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What a Lovely Way to Ring in the New Year

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You all know how I feel about yesterday’s “Where’s Waldo?” promotion. But here’s an ironic twist: By the start of next season, the Reebok logo might be gone from all NHL jerseys.

That news comes from Moe Khan, who hosts a show on this Montreal sports radio station and also works at a major Montreal sports retail outlet that he’s asked me not to name. According to Moe (who says he’s gotten his info from the his retail store manager and from the store’s Reebok rep), Reebok’s vector logo will be eliminated from NHL jerseys next season and be replaced by — get this — the Reebok wordmark. As Moe explains it, this is just the latest step in the program that has seen the wordmark appearing with increasing frequency on goalie equipment, on the line markers on the boards, and on T-shirts. Moe says this is strictly an NHL thing — the vector logo will continue to be used on NFL gear.

I’ve tried to confirm this with the NHL and with Reebok. Unfortunately, they’ve been too busy with the holidays and the Winter Classic; I’ll follow up with them in the next week or so. But after speaking with Moe, and also checking in with our resident hockey expert, Teebz (who, as it turns out, has heard from one of his local sports retailers that the logo may be gone next year), I feel solid enough about this to share it with you here. For now I’m considering it an “unsubstantiated but plausible rumor,” so let’s beat the rush and start being pissed off about it now.

Sportswear wordmarks on uniforms are not unprecedented. Back in the late 1980s, the Rawlings script appeared on the right sleeve of several MLB teams. And in the late 1990s, when the NFL uniform manufacturing contract was split up between Puma, Adidas, and Nike (this was before the whole thing was consolidated under Reebok), Puma and Adidas both used a wordmark in conjunction with a graphic icon. (Nike just stuck with the swoosh.)

But those makers’ marks, as irritating as they may have been, were tiny compared to the NHL’s giant vector logos, which are often housed in the super-annoying Ree-box. If the Reebok wordmark ends up being similarly large, this is going to set a new standard in logo creep offensiveness, and another black mark on Gary Bettman’s record.

But none of this is confirmed yet. Let’s see if it’s true. Stay tuned.

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Steam of Consciousness: While the rest of you wusses were ensconced at your nice, warm New Year’s Eve parties, Collateral Gammage and I ventured out into the minus-5 wind chill to partake in a hallowed Brooklyn tradition: the ringing in of the new year via the steam whistles at Pratt Institute. They had a calliope hooked up to the steam feed and to a keyboard, so there was cool steam-driven music for an hour or so before midnight. Then, when the clock struck 12, they sounded all the big steam whistles. The whole thing was insanely loud and steamy, which met with everyone’s approval. (If you’re curious, check out some of the video clips here.)

Uni Watch News Ticker: The Chargers will be wearing their powder blue alts for tomorrow’s playoff game against the Colts — a tricky proposition, because they’d already sent their powder blues to the league office so they could be auctioned off for charity. Details here (with thanks to Shivaun Watchorn). ”¦ Speaking of the Chargers, several readers have noted that Antonio Cromartie was wearing black shoes (and no white socks at all) in last Sunday’s game. ”¦ Our latest DIYer: Brian Shane, who bought a plain black hoodie, ordered some patches from these guys, and created this. ”¦ Brad Spence got his grandfather a cool Xmas present: a 1966 Orioles treatment from Joe Hilseberg‘s Jersey NameFrame. Here’s a shot of him opening the present, which Brad says was a big hit. ”¦ Pitt and Oregon State went color-on-color in the Sun Bowl, resulting in a penalty for the Beavers. ”¦ The Sun Bowl also featured two HNOB players: LaRod Stephens-Howling and Victor Strong-Butler. At one point, the latter tackled the former (all of this courtesy of Doug Keklak, who also provided a shot of Elena Della Donne’s double-decker NOB). ”¦ Very odd bowl patch placement for Vanderbilt at the Music City Bowl (with thanks to Joshua Linville). ”¦ Interesting the Winter Classic patches were even worn on practice jerseys the day before the game (with thanks to Dustin Burns). ”¦ Pretty amusing uni-related angle in this Alaska Airlines commercial (big thanks to Jeremy Brahm). ”¦ Great visual timeline of the Cincinnati Bearcat mascot here (with thanks to David Sonny). ”¦ Clemson wore solid orange in the Gator Bowl, plus backup QB Willie Korn had an NOB typo. ”¦ Georgia Tech’s blue jerseys finally made their on-field debut in some bowl game whose name is so corporate and stupid that I refuse to spell it out. ”¦ Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero). ”¦ Ryan Brister sent along some photos from SI’s The College Football Book, including shots of Richard Todd with a shredded jersey, Navy wearing gold, and USC and Ga. Tech going color-on-color in 1969 (plus you can catch a partial view of the Trojans wearing the college football 100th-anniversary decal). ”¦ “We might walk out with a blank jersey. We have that option.” Who said that, and what was he referring to? Look here (with thanks to Paul Richard Cook). … “Jason LaBarbara played his first game for the Canucks last night, after being picked up in a trade from the Kings,” writes Steve May. “So you have a situation where the goalie has his old team’s mask and pads. But in this case, he also had his old team’s breezers and socks.” … James T. Huening attended the Winter Classic and took a bunch of photos, which you can see here.

 
  
 
Comments (198)

    As I mentioned in yesterday’s comments, those Winter Classic photos were taken with my camera phone due to some technical issues with my real camera. Sorry.

    Patches and logos and…ads? Oh, my.

    Starting to feel like we’re only a few seasons away from the NASCAR-NFL Europe look, isn’t it.

    —Ricko

    Those teampatch.com guys are still using the old NFL and NHL logos, and I’m not sure about that NBA logo either.

    The pic of Jason LaBarbara is with a Canucks mask. You can see the orca on the chin paintwork.

    So Reebok is already making brand changes with the edge sweater… will some pleeeease tell them to fix that curved hem.

    That goes for the Nike swift world jr uniforms too.

    Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….

    Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    As a follow up to all the 2010 Winter Classic talk from yesterday, you can rule Philadelphia out as an option for host city. Apparently, it’s been determined that historically, it’s too warm in the City of Brotherly Love on January 1.

    Although, anyone who had to go outside yesterday would beg to disagree.

    [quote comment=”308259″]Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….[/quote]

    That may be an evolving thing in the vernacular. Here in Minnesota “breezers” it still quite common, but not nearly to the degree it used to be. Isn’t gone, but can kinda tell it’s on the way out. I think some people like saying “breezers” cuz in their minds it retains hockey’s uniqueness. Lotta athletes wear “pants”, but only hockey players wear “breezers”. Although “jerseys” sure as heck has pretty much replaced “sweaters”.

    Just saying, depends on where you are. Here, if you say “breezers” you don’t sound like a total geek. Not yet, anyway.

    [quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link
    yeah i gotta agree

    [quote comment=\”308254\”]Patches and logos and…ads? Oh, my.

    Starting to feel like we\’re only a few seasons away from the NASCAR-NFL Europe look, isn\’t it.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, have you seen team uniforms in bowl games? Unfortunately, we\’ve been there for a while. You\’ve got a bowl logo, a conference logo, a manufaturer\’s logo, and usually the team\’s logo (and sometimes name) all bunched up in there on the front of the jersey.

    [quote comment=”308259″]Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….[/quote]

    what’s a brezzer?

    [quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    USC’s Song Girls do rock, as does its band. If you’ve ever been to a USC game, go down to the field after the game and hang for a half hour while the Song Girls dance and the band plays on. It’s as sweet a scene in college football as you’ll find, whether in the Coliseum or after a win at the Rose Bowl. The pros might have the best athletes, but they can’t touch this college atmosphere.

    [quote comment=”308265″][quote comment=”308259″]Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….[/quote]

    what’s a brezzer?[/quote]

    A rum drink…

    More specifically, is a rum-based alcopop with 4% alcohol (5% in Australasia, Canada and the United Kingdom). It comes in a variety of fruit flavors: lemon, pineapple, apple, ruby grapefruit, lime, orange, watermelon, cranberry, coconut, raspberry, blueberry, pomegranate, mango and they all have a generally fruity taste.

    Speaking of Georgia Tech’s blue jerseys, they’re now 0 for 2 in them in recent years: Lost the 2006 ACC championship game to Wake Forest and the bowl formerly known as the Peach Bowl to LSU in 2008. They did win the national championship in them in 1990 (Citrus Bowl over Nebraska), but they’ve stuck with gold or white primarily since.

    I dont know about you, but I cant wait for the 2018 Winter Classic between the Ducks and the Kings at the LA Colisseum.

    This is kind of an emergency, but can anyone point me to the entry where Paul put up a picture of the new Cavaliers alternate? It’s the light blue with the throwback wordmark.

    Thanks!

    Nobody asked but…

    My best guess for next two Winter Classics—not based on what I’d like to see or the order they’ll do them—but what I think they’ll do:
    1. Stay on New Year’s Day (it has definitely become a TV event, a surprisingly instant “tradition”).
    2. Capitals-Rangers at Yankee Stadium
    3. Flyers-Bruins at Fenway Park (they’ll milk the heck out of the rivalry between the Broad Street Bullies and the Orr/Espo Bruins, and teams will wear 70’s throwbacks).

    Would be fun to see Montreal, but this whole thing is about attracting U.S. television markets, so they’ll stick with American-based teams in unique and intriguing venues they can sell out…where it might snow, and the players will be jazzed because it’s like being a kid again, both of which are a HUGE part of what energizes the game.

    As many have noted, it’s about courting new fans in U.S.; Canada already is solidly on board.

    —Ricko

    Hey guys, why doesn’t my comment box have the buttons so I can hyperlink, etc…..I must be missing something…..

    Possible longshot?

    New Jersey-Colorado at Coors Field. To attract both NY/NJ and western TV markets and save the Rangers for a “Classic” later…but the venue isn’t as storied as Fenway or Yankee Stadium (even if it is the new one)

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308272″]Hey guys, why doesn’t my comment box have the buttons so I can hyperlink, etc…..I must be missing something…..[/quote]

    Paul and Phil have endorsed 2009 as “The Year You Will Learn HTML Coding”. ;o) LOL

    [quote comment=”308265″][quote comment=”308259″]Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….[/quote]

    what’s a brezzer?[/quote]

    Related issue: Why call the jerseys sweaters (aside from tradition)? This is a sweater.

    link

    [quote comment=”308264″][quote comment=\”308254\”]Patches and logos and…ads? Oh, my.

    Starting to feel like we\’re only a few seasons away from the NASCAR-NFL Europe look, isn\’t it.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, have you seen team uniforms in bowl games? Unfortunately, we\’ve been there for a while. You\’ve got a bowl logo, a conference logo, a manufaturer\’s logo, and usually the team\’s logo (and sometimes name) all bunched up in there on the front of the jersey.[/quote]

    That’s what I meant. One “Viagra” patch shy of NFL Europe.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308275″][quote comment=”308265″][quote comment=”308259″]Hockey players wear pants…Brezzers and the drink named after them are for losers….[/quote]

    what’s a brezzer?[/quote]

    Related issue: Why call the jerseys sweaters (aside from tradition)? This is a sweater.

    link

    Traditionally, NHL players wore wool sweaters when they played. With the invention of polyester as a more durable fabric, the NHL switched to polyester “sweaters” to prolong the life of each players’ jerseys.

    Like breezers, the terms are interchangeable. However, I can fully admit that I’ve never worn a polyester sweater.

    One final thought on future “Winter Classics” (and then I gotta head for the office).
    If the NFL really were dumb enough to try a second one every year and shoot themselves in the foot by diffusing the impact…

    1. Play it at night, when the temperatures could be really nasty (hey, viewers love that stuff).
    2. Always, repeat always, play it the Saturday night before the Super Bowl. Would siphon off a HUGE sports-primed TV audience just sitting there eager to watch something other than the Super Bowl pre-game party.

    –Ricko

    In regards to “pants” vs “breezers” the way I was brought up in Michigan there was a distinction. “Breezers” were thin and had no pads, but they would be pulled over top of your existing hockey “pants” to give the team a uniform look, say needing blue pants but owning black pants.

    According to this site “breezers” is only a popular term in Minnesota and ‘Sconsin.

    [quote comment=”308279″]
    2. Always, repeat always, play it the Saturday night before the Super Bowl. Would siphon off a HUGE sports-primed TV audience just sitting there eager to watch something other than the Super Bowl pre-game party.[/quote]

    The NFL recently announced they are moving the Pro Bowl to the Saturday before the Super Bowl as of 2010. I’m quite certain the NFL will not agree to the NHL playing their game on the same day in an NFL stadium if it means lost revenue for the NFL.

    [quote comment=”308280″]
    According to this site “breezers” is only a popular term in Minnesota and ‘Sconsin.[/quote]

    I wouldn’t say this site is the absolute defining site when it comes to lexicon.

    Look at the trouble we had with “toboggan”. LOL

    [quote comment=”308283″][quote comment=”308280″]
    According to this site “breezers” is only a popular term in Minnesota and ‘Sconsin.[/quote]

    I wouldn’t say this site is the absolute defining site when it comes to lexicon.

    Look at the trouble we had with “toboggan”. LOL[/quote]

    yes, always go to wikipedia for that

    Regarding the Reebok logo being replaced by the wordmark:

    This was introduced in soccer for all Reebok-branded European teams at the start of the season. The vector logo no longer appears on kits. So it’s probably indicative of a company-wide effort.

    One example of FC Cologne’s new shirt here:

    link

    [quote comment=”308282″][quote comment=”308279″]
    2. Always, repeat always, play it the Saturday night before the Super Bowl. Would siphon off a HUGE sports-primed TV audience just sitting there eager to watch something other than the Super Bowl pre-game party.[/quote]

    The NFL recently announced they are moving the Pro Bowl to the Saturday before the Super Bowl as of 2010. I’m quite certain the NFL will not agree to the NHL playing their game on the same day in an NFL stadium if it means lost revenue for the NFL.[/quote]

    The Pro Bowl will be a week before the Super Bowl, won’t it? NFL wants some kind of game in that empty weekend. I’m talking about the night before. NFL might not like someone counter-programming their star-studded party but, guess what, ABC might jump at a second “Winter Classic”, and the NFL has no leverage with them. With CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN, yes. With ABC, no.

    Just thinking out loud.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308286″][quote comment=”308282″][quote comment=”308279″]
    2. Always, repeat always, play it the Saturday night before the Super Bowl. Would siphon off a HUGE sports-primed TV audience just sitting there eager to watch something other than the Super Bowl pre-game party.[/quote]

    The NFL recently announced they are moving the Pro Bowl to the Saturday before the Super Bowl as of 2010. I’m quite certain the NFL will not agree to the NHL playing their game on the same day in an NFL stadium if it means lost revenue for the NFL.[/quote]

    The Pro Bowl will be a week before the Super Bowl, won’t it? NFL wants some kind of game in that empty weekend. I’m talking about the night before. NFL might not like someone counter-programming their star-studded party but, guess what, ABC might jump at a second “Winter Classic”, and the NFL has no leverage with them. With CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN, yes. With ABC, no.

    Just thinking out loud.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ohhhh… gotcha. I thought you meant the Saturday before the Super Bowl – as in the week before. My bad, Ricko! :o)

    I think the wordmark is gonna look pretty awful around shorter names if it stays in the same spot – i’ve gotten used to the box logo, and i’ll probably get used to the wordmark, but, especially if it’s a little too big, can you imagine what

    Reebok
    GAGNE

    would look like?

    [quote comment=”308288″]I think the wordmark is gonna look pretty awful around shorter names if it stays in the same spot – i’ve gotten used to the box logo, and i’ll probably get used to the wordmark, but, especially if it’s a little too big, can you imagine what

    Reebok
    GAGNE

    would look like?[/quote]

    As I said to Paul when he asked me about it, if the rumour is true, I sincerely hope that Reebok goes back to a traditional straight hemline, and places their wordmark on the hem like CCM had done for decades before Reebok bought them.

    quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    I’ll be in my bunk…

    I don’t like the corporate sponsor’s name replacing the bowl name, either (I fondly remember the days of the Hall of Fame, Citrus, and Peach Bowls, and I was happy to see that the Sun Bowl name made its return a few years back), but you’ve got to admit that those waffle fries that the chicken restaurant makes are fan-freaking-tastic. And, some of those commercials with the cows are pretty clever.

    Of course, growing up in New Orleans, I’m partial to Popeyes chicken myself.

    [quote comment=”308288″]I think the wordmark is gonna look pretty awful around shorter names if it stays in the same spot – i’ve gotten used to the box logo, and i’ll probably get used to the wordmark, but, especially if it’s a little too big, can you imagine what

    Reebok
    GAGNE

    would look like?[/quote]

    May I present the diabolical case of Bolton Wanderers FC?

    A team steeped in much history, they had Reebok as their equipment manufacturer but also as the shirt sponsor. Even their stadium carries the Reebok name. Therefore, they used to have a Reebok wordmark and logo combo emblazoned on their shirts.

    As I mentioned above, Reebok’s new ethos landed the unfortunate Wanderers with this:

    link

    I’m still standing firm on my belief that Flyers vs Bruins/Rangers/Islanders/Devils at UPenn’s Franklin Field in downtown Philly would be a great location to have a Winter Classic…

    [quote comment=\”308293\”]I\’m still standing firm on my belief that Flyers vs Bruins/Rangers/Islanders/Devils at UPenn\’s Franklin Field in downtown Philly would be a great location to have a Winter Classic…[/quote]

    Any Philadelphian knows there is no such thing as \”downtown Philadelphia,\” it\’s called Center City and UPenn is not in Center City. It\’s across the river in University City.

    With that said, Franklin Field would be pretty sweet. I can see it from my office right now.

    Did anyone else see Cristobal Huet’s mask yesterday for the Blackhawks? It may have been posted here yesterday but it was really cool.

    [quote comment=”308288″]I think the wordmark is gonna look pretty awful around shorter names if it stays in the same spot – i’ve gotten used to the box logo, and i’ll probably get used to the wordmark, but, especially if it’s a little too big, can you imagine what

    Reebok
    GAGNE

    would look like?[/quote]
    And that is exactly what it will look like…

    Yuck… just keep the logo there… the wordmark will make the jerseys too confusing

    [quote comment=”308294″][quote comment=\”308293\”]I\’m still standing firm on my belief that Flyers vs Bruins/Rangers/Islanders/Devils at UPenn\’s Franklin Field in downtown Philly would be a great location to have a Winter Classic…[/quote]

    Any Philadelphian knows there is no such thing as \”downtown Philadelphia,\” it\’s called Center City and UPenn is not in Center City. It\’s across the river in University City.

    With that said, Franklin Field would be pretty sweet. I can see it from my office right now.[/quote]
    There are multiple ‘downtownish’ areas of Philly…

    I pretty much consider anything that includes buildings densely packed together to be a downtown… lol

    Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???

    [quote comment=”308286″][quote comment=”308282″][quote comment=”308279″]
    2. Always, repeat always, play it the Saturday night before the Super Bowl. Would siphon off a HUGE sports-primed TV audience just sitting there eager to watch something other than the Super Bowl pre-game party.[/quote]

    The NFL recently announced they are moving the Pro Bowl to the Saturday before the Super Bowl as of 2010. I’m quite certain the NFL will not agree to the NHL playing their game on the same day in an NFL stadium if it means lost revenue for the NFL.[/quote]

    The Pro Bowl will be a week before the Super Bowl, won’t it? NFL wants some kind of game in that empty weekend. I’m talking about the night before. NFL might not like someone counter-programming their star-studded party but, guess what, ABC might jump at a second “Winter Classic”, and the NFL has no leverage with them. With CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN, yes. With ABC, no.

    Just thinking out loud.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Wait, with ABC Sports and ESPN being run by essentially the same people (ABC even using the ESPN wordmarks from time to time) wouldn’t this become just a tad counter intuitive?

    I may be wrong here but Disney wouldn’t really want to set themselves up to have the NFL pissed off at them would they?

    [quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    [quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    This hat does it too:
    link

    ok. be honest. how many of you would even have noticed makers marks on jerseys, and how many of you would care whatsoever about them, if pau never said anything about them? we get it, some people dont like logo creep. but can please stop having that forced down our throats?

    Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).

    [quote comment=”308289″][quote comment=”308288″]I think the wordmark is gonna look pretty awful around shorter names if it stays in the same spot – i’ve gotten used to the box logo, and i’ll probably get used to the wordmark, but, especially if it’s a little too big, can you imagine what

    Reebok
    GAGNE

    would look like?[/quote]

    As I said to Paul when he asked me about it, if the rumour is true, I sincerely hope that Reebok goes back to a traditional straight hemline, and places their wordmark on the hem like CCM had done for decades before Reebok bought them.[/quote]
    Or they can always link and put it on the hem AND below the collar.

    [quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    It’s great when you click on the link and on the bottom, the last 5 recently viewed products were as follows:

    1) Caseworks Detroit Lions Cabinet Style Simulated Wood Jersey Case
    2) Deltha O’Neal Bengals Jersey
    3) Detroit Lions infant cheerleading uniform
    4) Autographed Braylon Edwards photo
    5) Authentic Jaguars Jersey

    Which leads me to, who the hell is looking at this website?

    [quote comment=”308301″][quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    This hat does it too:
    link

    And compare to last years merchandise…
    Hat:
    link

    Shirt:
    link

    [quote comment=”308302″]ok. be honest. how many of you would even have noticed makers marks on jerseys, and how many of you would care whatsoever about them, if pau never said anything about them? we get it, some people dont like logo creep. but can please stop having that forced down our throats?[/quote]

    i’ll be honest…i’d have noticed them regardless of whether paul pointed them out…how can you MISS them…at first they didn’t bother me, but they’re really getting out of hand now

    but now, to actually have a CONTEST to find a logo-less jersey, that is one of the biggest “F*CK YOUs” to the public ever and points out just how accustomed to them we’ve become

    before UW, i didn’t get it (TM) … and that’s not forcing anything down our throats, that’s quite simply the obsessive study of athletic aesthetics

    [quote comment=”308302″]ok. be honest. how many of you would even have noticed makers marks on jerseys, and how many of you would care whatsoever about them, if pau never said anything about them? we get it, some people dont like logo creep. but can please stop having that forced down our throats?[/quote]

    I’m very aware of the logos on hockey jerseys. I have been since CCM moved their identifying logo to the neckline to follow Nike’s neckline logo.

    Working in the industry for a long time, you do notice subtle changes. Or, in this case, ridiculous, useless, self-serving ones.

    [quote comment=”308261″]As a follow up to all the 2010 Winter Classic talk from yesterday, you can rule Philadelphia out as an option for host city. Apparently, it’s been determined that historically, it’s too warm in the City of Brotherly Love on January 1.

    Although, anyone who had to go outside yesterday would beg to disagree.[/quote]

    Who says you have to go to the city of Philadelphia? I would gladly travel 4 hours to see the flyers beat the Pens in Beaver Stadium.

    [quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    The other thing that apparently complicates using football fields (and I think it’s been mentioned here before) is the curvature of the field for drainage. Flat baseball fields remove that hassle.

    That being said, I would love to see a Blue Jackets game at The Horseshoe. How weird would it be to see the ‘Shoe full of blue?

    [quote comment=”308302″]ok. be honest. how many of you would even have noticed makers marks on jerseys, and how many of you would care whatsoever about them, if paul never said anything about them? we get it, some people dont like logo creep. but can please stop having that forced down our throats?[/quote]

    The people forcing logo creep down your throats are the folks at Nike, Reebok, et al. I simply report on what they’re doing. If you don’t care about it, that’s your business, but don’t go telling me what Uni Watch should (or shouldn’t) be about.

    [quote comment=”308257″]The pic of Jason LaBarbara is with a Canucks mask. You can see the orca on the chin paintwork.[/quote]

    To be fair – it’s Labarbera’s (I spelled it wrong in my submission) mask from the Kings – with a Canucks sticker on the chin. The colour scheme on the mask is still decidedly purple.

    And I only would have called them breezers here – that’s why I love this place.

    [quote comment=”308305″][quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    It’s great when you click on the link and on the bottom, the last 5 recently viewed products were as follows:

    1) Caseworks Detroit Lions Cabinet Style Simulated Wood Jersey Case
    2) Deltha O’Neal Bengals Jersey
    3) Detroit Lions infant cheerleading uniform
    4) Autographed Braylon Edwards photo
    5) Authentic Jaguars Jersey

    Which leads me to, who the hell is looking at this website?[/quote]
    You do realize that the ‘recently viewed’ section is IP logged to that computer, right?

    Way to out yourself

    I love the thing about the Oregon State bowl jerseys. Maybe I missed something, but does anyone know WHY they went with the orange, knowing they would get a penalty?

    ok so perhaps my comment was a bit rash and it was certainly, and admittedly, meant to get some attention. i apologize if i seemed like i was trying to tell paul how to do his job. i didnt mean it that way.
    i was really reacting to one line in the main article today: “so let’s beat the rush and start being pissed off about it now.”
    i feel like that wasnt really necessary, considering how little most of the viewing public cares about all that. i apologize for sounding rash again, and again im not trying to tell paul how to write, but i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here. if i wanted to hear about that all the time, i would read other blogs. i come here because the site has a fantastic writer who does an amazing amount of research to provide sports fans with a wealth of knowledge. i just dont like it when the focus of the site goes away from designs and uniforms to a little logo on them, which has been happening a lot lately. so again i apologize for the way i went about bringing that up and i will try to keep that from happening again.

    Can anyone confirm if Jason LaBarbara’s mask is the cover of Metallica’s Death Magnetic? I haven’t been able to find any photos that are zoomed in farther.

    Funny that someone suggested an NHL game at Coors as just yesterday I was noodling the idea of an NCAA bowl game at Coors. (Mile High would be out due to the Broncos and CU or AFA probably wouldn’t allow sale of beer at the game, so Coors would be the best option. Maybe Dicks Sporting Goods Park if it ever expands and changes names.) Weather in Denver is wildly unpredictable – especially in late December. Yesterday was about 60 and sunny, which has happened on New Years Day many times. We’ve also had the first day of the year with a high around zero.

    [quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    Plus, after yesterday there seems to be something of a love affair/marketing relationship blossoming between the NHL and MLB. So I’d say look for ballparks as future sites. That appears to be the reality of things.

    As to ABC, etc. worrying NFL clout…I think networks like to make money, and if a chilly outdoor NHL game on Super Bowl Eve on my network would outdraw the NFL bash on another network and generate higher revenue–net, after the cost of the telecast— I’m gonna air it. The NFL has clout, maybe enough to move the hockey game to earlier in the day, but not enough to keep it from happening that day entirely.

    Besides, this is all longshot daydreaming, anyway. I don’t think even the NHL would be dumb enough to go with a second Winter Classic, not just yet. I was merely imagining a scenario where they might…if a network came forward waving enough money, and the telecast would be in a nice, sweet, soft spot with a readymade, sports-hungry audience just sitting there waiting for something compelling to watch, the way they are early on New Year’s Day.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308270″]This is kind of an emergency, but can anyone point me to the entry where Paul put up a picture of the new Cavaliers alternate? It’s the light blue with the throwback wordmark.

    Thanks![/quote]

    Anyone help a brotha’ out here?

    New Jersey-Colorado at Coors Field. To attract both NY/NJ and western TV markets and save the Rangers for a “Classic” later…but the venue isn’t as storied as Fenway or Yankee Stadium (even if it is the new one)

    As a CSU fan I hate to say this, but what about Folsom Field in Boulder?

    Oh, and regarding the Reebok promotion at the Winter Classic, what surprised me the most was how much they DIDN’T market it. I live in Chicago and am a huge Hawks fan, but if it weren’t for UniWatch I don’t think I would’ve even known about it until they announced the winner. It was far, FAR less obnoxious than I was anticipating.

    [quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    wow.
    i can’t believe i live in a city where its 14 degrees out.

    [quote] i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here.[/quote]

    great point jon, and i bet 99% of us came here originally for just that (to see unis)…certainly that’s what brought me here

    but it’s paul’s excruciating attention to the most minute details OF unis that makes this blog (and his columns elsewhere) so great…forgive me if this sounds like im blowing smoke you know where, but i honestly feel like there is a point after which one truly does Get It ™ … to borrow paul’s term … it’s MORE than just how the uni looks…it’s all that goes into the uni, from design to execution to on field performance, fit and look

    we don’t all agree and we never will…that too is what makes UW so great…but if you don’t think that the examination of logos is as important to uniform aesthetics as colors, you just haven’t been reading UW long enough

    Plus, after yesterday there seems to be something of a love affair/marketing relationship blossoming between the NHL and MLB.

    Keep in mind the Blackhawks’ president, John McDonough, worked for the Cubs for something like twenty years before coming over to the Hawks, so I’m not sure this year’s Classic demonstrates a relationship between the NHL and MLB so much as it demonstrates McDonough’s connections with his former employer.

    You cannot separate the study of uniforms from the commercialization of them with logos, just like you can’t understand sports without understanding the commercialization of them (see, e.g., the bowl formerly known as the Peach Bowl or the field formerly known as Comiskey or even various arenas named after corporations that have gone out of biz). Look at college bowl uniforms and they look like minor-league baseball stadium outfield walls; the logos on uniforms are part and parcel of the uniforms themselves and you can’t separate the two. This is one of the few places that dares to raise the commercialization issue. How riddiculous will it be Monday night that superb athletes in the Fiesta Bowl will be running around with the logo a fattening fast-food tortilla chip on their jerseys?

    The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out!

    Great thing about Bowl season is that the teams in the bigger bowl break out next year’s cleats and gloves.

    VaTech, in their splendid unis, did not disappoint:

    link

    link

    Tyrod Taylor wearing Mike Vick’s old signature shoe:

    link

    [quote comment=”308322″][quote] i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here.[/quote]

    great point jon, and i bet 99% of us came here originally for just that (to see unis)…certainly that’s what brought me here

    but it’s paul’s excruciating attention to the most minute details OF unis that makes this blog (and his columns elsewhere) so great…forgive me if this sounds like im blowing smoke you know where, but i honestly feel like there is a point after which one truly does Get It ™ … to borrow paul’s term … it’s MORE than just how the uni looks…it’s all that goes into the uni, from design to execution to on field performance, fit and look

    we don’t all agree and we never will…that too is what makes UW so great…but if you don’t think that the examination of logos is as important to uniform aesthetics as colors, you just haven’t been reading UW long enough[/quote]

    i understand what youre saying, and i can see how that would be the case. in my case it has actually worked the opposite way. call me a reactionary (or sick and twisted lol) but the jabs and such that these companies take on this site makes me like them more. and the logo creep that so pisses many people off actually makes uniforms more “authentic” to me. perhaps its the fact that i have literally grown up with logos on everything, and i have no basis of a “clean” uniform to go by. now, when i see a jersey on the street (or more likely on ebay) and it doesnt have a maker’s mark on it, or that mark isnt in the right place, i know it is a knockoff and to stay away from it. and when i see t-shirts of a team, i am far more drawn to ones made by the same company who manufactures their uniforms.
    also i do have brand loyalty – BECAUSE of the sports i watch and the teams i watch. i have a higher opinion of adidas because my school, pitt, is an adidas school and they design our uniforms. i have a higher opinion of under armour because they push the limits of uniform design and, in my opinion, have made some of the coolest uniforms out there for the maryland football team (and their stuff is soooo damn comfy lol). i have a higher opinion of reebok because they make nfl and nhl uniforms.
    i know some people will say i am proving paul’s point about advertising and that i have been brainwashed by a corporate world. but i enjoy my sports the way they are now and i look forward to seeing new uniform designs. and i actually like seeing which company can make the coolest looking unis.
    i would like to once again apologize to paul. i believe this comment says in a much more mature way what i was trying to get through with my first post, which was completely uncalled for. i respect your work paul, and though i disagree with some of your stances i really appreciate your putting many hours every day into bringing us the kind of information that you do.

    [quote comment=”308316″]Can anyone confirm if Jason LaBarbara’s mask is the cover of Metallica’s Death Magnetic? I haven’t been able to find any photos that are zoomed in farther.[/quote]

    I can. He’s a huge Metallica fan.

    More musical masks and info link.

    a lot of winter classic talk, which is great.
    i heard on the news up here that there was the potential for Harvard Stadium, which would be AMAZING.

    if you can check it out via the google earth or something, i suggest it.

    it’s perfect.

    i also would loooove it if the technology could do something in the south for an outdoor game.

    damesheck on the LA espn radio always talks about a game on the beach, and i think something like that would be rad.

    disneyland could do it for the ducks vs. kings, if they wanted to go that route.

    maple leafs vs. panthers @ south beach?

    personally, i’d love to see the Bruins play the Canadiens / Leafs / Flyers / Canucks at fenway or harvard…

    i am in love w/ the harvard idea, in case you couldn’t tell…

    [quote comment=”308320″]Oh, and regarding the Reebok promotion at the Winter Classic, what surprised me the most was how much they DIDN’T market it. I live in Chicago and am a huge Hawks fan, but if it weren’t for UniWatch I don’t think I would’ve even known about it until they announced the winner. It was far, FAR less obnoxious than I was anticipating.[/quote]
    I brought the give-away binoculars to work with me today to show people how worthless they were. One of my coworkers was not even aware of the promotion and he watched the game on TV.

    [quote comment=”308325″]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out![/quote]
    That’s perfect. All you needed to see was the first period. Nothing worth mentioning happened in periods 2 and 3. NOTHING AT ALL.

    [quote comment=”308310″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    The other thing that apparently complicates using football fields (and I think it’s been mentioned here before) is the curvature of the field for drainage. Flat baseball fields remove that hassle.

    That being said, I would love to see a Blue Jackets game at The Horseshoe. How weird would it be to see the ‘Shoe full of blue?[/quote]

    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field

    I said “seems to be” and “blossoming”. Never underestimate the bandwagon effect, even among sports promoters. And, no, I don’t think we’ll ever see a top-down arrangement between NFL and MLB, but it seems likely we’ll see teams pairing up. And such things will be a factor for those courting a Winter Classic in their market: the additional marketing efforts of a second organization (the MLB host).

    Wasn’t talking about what is…was talking about what direction things seem to be headed.

    College sites? That’s almost certainly a never, for SO many reasons…unless they really want to try to put 100,000 in at Columbus someday or something.

    And, we are just NOT gonna see teams or markets that have been in one Winter Classic again for a long while (sorry, Penguin fans). That’s more plain simple reality. Other teams would whine something fierce and fight it. Too many teams want–and probably deserve–their turn now.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308325″]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out![/quote]

    Revenge of the ADHD, Matt? ;o)

    I actually tried to watch a Bowl game last night when I was at my brother’s house. The only problem is that I have no idea what the Bowl was for, nor do I know any of the players. I think it was the South Carolina-somebody game… 31-10 or something for the final?

    I’ll be the first to admit that when you have no clue who is playing or what they are playing for, it makes watching the game tough.

    [quote comment=”308326″][quote comment=”308322″][quote] i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here.[/quote]

    great point jon, and i bet 99% of us came here originally for just that (to see unis)…certainly that’s what brought me here

    but it’s paul’s excruciating attention to the most minute details OF unis that makes this blog (and his columns elsewhere) so great…forgive me if this sounds like im blowing smoke you know where, but i honestly feel like there is a point after which one truly does Get It ™ … to borrow paul’s term … it’s MORE than just how the uni looks…it’s all that goes into the uni, from design to execution to on field performance, fit and look

    we don’t all agree and we never will…that too is what makes UW so great…but if you don’t think that the examination of logos is as important to uniform aesthetics as colors, you just haven’t been reading UW long enough[/quote]

    i understand what youre saying, and i can see how that would be the case. in my case it has actually worked the opposite way. call me a reactionary (or sick and twisted lol) but the jabs and such that these companies take on this site makes me like them more. and the logo creep that so pisses many people off actually makes uniforms more “authentic” to me. perhaps its the fact that i have literally grown up with logos on everything, and i have no basis of a “clean” uniform to go by. now, when i see a jersey on the street (or more likely on ebay) and it doesnt have a maker’s mark on it, or that mark isnt in the right place, i know it is a knockoff and to stay away from it. and when i see t-shirts of a team, i am far more drawn to ones made by the same company who manufactures their uniforms.
    also i do have brand loyalty – BECAUSE of the sports i watch and the teams i watch. i have a higher opinion of adidas because my school, pitt, is an adidas school and they design our uniforms. i have a higher opinion of under armour because they push the limits of uniform design and, in my opinion, have made some of the coolest uniforms out there for the maryland football team (and their stuff is soooo damn comfy lol). i have a higher opinion of reebok because they make nfl and nhl uniforms.
    i know some people will say i am proving paul’s point about advertising and that i have been brainwashed by a corporate world. but i enjoy my sports the way they are now and i look forward to seeing new uniform designs. and i actually like seeing which company can make the coolest looking unis.
    i would like to once again apologize to paul. i believe this comment says in a much more mature way what i was trying to get through with my first post, which was completely uncalled for. i respect your work paul, and though i disagree with some of your stances i really appreciate your putting many hours every day into bringing us the kind of information that you do.[/quote]

    thats just sad and depressing that you can be manipulated that easily.

    [quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.

    [quote comment=”308335″][quote comment=”308326″][quote comment=”308322″][quote] i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here.[/quote]

    great point jon, and i bet 99% of us came here originally for just that (to see unis)…certainly that’s what brought me here

    but it’s paul’s excruciating attention to the most minute details OF unis that makes this blog (and his columns elsewhere) so great…forgive me if this sounds like im blowing smoke you know where, but i honestly feel like there is a point after which one truly does Get It ™ … to borrow paul’s term … it’s MORE than just how the uni looks…it’s all that goes into the uni, from design to execution to on field performance, fit and look

    we don’t all agree and we never will…that too is what makes UW so great…but if you don’t think that the examination of logos is as important to uniform aesthetics as colors, you just haven’t been reading UW long enough[/quote]

    i understand what youre saying, and i can see how that would be the case. in my case it has actually worked the opposite way. call me a reactionary (or sick and twisted lol) but the jabs and such that these companies take on this site makes me like them more. and the logo creep that so pisses many people off actually makes uniforms more “authentic” to me. perhaps its the fact that i have literally grown up with logos on everything, and i have no basis of a “clean” uniform to go by. now, when i see a jersey on the street (or more likely on ebay) and it doesnt have a maker’s mark on it, or that mark isnt in the right place, i know it is a knockoff and to stay away from it. and when i see t-shirts of a team, i am far more drawn to ones made by the same company who manufactures their uniforms.
    also i do have brand loyalty – BECAUSE of the sports i watch and the teams i watch. i have a higher opinion of adidas because my school, pitt, is an adidas school and they design our uniforms. i have a higher opinion of under armour because they push the limits of uniform design and, in my opinion, have made some of the coolest uniforms out there for the maryland football team (and their stuff is soooo damn comfy lol). i have a higher opinion of reebok because they make nfl and nhl uniforms.
    i know some people will say i am proving paul’s point about advertising and that i have been brainwashed by a corporate world. but i enjoy my sports the way they are now and i look forward to seeing new uniform designs. and i actually like seeing which company can make the coolest looking unis.
    i would like to once again apologize to paul. i believe this comment says in a much more mature way what i was trying to get through with my first post, which was completely uncalled for. i respect your work paul, and though i disagree with some of your stances i really appreciate your putting many hours every day into bringing us the kind of information that you do.[/quote]

    thats just sad and depressing that you can be manipulated that easily.[/quote]

    please tell me that was sarcasm…

    [quote comment=”308336″][quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.[/quote]

    they should have been putting down even water, they were on field turf and leveled the filed with giant slabs of styrofoam. If anything I thing that was more of an issue since that would compress with the weight. They should have covered the crown with wood or steel to level it off and had the center of the rink just above field level and the edges would have been several inched above field level.

    [quote]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out![/quote]

    now you know how your students must feel ;)

    [quote]Great thing about Bowl season is that the teams in the bigger bowl break out next year’s cleats and gloves.[/quote]

    always a huge highlight, to be sure

    [quote comment=”308317″]Funny that someone suggested an NHL game at Coors as just yesterday I was noodling the idea of an NCAA bowl game at Coors. (Mile High would be out due to the Broncos and CU or AFA probably wouldn’t allow sale of beer at the game, so Coors would be the best option. Maybe Dicks Sporting Goods Park if it ever expands and changes names.) Weather in Denver is wildly unpredictable – especially in late December. Yesterday was about 60 and sunny, which has happened on New Years Day many times. We’ve also had the first day of the year with a high around zero.[/quote]

    They’ll never play a bowl game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. According to the stadium’s Wikipedia page, the capacity (including standing room) is only 18,776. That just isn’t enough to host a bowl game.

    The core element of the Winter Classic is not simply playing hockey outdoors. It’s the throwback aspect to the game’s roots. Yeah, it’s a gimmick of sorts, but it makes sense; it has tons of inherent relevance. It’s about the snow and the cold and the fans bundled up to attend the game. It’s the event, the conditions, the back story of generations of hockey players. And those weather conditions are an IMMENSE part of the TV appeal.

    Laying an ice sheet in the LA Coliseum and playing with palm trees in the background may seem like the same thing, but it’s not. That’s just pure, unbridled gimmickry for the sake gimmickry, right out of the Monday Night Raw school of programming.

    If that’s all there is to it, then flood the deck of an aircraft carrier and play in the Persian Gulf. Have the teams dress in hockey versions of the last Army-Navy football game.

    Gotta look at every aspect when we analyze what the NFL is doing, and has created, with the Winter Classic. It isn’t about what would be “odd”, it’s about what would sustain the appeal. In chess terms, “See the whole board”.

    [quote comment=”308338″][quote comment=”308336″][quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.[/quote]

    they should have been putting down even water, they were on field turf and leveled the filed with giant slabs of styrofoam. If anything I thing that was more of an issue since that would compress with the weight. They should have covered the crown with wood or steel to level it off and had the center of the rink just above field level and the edges would have been several inched above field level.[/quote]

    I think you just made the argument for hockey on flat fields.

    [quote comment=”308310″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    The other thing that apparently complicates using football fields (and I think it’s been mentioned here before) is the curvature of the field for drainage. Flat baseball fields remove that hassle.

    That being said, I would love to see a Blue Jackets game at The Horseshoe. How weird would it be to see the ‘Shoe full of blue?[/quote]

    Full of Blue?

    Have you been to a CBJ home game lately?

    [quote comment=”308338″][quote comment=”308336″][quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.[/quote]

    they should have been putting down even water, they were on field turf and leveled the filed with giant slabs of styrofoam. If anything I thing that was more of an issue since that would compress with the weight. They should have covered the crown with wood or steel to level it off and had the center of the rink just above field level and the edges would have been several inched above field level.[/quote]

    Have you ever made a backyard rink? The ground has to be level or the ice will follow the same level of the ground. This is simply the physics of water. You add layer by layer of water. This is why outdoor rinks have gravel or pavement underneath them – so they remain flat and level.

    Not to mention that ice is heavy, putting wood or steel down would only cause enormous problems if they gave way. You’re adding the weight of 42 players, coaches, refs, and equipment to the ice during the game on top of the ice.

    As for the rink itself, it was link. The problem with building it that way was that it took much longer to construct the rink in a flat manner because of it.

    The NHL is learning from its mistakes. And playing the game in a football stadium is a mistake.

    [quote comment=”308291″]I don’t like the corporate sponsor’s name replacing the bowl name, either (I fondly remember the days of the Hall of Fame, Citrus, and Peach Bowls, and I was happy to see that the Sun Bowl name made its return a few years back), but you’ve got to admit that those waffle fries that the chicken restaurant makes are fan-freaking-tastic. And, some of those commercials with the cows are pretty clever.

    Of course, growing up in New Orleans, I’m partial to Popeyes chicken myself.[/quote]

    Those of you living in areas where CHICK-FIL-A hasn’t expanded (many of you who are commenting on yesterday’s Winter Classic!) are missing out not only on the waffle fries, but especially the great chicken sandwiches. Moreover, Chick-fil-A is a great family-owned corporate citizen, serving all the communities where it does business.

    As great as the Peach Bowl name was, the bowl game became better after the peach name was dropped…most of the CFA Bowl games have been close, down-to-the-wire contests played to sold out audiences. Many contend it’s the best bowl game outside the top tier bowls.

    And why can’t georgia Tech wear awesome unis like those in that 1969 USC photo?

    [quote comment=”308343″][quote comment=”308310″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    The other thing that apparently complicates using football fields (and I think it’s been mentioned here before) is the curvature of the field for drainage. Flat baseball fields remove that hassle.

    That being said, I would love to see a Blue Jackets game at The Horseshoe. How weird would it be to see the ‘Shoe full of blue?[/quote]

    Full of Blue?

    Have you been to a CBJ home game lately?[/quote]

    Haha, touche’. I supposed my cock-eyed optimism is showing. The only chance of filling it would be if Terrelle Pryor and Beanie laced-up the skates.

    One more suggestion for a future outdoor classic – San Jose hosts at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

    Uniform bonus – Sharks wear Seals throwbacks.

    I know its geographically a little goofy (SF vs. SJ) but the Uni potential plus the beauty of the setting would make it a winner for the NHL. Imagine endless shots of the bay and kayakers in McCovey Cove hoping to catch a puck. :)

    [quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    i gotta go w/ the song girls… partly because of link

    which is my second favorite (non-football) bowl moment . link is first! :)

    so let’s beat the rush and start being pissed off about it now.

    Question for Paul: is the wordmark worse than the vector logo in your eyes? If so, why?

    I’ve never been that offended by the idea of a company putting their logo on uniforms that they produced. If I was in the business of producing athletic gear, I’d want to put my company’s logo on it too. After all, it’s just a company marketing themselves (it’s self? itsself? Not sure the correct usage here). That’s how business in a capitalist society works. Probably not a real strong argument, but still… if I produced something, I would want recognition for my work. Granted, putting it on the back and front neckline, on each of the sleeves and the hem is overkill…

    [quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?

    Probably meaningless, but on espn radio this morning they were talking about the strong possibility of the next Winter Classic being the Flyers and Pens in Happy Valley. Personally I would think New York would be the choice, maybe at one of the new ballparks.

    And kudos to Virginia Tech for collectively deciding to drop their swooshy duds in favor of those glorious “throwbacks” full time next year. They looked fantastic in last night’s game…especially when compared to the ridiculous video game/space suits Cincy wears.

    I’d just like to say that Cal Clutterbuck is my current favorite NHL name. If I ever break down and buy a Wild player’s jersey, it will say Clutterbuck on the back.

    All the talk of Wrigley reminds me that the Life photo archive on Google has a great selection of Bill Veeck (who planted the ivy in the outfield) pictures. link

    There’s also this great one of link

    [quote comment=”308345″]Those of you living in areas where CHICK-FIL-A hasn’t expanded (many of you who are commenting on yesterday’s Winter Classic!) are missing out not only on the waffle fries, but especially the great chicken sandwiches. Moreover, Chick-fil-A is a great family-owned corporate citizen, serving all the communities where it does business.

    As great as the Peach Bowl name was, the bowl game became better after the peach name was dropped…most of the CFA Bowl games have been close, down-to-the-wire contests played to sold out audiences. Many contend it’s the best bowl game outside the top tier bowls.

    And why can’t georgia Tech wear awesome unis like those in that 1969 USC photo?[/quote]
    I went to the 2006 VT-UGa CFA Bowl in Atlanta. It was a good time, and the festivities they have pre-game are top-notch for a non-BCS game, but once you get in the stadium, it was pretty obvious how much the Chick-Fil-A people have their hands meddling in it.

    For those who don’t know, CFA is a heavily religious company. They don’t open on Sundays to observe God and all that. Well, at the game, they didn’t allow any singers, only marching bands, because they didn’t want anything ‘ungodly’. Then, they stopped selling alcohol halfway through halftime. They actually had to be convinced by the schools to sell alcohol at all. Not only that, but they also charged $10 a bottle… THAT was outrageous.

    [quote comment=”308351″][quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?[/quote]
    It’s been partially demolished, hasn’t it?

    [quote comment=”308355″][quote comment=”308351″][quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?[/quote]
    It’s been partially demolished, hasn’t it?[/quote]

    is that a problem?

    [quote comment=”308352″]Probably meaningless, but on espn radio this morning they were talking about the strong possibility of the next Winter Classic being the Flyers and Pens in Happy Valley. Personally I would think New York would be the choice, maybe at one of the new ballparks.

    [/quote]

    Is almost certainly meaningless. Trust me, they are not gonna put the Penguins in it two out of three years, don’t care how much they love to promote Crosby. The other teams would go absolutely ballistic. There’s fanciful thinking (what would be “odd”) and there’s realistic thinking (what’s likely).

    And it’s getting big, yes, but not so big they’d take out of the metro area of one of the teams involved. The target audience here, remember, is not serious sport fans. It’s CASUAL U.S. sports fans, potential new fans. It isn’t for people already on board.

    [quote comment=”308352″]And kudos to Virginia Tech for collectively deciding to drop their swooshy duds in favor of those glorious “throwbacks” full time next year. They looked fantastic in last night’s game…especially when compared to the ridiculous video game/space suits Cincy wears.[/quote]
    Careful with that… Despite what I’ve heard from my reputable source, that won’t be confirmed until late this summer…

    [quote comment=”308356″][quote comment=”308355″][quote comment=”308351″][quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?[/quote]
    It’s been partially demolished, hasn’t it?[/quote]

    is that a problem?[/quote]
    In Detroit? Not at all.

    [quote comment=”308354″][quote comment=”308345″]Those of you living in areas where CHICK-FIL-A hasn’t expanded (many of you who are commenting on yesterday’s Winter Classic!) are missing out not only on the waffle fries, but especially the great chicken sandwiches. Moreover, Chick-fil-A is a great family-owned corporate citizen, serving all the communities where it does business.

    As great as the Peach Bowl name was, the bowl game became better after the peach name was dropped…most of the CFA Bowl games have been close, down-to-the-wire contests played to sold out audiences. Many contend it’s the best bowl game outside the top tier bowls.

    And why can’t georgia Tech wear awesome unis like those in that 1969 USC photo?[/quote]
    I went to the 2006 VT-UGa CFA Bowl in Atlanta. It was a good time, and the festivities they have pre-game are top-notch for a non-BCS game, but once you get in the stadium, it was pretty obvious how much the Chick-Fil-A people have their hands meddling in it.

    For those who don’t know, CFA is a heavily religious company. They don’t open on Sundays to observe God and all that. Well, at the game, they didn’t allow any singers, only marching bands, because they didn’t want anything ‘ungodly’. Then, they stopped selling alcohol halfway through halftime. They actually had to be convinced by the schools to sell alcohol at all. Not only that, but they also charged $10 a bottle… THAT was outrageous.[/quote]

    Are you sure that the thing about beer sales isn’t some sort of Georgia Dome policy? When Clemson and Alabama played in the Georgia Dome at the start of the season, they only sold beer during the first half. And I’d be willing to bet that the $10 beer is what the vendors usually charge (perhaps some Falcons fans can back me up here).

    [quote comment=”308325″]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out!

    Great thing about Bowl season is that the teams in the bigger bowl break out next year’s cleats and gloves.

    VaTech, in their splendid unis, did not disappoint:

    link

    link

    Tyrod Taylor wearing Mike Vick’s old signature shoe:

    link

    Number 8 in the first picture is wearing the new Nike Zoom Flyposite and Number 45 is wearing the new Nike Zoom Merciless TD

    link

    [quote comment=”308351″][quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?[/quote]

    Tiger Stadium is half way gone, there is grass on the field, the seats are ripped up etc etc… the place is a dump now.

    Rangers or Devils vs. Flyers in New Yankee Stadium.
    Flyers vs. Rangers or Devils in Franklin Field.
    Bruins vs. Canadians or Maple Leafs in Fenway.

    The whole thing works on old school teams playing in old school places.

    [quote comment=”308362″]
    The whole thing works on old school teams playing in old school places.[/quote]
    Or pseudold-school, as is the case with new Yankee Stadium.

    This site needs a search feature…

    Was it mentioned that one of the goalies (I think Conklin’s) facemask was painted with the Winter Classic logo?

    [quote comment=”308364″]This site needs a search feature…

    Was it mentioned that one of the goalies (I think Conklin’s) facemask was painted with the Winter Classic logo?[/quote]

    It was Cristobal Huet.

    [quote comment=”308364″]This site needs a search feature…

    Was it mentioned that one of the goalies (I think Conklin’s) facemask was painted with the Winter Classic logo?[/quote]
    Huet. And I thought it did have a search feature.

    “The whole thing works on old school (U.S.) teams playing in (cold) old school (U.S.) places.”

    To which we should add, “…those teams being from substantial and separate U.S. TV markets, playing early on New Year’s Day, up against bowl games that have been neutered with respect to the national championship, which comes days later”

    There you go. Those are the elements of the “perfect storm” that has made the Winter Classic a success. Any variation from that (for the time being) and you’ve deviated from the basic concept and weakened your appeal to the desired audience.

    —Ricko

    Happy 2nd day of the year. I finally was able to watch the winter classic and read yesterday’s comments. (1/1 is my bday) Overall, I liked it. The look of uniforms, the look of Wrigley. Plus the game was a good. As to what future winter classics I would like to see:
    Sombody (Philly?) vs. Washington at Fed Ex
    LA vs. SJS in SF ?

    Just so everyone knows, NBC posted a 2.9 rating for the Winter Classic yesterday, up from the 2.6 posted last year.

    It appears hockey is moving up the scale on American televisions for at least one day.

    [quote comment=”308308″][quote comment=”308302″]ok. be honest. how many of you would even have noticed makers marks on jerseys, and how many of you would care whatsoever about them, if pau never said anything about them? we get it, some people dont like logo creep. but can please stop having that forced down our throats?[/quote]

    I’m very aware of the logos on hockey jerseys. I have been since CCM moved their identifying logo to the neckline to follow Nike’s neckline logo.

    Working in the industry for a long time, you do notice subtle changes. Or, in this case, ridiculous, useless, self-serving ones.[/quote]
    Trust me, I notice them – hard to miss it on the Blues’ jersey:
    link

    [quote comment=”308360″][quote comment=”308354″][quote comment=”308345″]Those of you living in areas where CHICK-FIL-A hasn’t expanded (many of you who are commenting on yesterday’s Winter Classic!) are missing out not only on the waffle fries, but especially the great chicken sandwiches. Moreover, Chick-fil-A is a great family-owned corporate citizen, serving all the communities where it does business.

    As great as the Peach Bowl name was, the bowl game became better after the peach name was dropped…most of the CFA Bowl games have been close, down-to-the-wire contests played to sold out audiences. Many contend it’s the best bowl game outside the top tier bowls.

    And why can’t georgia Tech wear awesome unis like those in that 1969 USC photo?[/quote]
    I went to the 2006 VT-UGa CFA Bowl in Atlanta. It was a good time, and the festivities they have pre-game are top-notch for a non-BCS game, but once you get in the stadium, it was pretty obvious how much the Chick-Fil-A people have their hands meddling in it.

    For those who don’t know, CFA is a heavily religious company. They don’t open on Sundays to observe God and all that. Well, at the game, they didn’t allow any singers, only marching bands, because they didn’t want anything ‘ungodly’. Then, they stopped selling alcohol halfway through halftime. They actually had to be convinced by the schools to sell alcohol at all. Not only that, but they also charged $10 a bottle… THAT was outrageous.[/quote]

    Are you sure that the thing about beer sales isn’t some sort of Georgia Dome policy? When Clemson and Alabama played in the Georgia Dome at the start of the season, they only sold beer during the first half. And I’d be willing to bet that the $10 beer is what the vendors usually charge (perhaps some Falcons fans can back me up here).[/quote]
    Clemson vs Alabama played in the “Chick-Fil-A Kickoff”

    And yes, CFA’s highly religious ownership is the reason for alcohol sales stopping when they do.

    [quote comment=”308371″]Just so everyone knows, NBC posted a 2.9 rating for the Winter Classic yesterday, up from the 2.6 posted last year.

    It appears hockey is moving up the scale on American televisions for at least one day.[/quote]

    Was just gonna post that. Only three Stanley Cup games have done better.

    Highest overnight ratings for NHL on NBC.
    4.4: Red Wings/Penguins (Wed., 6/4/08, 8 PM NBC)
    4.3: Penguins/Red Wings (Mon., 6/2/08, 8 PM NBC)
    4.1: Oilers/Hurricanes (Mon., 6/19/06, 8 PM NBC)
    2.9: Red Wings/Blackhawks (Thu., 1/1/09, 1 PM NBC)
    2.9: Hurricanes/Oilers (Wed., 6/14/06, 8 PM NBC)

    As an Avalanche fan, it makes me cringe to admit it, but I freakin’ loved the Detroit uni’s yesterday. Very crisp. Red and white striped socks. Olde English D. Nice. Good job Ilitch.

    The Winter Classic comes off well on TV, but from the looks of things, the stadiums that have been used don’t allow anyone in the crowd to actually see the hockey game. It looked as if there were about eight seats in Wrigley Field yesterday that had even a decent view of the action. I don’t want to rain on the NHL’s parade (mostly because this seems to be the only thing the NHL has done right in the last decade), but am I wrong here?

    [quote comment=”308374″][quote comment=”308371″]Just so everyone knows, NBC posted a 2.9 rating for the Winter Classic yesterday, up from the 2.6 posted last year.

    It appears hockey is moving up the scale on American televisions for at least one day.[/quote]

    Was just gonna post that. Only three Stanley Cup games have done better.

    Highest overnight ratings for NHL on NBC.
    4.4: Red Wings/Penguins (Wed., 6/4/08, 8 PM NBC)
    4.3: Penguins/Red Wings (Mon., 6/2/08, 8 PM NBC)
    4.1: Oilers/Hurricanes (Mon., 6/19/06, 8 PM NBC)
    2.9: Red Wings/Blackhawks (Thu., 1/1/09, 1 PM NBC)
    2.9: Hurricanes/Oilers (Wed., 6/14/06, 8 PM NBC)[/quote]

    Worth noting that the two highest ratings came AFTER last year’s Winter Classic.

    agreed on the stadium choice. baseball stadiums are not the best choice for hockey games, at least for the fans in attendance who would like optimal viewing arraingments. but i guess saying you saw a game at wrigley is good enough for some

    While I think the most logical choice for the next winter classic would be

    New York Rangers at Boston Bruins – Fenway; for all the reasons mentioned on other posts – I can see Phila/Pgh at Happy Valley.

    While publically the NHL says they want to share who takes part in these games. I think what the NHL most wants to share – is who gets to host (who is the visiting team – is more subject to how good a sell it is for TV) Pittsburgh has not been the host – plus they happen to have the player the NHL most wants to market – Sydney Crosby. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility of having them back in. While they’re obviously not as big a TV market as Chicago or Boston – they bring potentially huge local TV ratings – i.e. would you rather have a 20.0+ share in Pittsburgh or a 10.0 in Boston. Plus ultimately the NHL wants (or at least should want) a hotly contested game – and Phila/Pgh would give a high probability of that.

    Saying all of that – I think the NHL will play it safe and go with NY Rangers/Boston – if that is, Boston – and Fenway Park wants it.

    Phil, check your mail. The designs are done. ;o)

    Also, as a question to the reading public on here, do you think that the higher shares in the Stanley Cup Final were due to:

    a) the Winter Classic featuring the Penguins?
    b) only having to compete with meaningless regular-season baseball games in June?
    c) both (a) and (b)?

    There is no right answer… I just want to see what the perception is.

    i think it may have to be the fact that PIT played DET that had people watching. Crosby/Malkin versus the DET squad. great fan bases with those 2 teams also helped.

    [quote comment=”308334″]
    I think it was the South Carolina-somebody game… 31-10 or something for the final?

    I’ll be the first to admit that when you have no clue who is playing or what they are playing for, it makes watching the game tough.[/quote]

    South Carolina vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

    i was just thinking, what about RFK?
    or outrageous, the washington mall?
    is there enough room for a rink and stands?
    Alex O. is certainly upper tier superstar…

    can’t imagine they’d have the Bruins on the road anywhere when they might be able to steal Fenway Park…

    that’d be great because the crowd would literally be on top of the game. the seats on the Monster would be ridiculous.

    Boston vs. Phoenix?

    (i keep thinking that the draw of the game is enough…the NHL will want to put a less than huge team in w/ a definite big rater like Fenway.

    [quote comment=”308382″][quote comment=”308334″]
    I think it was the South Carolina-somebody game… 31-10 or something for the final?

    I’ll be the first to admit that when you have no clue who is playing or what they are playing for, it makes watching the game tough.[/quote]

    South Carolina vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Iowa in the Outback Bowl.[/quote]

    Yeah, that’s them! I was trying to go off memory alone before I checked out ESPN.com today. ;o)

    And yes, CFA’s highly religious ownership is the reason for alcohol sales stopping when they do.[/quote]

    And stopping alcohol sales at halftime is a bad thing because…

    [quote comment=”308378″]
    While publically the NHL says they want to share who takes part in these games. I think what the NHL most wants to share – is who gets to host (who is the visiting team – is more subject to how good a sell it is for TV) Pittsburgh has not been the host – plus they happen to have the player the NHL most wants to market – Sydney Crosby. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility of having them back in. .[/quote]

    Intersesting but wouldn’t you want to show off the most exciting team in Hockey as pick by the Hockey News [a href = ]http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/18511-This-Week-in-THN-Oct-21.html” [/a]

    and let’s not forget what Alex Semin said,”What’s so special about [Crosby]? I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago … [Kane] is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.”

    Philly vs. Washington at FedEx field (don’t worry about the Redskins — they don’t play in late december anyway.

    [quote comment=”308379″]Phil, check your mail. The designs are done. ;o)

    Also, as a question to the reading public on here, do you think that the higher shares in the Stanley Cup Final were due to:

    a) the Winter Classic featuring the Penguins?
    b) only having to compete with meaningless regular-season baseball games in June?
    c) both (a) and (b)?

    There is no right answer… I just want to see what the perception is.[/quote]

    Well, if b) were the answer, ratings would be high every year. I think a) must have had something to do with it. As I said, a perfect storm of sorts. Increased exposure in U.S. …AND the team and player who won WC in OT end up in the Stanley Cup Finals.

    Nothing is without effect. Nothing just lies there in a vacuum. So unless someone can show how the Winter Classic HURT the Stanley Cup ratings, we’ll have to assume it helped.

    Back to unis:

    Does anyone know how the Rose Bowl decided who was the home team? Wasn’t USC the home team last year? I thought the Pac 10 and Big 10 alternated as home team.

    [quote comment=”308318″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    Plus, after yesterday there seems to be something of a love affair/marketing relationship blossoming between the NHL and MLB. So I’d say look for ballparks as future sites. That appears to be the reality of things.

    As to ABC, etc. worrying NFL clout…I think networks like to make money, and if a chilly outdoor NHL game on Super Bowl Eve on my network would outdraw the NFL bash on another network and generate higher revenue–net, after the cost of the telecast— I’m gonna air it. The NFL has clout, maybe enough to move the hockey game to earlier in the day, but not enough to keep it from happening that day entirely.

    Besides, this is all longshot daydreaming, anyway. I don’t think even the NHL would be dumb enough to go with a second Winter Classic, not just yet. I was merely imagining a scenario where they might…if a network came forward waving enough money, and the telecast would be in a nice, sweet, soft spot with a readymade, sports-hungry audience just sitting there waiting for something compelling to watch, the way they are early on New Year’s Day.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    Im pretty sure that the game yesterday was the second Winter Classic, last year had Pitt vs Buf

    Does anybody have a sizing guide for the “Swingman” NBA jerseys? I don’t know whether I should get a medium or large. (Believe me, if I were in a position to try one on, I would have done so already.)

    [quote comment=”308389″][quote comment=”308318″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    Plus, after yesterday there seems to be something of a love affair/marketing relationship blossoming between the NHL and MLB. So I’d say look for ballparks as future sites. That appears to be the reality of things.

    As to ABC, etc. worrying NFL clout…I think networks like to make money, and if a chilly outdoor NHL game on Super Bowl Eve on my network would outdraw the NFL bash on another network and generate higher revenue–net, after the cost of the telecast— I’m gonna air it. The NFL has clout, maybe enough to move the hockey game to earlier in the day, but not enough to keep it from happening that day entirely.

    Besides, this is all longshot daydreaming, anyway. I don’t think even the NHL would be dumb enough to go with a second Winter Classic, not just yet. I was merely imagining a scenario where they might…if a network came forward waving enough money, and the telecast would be in a nice, sweet, soft spot with a readymade, sports-hungry audience just sitting there waiting for something compelling to watch, the way they are early on New Year’s Day.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    Im pretty sure that the game yesterday was the second Winter Classic, last year had Pitt vs Buf[/quote]

    No kidding?
    The discussion was relative to staging more than one Winter Classic in a season, which had been pondered by several people yesterday. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. Thought it was obvious. Guess not.

    [quote comment=”308362″][quote comment=”308351″][quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    This I like. Have they even used that thing since it closed?[/quote]

    Tiger Stadium is half way gone, there is grass on the field, the seats are ripped up etc etc… the place is a dump now.

    Rangers or Devils vs. Flyers in New Yankee Stadium.
    Flyers vs. Rangers or Devils in Franklin Field.
    Bruins vs. Canadians or Maple Leafs in Fenway.

    The whole thing works on old school teams playing in old school places.[/quote]
    Why would the devils and flyers play at yankee stadium when neither of them play in new york

    matchups for next WC
    rangers v devils/islanders/philly at yankee stadium
    bruins v montreal/toronto at fenway
    big markets with traditional teams at classic lookin ballparks

    “Im pretty sure that the game yesterday was the second Winter Classic, last year had Pitt vs Buf”

    Or, you could start from post #28 (where my fabulous flying fingers typed “NFL” instead of “NHL”, lol), which would make clear what we were talking about.

    No picture, but on Graham Harrell’s pick six in the third quarter, the Ole Miss player who intercepted the ball and one of his blockers were both wearing #8. Not sure if this has been noted already?

    [quote comment=”308305″][quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    It’s great when you click on the link and on the bottom, the last 5 recently viewed products were as follows:

    1) Caseworks Detroit Lions Cabinet Style Simulated Wood Jersey Case
    2) Deltha O’Neal Bengals Jersey
    3) Detroit Lions infant cheerleading uniform
    4) Autographed Braylon Edwards photo
    5) Authentic Jaguars Jersey

    Which leads me to, who the hell is looking at this website?[/quote]

    Someone who reads Bill Simmons

    Okay, correction. There’s a #8 and a #9 on the Ole Miss defense and the blocker’s number suuuure looked like a 8. Oh well.

    [quote comment=”308273″]Possible longshot?

    New Jersey-Colorado at Coors Field. To attract both NY/NJ and western TV markets and save the Rangers for a “Classic” later…but the venue isn’t as storied as Fenway or Yankee Stadium (even if it is the new one)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Not only that, but the Colorado Rockies of the NHL relocated and became the New Jersey Devils.

    [quote comment=”308397″][quote comment=”308273″]Possible longshot?

    New Jersey-Colorado at Coors Field. To attract both NY/NJ and western TV markets and save the Rangers for a “Classic” later…but the venue isn’t as storied as Fenway or Yankee Stadium (even if it is the new one)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Not only that, but the Colorado Rockies of the NHL relocated and became the New Jersey Devils.[/quote]

    The people of Denver really had no love for the Rockies, making this matchup pretty weak.

    It would be like pitting the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames against one another – no rivalry whatsoever.

    [quote comment=”308326″][quote comment=”308322″][quote] i come to this site to read about cool sports uniforms, past and present and future. i dont come here to read about corporate advertising in the sports world, which seems more often than not to be overrepresented here.[/quote]

    great point jon, and i bet 99% of us came here originally for just that (to see unis)…certainly that’s what brought me here

    but it’s paul’s excruciating attention to the most minute details OF unis that makes this blog (and his columns elsewhere) so great…forgive me if this sounds like im blowing smoke you know where, but i honestly feel like there is a point after which one truly does Get It ™ … to borrow paul’s term … it’s MORE than just how the uni looks…it’s all that goes into the uni, from design to execution to on field performance, fit and look

    we don’t all agree and we never will…that too is what makes UW so great…but if you don’t think that the examination of logos is as important to uniform aesthetics as colors, you just haven’t been reading UW long enough[/quote]

    and the logo creep that so pisses many people off actually makes uniforms more “authentic” to me.[/quote]

    That is the least “authentic” portion of a uniform. Authenticity comes from its colors, cut, lettering, etc. Operations like “Shop NFL” or whatever they call it today can pass off crap on customers because they slap a reebok logo on it and say “wear what the players wear”, when in fact it might be the ONLY thing that’s the same as an on-field jersey. I had some sympathy for your original argument “why so much complaining about logo creep” but when you say you’d prefer those things, I’m not sure you are going to find ANY support for that here.

    Attention MPowers,

    Just tried my new New Balance 993’s for the first time and ran 2.5 miles with no foot pain, ankle pain, knee pain, or shin splints of any kind. Your help finding me the right kicks has really paid off. I have not been able to even run 1 mile without having some kind of pain. This is just the boost I need to start getting in great shape for my wedding. Thanks a lot!

    [quote comment=”308386″][quote comment=”308378″]
    While publically the NHL says they want to share who takes part in these games. I think what the NHL most wants to share – is who gets to host (who is the visiting team – is more subject to how good a sell it is for TV) Pittsburgh has not been the host – plus they happen to have the player the NHL most wants to market – Sydney Crosby. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility of having them back in. .[/quote]

    Intersesting but wouldn’t you want to show off the most exciting team in Hockey as pick by the Hockey News [a href = ]http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/18511-This-Week-in-THN-Oct-21.html” [/a]

    and let’s not forget what Alex Semin said,”What’s so special about [Crosby]? I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago … [Kane] is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.”

    Philly vs. Washington at FedEx field (don’t worry about the Redskins — they don’t play in late december anyway.[/quote]

    I agree Washington would be tempting. My own opinion – AO is a way more dynamic player than Crosby – I think the league if they could choose would want Crosby as their No 1 marquee player – but based on shere excitement to date AO has generated more consistent excitement.

    The +’s to Washington
    a) Exciting team
    b) Intense rival with Philadelphia
    c) It would give the Washington hockey market another boost

    The -‘s to Washington
    a) It’s still – while improving – an iffy hockey market – peak local television ratings never come close to what’s generated in Philadelphia, Detroit or Pittsburgh during the play-offs
    b) There’s no obvious facility – their new football stadium is simply too big and bland. I like the idea of a game played in a scenic setting – with temporary stands – such as Central Park – the Mall – maybe – but I think they’ll go with more obvious choices for the next few years.
    c) If AO goes down with an injury – earlier in the year – it becomes a pretty faceless team (although there are other good players – Semin and Green in particular).

    [quote comment=”308399″][quote comment=”308397″][quote comment=”308273″]Possible longshot?

    New Jersey-Colorado at Coors Field. To attract both NY/NJ and western TV markets and save the Rangers for a “Classic” later…but the venue isn’t as storied as Fenway or Yankee Stadium (even if it is the new one)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Not only that, but the Colorado Rockies of the NHL relocated and became the New Jersey Devils.[/quote]

    The people of Denver really had no love for the Rockies, making this matchup pretty weak.

    It would be like pitting the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames against one another – no rivalry whatsoever.[/quote]

    I picked it solely based on Denver’s legitimacy as the westernmost cold weather U.S. location—as a longshot, I said—and chose an opponent that would be a somewhat interesting matchup amd also deliver a hugely desirable TV market…while preserving the Rangers as the New York team for a home WC. As a TV market matchup, it’s pretty good. I only thought of the Devils’ history afterward.

    Providing a fun day for the home fans is not why the WC came to be. That’s become a big part of it, sure, but it’s really all about what will mean good (or great) U.S. TV numbers.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”308403″]
    I picked it solely based on Denver’s legitimacy as the westernmost cold weather U.S. location—as a longshot, I said—and chose an opponent that would be a somewhat interesting matchup amd also deliver a hugely desirable TV market…while preserving the Rangers as the New York team for a home WC. As a TV market matchup, it’s pretty good. I only thought of the Devils’ history afterward.

    Providing a fun day for the home fans is not why the WC came to be. That’s become a big part of it, sure, but it’s really all about what will mean good (or great) U.S. TV numbers.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    If they hadn’t used Detroit this season, a Detroit-Colorado battle would be epic.

    BTW if anyone cares about my opinion about the Winter Classic, they ought to have it in Hamilton Ontario as a neutral site and make it like a Hall Of Fame game of sorts. The seats for both of the US Winter Classics have not really been fan friendly and I think its better if they build something for the neutral site. Hell, put the all star game outside.

    This talk of baseball stadiums hosting the Classic is a waste of everyone’s time…no way it makes sense having the best seats 100 feet away.

    [quote comment=”308404″]What is the point of the tape on link yesterday? (frame 6 of 17 in the PHOTOS tab)[/quote]

    Looks like it’s probably holding the together.

    [quote comment=”308405″][quote comment=”308403″]
    I picked it solely based on Denver’s legitimacy as the westernmost cold weather U.S. location—as a longshot, I said—and chose an opponent that would be a somewhat interesting matchup amd also deliver a hugely desirable TV market…while preserving the Rangers as the New York team for a home WC. As a TV market matchup, it’s pretty good. I only thought of the Devils’ history afterward.

    Yeah, I wondered if they weren’t burning Detroit a little early in this. But, if the first games are duds there won’t be more, so they kinda had to go with a couple marquee teams. To make sure last year didn’t come off looking like a ratings fluke based on a gimmick, that is.

    Providing a fun day for the home fans is not why the WC came to be. That’s become a big part of it, sure, but it’s really all about what will mean good (or great) U.S. TV numbers.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    If they hadn’t used Detroit this season, a Detroit-Colorado battle would be epic.[/quote]

    [quote comment=”308409″]i am guessing since gloves are pretty loose he was trying to keep his hands warm.[/quote]

    He’s a hockey player. Seems like a lame reason! No offense, Polish Oasis guitar player. :)

    [quote comment=”308388″]Back to unis:

    Does anyone know how the Rose Bowl decided who was the home team? Wasn’t USC the home team last year? I thought the Pac 10 and Big 10 alternated as home team.[/quote]

    According to link SC wore home unis because they were ranked higher. Certainly unofficial.

    In regards to the Winter Classic, I heard/read something somewhere, that Fenway is a non-option, for at least a year or 2 because of upgrades/maintenance at the Park. If the Caps had their ducks in line, put the rink on the National Mall…Paul, waaaaaaay overdo for a UniWatch get-together in the D.C. area

    [quote comment=”308402″][quote comment=”308386″][quote comment=”308378″]
    While publically the NHL says they want to share who takes part in these games. I think what the NHL most wants to share – is who gets to host (who is the visiting team – is more subject to how good a sell it is for TV) Pittsburgh has not been the host – plus they happen to have the player the NHL most wants to market – Sydney Crosby. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility of having them back in. .[/quote]

    Intersesting but wouldn’t you want to show off the most exciting team in Hockey as pick by the Hockey News [a href = ]http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/18511-This-Week-in-THN-Oct-21.html” [/a]

    and let’s not forget what Alex Semin said,”What’s so special about [Crosby]? I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago … [Kane] is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.”

    Philly vs. Washington at FedEx field (don’t worry about the Redskins — they don’t play in late december anyway.[/quote]

    I agree Washington would be tempting. My own opinion – AO is a way more dynamic player than Crosby – I think the league if they could choose would want Crosby as their No 1 marquee player – but based on shere excitement to date AO has generated more consistent excitement.

    The +’s to Washington
    a) Exciting team
    b) Intense rival with Philadelphia
    c) It would give the Washington hockey market another boost

    The -‘s to Washington
    a) It’s still – while improving – an iffy hockey market – peak local television ratings never come close to what’s generated in Philadelphia, Detroit or Pittsburgh during the play-offs
    b) There’s no obvious facility – their new football stadium is simply too big and bland. I like the idea of a game played in a scenic setting – with temporary stands – such as Central Park – the Mall – maybe – but I think they’ll go with more obvious choices for the next few years.
    c) If AO goes down with an injury – earlier in the year – it becomes a pretty faceless team (although there are other good players – Semin and Green in particular).[/quote]

    As someone that lives in MD, I think that the Mid-Atlantic’s ever-increasingly moderate Winter climate would make the Caps a bad home team.

    It seems, in the last few years, daytime temps are in the 40 during Winter Time. heck, it was 65 a few days after Xmas.

    [quote comment=”308334″][quote comment=”308325″]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out![/quote]

    Revenge of the ADHD, Matt? ;o)

    I actually tried to watch a Bowl game last night when I was at my brother’s house. The only problem is that I have no idea what the Bowl was for, nor do I know any of the players. I think it was the South Carolina-somebody game… 31-10 or something for the final?

    I’ll be the first to admit that when you have no clue who is playing or what they are playing for, it makes watching the game tough.[/quote]

    My initial comment was not a dig towards Hockey.

    I was excited to watch this great event and i thought NBC did a fine job in it’s leadup.

    I just found it hard to stay invested when I didn’t know many of the players and the rules of the game, much like your issues with the bowl game you watched.

    I seriously thought about the reasons to why my interest waned. I’m not used to a lack of stoppages whereas football and basketball have a break every few minutes!

    [quote comment=”308406″]BTW if anyone cares about my opinion about the Winter Classic, they ought to have it in Hamilton Ontario as a neutral site and make it like a Hall Of Fame game of sorts. The seats for both of the US Winter Classics have not really been fan friendly and I think its better if they build something for the neutral site. Hell, put the all star game outside.

    This talk of baseball stadiums hosting the Classic is a waste of everyone’s time…no way it makes sense having the best seats 100 feet away.[/quote]

    Having the ASG outside is a GREAT idea, and include all of the skills competitions as well.

    I was so taken by all of this hockey talk, that I actually took my family skating today!

    Other neutral sites… Quebec City, Hartford, Winnipeg……. get what I’m sayin?

    My fear is eventually we’ll “jump the shark” by having a game too far south and it’ll all be screwed!

    [quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]

    Problem, they have tore down most of the stadiums and the seats in the remaining part are in poor shape.

    [quote comment=”308389″][quote comment=”308318″][quote comment=”308303″]Playing the game in NFL stadia will only work if the league goes back (and by back, I mean last year and the year before that) to playing the last regular season game after the first of the year. Otherwise, you’d run the risk of having a wild card playoff game too close to New Year’s Day, which wouldn’t give the grounds crew enough time to break down the rink and get the field back into football shape. I don’t see the NFL playing any regular season games after the first of the year.

    Thus, look for next year’s game to be played in some place like Fenway, Yankee Stadium, or the new Mets park (although playing the game at Franklin Field would be spectacular).[/quote]

    Plus, after yesterday there seems to be something of a love affair/marketing relationship blossoming between the NHL and MLB. So I’d say look for ballparks as future sites. That appears to be the reality of things.

    As to ABC, etc. worrying NFL clout…I think networks like to make money, and if a chilly outdoor NHL game on Super Bowl Eve on my network would outdraw the NFL bash on another network and generate higher revenue–net, after the cost of the telecast— I’m gonna air it. The NFL has clout, maybe enough to move the hockey game to earlier in the day, but not enough to keep it from happening that day entirely.

    Besides, this is all longshot daydreaming, anyway. I don’t think even the NHL would be dumb enough to go with a second Winter Classic, not just yet. I was merely imagining a scenario where they might…if a network came forward waving enough money, and the telecast would be in a nice, sweet, soft spot with a readymade, sports-hungry audience just sitting there waiting for something compelling to watch, the way they are early on New Year’s Day.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    Im pretty sure that the game yesterday was the second Winter Classic, last year had Pitt vs Buf[/quote]

    It was the second winter classic but Edmonton and Montreal played outside in 2003.

    [quote comment=”308390″]Does anybody have a sizing guide for the “Swingman” NBA jerseys? I don’t know whether I should get a medium or large. (Believe me, if I were in a position to try one on, I would have done so already.)[/quote]

    Check this out:

    link

    That should be the sizing guide from Eastbay.com which carries all of the Swingman line from Adidas.

    Johnny O.: I”m very happy that those shoes are working out for you. You can now look forward to exercising and not fret over whether the act is going to cause you pain.

    And remember, the desire to get in shape for your wedding is paramount right now, but make jogging and good health a lifelong habit!

    [quote comment=”308416″]Other neutral sites… Quebec City, Hartford, Winnipeg……. get what I’m sayin?

    My fear is eventually we’ll “jump the shark” by having a game too far south and it’ll all be screwed![/quote]
    Carolina vs Boston at UConn’s football stadium?

    lol, knowing Bettman, this is probably a possibility

    Could link be the first known case of goalie wearing mismatched color pads? I challenge someone to find an earlier one…

    Kelly Hrudey was traded from the Islanders to the Kings in 1990. I remember seeing that the pads almost looked spray painted orange and blue, but I have no picture proof. Remember, it was right around the time when goalies were starting to go away from brown leather and wear colors and whites.

    And, as usual, the BCS At-Large SEC team gets crushed by a much weaker opponent in the Sugar Bowl.

    Shades of 2005 West Virginia vs Georgia…

    Makes me kinda sad because I was hoping only traditional looks would win in the BCS this year. VT did their part last night, but it looks like one designer is gonna walk away with a trophy this year. Thanks, Bama

    [quote comment=”308414″][quote comment=”308334″][quote comment=”308325″]The Winter Classic was interesting. I watched about one period until my attention span gave out![/quote]

    Revenge of the ADHD, Matt? ;o)

    I actually tried to watch a Bowl game last night when I was at my brother’s house. The only problem is that I have no idea what the Bowl was for, nor do I know any of the players. I think it was the South Carolina-somebody game… 31-10 or something for the final?

    I’ll be the first to admit that when you have no clue who is playing or what they are playing for, it makes watching the game tough.[/quote]

    My initial comment was not a dig towards Hockey.

    I was excited to watch this great event and i thought NBC did a fine job in it’s leadup.

    I just found it hard to stay invested when I didn’t know many of the players and the rules of the game, much like your issues with the bowl game you watched.

    I seriously thought about the reasons to why my interest waned. I’m not used to a lack of stoppages whereas football and basketball have a break every few minutes![/quote]

    Dude, I was totally joking about the ADHD thing.

    But I really understand the other side. I had no clue about any of these college football players, and the Bowl Games are meaningless to me, to be honest.

    If anything, Matt, I know what you mean when you say “I just found it hard to stay invested when I didn’t know many of the players”. I was completely clued out.

    how bout WC @ AT&T Park with the Sharkies. Ever been to SF in January? No snow, but plenty chilly.

    [quote comment=”308347″]One more suggestion for a future outdoor classic – San Jose hosts at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

    Uniform bonus – Sharks wear Seals throwbacks.

    I know its geographically a little goofy (SF vs. SJ) but the Uni potential plus the beauty of the setting would make it a winner for the NHL. Imagine endless shots of the bay and kayakers in McCovey Cove hoping to catch a puck. :)[/quote]

    Seals are now the Stars though…so that doesn’t quite work for San Jose to wear Seals throwbacks. I realize that the founder of the Seals eventually had a big hand in San Jose getting an NHL franchise…but yeah.

    I would love to see the Classic come to SF though.

    If they did it in Las Vegas in 91, I have no reason to believe they couldn’t do it in 2010 in SF.

    [quote comment=”308402″]
    I agree Washington would be tempting. My own opinion – AO is a way more dynamic player than Crosby – I think the league if they could choose would want Crosby as their No 1 marquee player – but based on shere excitement to date AO has generated more consistent excitement.

    The +’s to Washington
    a) Exciting team
    b) Intense rival with Philadelphia
    c) It would give the Washington hockey market another boost

    The -‘s to Washington
    a) It’s still – while improving – an iffy hockey market – peak local television ratings never come close to what’s generated in Philadelphia, Detroit or Pittsburgh during the play-offs
    b) There’s no obvious facility – their new football stadium is simply too big and bland. I like the idea of a game played in a scenic setting – with temporary stands – such as Central Park – the Mall – maybe – but I think they’ll go with more obvious choices for the next few years.
    c) If AO goes down with an injury – earlier in the year – it becomes a pretty faceless team (although there are other good players – Semin and Green in particular).[/quote]

    Showcasing Ovechkin would be great for the DC market and NHL. Plus it might help the international aspect of it with the Olympics on the horizon. Playing on the National Mall would be amazing, but I don’t think they would do it due to all the facilities and stuff needed to make it optimal.

    [quote comment=”308426″][quote comment=”308347″]One more suggestion for a future outdoor classic – San Jose hosts at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

    Uniform bonus – Sharks wear Seals throwbacks.

    I know its geographically a little goofy (SF vs. SJ) but the Uni potential plus the beauty of the setting would make it a winner for the NHL. Imagine endless shots of the bay and kayakers in McCovey Cove hoping to catch a puck. :)[/quote]

    Seals are now the Stars though…so that doesn’t quite work for San Jose to wear Seals throwbacks. I realize that the founder of the Seals eventually had a big hand in San Jose getting an NHL franchise…but yeah.

    I would love to see the Classic come to SF though.

    If they did it in Las Vegas in 91, I have no reason to believe they couldn’t do it in 2010 in SF.[/quote]

    No, the Seals are NOT the Stars. They moved to Cleveland, where they became the Barons. They later merged with the North Stars, who eventually moved to Dallas and became the Stars

    OK, so it’s almost midnight and I probably should’ve said this much earlier (like yesterday), but enough already with speculation regarding sites for NHL outdoor games. Not uni-related, totally played out, the end. Thanks.

    [quote comment=”308348″][quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    i gotta go w/ the song girls… partly because of link

    which is my second favorite (non-football) bowl moment . link is first! :)[/quote]
    thank you for that screen shot!I was watching that game and spit my beer out! nobody in the room saw it and nobody at work believed me that i saw a cheerleader with no underwear! thank you i cant wait to show them on monday!

    [quote comment=”308429″]OK, so it’s almost midnight and I probably should’ve said this much earlier (like yesterday), but enough already with speculation regarding sites for NHL outdoor games. Not uni-related, totally played out, the end. Thanks.[/quote]

    But…but we are thinking about the throwbacks first and foremost. :)

    But seriously Paul, it does indeed seem very, very likely that RBK is reverting to the Reebok name. Booting up NHL 09, which uses dynamic ad placement on the boards (As do all EA Sports titles), for the first time since the game launched, “Reebok”, was on the boards.

    [quote comment=”308430″][quote comment=”308348″][quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    i gotta go w/ the song girls… partly because of link

    which is my second favorite (non-football) bowl moment . link is first! :)[/quote]
    thank you for that screen shot!I was watching that game and spit my beer out! nobody in the room saw it and nobody at work believed me that i saw a cheerleader with no underwear! thank you i cant wait to show them on monday![/quote]

    you do realize “that game” was from 2 years ago?

    [quote comment=”308428″][quote comment=”308426″][quote comment=”308347″]One more suggestion for a future outdoor classic – San Jose hosts at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

    Uniform bonus – Sharks wear Seals throwbacks.

    I know its geographically a little goofy (SF vs. SJ) but the Uni potential plus the beauty of the setting would make it a winner for the NHL. Imagine endless shots of the bay and kayakers in McCovey Cove hoping to catch a puck. :)[/quote]

    Seals are now the Stars though…so that doesn’t quite work for San Jose to wear Seals throwbacks. I realize that the founder of the Seals eventually had a big hand in San Jose getting an NHL franchise…but yeah.

    I would love to see the Classic come to SF though.

    If they did it in Las Vegas in 91, I have no reason to believe they couldn’t do it in 2010 in SF.[/quote]

    No, the Seals are NOT the Stars. They moved to Cleveland, where they became the Barons. They later merged with the North Stars, who eventually moved to Dallas and became the Stars[/quote]

    Well, the Seals became the Stars by proxy. No matter anyway you look at it, the existence of the Seals invariably resulted in what became the Dallas Stars. The Sharks only relation with the Seals is a geographical one.

    NHL history pretty much concurs with that notion. NHL 09 lists the Seals throwbacks under the Dallas Stars uniform selections.

    As a long time Sharks fan, I have always wondered why some fellow fans have such a strong desire to see the Sharks don the jerseys that date back to our fiercest rivalry.

    [quote comment=”308429″]OK, so it’s almost midnight and I probably should’ve said this much earlier (like yesterday), but enough already with speculation regarding sites for NHL outdoor games. Not uni-related, totally played out, the end. Thanks.[/quote]

    Yes Paul, but uni geeks are also often stadium geeks too. Throw us a freaking bone. This forum is dedicated to the truly great little bits of sport, is it not?

    [quote comment=”308434″][quote comment=”308429″]OK, so it’s almost midnight and I probably should’ve said this much earlier (like yesterday), but enough already with speculation regarding sites for NHL outdoor games. Not uni-related, totally played out, the end. Thanks.[/quote]

    Yes Paul, but uni geeks are also often stadium geeks too. Throw us a freaking bone. This forum is dedicated to the truly great little bits of sport, is it not?[/quote]

    We’re believers, Paul. Isn’t that enough?

    [quote comment=”308305″][quote comment=”308300″][quote comment=”308298″]Has anyone seen the Divisional Championship gear for the NFL yet? The first thing I noticed about them is that they have they Reebok word mark instead of the logo. Are we sure the word mark isn’t transitioning to the NFL as well???[/quote]

    I should probably link to a pic. shouldn’t I?

    link

    It’s great when you click on the link and on the bottom, the last 5 recently viewed products were as follows:

    1) Caseworks Detroit Lions Cabinet Style Simulated Wood Jersey Case
    2) Deltha O’Neal Bengals Jersey
    3) Detroit Lions infant cheerleading uniform
    4) Autographed Braylon Edwards photo
    5) Authentic Jaguars Jersey

    Which leads me to, who the hell is looking at this website?[/quote]

    sounds to me like bill simmons’ list of the worst possible nfl gifts to receive for christmas

    [quote comment=”308327″][quote comment=”308316″]Can anyone confirm if Jason LaBarbara’s mask is the cover of Metallica’s Death Magnetic? I haven’t been able to find any photos that are zoomed in farther.[/quote]

    I can. He’s a huge Metallica fan.

    More musical masks and info link.[/quote]

    If you look on the pic that shows the backplate of LaBarbera’s facemask, I’m 99% sure that’s an image of James Hetfield. Does he have all four members of the band painted back there? It’d be interesting to see that.

    [quote comment=”308368″]”The whole thing works on old school (U.S.) teams playing in (cold) old school (U.S.) places.”

    To which we should add, “…those teams being from substantial and separate U.S. TV markets, playing early on New Year’s Day, up against bowl games that have been neutered with respect to the national championship, which comes days later”

    There you go. Those are the elements of the “perfect storm” that has made the Winter Classic a success. Any variation from that (for the time being) and you’ve deviated from the basic concept and weakened your appeal to the desired audience.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    I agree with the above statement 100%… all I got to say.

    [quote comment=”308423″]John Parker Wilson is wearing the new LT 2.1 by Nike

    link

    page number 33[/quote]

    I have seen these cleats so often over the past six months that I totally forgot that they were the next model.

    The VaTech tailback and a few players from USC were also wearing them.

    I love the 21 visible within the back gills!

    [quote comment=”308440″][quote comment=”308423″]John Parker Wilson is wearing the new LT 2.1 by Nike

    link

    page number 33[/quote]

    I have seen these cleats so often over the past six months that I totally forgot that they were the next model.

    The VaTech tailback and a few players from USC were also wearing them.

    I love the 21 visible within the back gills![/quote]

    Several USC players were wearing then in the Rose Bowl.

    [quote comment=”308342″][quote comment=”308338″][quote comment=”308336″][quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.[/quote]

    they should have been putting down even water, they were on field turf and leveled the filed with giant slabs of styrofoam. If anything I thing that was more of an issue since that would compress with the weight. They should have covered the crown with wood or steel to level it off and had the center of the rink just above field level and the edges would have been several inched above field level.[/quote]

    I think you just made the argument for hockey on flat fields.[/quote]

    Not at all, Either way works, but flat is easier. All I was stating is that the crown does not mean they can’t do it.

    [quote comment=”308344″][quote comment=”308338″][quote comment=”308336″][quote comment=”308332″]
    the field crown is irrelevant, Wrigley had a crown until last year, buffalo has a crown and they dealt with it. Some baseball fields have crowns some don’t. same with football fields. The field at Northern Illinois had a huge crown, had to be close to 5 inches, when it had old astroturf. When they changed to fieldturf they took out the crown, but you can still see the crowned curb at each end of the field[/quote]

    Actually, it’s not. There were a number of complaints from Dan Craig, the ice maker, about how the Bills’ field bowed in the middle. You have to keep adding layers of water to the middle of the ice surface for it to be flat, causing the freezing to be uneven across the entire sheet of ice.[/quote]

    they should have been putting down even water, they were on field turf and leveled the filed with giant slabs of styrofoam. If anything I thing that was more of an issue since that would compress with the weight. They should have covered the crown with wood or steel to level it off and had the center of the rink just above field level and the edges would have been several inched above field level.[/quote]

    Have you ever made a backyard rink? The ground has to be level or the ice will follow the same level of the ground. This is simply the physics of water. You add layer by layer of water. This is why outdoor rinks have gravel or pavement underneath them – so they remain flat and level.

    Not to mention that ice is heavy, putting wood or steel down would only cause enormous problems if they gave way. You’re adding the weight of 42 players, coaches, refs, and equipment to the ice during the game on top of the ice.

    As for the rink itself, it was link. The problem with building it that way was that it took much longer to construct the rink in a flat manner because of it.

    The NHL is learning from its mistakes. And playing the game in a football stadium is a mistake.[/quote]
    I know it was off the ground, I said it was on a styrofoam platform. I said something stronger would have been better. I also agree that a flat surface is better and easier. All I said was that they can also do it ust as well, (but not as easiy) on a crowned field.

    [quote comment=”308350″]Hey, if we’re throwing out wacky ideas for the NHL Winter Classic, how about Tiger Stadium in Detroit?[/quote]
    thet better do it sooner than last october when they started tearing it down.

    [quote comment=”308432″][quote comment=”308430″][quote comment=”308348″][quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    i gotta go w/ the song girls… partly because of link

    which is my second favorite (non-football) bowl moment . link is first! :)[/quote]
    thank you for that screen shot!I was watching that game and spit my beer out! nobody in the room saw it and nobody at work believed me that i saw a cheerleader with no underwear! thank you i cant wait to show them on monday![/quote]

    you do realize “that game” was from 2 years ago?[/quote]
    uh yes i realize the game was from 2 yrs ago. and i remember watching it and i still work with the same people

    [quote comment=”308568″][quote comment=”308432″][quote comment=”308430″][quote comment=”308348″][quote comment=”308260″]Best bowl uniforms of all: the USC Song Girls, as usual (with thanks to Michael Romero)

    MY VOTE goes to the Hawaii Rainbow Dancers!!
    link

    i gotta go w/ the song girls… partly because of link

    which is my second favorite (non-football) bowl moment . link is first! :)[/quote]
    thank you for that screen shot!I was watching that game and spit my beer out! nobody in the room saw it and nobody at work believed me that i saw a cheerleader with no underwear! thank you i cant wait to show them on monday![/quote]

    you do realize “that game” was from 2 years ago?[/quote]
    uh yes i realize the game was from 2 yrs ago. and i remember watching it and i still work with the same people[/quote]
    more importantly, you do realize she was wearing her breifs, she just had a wedgie. The whole clip is available and you can see them in the rest of the clip.

    [quote comment=”308375″]As an Avalanche fan, it makes me cringe to admit it, but I freakin’ loved the Detroit uni’s yesterday. Very crisp. Red and white striped socks. Olde English D. Nice. Good job Ilitch.

    The Winter Classic comes off well on TV, but from the looks of things, the stadiums that have been used don’t allow anyone in the crowd to actually see the hockey game. It looked as if there were about eight seats in Wrigley Field yesterday that had even a decent view of the action. I don’t want to rain on the NHL’s parade (mostly because this seems to be the only thing the NHL has done right in the last decade), but am I wrong here?[/quote]

    i was in the upper deck seats at wrigley and the view was great. i actually felt closer up there than being in the upper deck at the united center. so id say all the upper deck seats probably had an excellent view of the action.

    [quote comment=”308664″][quote comment=”308375″]As an Avalanche fan, it makes me cringe to admit it, but I freakin’ loved the Detroit uni’s yesterday. Very crisp. Red and white striped socks. Olde English D. Nice. Good job Ilitch.

    The Winter Classic comes off well on TV, but from the looks of things, the stadiums that have been used don’t allow anyone in the crowd to actually see the hockey game. It looked as if there were about eight seats in Wrigley Field yesterday that had even a decent view of the action. I don’t want to rain on the NHL’s parade (mostly because this seems to be the only thing the NHL has done right in the last decade), but am I wrong here?[/quote]

    i was in the upper deck seats at wrigley and the view was great. i actually felt closer up there than being in the upper deck at the united center. so id say all the upper deck seats probably had an excellent view of the action.[/quote]

    I stand corrected. Hey, wait a minute, ‘Katie’ is
    Gary Bettman’s Yahoo screen name!

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