G’Day Mate! specialty Arabica coffee blend available at Cleveland Coffee Co. ($13.50 per pound). Get even more hyped up by reading our January interview with Delly about what drives his unconventional coffee habit. 816 Huron Road, Cleveland, 216-861-8358

For some Cavs spirit all the way down to the toes, check out some custom-made Cavs socks from League Ready Customs ($15). You'll be sure to catch some attention walking down East Fourth Street with this pair.

                                                     

If getting yourself involved isn’t enough, you can get your pets in the zone too with some Cavaliers jerseys, bandanas and collars from CLE Pets, which we featured in our May issue. Check out these mesh fabric jerseys ranging from $25.99-$27. 5th Street Arcades, 530 Euclid Ave., Suite 23-1, Cleveland, 216-905-6789

photo by Dana Miller

After the Cavaliers set a NBA record of the most 3-pointers in a playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks in May, Tony Madalone, store owner of Fresh Brewed Tees, came up with some designs to show off the Cavs' accomplishment. Check out these two for $26.99 online. Shirts can also be found at the Cavaliers Team Shop at The Q. freshbrewedtees.com, 216-618-1912

Has anyone ever wished that the Cavs released a mixtape? Well, Ilthy has released an #ALLIN Mixtape shirt for $35 available in three different colors, featuring J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert. ilthy.com

Get pumped up with Homage's recently released line of licensed Cavaliers shirts from $32-$36 in a variety of designs just in time for the Finals. 235 Main St., Westlake, 440-925-4178

photo by Dana Miller

And, must we not forget about the Cavs’ newest unofficial mascot, Lil' Kev. He’s been on the journey with the team throughout the 2016 playoffs, as forward Richard Jefferson carries a laminated picture of him and documents it on his entertaining behind-the-scenes Snapchat feed. Now, you too, can sport some Lil’ Kev with a shirt from Redbubble for under $30. 

If you were inspired by ESPN's 30 for 30 Believeland film, show everyone all we need to do is believe that our team and city are champions with the help of CLE Clothing Co.'s Believeland shirt ($25) and other similar variations. 342 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-736-8879; 11435 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-465-9595

GV Art & Design said it well: "No one deserves it more," in this Win One For the Land T-shirt ($28). 17411 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-273-7188; 38038 Second St., Willoughby, 440-525-5240

Cavs Fan Guide: Five Must-Have T-shirts

When owner Ryan Weiss of Rock Everywear looks at his The Land: A City Reborn shirt ($20), one word comes to mind: champions. “It’s kind of like a mock-up of the championship trophy and the phoenix bird. [They’re] supposed to represent the birth of our city,” he says. rockeverywear.com

It’s important to remember that the NBA Finals is about the team as a whole, so the All the King’s Men shirt ($25) featuring the smiling (and bearded in most cases) silhouettes of the whole Cavs team makes us grin. “We just wanted to make a fun shirt that included all the Cavs in a fun way,” explains CLE Clothing Co. owner Mike Kubinski. 342 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-736-8879, cleclothingco.com

Brothers and co-owners of GV Art + Design Greg and George Vlosich decided to strategically release this special edition shirt ($26) right after LeBron James made a game-winning shot against Chicago earlier in the playoffs. “Honestly, it’s such a great statement. I mean, nothing is given — you gotta earn what you have,” George says. 17411 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-273-7188, gvartwork.com

Even with Kevin Love sitting the Finals out because of a certain shoulder mishap, and Kyrie Irving hampered by knee troubles, this shirt ($32) from Ilthy owner and designer Glen Infante featuring playful caricatures of Cleveland’s Big Three makes us hopeful. 15613 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, ilthy.com

We can't resist Fresh Brewed Tees’ can-do message on the All We Do is Win shirt ($25.99). Though that usually hasn’t been the case with Cleveland sports, we have no shame showing the world that 2015 is different. freshbrewedtees.com

By Emily McIntyre

Fresh Brewed Tees Catches Tebow Fever

Fresh Brewed Tees has entered a partnership with the NFL Players Association that allows the Cleveland company to produce apparel featuring the league's players. Founder and CEO Tony Madalone announced the agreement earlier this week and marked the occasion with the release of a "Tebow Time" T-shirt ($22).

The process of getting the NFLPA license took more than two months but was expedited by Fresh Brewed Tees' past experience working with Browns players such as Joe Haden, T.J. Ward and Josh Cribbs, according to Madalone

"Our history of working with these players and probably a dozen others around the league in some capacity, along with the credibility of being introduced through an agent, allowed us to move forward quicker," he says.

The choice of Tim Tebow should come as no surprise following the Denver Broncos' surprising upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.

"He was just named America's most popular athlete by ESPN, and broke the Twitter mentions-per-second record," Madalone says. "He's a big name right now."

The Tebow shirt will be followed by others, likely big-name NFL stars such as Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, but Madalone can't get into all the details yet.

"We're working on some stuff I can't disclose right now," he says. "But we're definitely interested."