Black Clover Blog

March is here, and that means plenty of amazing collegiate basketball action as schools battle it out across the country on the way to the 2018 championship game. We’ve put together ideas for each tournament destination to enjoy if you’re traveling to cheer on your favorite team in person.

Omaha, Nebraska - Midwest Regionals

March 23 & 25 CenturyLink Center

Omaha is a bustling Midwestern city filled with the spirit of adventure, which is fitting as it was a stopping place in the 1804 Lewis & Clark Expedition that charted America’s westward growth. The Corp of Discovery’s visit is commemorated at the Lewis & Clark Landing on the banks of the mighty Missouri River. At the Joslyn Art Museum, peruse breathtaking 19^th century paintings depicting the Great Outdoors, and experience authentic train cars at the Durham Museum in the gorgeously refurbished Union Station. 

Omaha is squarely in cattle country, and it’s definitely a city that enjoys fine cuts of beef, like at the popular Spencer's For Steak And Chops. For casual eats in a sports-centric scene, head to the Old Mattress Factory, a fun spot located in a vintage brick building dating from 1883.

Los Angeles, California - West Regionals

March 22 & 24 STAPLES Center

There’s no denying the glamor of gorgeous Los Angeles … and its star power. If you’re headed to games at the incredible STAPLES Center, be sure and wander about energetic L.A. LIVE. It’s a huge entertainment complex filled with musical venues, restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, a museum and even a deluxe bowling alley, Lucky Strike. For a glimpse into pre-historic Southern California before all the Hollywood glitterati arrived, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum features bubbling natural pools of asphalt and the fossils of extinct megafauna like sabretooth cats and mammoths that met their end in the sticky goop. 

Getting hungry? Wander about Historic Downtown’s Grand Central Market, where vendors serve food and drink from exotic produce and fresh-baked bread to hamburgers and ramen bowls. And for a delicious slice of Los Angeles culinary history, try a French dip at friendly Philippe The Original, one of the originators of the iconic soaked sandwich.

Atlanta, Georgia - March 22 & 24

South Regionals Philips Arena 

Atlanta has long been known as a sports city, and this is especially true at the Centennial Olympic Park, which is located across the street from the Philips Arena. Nearby are thrilling attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, which makes for colorful pre-game strolling amid giant tanks teeming with aquatic life. For a rotating view of Atlanta’s impressive skyline, take a ride on Skyview Atlanta, a 20-story Ferris wheel with climate-controlled gondolas.

Continue the rotating, sky-high theme over lunch, snacks, or dinner at the Sun Dial Restaurant with its 360-degree panoramic view from 723 feet in the air. And Atlanta is a hotspot for delicious barbecue, like the tasty vittles served at Twin Smokers BBQ and  Smoke Ring.

Boston, Massachusetts - East Regionals

March 23 & 25 TD Garden

It doesn’t get much more historic than Boston, one of the cradles of American independence. A classic activity for “Beantown” visitors is to follow the Freedom Trail, which crosses the picturesque Charlestown Bridge a block from the TD Garden. Unforgettable highlights on the route include Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, Bunker Hill Museum, the USS Constitution, and Boston Common.

Faneuil Hall is also located along the Freedom Trail, and it is an astounding place to sample New England’s finest foods from lobster rolls and crab cakes to broiled scrod and Boston cream pie. At Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in America, be sure to try the Boston baked beans and the clam chowder.

As side note, the game of basketball itself was invented some 90 miles down the road from Boston in the city of Springfield, where its traditions and living legacy are honored at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

San Antonio, Texas - Finals

March 31 & April 2 Alamodome

Talk about a fantastic time to crown 2018’s college basketball champs in San Antonio — it’s the 300^th anniversary of the beautiful city’s founding! Visiting the Alamo is a must. The former Spanish mission was the 1836 scene of one of America’s most famous battles. Next, meander along the gorgeous River Walk. A bit to the west, walk through vibrant Market Square, a three-block outdoor Mexican market. To take San Antonio from above, take a ride up the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas.

The food in San Antonio is excellent. It’s the home of Tex-Mex cuisine including scrumptious tacos, enchiladas, and fajitas served along the River Walk at Casa Rio. This part of Texas was also settled by Germans, so savor European dishes like bratwurst and Wienerschnitzel at homey spots like Schilo’s, the oldest restaurant in these parts.

Bonus Destination: Las Vegas, Nevada

Viva Las Vegas! For many, there’s no substitute for watching the collegiate basketball on the famous Strip. Some of the best places to catch full-court presses include The Park, Vegas’ premiere outdoor space lined with numerous restaurants like Beerhaus. At MGM Grand, watch free throws in LEVEL UP, a cool interactive gaming stadium (you’ll see our Black Clover shop nearby). And at the astounding TopGolf next door, watch the games on more than 300 HD screens while teeing off from three levels of climate-controlled hitting bays.

No matter where you watch all the basketball action this month — including your hometown — it’s the perfect time to show school spirit with the Black Clover Collegiate Collection. It features premium fitted, jersey, and mesh caps that make it easy cheer layups and three-pointers with style (and a little luck).

 

NASCAR is one of the most viewed professional sports in the USA, with some of the most devoted fans of any professional sport. Fans show up to races from all over the country to get rowdy while watching drivers speed up to 200mph. You could say that here at Black Clover, we’re kind of big fans. 

Like many other sports, there are moments that define the sport, launching it into a vital part of American culture. NASCAR is no different. Here are our top 7 favorite defining moments in NASCAR history:

 

7. 1979 Daytona 500 Ends and Puts NASCAR on the Map. The first fully televised Daytona 500 had a lot of excitement for fans. First, the 1st and 2nd place drivers, Cal Yarborough and Donnie Allison, wreck each other on the last lap. Then, Richard Petty gets his 6th Daytona 500 win. As Petty crossed the finish line, CBS’s TV cameras caught another piece of excitement: Yarborough and the Allison brothers in the midst of a heated argument that quickly escalated into a fist-fight. All the excitement makes this moment a turning point in stock-car racing, putting it on the map to become a mainstream sport. 

Image 1 Photo by RacingNews.co

6. Richard Petty Wins 200th Race in Front of Ronald Reagan. Not only is 200 wins the highest number of wins ever in NASCAR history, but driving legend Richard Petty did it in front of President Ronald Reagan. Reagan was the first president to attend a NASCAR race, even giving the opening race command, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” from the phone on Air Force One. Unfortunately for Petty, this was his last NASCAR win even though he continued racing for another 8 years.

Image 2 Photo by 365DaysofMotoring.com

5. 1963’s Jacksonville Win Goes to First (and Only) African American. Wendell Scott still stands as the first and only African American to win a NASCAR Cup Race. During his career, Scott fought racism from fans and promoters. That victorious day for Scott was an exciting day. He finished the race two laps ahead of the second place driver, taking the checkered flag after his win was initially denied. Scott went on to win 100 other races, but this was his only elite Spring Cup level series win. 

4. Pass in the Grass. One of the most legendary moments in NASCAR history happened at the 1987 Winston All-Star Race. Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott battled lap after lap during the race, and with 7 laps remaining Earnhardt went to block Elliot as he went low to make a pass. Earnhardt’s block went even lower: he drove his car into the infield grass before muscling his car back onto the track and never losing the lead. Elliot didn’t take Earnhardt’s win too well and slammed his car into Earnhardt’s during the cool down laps. It was this race that earned Earnhardt the title “The Intimidator”.

Image 3 Photo by Nascar.com

3. Dale Earnhardt Wins Daytona 500 after 19 Tries. Dale Earnhardt had several rough races at Daytona. One time, he hit a bird and another time he got a flat tire. It wasn’t until 1998 that he finally won the race, resulting in the most famous post-race celebration with every member of every team lining up to shake his hand as he drove by. 

Image 4 Photo by WashingtonPost.com

2. 2013 Crash Injures Dozens of Fans. A wreck that involved 12 cars and occurred about 50 yards from the finish line. Amazingly, none of the drivers were hurt, but it was one of the scariest moments for fans in NASCAR history. More than 30 fans were injured by car parts flying into the stands at Daytona International Speedway. Witnesses have said that it was a matter of luck that nobody was killed. 

Image 5 Photo by MassLive.com

1. Dale Earnhardt Dies in Daytona 500 Crash. After failing to win any of his 462 starts, Michael Waltrip finally won a race in 2001. However, his win was overshadowed by a pivotal moment in NASCAR history by the death of Dale Earnhardt in the final lap. The crash occurred after Earnhardt lost control of his car and was then hit by Ken Schrader. The impact of the crash sent Earnhardt nose first into the wall where he was then taken from the car by medical personnel. His death sparked a safety revolution within NASCAR and nobody has died in a NASCAR race since.

 

These moments helped define NASCAR. The wins, the losses, the crashes, the celebrations. They have all contributed to making NASCAR one of the biggest American pastimes.

But when it comes to NASCAR, the most important part of the sport is the fans. You’ll have a hard time finding a fanbase as rowdy as NASCAR fans.

That’s why Black Clover is proud of our partnership with Kyle “Rowdy” Busch. With 183 NASCAR wins and a great foundation committed to empowering families, communities and children, Kyle is our favorite NASCAR villain. 

In partnership with Kyle, we’ve created a line of hats so fans can show off how rowdy they get. Use coupon code rowdy20 and save 20% on your order from our Kyle Busch collection, Rowdy Signature Series!

We don’t know about you, but here at Black Clover, we think 2017 was a pretty exciting year. Wendy’s gave an eager Tweeter a year of free chicken nuggets, April the giraffe gave birth to a baby boy after months of waiting, and we had the first solar eclipse in the Lower 48 in more than 30 years.

As for Black Clover, we debuted our first dedicated retail outlet at the MGM Grand Las Vegas,  launched an exclusive partnership with Topgolf, and introduced our Western and our Luxury Edition collections.

With the growing selection of Black Clover collections, we’ve had several Clover Nation enthusiasts ask about what our all-time favorites are. So, without further ado, check out our top five below. Feel free to comment with your favorite hat, accessory, or piece of clothing. Who knows, we might just send it to you ;)

Drumroll please...

5. Premium Clover 1. The one that started it all. It’s crisp white with black logo, its suited for every occasion and crafted for superior comfort and fit. It will keep you dry, cool and looking stylish. What else do you need?

4. Premium Clover 22. Another classic from our collection. The stylish charcoal grey blends seamlessly with Black Clover’s black four-leaf clover outlined in white. The Players Performance Wick keeps you dry and cool, even after a long day outdoors.                

3. Premium Clover 16. When people think about luck, they think of the iconic green four-leaf clover that you’ll find on this hat. Like all of our Premium Collection hats, it features A-Flex Headband for the best possible fit. 

2. Premium Clover 51. This hat makes a statement. It’s daring black with lime green accents. It’s no wonder why this hat is our No. 2 seller. You’ll be turning heads with this hat! A must-add to any collection.  

1. Premium Clover 2. If our Premium Clover 1 is the original and classic, this hat is its evil twin. The black hat features a black clover logo with white outlining and our “Live Lucky” mantra featured prominently. It’s the hat you saw Shaquille O’Neal wearing on Instagram. We know it’ll look just as good on you as it does on him.                          

Our Premium Collection hats are our top sellers for a reason. It’s why you see Tony Robbins and Rob Lowe living luck in Black Clover hats. They’re crafted for superior fit and style, and will keep you cool, dry and comfortable.

Want to experience the quality for yourself? Use code clover10 for 10% off your next order!

When the rodeo comes to town, Vegas gets a little rugged. The glitz and glamor stay, but suddenly there are more cowboys than normal. If you can’t make it to the Thomas & Mack and T-Mobile arenas to watch the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in person, there are plenty of bars where you can celebrate all the hard-riding action. 

If you want cheer along with other rodeo fans - and maybe even ride a mechanical bull - you’ve got to get to the right bar. Here’s some of our favorite country bars in Las Vegas, even when PBR and NFR aren’t in town.

1. PBR Rock Bar. Located on the Strip at the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood, where you’ll feel a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. With a mechanical bull, a patio overlooking the Strip, four full-service bars and a delicious menu, you’ll let loose and maybe even let out a “yeehaw!” The menu even has the biggest burger in the country according to USA Today. You might need to loosen your belt a bit to chow down on those beef patties!
   
2. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. Nightly live country music combined with a Southern menu and great drinks makes this popular bar in Harrah’s a fun stop. Named after Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar”, this Vegas favorite is always a great stop no matter the time of year. Mingling with other rodeo fans just makes it that much better. And if you’re lucky, you might get to see the man himself, Toby Keith, enjoying a cold one. 
3. Coyote Ugly Saloon. Hot girls dancing on the bar while pouring drinks? Sign us up. If you’ve seen the movie and want to experience the real thing, you can’t miss stopping by the bar located at New York New York Hotel & Casino. We promise it’s even better than the movies. If the gorgeous gals behind the bar showing off their artistic pouring techniques don’t convince you that you need to stop by, how about daily happy hours and line dancing lessons twice a week. We’ll see you on the dance floor.
4. Redneck Riviera. Great drinks, great music, and great people. From open to close, Redneck Riviera has live music all day. You’ll find it all at John Rich’s Redneck Riviera, where The American Dream is celebrated daily. Veterans get their first drink free at the Heroes Bar. You won’t find another bar like this in Las Vegas, from the décor to ambiance, it’s hard to duplicate the experience anywhere else.
5. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country. Touted as “Where Country Lives in Las Vegas” Dance your heart out every Friday and Saturday nights with live music, a famous ladies night, dance lessons, and a mechanical bull. Guys won’t want to miss ladies night: we’re talking bikini bull riding! And ladies, you have the chance to win $500 for your skills. 

 

While you’re figuring out which bars to hit on your trip to Vegas for PBR and NFR, don’t forget to order a hat from Black Clover’s western collection. That four leaf clover might give you a bit of extra luck while you’re two-stepping on the dance floor! We’ll see you at the rodeo.

Stepping onto golf course is more than just working on your swing. It’s making a statement.

A fashion statement, that is.

Anyone can show up in khaki pants and a pastel tone shirt, but to step out in style takes so much more. From your shoes to your hat, style can set the tone of your game. When you look good, you feel good.

We might be a bit biased, but from our headwear to our apparel, Black Clover has high quality and stylish golf shorts, shirts, outwear and hats. Made with top of the line materials, our products keep you looking fashionable while you put.

Start with the right kicks.

Keep your golf shoes stylish and comfortable. We’re fans of ECCO Golf Lux Golf Shoes and G-Fore Disruptors.

Wear quality, comfortable shorts.

Black Clover’s shorts are crafted with quality materials in a variety of colors from khaki to royal blue. No matter your style, these shorts are comfortable and perfect for hitting the greens.

Find a stylish polo.

Our colorful polos with Wicking Technology help keep moisture away – an essential part of looking cool on the links. Black Clover has a wide range of Lucky polos for both men and women.

Don’t forget your socks.

Some people love wearing fun socks, others prefer more traditional socks. Whatever your sock style, we’re big fans of Soxy. Bold, wild, classic and theme socks have never looked so good.

Keep the sun out of your eyes.

Not only are Black Clover’s hats Lucky, they also keep the sun out of your eyes as you swing. Whether you want a fitted hat, an adjustable hat or a visor, we’ve got you covered.

So next time you hit the golf course, make a statement. Look Lucky, Live Lucky. We aren’t saying that you’re guaranteed to win, but we don’t believe in Live Lucky for nothing. Shop our premium golf apparel and save 10% on your next order with coupon code save10!