Tailgating. Is there anything better? Give me an afternoon of standing in the sun over a 300 degree grill taking in the smells of beef, pork, and sweat all mixed together over an air conditioned pre-game “party” that leaves you questioning if you can take your shoes off in front of the company or put your feet up on the coffee table any day of the week.

Heading up a tailgating session can be intimidating as a man’s grilling style is highly personal and if his guests are disappointed it could have some lingering effects, possibly even spill over into the actual enjoyment of that day’s sporting event. So, in the spirit of social progression, I present the thelebsports.com 2008 Tailgating Essentials.

1) The TaleGator - If your grilling skills leave a little to be desired, you can resort to wowing your audience with the latest and greatest gadgets. If you pull up in your truck, pop the tailgate down and reveal 2 seats…with cup holders…that dry piece of meat will instantly taste better.

2) Tailgate Toss - When attending a sporting event, it is important to get into a competitive mindset before entering the stadium. Nothing is easier than tossing a bean bag a few feet, but if the steaks…stakes are right, fun can be had.

3) Canopy Wall - Having a canopy is a non-negotiable. Canopies litter tailgating grounds every year. But if you want to stand out from the rest, get a canopy wall that shows your allegiance AND keeps your plates from flying across the parking lot. If you are blessed enough to be in Texas, the wind can get to blowing pretty good, so this is a very important addition to your tailgating accessory package.

4) Secondary Grill - Is there anything more impressive than a man dominating two grills? I thought so. Since that is the case, how about getting a secondary grill that keeps your fourth burger warm while you’re letting the third one settle? You can have the best meat in the world, but if it is cold…there isn’t enough ketchup in the world that will make me put it in my mouth. Plus, if quality is an issue, just wow the crowd with quantity.

5) Warning Signs - Let’s face it, there are the people that want some food before the game, and then there are TAILGATERS. Just so that there is no confusion on the type of crowd you are dealing with, all tailgate entries need to be clearly marked with these nifty signs. This way, if a little BBQ sauce from that last rib causes the football to fly a little less than straight you don’t have to feel guilty about your bud’s girlfriend’s black eye.

One piece of little advice before you go off inviting the neighborhood and your entire office to your Dallas Cowboys tailgating session is to put these methods into practice for a small group of friends.  Nothing is more embarrassing than not knowing how to use your own gear, so don’t get a big head and assume you know how to set up your canopy wall in 25 mph winds.

There you have it. Even if you have mastered the art of the green chili burger, a little tailgate accessorizing never hurt anybody. So go out there, get these 5 tailgating essentials and host the biggest, baddest tailgate on the lot. And remember, don’t smash your hamburgers when they are on the grill…you loose all the juice.