Christmas has nothing on bowl game gift season

The tradition and honor of playing in a college football bowl game are intangibles, but the freebies and the swag that come a player’s way are very real rewards.

FoxSports.com recently compared the giveaways offered by 20 bowl games.

The Rose Bowl ranked among the middle of the pack, giving each player a Sony DVD camcorder, a Fossil watch, an Ogio backpack, a New Era 59Fifty fitted cap, a plaque, an autographed football and a one-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine.

The national championship game gives out a high-end gift (up to $300 worth of Sony electronics) and a low-end (customized luggage tags) and an assortment in between (watch, duffel bag, BCS championship game customized Crocs).

Coming out on the light end is the Gator Bowl, which hands out Oakley electronic sunglasses, a Bulova watch and a cap.

Trivia time

What did the Chick-fil-A Bowl used to be called?

It adds up

Nathan Cleverly, the Commonwealth light-heavyweight boxing champion, has a degree in mathematics. He recently told BBC Sport, “Sometimes I go to bed dreaming about my next fight and wake up thinking about my next equation.”

He can’t dig it

From Reggie Hayes of the News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.:

“Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant was upset by comments about him that were made by ESPN’s Emmitt Smith and Trent Dilfer. ‘I can put on a suit just like you and get on TV and talk just like you,’ Bryant said, calling out the pair.

“The NFL had no reaction, but I think it’s overdue for the league to take seriously the threat of another player turning into an analyst. Before long, the professional journalists will be out of a job, and then who’ll be around to make up nicknames using dated 1970s references?”

Trivia answer

The Peach Bowl.

And finally

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard talked to MLB.com about meeting Donald Trump at a recent taping of “Costas Now” for HBO.

“It was different to be in his presence,” Howard said. “I think when [he] was breathing, a thousand bucks came out.”

-- Mike Penner