Dad’s aren’t tough to buy gifts for, right? A tie, a Home Depot gift card, and a new barbecue utensil is all you need, right?

What about the Digital Dads?

While they spend plenty of time unplugged, there are plenty of Dads who enjoy their gaming or sports online, whether it be fighting alongside comrades from around the world, picking their fantasy league lineups, or following their favorite sports teams. With that in mind, there’s plenty of options for the Gaming Digital Dad.

• Is Dad relying on ESPN or some other network to broadcast his favorite baseball team? Sign him up for MLB Extra Innings. It’ll get you every non-nationally televised game, many in HD, all the way through October. Also available: MLB.tv. Dad can watch any of those same games right online.
• Does Dad have an iPhone? (No? Get him one! Then…) Steal it and download some great apps for him. Or load it up with some of his favorite tunes. He’ll appreciate that you managed to find all those old songs you don’t like. While you’re at it, get him some nice headphones so Mom doesn’t have to listen to them either.
• Whenever you go to the movies, do you lose Dad in the arcade? The Playstation3 doubles as a Blu-Ray player. Not a bad excuse to upgrade from the old school DVD player and that ancient, dusty PS2. Or, get him a Nintendo Wii and politely mention all the old school games available through the Virtual Console.
• Combine a couple of these music and video game ideas and introduce him to the wonderful world of Guitar Hero. You pick the platform, Dad picks the tunes. Fair trade.

Whatever you end up getting for your Gaming Digital Dad, you know he’ll appreciate it… until you wipe the floor with him on Expert mode. Take it easy on the old man, will ya?