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What, You’d Prefer That They Use a Puck?

indiana_pacers_alternate.gif

As we’ve discussed here several times, many NBA team logos include an image of a basketball. This was a particular concern a few years ago, when the league briefly tried to introduce a new ball design, which led me (and probably others) to wonder if all those teams would have to revise their logos.

That question became moot when the new ball experiment was abandoned. But a larger question remains: Why do so many NBA teams have basketballs in their logos? Is this an intentional or strategic point of difference with the other leagues (since most NFL team logos don’t include a football, most MLB logos don’t include a baseball, etc.)? Just a coincidence that’s developed over the years? Something else altogether? And when the NBA commissions a new logo, is the designer specifically instructed to include a basketball, or has it just worked out that way?

I recently posed those questions to NBA apparel director Christopher Arena (one of the really good guys in the uni world, by the way). Here’s what he wrote back:

When we started the WNBA, we were very focused on ball icons in the logos (specifically a multi-colored ball). This was branding 101 — new league, awareness, blah-blah-blah. Same thing when we started to develop the D-League logos — no one knows who we are, lots of minor league sports competition, must show that we are about the game of basketball.

On the NBA side, it sort of just happened. Almost every team logo was developed prior to my 15 seasons here, so I don’t know if it is intentional or not. But as a young league, my guess is that in the ’40s and ’50s maybe they had the same brand-building concerns. I will say that as new logos have been created or updated, we have suggested that a basketball icon (not necessarily a ball) be integrated into the identity. Not necessarily the primary logo but maybe a secondary logo.

So we have:

• Teams with basketball icons in their primary logo: 23, if you count Portland (the 5-on-5 inspiration) and Houston (the net inspiration). Most of these are the original designs (Lakers, Celtics, Wizards, Pacers) or are updates of logos that had a basketball (Knicks, Pistons, Suns).

• Teams with basketball icons in their secondary logo but not their primary: 5. Interestingly, some of these are very new logos and we didn’t include it in the primary but felt it fit in a secondary — Bobcats, Wolves, Grizzlies, Bucks, and Nuggets (older but same principle).

• Teams with no basketball icon: Bulls, Spurs.

I would say that if a team approached me tomorrow about changing its logo, we would suggest a ball or net or something be somewhere in the identity. As for the other sports leagues, I think baseballs or bases or diamonds are in a lot of the primary [MLB] logos, but they are so hat-icon-based that it gets lost (the Brewers’ old mb logo is still best of all time). Same thing with the NFL and helmet logos, which sort of developed into the actual logos. Plus a football has an odd shape — basketballs and roundness and symmetry are easier to work with.

All very interesting. Personally, though, I think the use of basketballs in NBA logos is overdone. This is no longer a young league (sure it’s a lot younger than the NFL or MLB, but there’s a whole generation of fans who don’t know or care about that), so no need to say, “Hey, this game we’re playing here is BASKETBALL.” And the repetition of the ball throughout so many of the marks starts to feel willful after a while — like, “We’re doing it because we have to do it, because that’s just the way we do it.” Or to put it another way, “Because we have to” can be just as damaging as “Because we can.”

Big thanks to Christopher for sharing his time and expertise on this — much obliged.

Uni Watch News Ticker: Adrian Beltre is now wearing a cup. ”¦ David McGee notes that Curenski Gilleylen’s NOB was misspelled on last weekend. ”¦ Brilliant account of the Mets’ season here. Click on the board spaces for the full effect (with thanks to Scott Turner). ”¦ The AFL throwbacks are now available on Madden (with thanks to Paul Ricciardi). ”¦ Remember Mark Penxa and his awesome baseball watercolors? Looks like he’s starting a hockey series. ”¦ Yesterday I linked to some photos of the Pacific Coast League exhibit at SFO Airport. Now John Moist has provided some much clearer photos. ”¦ “I’m shocked that nobody from the great state of Michigan has dropped you a line regarding our new QB, Dernard Robinson,” writes Ethan Crooks. “Robinson has never tied his spikes at any level, resulting in the nickname ‘Shoelace,’ which has followed him up to Michigan.” Yeah, okay, but leaving your laces untied doesn’t mean so much if you’re just gonna apply a heavy spat job. ”¦ Can someone please get this guy an NEA grant or something? (Big thanks to Nile Smith.) ”¦ Looks like the UFL is going to be quite the pioneer. ”¦ More about the Seahawks’ green jerseys, from a source who prefers to remain anonymous: “As a student football equipment manager at a school in Wisconsin, we used to drive up to Ripon Athletic quite frequently to get stuff last minute (nameplates, etc.) and I had an opportunity on a brief tour to see some Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys (a coordinating set) that were being prototyped. They actually had huge rolls of the nasty-colored material that had to be custom-made overseas because up to that time no one had ordered anything that color. I remember the boss saying they were going to be ‘stuck’ with it at the time. So that stuff does exist.” ”¦ Now that’s a uniform. It’s from the Festival of the Babes, described as “a women’s soccer festival for lesbians and those willing to be mistaken for one.” Lots of additional photos on this page (with thanks to Bob Wilmot). ”¦ New uniforms unveiled yesterday for the WHL, OHL, and LHJMQ. ”¦ If you believe the Earthlink mail server, which I don’t, I received exactly zero e-mails from 6pm yesterday until about 7am today. If you sent me anything during that period, please re-send it, because for now it appears that everything sent my way during that 13-hour stretch has fallen into a deep black hole. Thanks.

 
  
 
Comments (271)

    Funny, there’s a huge difference between the old Milwaukee Bucks “spinning basketball” logo and the trite garbage that’s spun out to us today in the NBA.

    From the Bobcats to the Knicks to the Nets to the Thunder, on down the line. There’s ZERO design credibility in what they’re producing.

    It’s ubiquitous and smacks of an “umbrella” brand that’s making all the design decisions. Doesn’t surprise me that David Stern wants his hands in every logo decision.

    Problem is, David Stern doesn’t know what plays in Oklahoma City, or Indianapolis, and so forth. The NBA dictating these identities exemplifies what’s wrong with the league … its homogenized to the point of “meh.”

    Until sports teams stop using “sports graphic designers” and start using elite graphic design professionals … they’ll end up with the OKC Thunder.

    Footballs were a little more commonly used in logos up until the seventies and eighties.

    link
    link
    link
    link
    link

    You should also not forgot the number of logos that incorporated. The Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, etc.

    In college it was pretty common to have a football shaped helmet decal.
    link

    Just read the ESPN column…that new redesigned SEC patch is the first one I’ve seen that modified the patch. No other conference patches have modified the football or pennant.

    While I like the new SEC lettering better than the previous version, I don’t like the fact the patch was allowed to be modified as a whole.

    I know that MLB teams with baseballs in their logos seem less common, but their are more common than you would think. These logos may not be on the team cap, but are official logos.

    Seattle Mariners
    link

    Texas Rangers
    link

    NY Yankees
    link

    SF Giants
    link

    Minnesota Twins
    link

    NY Mets
    link

    Boston Red Sox
    link

    Colorado Rockies
    link

    Even the Montreal Expos
    link

    [quote comment=”346804″]I know that MLB teams with baseballs in their logos seem less common, but their are more common than you would think. These logos may not be on the team cap, but are official logos.

    Seattle Mariners
    link

    Texas Rangers
    link

    NY Yankees
    link

    SF Giants
    link

    Minnesota Twins
    link

    NY Mets
    link

    Boston Red Sox
    link

    Colorado Rockies
    link

    Even the Montreal Expos
    link

    Recent past: Mike Schmidt-era Phillies and ball-glove Brewers were a couple other long-time Users of the Ball (and in both cases, it was on their hats).

    —Ricko

    MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.

    [quote comment=”346801″]Footballs were a little more commonly used in logos up until the seventies and eighties.

    link
    link
    link
    link
    link

    You should also not forgot the number of logos that incorporated. The Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, etc.

    In college it was pretty common to have a football shaped helmet decal.
    link[/quote]

    Not sure which logo you have for beloved (getting the forbidden screen) but i would think it would have to be the old Pats or giants logo. And so I offer up the other as another example.

    [quote comment=”346804″]I know that MLB teams with baseballs in their logos seem less common, but their are more common than you would think. These logos may not be on the team cap, but are official logos.

    Seattle Mariners
    link

    Texas Rangers
    link

    NY Yankees
    link

    SF Giants
    link

    Minnesota Twins
    link

    NY Mets
    link

    Boston Red Sox
    link

    Colorado Rockies
    link

    Even the Montreal Expos
    link

    Let’s also add

    KC Royals
    link

    Milwakee Brewers logo (twice)
    link
    link

    Washington Nationals
    link

    [quote comment=”346808″][quote comment=”346804″]I know that MLB teams with baseballs in their logos seem less common, but their are more common than you would think. These logos may not be on the team cap, but are official logos.

    Seattle Mariners
    link

    Texas Rangers
    link

    NY Yankees
    link

    SF Giants
    link

    Minnesota Twins
    link

    NY Mets
    link

    Boston Red Sox
    link

    Colorado Rockies
    link

    Even the Montreal Expos
    link

    Let’s also add

    KC Royals
    link

    Milwakee Brewers logo (twice)
    link
    link

    Washington Nationals
    link

    How can I forget the LA Dodgers
    link

    Anyone else?

    [quote comment=”346810″][quote comment=”346808″][quote comment=”346804″]I know that MLB teams with baseballs in their logos seem less common, but their are more common than you would think. These logos may not be on the team cap, but are official logos.

    Seattle Mariners
    link

    Texas Rangers
    link

    NY Yankees
    link

    SF Giants
    link

    Minnesota Twins
    link

    NY Mets
    link

    Boston Red Sox
    link

    Colorado Rockies
    link

    Even the Montreal Expos
    link

    Let’s also add

    KC Royals
    link

    Milwakee Brewers logo (twice)
    link
    link

    Washington Nationals
    link

    How can I forget the LA Dodgers
    link

    Anyone else?[/quote]

    Yeah, Schmidt-era Phillies.
    link

    [quote comment=”346801″]Footballs were a little more commonly used in logos up until the seventies and eighties.

    link
    link
    link
    link
    link

    You should also not forgot the number of logos that incorporated. The Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, etc.

    In college it was pretty common to have a football shaped helmet decal.
    link[/quote]
    You can’t post directly from the Chris Creamer site – you have to link to each image’s page, not the image itself.

    Neat topic. I thought about this a while ago when I was trying to create some logos for a would-be text sim league (which never materialized). Though I’d made many logos for football and basketball, rarely working in equipment, my first inclination for basketball was to use the basketball somewhere in the logo.

    Some of them came together well enough that a basketball wasn’t needed. For at least one it served as a bit of a crutch when I couldn’t come up with much else creatively.

    link

    [quote comment=”346802″]Just read the ESPN column…that new redesigned SEC patch is the first one I’ve seen that modified the patch. No other conference patches have modified the football or pennant.

    While I like the new SEC lettering better than the previous version, I don’t like the fact the patch was allowed to be modified as a whole.[/quote]

    I hate it that 99% of the NCAA football teams wear said patch on their unis…it looks silly. The back of the helmet is one thing, but it’s makes the jersey’s look so “clunky” along with the logo creep. Off the top of my head, OU is the only team I know that doesn’t wear it on their jerseys. I’m sure there are a few more though.
    link

    That Pacers logo is an update of the original logo from the ABA days. I don’t believe the NBA had a thing to do with its design. Having said that, David Stern still has no clue what plays/sells in Indiana or any of the other smaller markets.

    [quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]
    So then the Brewers are violating an MLB rule every time they wear the ball-in-glove alts or their road jerseys?

    Terelle Pryor is a fan of “Vick the NFL quarterback”?

    Right.

    And I always admired Saddam Hussein for the way he brandished a rifle. Whenever he fired, he never missed the sky. Damn, that was inspiring.

    [quote comment=”346817″]Today’s entry is now Ticker-ized.[/quote]
    Unintentional or not, I kinda like this format. Read the main entry now; come back for the ticker later.

    [quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]

    What?

    [quote comment=”346821″][quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]

    What?[/quote]

    Rule 1.11 (e) says:
    “No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates or suggests the shape of a baseball”

    Just for the record, the AFL throwbacks won’t be available in Madden until the 24th

    *and*

    EA screwed a couple of them up.

    They’ve got a white logo on the Raiders helmet instead of the silver version, and I’m pretty sure they stuck the modern lightning bolt on the Chargers helmets instead of the proper old one.

    Let’s not forget the original Blue Jays logo.

    It contained an image of the ball, was used on the cap, and in fact, is now used on the cap on Retro Fridays.

    “…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko

    Pretty sure they need a basketball included as part of the logo, so people know what it is. This, because what they play ain’t basketball anymore. It’s hoops…

    [quote comment=”346822″][quote comment=”346821″][quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]

    What?[/quote]

    Rule 1.11 (e) says:
    “No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates or suggests the shape of a baseball”[/quote]

    I think this rule refers to trying to fool a batter or runner with a baseball-like image on the uniform as opposed to an outright ban on baseball imagery.

    [quote comment=”346827″][quote comment=”346822″][quote comment=”346821″][quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]

    What?[/quote]

    Rule 1.11 (e) says:
    “No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates or suggests the shape of a baseball”[/quote]

    I think this rule refers to trying to fool a batter or runner with a baseball-like image on the uniform as opposed to an outright ban on baseball imagery.[/quote]

    That’s the intent of the rule, but to the letter, it could be argued that the MB logo and the Blue Jays retro caps are “illegal”. I’d think they’d have had to been approved by MLB, and if other teams felt the image was “suggesting” or “imitating” enough, they’d have been asked to change.

    [quote comment=”346802″]Just read the ESPN column…that new redesigned SEC patch is the first one I’ve seen that modified the patch. No other conference patches have modified the football or pennant.

    While I like the new SEC lettering better than the previous version, I don’t like the fact the patch was allowed to be modified as a whole.[/quote]

    I saw one of these trucks yesterday…

    link

    That logo looks a little familiar.

    Is EA Sports serious with the AFL throwbacks?

    I have to PAY? Excuse me? That should be a free download! Is the mass commercialization of retro now applying to video games?

    I’m deeply saddened by this.

    Rule 1.11 (e) says:
    “No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates or suggests the shape of a baseball”

    That’s why there are no numbers containing a zero and all NOB’s have to omit the letter “O”.

    [quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    LOL. Let me clarify. Was envisioning monochrome lime green. Pants with either white or dark jersey would be…interesting. Not especially good, but interesting.

    [quote comment=”346831″]Is EA Sports serious with the AFL throwbacks?

    I have to PAY? Excuse me? That should be a free download! Is the mass commercialization of retro now applying to video games?

    I’m deeply saddened by this.[/quote]

    It’s the way of video games. Show me a gaming company that *isn’t* charging for almost every type of add-on they put out.

    Tell the guy who stocked up on the lime green material he can probably move it all with a single call to “Pimp My Ride”.

    [quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Is this a serious development? Please tell me that the Seahawks are NOT gonna wear both lime jerseys and pants !!!

    I dig the IDEA of a lime jersey, though I am skeptical of the actual look of it on the field.

    But MONOCHROME LIME. Egad !!!

    [quote comment=”346813″][quote comment=”346801″]Footballs were a little more commonly used in logos up until the seventies and eighties.

    link
    link
    link
    link
    link

    You should also not forgot the number of logos that incorporated. The Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, etc.

    In college it was pretty common to have a football shaped helmet decal.
    link[/quote]
    You can’t post directly from the Chris Creamer site – you have to link to each image’s page, not the image itself.[/quote]

    link

    [quote comment=”346834″]It’s the way of video games. Show me a gaming company that *isn’t* charging for almost every type of add-on they put out.[/quote]

    That shouldn’t be an add on, that should be part of the game.

    [quote comment=”346818″][quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]
    So then the Brewers are violating an MLB rule every time they wear the ball-in-glove alts or their road jerseys?[/quote]

    Their logo and the old Phillies logo imply that there’s a baseball in a more abstract sense than using it so it really resembles a baseball. If you were a batter who was confused by the Brewers’ throwback logo into thinking that was the ball being pitched to you, you wouldn’t last very long.

    RERUN FROM THE HOLIDAY THAT MAY MERIT FURTHER DISCUSSION ….

    EGAD !!
    ——————————

    It looks like the unique 2008 Georgia Tech version of Gold/Old Gold is a gone pecan …

    One more team wearing (succumbing to douchebag manufacterers’ forcing to wear) Vegas Gold.

    Bahh Humbug !!!

    EGAD !! It looks like the unique 2008 Georgia Tech version of Gold/Old Gold is a gone pecan …

    One more team wearing (succumbing to douchebag manufacterers’ forcing to wear) Vegas Gold.

    Bahh Humbug !!!

    [quote comment=”346836″][quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Is this a serious development? Please tell me that the Seahawks are NOT gonna wear both lime jerseys and pants !!!

    I dig the IDEA of a lime jersey, though I am skeptical of the actual look of it on the field.

    But MONOCHROME LIME. Egad !!![/quote]

    the idea of even the lime jersey is repulsive enough

    pairing it with snot green pants would take the NFL to a new low

    a one-time, one-off lime jersey with white pants might be palatable, as a gimmick…anything more is the beginning of armageddon

    [quote comment=”346831″]Is EA Sports serious with the AFL throwbacks?

    I have to PAY? Excuse me? That should be a free download! Is the mass commercialization of retro now applying to video games?

    I’m deeply saddened by this.[/quote]
    Maybe you have to pay for it in Madden because Brett Favre won’t be wearing any of them.

    RERUN FROM THE HOLIDAY THAT MAY MERIT FURTHER DISCUSSION …

    ––––––––––

    I got bored with the OLE MISS/ MEMPHIS game over the holiday, and switched to Fox Sports Southwest and watched 1957 SWC Highlight show. IN COLOR !!! Fox Sports Southwest often runs these “SWC Football Legends” shows, that are a 30 minute SWC Yearly Wrap-up Highlights. Mid 1950s – mid 1970s.
    Really Cool !!!

    Lots of 1957 Rice, Texas A&M, Texas, TCU, SMU, Arkansas, Baylor action, etc. ALL IN COLOR !!!!

    Texas Tech wore Light Silver helmets and pants that season, with Red numerals and trim on White jerseys. Never saw that look before.

    1957 SWC Champion Rice plays NAVY in 1958 Cotton Bowl,

    Rice in all Navy Blue monochrome unis,

    HERE’S THE REAL SURPRISE (To me !!!)….

    NAVY wore Old Gold pants and helmet, and Sky Blue (almost white) jerseys with White UCLA stripes and numerals – no trim color at all. The Jerseys are similar to 1960s UCLA jerseys, but with block numerals and substantially lighter in color, if you could believe it, than those UCLA jerseys that were very light in their own right.

    The Navy “UCLA stripes” were not truncated on the 1957 Navy jerseys.

    Earlier this week they showed the 1970 SWC highlights, where TCU wore the Very Light Purple jerseys with silver pants and helmets. Very unique look.

    Sorry, no screen grabs.

    MEMO TO REEBOK:

    It’s good to see that some of the junior hockey jerseys had reasonably traditional design, but you just don’t get it; nobody likes your crappy vertical stripes and random harlequin patches of color “Edge” design jerseys. Leave those to roller hockey and let the real teams wear real uniforms.

    [quote comment=”346841″][quote comment=”346818″][quote comment=”346806″]MLB teams aren’t allowed to have baseballs on the logos used on the actual uniform and cap.[/quote]
    So then the Brewers are violating an MLB rule every time they wear the ball-in-glove alts or their road jerseys?[/quote]

    Their logo and the old Phillies logo imply that there’s a baseball in a more abstract sense than using it so it really resembles a baseball. If you were a batter who was confused by the Brewers’ throwback logo into thinking that was the ball being pitched to you, you wouldn’t last very long.[/quote]
    Did I imply that the logo might confuse a batter?

    So much ore to mine from today’s “ticker”:

    The guy from Mich who doesn’t tie his cleats!
    (not goin’ there)

    The Festival of Babes! Grea…I mean Jiminy Criminy!

    “a women’s soccer festival for lesbians and those willing to be mistaken for one.”

    Ah, like Roller Derby.

    RERUN FROM THE HOLIDAY THAT MAY MERIT FURTHER DISCUSSION …

    ––––––––––

    I’m watching Ole Miss-Memphis.
    I have a question.
    Nike CAN do full loops.
    link….
    So why the hell DON’T they?

    –Ricko

    ________________________________

    Ricko,

    I ABSOLUTELY hate the short, trucated “UCLA” stripes. The truncated stripes also look bad, pitifully worse than the full stripes.

    Nonetheless, I do believe that their is, however weak and “douchebaggish”, a possible rationalization AND a reason as to why the truncated stripe has taken hold in so many places that used to have real “UCLA” striping …..

    THE “RATIONALIZATION” …

    LSU has worn “UCLA” striping for about 50 years. About 10 years ago, the LSU lineman (as also many other programs) with their sleeveless jerseys began wearing the truncated versions of the UCLA stripe, and the rest of the team wore the regular “full” version of UCLA stripes.

    About 7-8 years ago, during an LSU radiocast, the LSU announcer explained that the next year’s LSU jerseys would be changed the following season and that all of the team members would wear the truncated version of the UCLA stripes, because “the NCAA” required that the team players’ jerseys “had to be the same”. Rather than make all of the players wear the “real” or “full” stripes, they would all wear the “short” or truncated stripes.

    That was the first and last information that I have ever heard regarding an explanation.

    THE REAL “REASON” …. DOUCHEBAGGERY

    I for one believe that it is not even true that “the NCAA” makes the teams all wear the same stripes. I think the LSU announcers had it wrong, and I believe that the REAL REASON for the truncated stripes are the douchebag NIKE manufactuerers, starting with Nike but going to almost all others, simply wanted to make the change for the sake of change, and to have high-profile programs in the NFL and NCAA wear the new “trucated” stripes, and to create a lucurative market for “newer” truncated style UCLA stripe jerseys, thus selling more uniforms and jerseys and replicas and etc., etc., etc.

    Everytime these douchebags put out a new style, no matter how awful, hundreds of high schools, smaller colleges and playgrounds have to immediately run out and re-outfit their teams in these styles, as the recent past so regrettably reveals. Remember how in the early 1980’s everybody WANTED the manufacterers’ logo on their jerseys, because that’s what the bigger programs did. I remember that discussion at my 1-AA college in 1981, i dare say it went on all over the country – the same I am sure applies to the “new” truncated UCLA stripes.

    What galls the most, when even some High Schools can find manufacterers that make full, true “UCLA stripes, even UCLA has allowed itself to wear this new, aborted version of their signature identity. It stinks.

    So there you have it, the promotion and proliferation of inferior, bad-looking styles of unis by manufacterers, over better looking established and traditional styles, all for the sake of increased sales and “change” for changes’ sake.

    The very definition, in my opinion, of DOUCHEBAGGERY !

    re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.

    [quote comment=”346843″][quote comment=”346836″][quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Is this a serious development? Please tell me that the Seahawks are NOT gonna wear both lime jerseys and pants !!!

    I dig the IDEA of a lime jersey, though I am skeptical of the actual look of it on the field.

    But MONOCHROME LIME. Egad !!![/quote]

    the idea of even the lime jersey is repulsive enough

    pairing it with snot green pants would take the NFL to a new low

    a one-time, one-off lime jersey with white pants might be palatable, as a gimmick…anything more is the beginning of armageddon[/quote]

    Please, lime jersey with dark pants, not white pants. Though, I know some old skoolers(Ricko) liked that Orlando Thunder look, they seemed to have forgotten that the Seahawks helmet is blue. Thus blue, green, blue(pants), will look a whole lot better than blue, green, white(pants).

    [quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.

    [quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)

    I didn’t say should be with white pants, that was Uncle Phil the Bench Coach. I said could be with either dark or white. Just not lime and lime. Please. Would look those glow-in-the-dark wiggly worm crank baits.

    (Think we should each send a bottle of LimeAway to the Seahawks front office? Would they get the point? Probably not, but they’d have some damn clean shower tiles.)

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346854″][quote comment=”346843″][quote comment=”346836″][quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Is this a serious development? Please tell me that the Seahawks are NOT gonna wear both lime jerseys and pants !!!

    I dig the IDEA of a lime jersey, though I am skeptical of the actual look of it on the field.

    But MONOCHROME LIME. Egad !!![/quote]

    the idea of even the lime jersey is repulsive enough

    pairing it with snot green pants would take the NFL to a new low

    a one-time, one-off lime jersey with white pants might be palatable, as a gimmick…anything more is the beginning of armageddon[/quote]

    Please, lime jersey with dark pants, not white pants. Though, I know some old skoolers(Ricko) liked that Orlando Thunder look, they seemed to have forgotten that the Seahawks helmet is blue. Thus blue, green, blue(pants), will look a whole lot better than blue, green, white(pants).[/quote]

    While I generally prefer White pants with darker jerseys, I will agree that if you are gonna wear Lime Green with the Seahawks uni, werar it with the Blue pants and helmet.

    For years I have threatened my fellow Tulane fans that when I finally hit the POWERBALL, the very first thing that I am gonna do is to sit down with the Tulane administration and donate as much as I need, to have Tulane agree to wear Lime Green jerseys for one full season.

    While I am at it, I would probably insist on a return of the White helmet, and maybe Sky Blue pants – but only with the Lime Green jersey – I mean, why not just go all the way !!!!

    [quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    I did not know that about the Pads. Thanks Paul.

    [quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    baltimore orioles (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    milwaukee brewers (moved to st. louis and became the browns)

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.

    [quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    Probably woulda been an issue with General Motors, though. Minor league team using that name, no big deal. MLB team, big deal.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    Baltimore likes taking teams called the Browns.

    St Louis Browns = Orioles
    Cleveland Browns = Ravens

    D’oh! Should’ve read Phil’s post before my comment, as it appears the Baltimore Orioles would be another answer to my question.

    [quote comment=”346859″][quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    I did not know that about the Pads. Thanks Paul.[/quote]

    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.

    I checked. C. Arnholt Smith is described as “former owner of PCL Padres”, who owned the original MLB Padres. Don’t know if he owned PCL Padres at time of expansion.

    If he did, good bet he folded one company, started a new one and gave franchise back to PCL.

    So yeah, could say is the same franchise. Sorta. Same owner, anyway. Can’t remember where that PCL franchise ended up.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346852″]re: representations of balls on unis

    i’m pretty sure the brewer & philly logos were fine

    i think MLB wants link with that ruling[/quote]

    What’s wrong with balls on uni’s? Besides in the NFL, I don’t see any footballs on NFl team logos

    [quote comment=”346866″]
    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.[/quote]
    Ricko, what about a situation like the one in the Bay Area which had the old PCL Seals, and the NHL expansion Seals (Golden Seals)?

    Any others like that among the four major sports (lets not go into the soccer/women’s leagues).

    [quote comment=”346868″][quote]DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)[/quote]

    it’s also an link

    possibly where they got the name?[/quote]

    Oh, of course, it is, but don’t think they didn’t think it was just “extra special” cuz baseball is played on a diamond.

    [quote comment=”346866″][quote comment=”346859″][quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    I did not know that about the Pads. Thanks Paul.[/quote]

    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.[/quote]

    the always reliable wikipedia has an interesting write up of the pcl pads

    [quote comment=”346871″][quote comment=”346866″]
    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.[/quote]
    Ricko, what about a situation like the one in the Bay Area which had the old PCL Seals, and the NHL expansion Seals (Golden Seals)?

    Any others like that among the four major sports (lets not go into the soccer/women’s leagues).[/quote]

    You talking about legal use of the nickname? Would depend on whether it had been protected and by whom.

    [quote comment=”346852″]re: representations of balls on unis

    i’m pretty sure the brewer & philly logos were fine

    i think MLB wants link with that ruling[/quote]

    Wow! That makes those god awful alternates palatable! Get rid of the P, insert the ball. Instant Classic!

    [quote comment=”346861″]How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]

    Washington Senators
    Washington Nationals

    [quote comment=”346874″][quote comment=”346866″][quote comment=”346859″][quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    I did not know that about the Pads. Thanks Paul.[/quote]

    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.[/quote]

    the always reliable link has an interesting write up of the pcl pads[/quote]

    “In 1967, Smith won a bid for an expansion team in the National League for the 1969 season. After the 1968 PCL season, he folded the team, and transferred the name of the club to his new NL team, the San Diego Padres. The Phillies would move its AAA affiliation to the Eugene Emeralds.”

    There you go. Same owner, but not same franchise. But Paul is very right in the sense that that’s the only time I can remember that happening…the former minor league owner(s) also owning the incoming team, expansion or otherwise.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346875″]You talking about legal use of the nickname? Would depend on whether it had been protected and by whom.[/quote]No, just the “honoring the area’s heritage” aspect; just trying to see if there are any other examples like that.

    [quote comment=”346877″][quote comment=”346861″]How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]

    Washington Senators
    Washington Nationals[/quote]

    And… the NY Yankees were called the Baltimore Orioles in 1901-1902, and were part of the American League (although the AL wasn’t technically a “major” league then).

    [quote comment=”346866″][quote comment=”346859″][quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    I did not know that about the Pads. Thanks Paul.[/quote]

    Original MLB Padres had same ownership group as the PCL team? I mean, is it the same company? Cuz that’s about the only way it could be the actual PCL Padres.[/quote]

    Well, almost (according to Wiki):

    “In 1967, [minor league Padres owner C. Arnholt Smith] Smith won a bid for an expansion team in the National League for the 1969 season. After the 1968 PCL season, he folded the team, and transferred the name of the club to his new NL team, the San Diego Padres.”

    [quote comment=”346878″]The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]Not quite the city, but the state of Texas with the Texans.

    Has anyone mentioned the Marlins?

    [quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.

    [quote comment=”346880″][quote comment=”346877″][quote comment=”346861″]How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]

    Washington Senators
    Washington Nationals[/quote]

    And… the NY Yankees were called the Baltimore Orioles in 1901-1902, and were part of the American League (although the AL wasn’t technically a “major” league then).[/quote]

    Sorry, quoting myself again to caveat:

    The current Orioles were the Milwaukee Brewers of the AL in 1901.

    [quote comment=”346882″][quote comment=”346878″]The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]Not quite the city, but the state of Texas with the Texans.

    Has anyone mentioned the Marlins?[/quote]

    Nope. We overlooked them. Add ’em to the list, people!

    The Dallas Rangers (later the Dallas Fort Worth Rangers) of the AA Texas League preceded today’s Texas Rangers

    Not sure what happened AFTER these years, but final seasons of AAA American Association baseball in Twin Cities (’58 -’60), the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers were in the league.

    [quote comment=”346888″]Has anyone mentioned the Marlins?

    There was a major league forerunner named Marlins?[/quote]

    The discussion began regarding MLB teams that adopted the nicknames of their minor league predecessors. It then wandered off in some other direction, as conversations here so often do.

    Ricko, I just remember you mentioning that you liked the Orlando Thunder look, and that the Seahawks could rock that look as well. However, I just wanted to point out/remind you that the Seahawks have a blue helmet, so, it won’t necessarily work with the white pants. Now, if the Seahawks stuck with the silver helmets, then, I could see silver(helmet), green jersey, and light gray/silver pants working quite nicely.

    [quote comment=”346843″][quote comment=”346836″][quote comment=”346825″]”…Seahawks ‘all lime green’ pants and jerseys…”

    Oh, lord, I really though they’d have the good sense to add just the lime jersey.

    “One more bumper sticker…”

    Christ, does NO ONE understand that restraint is a critical element in any kind of design?

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Is this a serious development? Please tell me that the Seahawks are NOT gonna wear both lime jerseys and pants !!!

    I dig the IDEA of a lime jersey, though I am skeptical of the actual look of it on the field.

    But MONOCHROME LIME. Egad !!![/quote]

    the idea of even the lime jersey is repulsive enough

    pairing it with snot green pants would take the NFL to a new low

    a one-time, one-off lime jersey with white pants might be palatable, as a gimmick…anything more is the beginning of armageddon[/quote]

    Lighten up, Francis. ;)

    I do agree that monochrome lime is over the top. BUT…the Seahawk blue is soooooo dark that maybe, just maybe, it would work. I’d be happy with a lime jersey, but if they go all the way, I won’t head for the fallout shelter.

    Before you lose all respect, here is my preferred list of Seahawks unis:
    1) 80s version with hawks on sleeves.
    2) The originals.
    3) Possible lime green and Seahawk blue unis.
    4) The current ones (which I don’t detest, by the way).

    As far as balls on logos – I like it. I think every team in every sport should incorporate them, even if it’s for a secondary logo. In fact, I’d like to see the Steelers and Packers use these logos on their helmets link than what they have now.

    When I buy a team shirt, I prefer that it either has a ball or a helmet on it. Case in point: I like the CFL Stampeders better than the Argonauts, but I like my Argos shirt better because it has the old CFL helmet logo on it. My Stamps shirt just has the name and the horsey logo, but no ball or helmet. A non-sports fan might think I’m a cowboy who likes going to the Clagary Stampede.

    Not only do I prefer balls in logos, I prefer mine in a cup, so kudos to Adrian Beltre…

    From last night’s comments about painted endzones vs. the “boring old slashes”: I love the slashes. I love the old diamond patterned endzones even more. Bring them back! I used to like painted endzones, but they seem to suffer from OneMoreBumperStickerItis to me.

    [quote comment=”346890″][quote comment=”346888″]Has anyone mentioned the Marlins?

    There was a major league forerunner named Marlins?[/quote]

    The discussion began regarding MLB teams that adopted the nicknames of their minor league predecessors. It then wandered off in some other direction, as conversations here so often do.[/quote]

    sorry
    some time back it became major league predecessor names in response to a question in some post in the 60’s. thought maybe i was losing my mind or lost the ability to read.

    [quote comment=”346880″][quote comment=”346877″][quote comment=”346861″]How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The White Sox were named for a major league forerunner. Any other examples of that? I gotta think there are, but I’m drawing a blank.[/quote]

    Washington Senators
    Washington Nationals[/quote]

    And… the NY Yankees were called the Baltimore Orioles in 1901-1902, and were part of the American League (although the AL wasn’t technically a “major” league then).[/quote]
    Yes it was. Just because the World Series didn’t come about until 1903 does not mean it was not a true major league.

    Seeing Michigan’s QB sans tied laces reminded me of former NHL linesman Ray Scapinello, who famously never tied his skates. In his memoirs, he said he never even had laces in his skates until the NHL politely asked him to (since everyone was weirded out).

    He was known for his speed and hustle, and could outskate many NHL players even in his fifties.

    link

    Interesting person (Clint Malarchuck) and scene (blood pouring from neck) for Mark Penxa to start his hockey water-color painting series with.
    Malarchuck has been battling inner demons ever since. He was the Blue Jackets goalie coach until the beginning of last season when he suffered from an “accidental” self-inflicted gun shot wound.

    [quote comment=”346896″]Interesting person (Clint Malarchuck) and scene (blood pouring from neck) for Mark Penxa to start his hockey water-color painting series with.
    Malarchuck has been battling inner demons ever since. He was the Blue Jackets goalie coach until the beginning of last season when he suffered from an “accidental” self-inflicted gun shot wound.[/quote]

    Yeah, that was the last thing I needed to see after just finishing my Pop Tarts. Quite the contrast to yesterday’s cool hockey film…

    I don’t think Michael Phelps would set a world record wearing one of these swim suits:

    link

    link

    Be sure to check out the fantastic tags on the green suit (second link).

    With all these mentions of the St. Louis Browns, nobody has pointed out that they can be added to the list of teams that took the name of a Major League predecessor. The Cardinals had been called the Browns link.

    [quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.

    [quote comment=”346893″]…thought maybe i was losing my mind…[/quote]
    Uni Watch does that to people. :-)

    Consider yourself officially a veteran.

    [quote comment=”346901″]… the Cubs 102 year world series failure…[/quote]
    Jumping the gun a bit on 102, aren’t you?

    (As a Sox fan, I can say that with a smile.)

    re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346899″]I don’t think Michael Phelps would set a world record wearing one of these swim suits…[/quote]
    This LITERALLY has nothing to do with Uni’s: with the recent controversy over the space-age suits, why not just return to the tradition of the ancient Greek Olympics??

    No suit at all: we’ll soon see who the fastest swimmer is.

    [quote comment=”346901″]
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    So we’re back to this? And for the record, it’s 8 of the current MLB cities.

    [quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    North Carolina should do an argyle pattern. Or maybe they do? I have no idea.

    [quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.[/quote]
    AFAIK, nobody else except Dome has done the 45-degree stripes for quite a while. They could claim that as their tradition.

    Phil: Maybe you should start an index of “Dead Horse Topics”: (I.E.: Relocation Naming Rights/Baseball Economic System)

    And just post a link for those who keep beating that poor dead horse

    [quote comment=”346909″][quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    North Carolina should do an argyle pattern. Or maybe they do? I have no idea.[/quote]

    For Legacy games, Broncos could do brown and gold…

    whoops, no.

    Bad idea.

    [quote comment=”346901″][quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    I have to disagree about some of the “seven cities”. The Rockies have only had fifteen opportunties to get to and win a world series. The Rays have had only eleven. Each has recently come close (the Rockies should, ceteris paribus, be in the world series approximately once per 16 seasons and the Rays once per 14, and theoretically win one every three decades or so, so they’re each slightly ahead of the game). The Pirates have missed out on winning a world series for thirty consecutive seasons, which is only three more than is true for Seattle.

    Sure the Pirates have a rich history, but it’s sort of like the history of Byzantium in that it bears so little immediately visible relation to the present.

    [quote comment=”346908″][quote comment=”346901″]
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    So we’re back to this? And for the record, it’s 8 of the current MLB cities.[/quote]
    Dammit! No, it is 7 cities. I forgot about the 1957 Braves.

    [quote comment=”346901″][quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Pirates fan through and through. Far more so than a Steelers fan which obviously puts me in a minority in this town. I’m proud to say that the Pirates have won 5 World Series Championships and have 32 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame!

    Just making a little joke, probably at my own expense. I’d rather laugh at the last 17 years than bitch about the team. I’ll never leave the bandwagon, unlike many who have and will jump back on when they start winning again. I do think they are on the right track now. Even if it’s sometimes painful to watch.

    [quote comment=”346912″]Phil: Maybe you should start an index of “Dead Horse Topics”: (I.E.: Relocation Naming Rights/Baseball Economic System)

    And just post a link for those who keep beating that poor dead horse[/quote]

    Could we add which franchises are best/worst all-time and winningest/losiest cities to that list, too?

    [quote comment=”346913″]..For Legacy games, Broncos could do brown and gold…[/quote]Yeah, thanks a lot Ricko. Now I’m going to have to hunt down a picture of Wyoming’s end zones. So I got that as ANOTHER quest.

    ;-)

    [quote comment=”346918″]Could we add which franchises are best/worst all-time and winningest/losiest cities to that list, too?[/quote]Definition of exactly what is a MAJOR sport?

    [quote comment=”346907″][quote comment=”346899″]I don’t think Michael Phelps would set a world record wearing one of these swim suits…[/quote]
    This LITERALLY has nothing to do with Uni’s: with the recent controversy over the space-age suits, why not just return to the tradition of the ancient Greek Olympics??

    No suit at all: we’ll soon see who the fastest swimmer is.[/quote]

    Well, it would certainly improve ratings for the women’s meets.

    [quote comment=”346915″]No suit at all: we’ll soon see who the fastest swimmer is.

    Or the coldest.[/quote]

    Or exactly who should be nicknamed “Pinto”.

    Or who should be investigated for using a “winged keel”, if ya know what I mean (and I think you do).

    Like a frightned turtle!!

    [quote comment=”346919″][quote comment=”346913″]..For Legacy games, Broncos could do brown and gold…[/quote]Yeah, thanks a lot Ricko. Now I’m going to have to hunt down a picture of Wyoming’s end zones. So I got that as ANOTHER quest.

    ;-)[/quote]

    Nice brown and yellow stripes from sideline to sideline. Would look like the socks.
    link

    No?
    Yeah, probably not.

    [quote comment=”346921″]Well, it would certainly improve ratings for the women’s meets.[/quote]No more “East German swimmer” controversies either.

    [quote]North Carolina should do an argyle pattern. Or maybe they do? I have no idea.[/quote]

    perhaps their opponents do…since they’re likely the only ones who would know

    You know, this discussion of the 7(or 8) cities matters not to me and it could be considered a dead horse issue. But, if not for it being reopened today, I might never have been exposed to the phrase “ceteris paribus”. (btw, the 2nd Latin phrase found in UW comments in a week). Thank you for that.

    [quote comment=”346909″][quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    North Carolina should do an argyle pattern. Or maybe they do? I have no idea.[/quote]

    Argyle…cool. The checkerboard is good, too. Teams could also replicate their sleeve stripes (or shoulder stripes) in the endzones. Wish I had photoshop, ’cause I just got some ideas…

    [quote comment=”346926″]…(btw, the 2nd Latin phrase found in UW comments in a week). Thank you for that.[/quote]
    Salutatio.

    [quote comment=”346928″]Alabama: Houndstooth.

    Well, maybe not so much now, but a while back…[/quote]

    Penn State: big horn-rimmed glasses?

    [quote comment=”346928″]Alabama: Houndstooth.[/quote]
    Penn State and FSU: wrinkles? Liver spots?

    [quote comment=”346927″][quote comment=”346909″][quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    North Carolina should do an argyle pattern. Or maybe they do? I have no idea.[/quote]

    Argyle…cool. The checkerboard is good, too. Teams could also replicate their sleeve stripes (or shoulder stripes) in the endzones. Wish I had photoshop, ’cause I just got some ideas…[/quote]

    not sure how recent this is, but here it is

    [quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Nothing Arizona ever did, does or ever will do can be described as kinda cool. Fact.

    /Go Devils!

    [quote comment=”346905″]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245379-rating-the-nfls-primary-home-uniforms-nos-11-1/page/2#page/12[/quote]

    This guy lost me on the first page, when he starts talking about the Cowboys’ blue jersey, which they NEVER wear at home, yet the slideshow is called Rating the NFL’s Primary Home Uniforms: Nos. 11-1. How can something be a primary home uniform, if it hasn’t been worn at home since, oh I don’t know, ever?

    [quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”

    [quote comment=”346934″]other than the not-quite-so pleasing orange they use, and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…

    link does have some pretty cool traditions[/quote]

    And (at least so far) they haven’t screwed around with them just because some testosteroneally insecure new head coach thinks the school colors aren’t “tough enough.”

    (my attempt to make any “black jersey” thoughts go away).

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346937″]Yesterdays comments had a picture of Maryland’s turtle helmet. I found this color picture of it.

    link

    AND, Penn State with a stripe on their pants.
    In Royal blue.

    [quote comment=”346932″]not sure how recent this is,[/quote]Given the double “press” boxes and the closed-up end zone I’m going with VERY recent.

    [quote comment=”346855″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    There’s a distinction there, though: The Padres are literally the same team as the PCL team — the franchise was simply elevated from minor league status to major league status. The Brewers, of course, have nothing to do with the old minor league Brewers.

    I’m not saying one way is “better” than the other. Just pointing out that it’s not the same thing.

    Anyway: There used to be a minor league Los Angeles Angels. They later moved to Spokane. So the MLB Angels are sort of like the MLB Brewers, at least in terms of using the name of an old minor league team. Ditto for the Orioles.[/quote]

    Not quite. The Padres of the PCL were owned by C. Arnholt Smith, the same man who owned the MLB Padres. However in 1967 and 1968 the Padres were a AAA team of the Phillies. The PCL wasn’t the “third Major League” like it was before the Dogers and Giants moved west.

    In 1967, Smith won a bid for an EXPANSION team in the National League for the 1969 season. After the 1968 PCL season, he FOLDED the PCL(AAA) Padres, and transferred the name of the club to his new NL team. Technically they were a completly new team, with the same owner.

    [quote comment=”346939″]AND, Penn State with a stripe on their pants.
    In Royal blue.[/quote]

    The stripe on the “cuff” of their sleeve isn’t used today AFAIK.

    [quote comment=”346938″]
    And (at least so far) they haven’t screwed around with them just because some testosteroneally insecure new head coach thinks the school colors aren’t “tough enough.”
    [/quote]

    I think the list of schools with “untouchable” traditions keeps shrinking year after year. Sad.

    I mentioned this yesterday, so please beg my indulgence: there have been several references to UMd’s helmets accompanied by washed-out photos. The link below, while not containing photos, presents nice bright color depictions. If this sounds appealing, then click on the link and scroll down to Maryland. If not, then don’t and go on about your business. :)

    link

    [quote comment=”346938″][quote comment=”346934″]other than the not-quite-so pleasing orange they use, and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…

    link does have some pretty cool traditions[/quote]

    And (at least so far) they haven’t screwed around with them just because some testosteroneally insecure new head coach thinks the school colors aren’t “tough enough.”

    (my attempt to make any “black jersey” thoughts go away).

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Amen!!

    [quote comment=”346914″][quote comment=”346901″][quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    I have to disagree about some of the “seven cities”. The Rockies have only had fifteen opportunties to get to and win a world series. The Rays have had only eleven. Each has recently come close (the Rockies should, ceteris paribus, be in the world series approximately once per 16 seasons and the Rays once per 14, and theoretically win one every three decades or so, so they’re each slightly ahead of the game). The Pirates have missed out on winning a world series for thirty consecutive seasons, which is only three more than is true for Seattle.

    Sure the Pirates have a rich history, but it’s sort of like the history of Byzantium in that it bears so little immediately visible relation to the present.[/quote]

    Actually, last time I checked, 1990-92 wasn’t exactly the Byzantium era, and reaching the NLCS then matched what Seattle has done in their entire franchise history. And history in baseball is more important than other sports, it’s just the nature of the game. You sound like a younger fan, so I don’t know if you understand what I’m talking about. You should hold onto those memories of that NL pennant for a very long time. I kinda think a Cubs fan would gladly take 17 losing seasons for ending their 102 year drought.
    Don’t understand your point about the newer franchises, the bad part about that is what tradition and memories to you have? Dante Bichette? Sure, the Marlins had a couple miracle seasons, but if you honesty think the Rockies, Rays, and Mariners will ever reach even three world titles, you’re dreaming. You do realize the Rays are beginning to dismantle their team, and the Brewers were a one year wonder, right?
    You see, multiple teams with long losing streaks means it’s not just a Pirates’ problem, it’s baseball’s problem.

    [quote comment=”346944″]I mentioned this yesterday, so please beg my indulgence: there have been several references to UMd’s helmets accompanied by washed-out photos. The link below, while not containing photos, presents nice bright color depictions. If this sounds appealing, then click on the link and scroll down to Maryland. If not, then don’t and go on about your business. :)

    link

    By the way, if historical helmets from any college sound appealing to you, the coolness of this site is not limited to Maryland or the ACC. Thanks for the link.

    link

    [quote comment=”346935″][quote comment=”346905″]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245379-rating-the-nfls-primary-home-uniforms-nos-11-1/page/2#page/12[/quote]

    This guy lost me on the first page, when he starts talking about the Cowboys’ blue jersey, which they NEVER wear at home, yet the slideshow is called Rating the NFL’s Primary Home Uniforms: Nos. 11-1. How can something be a primary home uniform, if it hasn’t been worn at home since, oh I don’t know, ever?[/quote]
    Yes, it’s a bad title, but on the link, he referred to them as “primary dark uniforms” so he got it right there. Also, in the first sentence of the Cowboys’ write-up, he points out that the jersey is rarely worn.

    Obviously, nobody here is going to agree with all of his assessments but at least he gave some reasons as to why he picked the way he did.

    By the way, if anyone’s wondering, “SCP&J” means “same color pants and jerseys.”

    [quote comment=”346949″]By the way, if anyone’s wondering, “SCP&J” means “same color pants and jerseys.”[/quote]That one took me a minute or more.

    I was stuck on PB&J.

    :Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.

    [quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner’

    [quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    One vote for “Hail to the Victors”

    Paul,

    Re: Denard (only 1 R) Robinson of Michigan

    He may have had spats in high school, but last Saturday against Western Michigan, he was spatless. Check out photo 19 of 60 in the photo gallery link on this page: link

    [quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    A few years ago we went to see 2 SEC games around Labor day. Maybe 2003. We saw La Monroe at Auburn. Then on Monday went to UNLV at Tennessee. That was a fun weekend.

    Anyhow I was thinking of the Rocky Top song for 2 weeks in my head. When you are in the stadium you hear that song over and over and over.

    I love most college football fight songs. Rocky Top is my least favorite. Heck it does not even seem like it should be a fight song.

    I grew up a Tennessee fand and in my house growing up, we had an orange and white room with a checkerboard ceiling. As I sit in my office today, I am looking at my light-up Smokey lamp and my Smokey business card holder.

    [quote comment=”346954″]Paul,

    Re: Denard (only 1 R) Robinson of Michigan

    He may have had spats in high school, but last Saturday against Western Michigan, he was spatless. Check out photo 19 of 60 in the photo gallery link on this page: link

    You can also see the lack of spats in photo #21.

    [quote comment=”346953″][quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    One vote for “Hail to the Victors”[/quote]

    Especially when played really fast, like the band’s trying to get the whole thing in before the network goes to commercial.

    [quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    I sing Rocky Top to my son every night when I put him to bed. I have to start him early!

    [quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Great stuff! Nice to see one of the guys who put the “foot” in “football” getting his due. Miss that single-bar facemask, too.

    And Billy! One of my favorite players growing up. Too bad he came along after the blue helmet era. His shoes would have stood out even more then.

    Sports logos are always fun to look at and remember. Looking at some logos can take me back to childhood. Back in the 1960’s the logos on football cards and baseball cards was something that sticks with me to this day.

    [quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Those old Houston Oiler uniforms were clearly superior to what the Titans wear now.Florida Atlantic wears a similar striping pattern on the college level.

    [quote comment=”346957″][quote comment=”346954″]Paul,

    Re: Denard (only 1 R) Robinson of Michigan

    He may have had spats in high school, but last Saturday against Western Michigan, he was spatless. Check out photo 19 of 60 in the photo gallery link on this page: link

    You can also see the lack of spats in photo #21.[/quote]
    OK, so he holds his shoes on by fastening the velcro strap. Same difference.

    [quote comment=”346955″][quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    A few years ago we went to see 2 SEC games around Labor day. Maybe 2003. We saw La Monroe at Auburn. Then on Monday went to UNLV at Tennessee. That was a fun weekend.

    Anyhow I was thinking of the Rocky Top song for 2 weeks in my head. When you are in the stadium you hear that song over and over and over.

    I love most college football fight songs. Rocky Top is my least favorite. Heck it does not even seem like it should be a fight song.[/quote]

    Better than Hang On freakin’ Sloopy. I’d rather Hail to the Victors anyday.

    [quote comment=”346963″][quote comment=”346957″][quote comment=”346954″]Paul,

    Re: Denard (only 1 R) Robinson of Michigan

    He may have had spats in high school, but last Saturday against Western Michigan, he was spatless. Check out photo 19 of 60 in the photo gallery link on this page: link

    You can also see the lack of spats in photo #21.[/quote]
    OK, so he holds his shoes on by fastening the velcro strap. Same difference.[/quote]

    I’d say it’s quite a bit different (and probably much less sturdy) than tying one’s shoes or applying a heavy spat job.

    [quote comment=”346955″][quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    A few years ago we went to see 2 SEC games around Labor day. Maybe 2003. We saw La Monroe at Auburn. Then on Monday went to UNLV at Tennessee. That was a fun weekend.

    Anyhow I was thinking of the Rocky Top song for 2 weeks in my head. When you are in the stadium you hear that song over and over and over.

    I love most college football fight songs. Rocky Top is my least favorite. Heck it does not even seem like it should be a fight song.[/quote]
    Well, technically it’s NOT a fight song: link

    From Wikipedia:
    Contrary to popular belief, “Rocky Top” is not UT’s official fight song, although it is so closely identified with the university that many believe this to be the case. UT’s official fight song is a radically different tune called “Down the Field”, adapted from the Yale University fight song “Down the Field”

    [quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Great stuff! Nice to see one of the guys who put the “foot” in “football” getting his due. Miss that single-bar facemask, too.

    And Billy! One of my favorite players growing up. Too bad he came along after the blue helmet era. His shoes would have stood out even more then.[/quote]

    He must have earned that nickname in high school, because by the time he reached the NFL maybe 30% (or more) of NFL players already had gone to white shoes.

    Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.

    [quote comment=”346962″][quote comment=”346951″]
    Those old Houston Oiler uniforms were clearly superior to what the Titans wear now.Florida Atlantic wears a similar striping pattern on the college level.[/quote]

    Yes, and uni-wise, they may be my favorite team.
    link
    link

    [quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    I once saw for sale on EBAY a UT Vols prototype jersey that incorporated the checkerboard into solid “UCLA”-type stripes on a White jersey.

    Weird look, but actually could grow on you.

    [quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Great stuff! Nice to see one of the guys who put the “foot” in “football” getting his due. Miss that single-bar facemask, too.

    And Billy! One of my favorite players growing up. Too bad he came along after the blue helmet era. His shoes would have stood out even more then.[/quote]

    He must have earned that nickname in high school, because by the time he reached the NFL maybe 30% (or more) of NFL players already had gone to white shoes.

    Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.[/quote]

    If you believe Mr. Wiki: “Johnson earned his famous nickname as a high schooler at Chichester High School in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, where he was painting a fence with white paint and spilled some of the paint on his new shoes. Ever since then, he has been referred to by his nickname.”

    [quote comment=”346959″][quote comment=”346952″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]…and the insessant playing of “rocky top”…[/quote]
    Saying this is the modern equivilent of “other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”[/quote]

    it’s overuse annoys me only moderately more than ‘boomer sooner'[/quote]

    I sing Rocky Top to my son every night when I put him to bed. I have to start him early![/quote]

    in the song’s defense, it’s a pretty good song…phish would cover it, and the band who played my wedding would break it out on occasion (the ex- and i would, back in our salad days, see them play 5-6 times a month)

    but just like all good things, there is such thing as too much of a good thing

    Leaving to one side the discussion of baseball’s pay structure, and without trying to demean the Pirates’ legacy, which is substantial, I’m surprised no one’s yet pointed out that the Dodgers and Athletics are also on the list of teams with more world championships than the Pirates, and the Reds and Giants are tied with them.

    [quote comment=”346969″][quote comment=”346906″]re: End zone paint jobs.

    Kinda partial to Tennessee’s “Purina” end zone checkerboard. Not that anyone else should do it, just like the uniqueness of it without having to be all “logo-ed up”.

    Although…if Arizona or Penn or someone did it in navy and red, it would be kinda cool. Maybe Temple in maroon and white to take after their pants trim? But certainly no more a couple teams.

    —Ricko[/quote]

    I once saw for sale on EBAY a UT Vols prototype jersey that incorporated the checkerboard into solid “UCLA”-type stripes on a White jersey.

    Weird look, but actually could grow on you.[/quote]

    I would love to see that if our graphic designer members could throw something together real quick.

    [quote comment=”346965″][quote comment=”346963″][quote comment=”346957″][quote comment=”346954″]Paul,

    Re: Denard (only 1 R) Robinson of Michigan

    He may have had spats in high school, but last Saturday against Western Michigan, he was spatless. Check out photo 19 of 60 in the photo gallery link on this page: link

    You can also see the lack of spats in photo #21.[/quote]
    OK, so he holds his shoes on by fastening the velcro strap. Same difference.[/quote]

    I’d say it’s quite a bit different (and probably much less sturdy) than tying one’s shoes or applying a heavy spat job.[/quote]
    Maybe slightly different, but the difference is probably negligible. If we were talking about a pair of Chuck Taylors retrofitted with velcro near the top, I’d agree with you.

    I will say that the game day atmosphere at Tennessee most reminded me of a game at Ohio State.

    We could not find a place to park at first. While looking we drove on the street the Vol Walk took place. We were one of the last cars to go through. So we kind of got to experience what doing the Vol walk was like. Many of the Vol fans were looking in our car as they waited.

    The Stadium was cool.Running out of the big T was cool. The fans were nice and so on. I just heard Rocky Top way too much.

    One other thing I had never seen so many blonde people in one place at one time. Men, boys, girls, women. My cousin who we stayed with in South Carolina said his son was the only kid in his grade with dark hair. FWIW

    [quote comment=”346975″]I will say that the game day atmosphere at Tennessee most reminded me of a game at Ohio State.

    We could not find a place to park at first. While looking we drove on the street the Vol Walk took place. We were one of the last cars to go through. So we kind of got to experience what doing the Vol walk was like. Many of the Vol fans were looking in our car as they waited.

    The Stadium was cool.Running out of the big T was cool. The fans were nice and so on. I just heard Rocky Top way too much.

    One other thing I had never seen so many blonde people in one place at one time. Men, boys, girls, women. My cousin who we stayed with in South Carolina said his son was the only kid in his grade with dark hair. FWIW[/quote]

    We must have won tha[quote comment=”346975″]I will say that the game day atmosphere at Tennessee most reminded me of a game at Ohio State.

    We could not find a place to park at first. While looking we drove on the street the Vol Walk took place. We were one of the last cars to go through. So we kind of got to experience what doing the Vol walk was like. Many of the Vol fans were looking in our car as they waited.

    The Stadium was cool.Running out of the big T was cool. The fans were nice and so on. I just heard Rocky Top way too much.

    One other thing I had never seen so many blonde people in one place at one time. Men, boys, girls, women. My cousin who we stayed with in South Carolina said his son was the only kid in his grade with dark hair. FWIW[/quote]

    Speaking of running through the T. Here is whatit looks like to be doing it.

    link

    [quote comment=”346975″]I will say that the game day atmosphere at Tennessee most reminded me of a game at Ohio State.

    We could not find a place to park at first. While looking we drove on the street the Vol Walk took place. We were one of the last cars to go through. So we kind of got to experience what doing the Vol walk was like. Many of the Vol fans were looking in our car as they waited.

    The Stadium was cool.Running out of the big T was cool. The fans were nice and so on. I just heard Rocky Top way too much.

    One other thing I had never seen so many blonde people in one place at one time. Men, boys, girls, women. My cousin who we stayed with in South Carolina said his son was the only kid in his grade with dark hair. FWIW[/quote]

    Go to a hockey game in Minnesota. I was in town for an Akron/Minn. hoops game, and I was treated to a North Stars game while there. I think every usher was blond, and at least 3/4 of the fans seemed to be.

    Oh, and about fight songs: I never get tired of “Hold That Tiger” or “Tiger Rag” or whatever they call it. Great song.

    I was talking to a guy last week who has been to a fair share of Michigan football practices this season, and he just laughed off the whole Robinson shoelace thing. Said it was kind of a myth-building thing, and the kid really does tie his shoes. He may have done it a few times back in the day, but that’s it.

    [quote comment=”346972″]Leaving to one side the discussion of baseball’s pay structure, and without trying to demean the Pirates’ legacy, which is substantial, I’m surprised no one’s yet pointed out that the Dodgers and Athletics are also on the list of teams with more world championships than the Pirates, and the Reds and Giants are tied with them.[/quote]

    You’re wrong, the LA Dodgers and Oakland A’s have
    not won more world titles than Pittsburgh. The San Francisco Giants have celebrated no world titles. Yes, the Cincinnati Reds have won as many titles, are also coming up on a double digit losing streak too.

    Ah, okay, sorry; I didn’t realized that you were only counting titles won in the same city, and not historical ones, as per the typical custom. Well in that case, the Dodgers can be added to the list of teams tied with the Pirates.

    [quote comment=”346977″][quote comment=”346975″]I will say that the game day atmosphere at Tennessee most reminded me of a game at Ohio State.

    We could not find a place to park at first. While looking we drove on the street the Vol Walk took place. We were one of the last cars to go through. So we kind of got to experience what doing the Vol walk was like. Many of the Vol fans were looking in our car as they waited.

    The Stadium was cool.Running out of the big T was cool. The fans were nice and so on. I just heard Rocky Top way too much.

    One other thing I had never seen so many blonde people in one place at one time. Men, boys, girls, women. My cousin who we stayed with in South Carolina said his son was the only kid in his grade with dark hair. FWIW[/quote]

    Go to a hockey game in Minnesota. I was in town for an Akron/Minn. hoops game, and I was treated to a North Stars game while there. I think every usher was blond, and at least 3/4 of the fans seemed to be.

    Oh, and about fight songs: I never get tired of “Hold That Tiger” or “Tiger Rag” or whatever they call it. Great song.[/quote]

    Speaking of Tiger songs We also went to se NC State at Clemson in 2002. That was fun also. Got to rub Howards Rock and be a par ot that atmosphere. Seeing Clemson run down the hill was neat.

    I have always like Hold that Tiger or Tiger rag too.

    Like i say most college fight songs are good.

    Last Saturday I dvred a pregame Ohio State show. They had the guy who wrote Fight the Team on it. From a 1961 interview. He wrote Fight the Team in 1915.

    The fact that most college fight songs are 80,90.100 years old and all sound great is impressive.

    And Hang on Sloopy is a great Buckeye song. Used by the McCoys in the mid 1960’s.

    Would there be a more annoying football game than one between Oklahoma and Tennessee? Would the bands play anything other than “Boomer Sooner” and “Rocky Top”?
    link

    [quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Great stuff! Nice to see one of the guys who put the “foot” in “football” getting his due. Miss that single-bar facemask, too.

    And Billy! One of my favorite players growing up. Too bad he came along after the blue helmet era. His shoes would have stood out even more then.[/quote]

    He must have earned that nickname in high school, because by the time he reached the NFL maybe 30% (or more) of NFL players already had gone to white shoes.

    Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.[/quote]

    If you believe Mr. Wiki: “Johnson earned his famous nickname as a high schooler at Chichester High School in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, where he was painting a fence with white paint and spilled some of the paint on his new shoes. Ever since then, he has been referred to by his nickname.”[/quote]

    Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh

    [quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Illustrated NFL Update:

    Just added some nice illustrations by Bart Forbes, from this super cool link. Firstly, this illustration of link completely floored me with it’s ultra badassery, and it’s usage of the jersey font 3. Also, this sweet link, Forbes at his best.[/quote]

    Great stuff! Nice to see one of the guys who put the “foot” in “football” getting his due. Miss that single-bar facemask, too.

    And Billy! One of my favorite players growing up. Too bad he came along after the blue helmet era. His shoes would have stood out even more then.[/quote]

    He must have earned that nickname in high school, because by the time he reached the NFL maybe 30% (or more) of NFL players already had gone to white shoes.

    Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.[/quote]

    If you believe Mr. Wiki: “Johnson earned his famous nickname as a high schooler at Chichester High School in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, where he was painting a fence with white paint and spilled some of the paint on his new shoes. Ever since then, he has been referred to by his nickname.”[/quote]

    Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    That illo of Stenerud is indeed ultra badassery. Simply beautiful.link

    [quote comment=”346983″]Would there be a more annoying football game than one between Oklahoma and Tennessee? Would the bands play anything other than “Boomer Sooner” and “Rocky Top”?
    link

    HAHA I agree that would be a hard game to attend hearing boomer Sooner and Rocky Top for 4 hours.

    Ohio State plays USC this Saturday. USC does tend to play their music over and over. I actually like the USC songs. To me pretty cool. I just hope not to hear it much Saturday night.

    Speaking of college football music and games. I have to rip into Penn State now. Games at Penn State are now more like a hockey game or Arena football or something. Penn state plays piped in music all game long now and almost after each play. Where is the band music at PSU these days?. They have over 100,000 fans. Do they need to use canned music to get the crowd pumped up?

    [quote comment=”346989″]This Pirate logo on Chris Creamer site was a favorite of mine as a kid.

    link
    People, people, people…link to the link the image is on, link. It’s a problem that arises too often on this board when linking to a Chris Creamer logo!

    [quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…

    Paul,

    Something Christopher Arena said got me thinking: the question isn’t so much, “why do NBA teams depict baskets or basketballs in their logos?” (answer: because they are basketball teams) but rather “why don’t NFL/MLB teams represent their respective sports in their logos/branding?”

    The answer, as Christopher pointed out, could be because those leagues have different design goals, where the logo is first and foremost used on a hat or helmet that is already uniquely associated with their respective sports. The NBA has no such peripheral and thus, the logo is perhaps designed to be used more broadly.

    It seams to me that MLB teams are particularly inclined to separate their logo (used on the hat, etc.) from the accompanying wordmark (jersey), which frequently incorporates a bat or ball. Again, the full wordmark/logo combo has broader application and maybe needs to identify the sport.

    [quote comment=”346992″][quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…[/quote]

    link

    I’m a WVU grad who has never particularly cared for the number font on the team’s football jerseys. I always thought of them as overly-styled, NASCARish, etc. But when I saw this picture (Number 10 in the slideshow, sorry):

    link FOOTBALL&photo=10041520

    It occured to me that maybe the number font is meant to mimic, or is at least inspired by, the Flying WV logo. Admittedly, this makes me feel a little bit better about it (though not much).

    What do you guys think? Am I onto something?

    [quote comment=”346988″]Speaking of college football music and games. I have to rip into Penn State now. Games at Penn State are now more like a hockey game or Arena football or something. Penn state plays piped in music all game long now and almost after each play. Where is the band music at PSU these days?. They have over 100,000 fans. Do they need to use canned music to get the crowd pumped up?[/quote]

    Don’t they play after a touchdown, at least? If that’s true, then I don’t care if they are my favorite school – that’s sad.

    I’m not against canned music altogether – just the way most places use it. I can’t stand when they blare the music at ear-shattering levels, then cut it off right before a play. I’d rather they do what the old MISL’s Cleveland Force did. They’d play instrumentals like the theme to Midnight Express during the action. It was a bit unsettling at first, but I grew to like it.

    Also, three years ago I worked for an IBL (International Basketball League) team. They had a DJ play songs all through the game. Again, I thought I would hate it, but they kept the volume down and it wasn’t so bad. I believe they did turn it off for free throws, though.

    That’s not to say I prefer this to a good old marching band. Give me the live stuff anyday.

    [quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]“And the insessant playing of “Rocky Top…”[/quote]
    “Saying this is the modern equivilent of ‘Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?'”[/quote]

    Or “Hello, Mrs. Custer, can I speak to you about making a cash donation to the Indian Relief Fund?” And Yale’s “Boola Boola” was ripped off by Oklahoma for “Boomer Sooner.”

    link

    [quote comment=”346994″][quote comment=”346992″][quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…[/quote]

    link[/quote]

    I was going to say, “Hey!” But the more that I looked at him…put some glasses and a mustache on this link and you might be on to something.

    [quote comment=”346998″]You missed the Portland Trail Blazers, which doesn’t use a basketball. Also, which has remained almost entirely untouched since its inception.[/quote]

    wait…it says in the article

    [quote]So we have:

    – Teams with basketball icons in their primary logo: 23, if you count Portland (the 5-on-5 inspiration)[/quote]

    so do they or don’t they have a basketball?

    Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?

    [quote comment=”346999″][quote comment=”346994″][quote comment=”346992″][quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…[/quote]

    link[/quote]

    I was going to say, “Hey!” But the more that I looked at him…put some glasses and a mustache on this link and you might be on to something.[/quote]

    Simply, Tobias could relate to your short shorts predicament; i.e. disconcerted wife. ;o)

    [quote comment=”346845″]RERUN FROM THE HOLIDAY THAT MAY MERIT FURTHER DISCUSSION …

    ––––––––––

    I got bored with the OLE MISS/ MEMPHIS game over the holiday, and switched to Fox Sports Southwest and watched 1957 SWC Highlight show. IN COLOR !!! Fox Sports Southwest often runs these “SWC Football Legends” shows, that are a 30 minute SWC Yearly Wrap-up Highlights. Mid 1950s – mid 1970s.
    Really Cool !!!

    Lots of 1957 Rice, Texas A&M, Texas, TCU, SMU, Arkansas, Baylor action, etc. ALL IN COLOR !!!!

    Texas Tech wore Light Silver helmets and pants that season, with Red numerals and trim on White jerseys. Never saw that look before.

    1957 SWC Champion Rice plays NAVY in 1958 Cotton Bowl,

    Rice in all Navy Blue monochrome unis,

    HERE’S THE REAL SURPRISE (To me !!!)….

    NAVY wore Old Gold pants and helmet, and Sky Blue (almost white) jerseys with White UCLA stripes and numerals – no trim color at all. The Jerseys are similar to 1960s UCLA jerseys, but with block numerals and substantially lighter in color, if you could believe it, than those UCLA jerseys that were very light in their own right.

    The Navy “UCLA stripes” were not truncated on the 1957 Navy jerseys.

    Earlier this week they showed the 1970 SWC highlights, where TCU wore the Very Light Purple jerseys with silver pants and helmets. Very unique look.

    Sorry, no screen grabs.[/quote]

    Those SWC shows are great. I have Time Warner so I have not seen the 1957 show. I have seen the 1966 one and 1948 and maybe 2 from the 1970’s

    My brother has Direct TV and taped the 1957 show. I have to check it out.

    [quote comment=”347000″][quote comment=”346998″]You missed the Portland Trail Blazers, which doesn’t use a basketball. Also, which has remained almost entirely untouched since its inception.[/quote]

    wait…it says in the article

    [quote]So we have:

    – Teams with basketball icons in their primary logo: 23, if you count Portland (the 5-on-5 inspiration)[/quote]

    so do they or don’t they have a basketball?[/quote]
    No basketball or net — it’s supposed to be some kind of abstract representation of the 5-on-5 aspect of the game.

    Or something.

    [quote comment=”347001″]Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]

    Mary, what about Scorpions instead of Diamondbacks? I think Arizona Scorpions is a better, shorter, more recognizable name. The logo could have featured a Scorpian with a bat in its claws. What a missed opportunity!

    [quote comment=”347004″][quote comment=”346999″][quote comment=”346994″][quote comment=”346992″][quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…[/quote]

    link[/quote]

    I was going to say, “Hey!” But the more that I looked at him…put some glasses and a mustache on this link and you might be on to something.[/quote]

    Simply, Tobias could relate to your short shorts predicament; i.e. disconcerted wife. ;o)[/quote]

    Ah. Never saw the show. Shoulda figured something was up…

    Oh well, at least mine beat these “shorts” link anyday, and I only have one pair. My other ones are longer, but can’t be mistaken for a skirt.

    [quote comment=”346991″][quote comment=”346989″]This Pirate logo on Chris Creamer site was a favorite of mine as a kid.

    link
    People, people, people…link to the link the image is on, link. It’s a problem that arises too often on this board when linking to a Chris Creamer logo![/quote]

    Or you could just link to the image, and when it comes up with a “naughty naughty” message, just highlight the address and hit enter, or if you have one hit the little go button on your address bar.

    By the way, where is the public outcry against these unis?
    link
    Those NC State ones that caused such a ruckus were better than these, IMHO.

    [quote comment=”347007″]
    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]No, but he has a horse with no name.

    He went to see a man about that horse…

    [quote comment=”346953″]

    One vote for “Hail to the Victors”[/quote]
    Oh, that would be at least two. Perhaps two million.

    Dome’s song comes in as a close second for me.

    [quote comment=”347007″][quote comment=”347001″]Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]

    Mary, what about Scorpions instead of Diamondbacks? I think Arizona Scorpions is a better, shorter, more recognizable name. The logo could have featured a Scorpian with a bat in its claws. What a missed opportunity![/quote]

    You guys are missing the fact that the name was selected through a name-the-team survey. And yes I am sure that the diamond- diamondback park played into it, because they needed a way to build the brand, but it does not diminish the fact that rattlesnakes are in fact indigenous to Arizona and that we do run into them from time to time.

    I have also heard stories that Diamondbacks was actually the winning entry for the name that team competition for the Arizona Rattlers, but that Colangelo decided to pass at that time, feeling that it did not fit.

    Phoenix Firebirds would have been clever, but remember that at the time, the ownership group was trying to appeal to all available markets, and the Phoenix Cardinals had just changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals. Throw in the inherent Phoenix/Tucson enmity, and a team named the Phoenix anything probably wouldn’t have drawn very well playing spring training ball in Tucson.

    [quote comment=”346967″]Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.[/quote]Ricko you have to admit that when he joined up, he hardly was the ONLY guy in the NFL with those characteristics.

    The men’s hockey team at the University of North Dakota will have a new uniform next year, and they’re switching from nike to reebok. Jerseys and presumably other uni elements (helmets, pants) will be unveiled this Saturday.

    link

    It will be interesting to see if they have a jersey with either Sioux or the Fighting Sioux logo, as the school is likely changing the nickname within the next year. Other teams like football, track & XC, and basketball have forgone any mention of the nickname on new uniforms and jerseys.

    [quote comment=”347008″][quote comment=”347004″][quote comment=”346999″][quote comment=”346994″][quote comment=”346992″][quote comment=”346985″][quote comment=”346970″][quote comment=”346967″][quote comment=”346960″][quote comment=”346951″]:Bingo! Good call Ricko. Of course, nowaday white shoes are for wussies. I mean, you might as well wear link too. heh heh[/quote]

    I still have a pair of those shorts, in light blue. My wife absolutely hates them. I think she’s just jealous because I still have the legs for them…[/quote]

    link[/quote]

    I was going to say, “Hey!” But the more that I looked at him…put some glasses and a mustache on this link and you might be on to something.[/quote]

    Simply, Tobias could relate to your short shorts predicament; i.e. disconcerted wife. ;o)[/quote]

    Ah. Never saw the show. Shoulda figured something was up…

    Oh well, at least mine beat these “shorts” link anyday, and I only have one pair. My other ones are longer, but can’t be mistaken for a skirt.[/quote]

    Oh, yea doesn’t have quite the same effect if you haven’t seen the show. BTW, I can’t see any Flickr hosted pics, so, I’ll have to wait and see the links you posted.

    [quote comment=”347001″]Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]

    What, you think I don’t know there are rattlesnakes in the desert? Jesus.

    I also know what a phoenix is. Did even before Harry Potter came along.

    Of course I’ve been to the desert. And to Phoenix. Several times. My point was that if anyone thought the “diamond” play on words made the nickname even better, they were pushing it.

    And, yes, I’ll admit D-backs probably is better in concert with “Arizona”. With “Phoenix”, though, Firebirds makes more sense.

    Actually, the two names I’d MOST have preferred—just because they sound great simply as words—would have been “Rattlers” (but arena team already used it) or “Copperheads”.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”346947″][quote comment=”346914″][quote comment=”346901″][quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    I have to disagree about some of the “seven cities”. The Rockies have only had fifteen opportunties to get to and win a world series. The Rays have had only eleven. Each has recently come close (the Rockies should, ceteris paribus, be in the world series approximately once per 16 seasons and the Rays once per 14, and theoretically win one every three decades or so, so they’re each slightly ahead of the game). The Pirates have missed out on winning a world series for thirty consecutive seasons, which is only three more than is true for Seattle.

    Sure the Pirates have a rich history, but it’s sort of like the history of Byzantium in that it bears so little immediately visible relation to the present.[/quote]

    Actually, last time I checked, 1990-92 wasn’t exactly the Byzantium era, and reaching the NLCS then matched what Seattle has done in their entire franchise history. And history in baseball is more important than other sports, it’s just the nature of the game. You sound like a younger fan, so I don’t know if you understand what I’m talking about. You should hold onto those memories of that NL pennant for a very long time. I kinda think a Cubs fan would gladly take 17 losing seasons for ending their 102 year drought.
    Don’t understand your point about the newer franchises, the bad part about that is what tradition and memories to you have? Dante Bichette? Sure, the Marlins had a couple miracle seasons, but if you honesty think the Rockies, Rays, and Mariners will ever reach even three world titles, you’re dreaming. You do realize the Rays are beginning to dismantle their team, and the Brewers were a one year wonder, right?
    You see, multiple teams with long losing streaks means it’s not just a Pirates’ problem, it’s baseball’s problem.[/quote]
    I turn 46 this year. I remember the Stargell Pirates. Heck, I hate the RedSox because of their obnoxious fans in ’75.

    Denver had no chance for a world series in 1986, despite a great Barry Larkin. With a few exceptions, every team has a chance in MLB today. No one would have expected the recent pennants by the Rays and Rockies. Small market teams just have a smaller margin for error. The Browns, Senators and Phillies were chronic second-division teams for decades. All of those organizations eventurally turned it around. Expectations of failure tend to become self-fulfilling until someone is able to change the culture of losing.

    [quote comment=”347015″][quote comment=”346967″]Might as well have nicknamed him, “Fast Black Guy from Small School”.[/quote]Ricko you have to admit that when he joined up, he hardly was the ONLY guy in the NFL with those characteristics.[/quote]

    Right. And he was hardly unique because of white shoes. Tha’s what I meant.

    [quote comment=”347013″][quote comment=”347007″][quote comment=”347001″]Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]

    Mary, what about Scorpions instead of Diamondbacks? I think Arizona Scorpions is a better, shorter, more recognizable name. The logo could have featured a Scorpian with a bat in its claws. What a missed opportunity![/quote]

    You guys are missing the fact that the name was selected through a name-the-team survey. And yes I am sure that the diamond- diamondback park played into it, because they needed a way to build the brand, but it does not diminish the fact that rattlesnakes are in fact indigenous to Arizona and that we do run into them from time to time.

    I have also heard stories that Diamondbacks was actually the winning entry for the name that team competition for the Arizona Rattlers, but that Colangelo decided to pass at that time, feeling that it did not fit.

    Phoenix Firebirds would have been clever, but remember that at the time, the ownership group was trying to appeal to all available markets, and the Phoenix Cardinals had just changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals. Throw in the inherent Phoenix/Tucson enmity, and a team named the Phoenix anything probably wouldn’t have drawn very well playing spring training ball in Tucson.[/quote]

    Never knew the information about the ballpark being one of the reasons for the name Diamondbacks. I’m assuming the name Scorpions was in the fan call in poll you mentioned, but it’s surprising to me that people actually choose Diamondbacks instead. Then again, I remember the fiasco involving the Tampa Bay franchise. They had a phone poll, and Devil Rays was NOT selected as the team name, but ownership choose it anyway.

    [quote comment=”347021″]Interesting offensive line this would make:
    link

    I’ll tell you, if I was the QB, I’d never get in the shotgun formation.

    [quote comment=”347022″][quote comment=”347021″]Interesting offensive line this would make:
    link

    I’ll tell you, if I was the QB, I’d never get in the shotgun formation.[/quote]

    Six of ’em.
    No tight end, I guess.
    Must be a run and shoot.

    [quote comment=”347019″]

    Right. And he was hardly unique because of white shoes. Tha’s what I meant.[/quote]
    Ah ha. Gotcha. My bad.

    Like I said, I’m having a hard time getting back into the spirit here after our forced layoff.

    Would the Phoenix Scorpions have run into legal trouble from the “Rock you like a (Tulsa Golden) Hurricane” band?

    re: Name-the-team surveys.

    Here’s a tip. Teams look at the list of names, then pick the name they liked all along. Rarely do they even tally the votes, much less go by the results.

    Those surveys are about generating interest and only vaguely about actually looking for suggestions. More like checking for something they might have overlooked.

    Original World Team Tennis, for example. Cleveland franchise claims 25,000 entries in a “Name the Team” contest. Winning name? Nets. Well, either that was what ownership intended all along, or the people of Cleveland weren’t real creative in 1973-74. LOL

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”347026″]re: Name-the-team surveys.

    Here’s a tip. Teams look at the list of names, then pick the name they liked all along. Rarely do they even tally the votes, much less go by the results.

    Those surveys are about generating interest and only vaguely about actually looking for suggestions. More like checking for something they might have overlooked.

    Original World Team Tennis, for example. Cleveland franchise claims 25,000 entries in a “Name the Team” contest. Winning name? Nets. Well, either that was what ownership intended all along, or the people of Cleveland weren’t real creative in 1973-74. LOL

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ooh Ooh can I vote the latter?

    /joke

    [quote comment=”347018″][quote comment=”346947″][quote comment=”346914″][quote comment=”346901″][quote comment=”346883″][quote comment=”346860″][quote comment=”346856″][quote comment=”346853″]re: PCL pics at SFO

    How many current MLB teams are named after minor league forerunners in their cities?

    The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are the ones can I think of right away.[/quote]

    Baltimore Orioles: Intl League
    (also were a NL team in the 1890’s)[/quote]

    link (moved to NY and became highlanders, later yanks)

    link (moved to st. louis and became the browns)[/quote]

    I think that the Pittsburgh AAAA team is actually named after their original MLB team. Wait, What? You mean they’re still an MLB team. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, “Never mind.” See what 17 years of losing does to a fan’s mind.[/quote]

    I share your frustration, but despite this horrible record, the Pirates remain one of baseball’s most storied franchises. Only the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals have actually won more world titles. That’s significant. Also, the Yankees only have five more players in the hall of fame, so the Pirates have had more tradition than the vast majority of MLB teams. Hopefully, the winning tradition will return ASAP.
    As bad as that record is, it pales in comparison to the Cubs 102 year world series failure, or seven cities which have never won a world series. Given baseball’s unfair economic system, there are several teams who are likely to surpass this record in the future.[/quote]
    I have to disagree about some of the “seven cities”. The Rockies have only had fifteen opportunties to get to and win a world series. The Rays have had only eleven. Each has recently come close (the Rockies should, ceteris paribus, be in the world series approximately once per 16 seasons and the Rays once per 14, and theoretically win one every three decades or so, so they’re each slightly ahead of the game). The Pirates have missed out on winning a world series for thirty consecutive seasons, which is only three more than is true for Seattle.

    Sure the Pirates have a rich history, but it’s sort of like the history of Byzantium in that it bears so little immediately visible relation to the present.[/quote]

    Actually, last time I checked, 1990-92 wasn’t exactly the Byzantium era, and reaching the NLCS then matched what Seattle has done in their entire franchise history. And history in baseball is more important than other sports, it’s just the nature of the game. You sound like a younger fan, so I don’t know if you understand what I’m talking about. You should hold onto those memories of that NL pennant for a very long time. I kinda think a Cubs fan would gladly take 17 losing seasons for ending their 102 year drought.
    Don’t understand your point about the newer franchises, the bad part about that is what tradition and memories to you have? Dante Bichette? Sure, the Marlins had a couple miracle seasons, but if you honesty think the Rockies, Rays, and Mariners will ever reach even three world titles, you’re dreaming. You do realize the Rays are beginning to dismantle their team, and the Brewers were a one year wonder, right?
    You see, multiple teams with long losing streaks means it’s not just a Pirates’ problem, it’s baseball’s problem.[/quote]
    I turn 46 this year. I remember the Stargell Pirates. Heck, I hate the RedSox because of their obnoxious fans in ’75.

    Denver had no chance for a world series in 1986, despite a great Barry Larkin. With a few exceptions, every team has a chance in MLB today. No one would have expected the recent pennants by the Rays and Rockies. Small market teams just have a smaller margin for error. The Browns, Senators and Phillies were chronic second-division teams for decades. All of those organizations eventurally turned it around. Expectations of failure tend to become self-fulfilling until someone is able to change the culture of losing.[/quote]

    Agree that small market teams have a very small window for modest success. However, the record shows most all the world series winners since the 1991 Twins have been larger market teams. Unfortunately, maintaining a winning club is much tougher now because star players usually bolt or have to be dealt after a few years, i.e. Matt Holiday. Also, when was the last time one of the international stars was signed by a small market team?

    Agree there has always been bad teams in mlb, but there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals. As Yankee fan Bob Costas has correctly
    stated, decades ago, even the worst teams had a glimmer of hope in spring training.The sole reason teams were bad was horrible management, today a team can have a great front office, i.e. the Oakland A’s, and never sniff the world series.
    It’s the flawed system which hurts competitive balance, and the major reason why the NFL has replaced MLB as our national pastime.

    [quote]there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.[/quote]

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” — im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)

    [quote comment=”347029″][quote]there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.[/quote]

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” — im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)[/quote]

    Yes, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox should never have been allowed to make their own local TV deals without giving a cut to visiting teams. I’m sure there could be another way to solve this problem, the NFL would have found a solution.
    This method of revenue sharing would have to be linked to yes, a salary cap, along with an international draft.
    Remember, the football NY Giants were approached in the early 1960s for a lucrative TV deal, but Wellington Mara declined after meeting with Pete Rozelle. The two men agreed in was in the best interests of the NFL to continue growing the sport, for competitive balance. After that, the NFL handled the TV contracts, and the rest is history.

    [quote comment=”346997″][quote comment=”346936″][quote comment=”346934″]“And the insessant playing of “Rocky Top…”[/quote]
    “Saying this is the modern equivilent of ‘Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?'”[/quote]

    Or “Hello, Mrs. Custer, can I speak to you about making a cash donation to the Indian Relief Fund?” And Yale’s “Boola Boola” was ripped off by Oklahoma for “Boomer Sooner.”

    link[/quote]

    Unfortunately, Oklahoma scores more touchdowns. Then there’s that damned wagon.

    Speaking of fight songs, NC State asked a rock band to cover theirs, and they plan to play the rock version at all home football games this year:

    link

    The reaction to this hasn’t been quite as bad as the reaction to their proposed basketball uniforms, but it hasn’t been good, as you might imagine:

    link

    i’m not really a huge fan with the changes that were made to the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) home sweaters. I like that they didn’t really change the away design, but the new home one just looks… i dunno, kinda clunky. it actually reminds me of the Arizona Cardinals jerseys.

    [quote comment=”347023″][quote comment=”347022″][quote comment=”347021″]Interesting offensive line this would make:
    link

    I’ll tell you, if I was the QB, I’d never get in the shotgun formation.[/quote]

    Six of ’em.
    No tight end, I guess.
    Must be a run and shoot.[/quote]

    The center doubles as the tight end…

    [quote comment=”347012″][quote comment=”346953″]

    One vote for “Hail to the Victors”[/quote]
    Oh, that would be at least two. Perhaps two million.

    Dome’s song comes in as a close second for me.[/quote]

    Reminds me of a joke (that can be used for any school – but I first heard it used about ND).

    Linguist claims to have invented new language.

    “Oh, yeah” says wiseguy, “Well how do you say [anatomical insult] in this new language of yours?”

    Linguist replies, “Dah.”

    “Well then,” continues wiseguy, “how do you say two [anatomical insult]s?”

    Linguist replies “Dah, Dah.”

    “So how about 80,000 [anatomical insult]s?” asks wiseguy.

    Lingust replies (sung to tune of fight song of school you detest) “Dah Dah Dah Dah Dah, Dah Dah Dah Dah”

    Maybe it works better in person.

    Thanks, I’ll be here all week and don’t forget to tip your waitress.

    [quote comment=”347017″][quote comment=”347001″]Always thought Phoenix Firebirds was a far better name than Arizona DiamondBacks (Ooo, clever, baseball diamond, diamond backs, I get it…)

    —Ricko[/quote]

    Ricko, you’ve never been to the desert, have you?[/quote]

    What, you think I don’t know there are rattlesnakes in the desert? Jesus.

    I also know what a phoenix is. Did even before Harry Potter came along.

    Of course I’ve been to the desert. And to Phoenix. Several times. My point was that if anyone thought the “diamond” play on words made the nickname even better, they were pushing it.

    And, yes, I’ll admit D-backs probably is better in concert with “Arizona”. With “Phoenix”, though, Firebirds makes more sense.

    Actually, the two names I’d MOST have preferred—just because they sound great simply as words—would have been “Rattlers” (but arena team already used it) or “Copperheads”.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    Should been the Gila Monsters. Is there a cooler animal than this?

    link

    Imagine the pink and black uni opportuinites!

    there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” – im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)

    It’s not coincidence that the Yankees returned to prominence when MSG cable started paying them $50M a year while many teams couldn’t get $10M.
    To their credit, the Yankees spent their money better than other high-payroll teams, but we’re now at the point where maybe a quarter of major league teams have any chance of signing a top-of-the-market free agent.

    Instead of a salary cap, how about a revenue cap where any revenue above the cap goes into a fund that’s split 30 ways? Maybe teams would be less likely to charge top dollar for tickets or cover every available space with advertising if they had to share those last few dollars.

    IIRC, the Phillies had to remove the “seams” from the center of the P in the ’70s because there was concern that it could be confused with a ball.

    CFL’s Calgary Stampeders retro whites, which will be worn for the first time on Friday night, look a lot like the Giants’ roadies

    link

    [quote comment=”347039″]IIRC, the Phillies had to remove the “seams” from the center of the P in the ’70s because there was concern that it could be confused with a ball.[/quote]

    Old Phillies logo link

    And with the baseball removed link

    A lot of batters were fooled by Lefty before and after.

    [quote comment=”347038″]

    there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” – im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)

    It’s not coincidence that the Yankees returned to prominence when MSG cable started paying them $50M a year while many teams couldn’t get $10M.
    To their credit, the Yankees spent their money better than other high-payroll teams, but we’re now at the point where maybe a quarter of major league teams have any chance of signing a top-of-the-market free agent.

    Instead of a salary cap, how about a revenue cap where any revenue above the cap goes into a fund that’s split 30 ways? Maybe teams would be less likely to charge top dollar for tickets or cover every available space with advertising if they had to share those last few dollars.[/quote]

    Hey, whatever it takes to help the situation. We know the players union runs baseball, and I have a better chance of being the next James Bond before MLB has a salary cap. The reason this issue has been neglected is the simple fact that the major media centers are the homes of big market teams. If the shoe was on the other foot, I promise you ESPN and others would be talking about this issue daily. It’s so obvious what’s going on, and a little troubling that fans of clubs outside of the big market teams don’t understand the problem.

    [quote comment=”347038″]

    there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” – im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)

    It’s not coincidence that the Yankees returned to prominence when MSG cable started paying them $50M a year while many teams couldn’t get $10M.
    To their credit, the Yankees spent their money better than other high-payroll teams, but we’re now at the point where maybe a quarter of major league teams have any chance of signing a top-of-the-market free agent.

    Instead of a salary cap, how about a revenue cap where any revenue above the cap goes into a fund that’s split 30 ways? Maybe teams would be less likely to charge top dollar for tickets or cover every available space with advertising if they had to share those last few dollars.[/quote]

    ok…i vowed earlier not to go down this road, but i broke my vow

    why is it now considered a crime to get a local tv deal? is this russia? this isn’t russia…is this russia?

    advice to danny noonan aside, you can’t play the socialist card both ways (not necessarily you, burgh fan) — if you’re going to either insist the big market clubs, who, as far as i know, are permitted to run at a profit, share their spoils, then you must not only insist upon a salary cap (not gonna happen) but also insist the richer players give back some of their ridiculous salaries to the “poorer” (woe on any of us who should find him/herself so poor) ones…

    if the argument goes that, ya know, “for the good of the game” (the supposed NFL argument) the “rich” (HAH — they’re ALL rich) must subsizdize the “poor” teams/owners (i’d LOVE to be so poor as to own a baseball team), then so too, for “competitive balance” must the “rich” players subsidize those less well off, no?

    and, to take it one step further, if everyone in pittsburgh pays “only” $2 for a water and $3 for a brew, and a good seat is “only” $40…then, well, why should a new yorker pay $5/$10/$150? is the water any tastier? is the beer any more golden? is the seat view any better?

    we should all share equally, right? players, fans, owners, tv stations…

    i’ll give you revenue sharing as “fair” and “for the good of the game” just as soon as you give me kansas city’s ticket/concession prices and the players give some of their salaries to those less fortunate

    sounds ridiculous, right?

    face it — fans don’t own the teams, billionaire owners, who employ multi-millionaire athletes, do — reducing the revenue pie is NOT the answer, and neither is sharing it … because if george steinhitler can only “spend” $100 million, it’s not going to reduce ticket prices nor hot dog prices at NYS…but if there are no fannies in the seats, it’s either because he didn’t put a winning product on the field or because he overpriced the tickets

    no…until you bring the average salary for a grown man playing a child’s game down to approximately 10 times the average working stiff (instead of the current 100 TIMES), which no one seems to be able to do, you’re going to have this problem

    answer? i don’t have one, you don’t have one, no one REALLY has one…but the way things stand, you don’t (and never will) have a national tv contract (like football)

    i don’t believe in salary caps, but if you were ever to get one(not likely), you’d have to have a salary floor too

    now, i hate the yankees and the sawks even more than that, but i don’t bemoan them their right to go out and score a tv deal

    but none of these problems can really explain why the pirates will have set a major sports record for 17 consecutive losing seasons — if a small market team like the marlins can win not one but TWO world series in that time, the entire “big market vs. small market” argument holds absolutely no water

    blame greedy owners, players, fine…i agree

    but maybe, just maybe, these billionaire owners realized they could make MORE money with a $30 million payroll than a $60 million one … and still finish in last place

    in essence, there is no punishment for having a last place club TO AN OWNER…but to the fan — well who really cares about them as long as the owners are taken care of (and believe me, the players aint exactly hurtin either)

    i could go on and on, but i’ll just shut up since this entire argument (which i would hope paul puts a moratorium on) has nothing to do with uniforms

    you folks can have the last words; im officially done on this topic…may it never raise it’s stupid head on here again

    [quote comment=”347043″][quote comment=”347038″]

    there’s never been this wide a disparity in revenue, largely because of the dumb, local TV deals.

    care to elaborate? and since, unlike football you can NEVER have a national tv contract, what would you do to change that?

    (please don’t say a “salary cap” – im talking about the ‘dumb, local TV deals’)

    It’s not coincidence that the Yankees returned to prominence when MSG cable started paying them $50M a year while many teams couldn’t get $10M.
    To their credit, the Yankees spent their money better than other high-payroll teams, but we’re now at the point where maybe a quarter of major league teams have any chance of signing a top-of-the-market free agent.

    Instead of a salary cap, how about a revenue cap where any revenue above the cap goes into a fund that’s split 30 ways? Maybe teams would be less likely to charge top dollar for tickets or cover every available space with advertising if they had to share those last few dollars.[/quote]

    ok…i vowed earlier not to go down this road, but i broke my vow

    why is it now considered a crime to get a local tv deal? is this russia? this isn’t russia…is this russia?

    advice to danny noonan aside, you can’t play the socialist card both ways (not necessarily you, burgh fan) — if you’re going to either insist the big market clubs, who, as far as i know, are permitted to run at a profit, share their spoils, then you must not only insist upon a salary cap (not gonna happen) but also insist the richer players give back some of their ridiculous salaries to the “poorer” (woe on any of us who should find him/herself so poor) ones…

    if the argument goes that, ya know, “for the good of the game” (the supposed NFL argument) the “rich” (HAH — they’re ALL rich) must subsizdize the “poor” teams/owners (i’d LOVE to be so poor as to own a baseball team), then so too, for “competitive balance” must the “rich” players subsidize those less well off, no?

    and, to take it one step further, if everyone in pittsburgh pays “only” $2 for a water and $3 for a brew, and a good seat is “only” $40…then, well, why should a new yorker pay $5/$10/$150? is the water any tastier? is the beer any more golden? is the seat view any better?

    we should all share equally, right? players, fans, owners, tv stations…

    i’ll give you revenue sharing as “fair” and “for the good of the game” just as soon as you give me kansas city’s ticket/concession prices and the players give some of their salaries to those less fortunate

    sounds ridiculous, right?

    face it — fans don’t own the teams, billionaire owners, who employ multi-millionaire athletes, do — reducing the revenue pie is NOT the answer, and neither is sharing it … because if george steinhitler can only “spend” $100 million, it’s not going to reduce ticket prices nor hot dog prices at NYS…but if there are no fannies in the seats, it’s either because he didn’t put a winning product on the field or because he overpriced the tickets

    no…until you bring the average salary for a grown man playing a child’s game down to approximately 10 times the average working stiff (instead of the current 100 TIMES), which no one seems to be able to do, you’re going to have this problem

    answer? i don’t have one, you don’t have one, no one REALLY has one…but the way things stand, you don’t (and never will) have a national tv contract (like football)

    i don’t believe in salary caps, but if you were ever to get one(not likely), you’d have to have a salary floor too

    now, i hate the yankees and the sawks even more than that, but i don’t bemoan them their right to go out and score a tv deal

    but none of these problems can really explain why the pirates will have set a major sports record for 17 consecutive losing seasons — if a small market team like the marlins can win not one but TWO world series in that time, the entire “big market vs. small market” argument holds absolutely no water

    blame greedy owners, players, fine…i agree

    but maybe, just maybe, these billionaire owners realized they could make MORE money with a $30 million payroll than a $60 million one … and still finish in last place

    in essence, there is no punishment for having a last place club TO AN OWNER…but to the fan — well who really cares about them as long as the owners are taken care of (and believe me, the players aint exactly hurtin either)

    i could go on and on, but i’ll just shut up since this entire argument (which i would hope paul puts a moratorium on) has nothing to do with uniforms

    you folks can have the last words; im officially done on this topic…may it never raise it’s stupid head on here again[/quote]

    This is my last word, too I’m getting ready to watch some football tonight. This is my rebuttal to Ll Phil’s points:

    * Leagues by definition, are a community, the chaos in mlb today is a result of big market teams doing whatever they want. Since baseball is no longer the national pastime, it’s obvious that approach isn’t working. Why not follow the lead of the NFL and improve the popularity of the
    game?
    * I never said small market teams never have won the world series since the early 1990s, a few times luck prevails and the stars align perfectly. Obviously, the Marlins had to rebuild, and have not come close to their earlier success. When a small market team actually repeats, I’ll wear a dress!
    * If the Pirates were alone in losing, your point would have traction, and yes, that organization has made plenty of mistakes. However, there are several teams approaching double digit losing season streaks, most all of them small market teams. It’s obvious we’re talking about a baseball problem, not just a Pirates problem. Anytime a third of all teams are virtually eliminated from title contention in spring training, Houston, we have a problem.
    * Lastly, look at the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A’s. Everyone said the Rays were set up for long term success, but one season removed from their miracle year, the Rays will actually miss the playoffs. They recently had to unload one of their best young pitchers for financial reasons. The A’s were universally hailed as a great organization, but they never came close to the WS, getting destroyed in the ALCS. Both franchises are now looking at uncertain futures, to say the least, and that’s wrong.

    Clempson (that’s how its pronounced in the South) wearing the monochrome purple afainst Georgia Tech.

    Family members of the passengers who died in the Flight 93 crash on Sept. 11, 2001, will be recognized on the field before the Titans-Steelers NFL season opener Thursday night.

    The game will be played on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The official 9/11 Commission report said hijackers crashed Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pa., about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh, as the passengers fought to gain control of the cockpit.

    Those being recognized will wear No. 93 Steelers jerseys with the names of their family members on the back.

    Before the game, the Steelers will recognize their Super Bowl-winning team of last season with an on-field salute. Former Steelers defensive back Rod Woodson, recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will take part in the pregame coin toss.

    “…i could go on and on, but i’ll just shut up since this entire argument (which i would hope paul puts a moratorium on)…”

    So you get to give a long rant, and then have Paul swoop in and prevent anyone else from commenting? Must be nice to be friends with the ‘boss’. :)

    (hope that doesn’t come off in the wrong way; I just thought it funny that after a long rant you hope the discussion would be cut off. You must have, or have had, children. I’m always trying to end ‘discussions’ with my son!)

    Since this is a uniform site…
    I’ve always thought it odd that so many NBA teams have basketballs in their logos. I’m sure that some this is the result of the fact that NBA teams don’t prominantly display their logos on their uniforms like NHL/NFL/MLB teams do; that they therefor feel the need to attach their logo to the sport in a way the others don’t
    In any event, I think the prevalence of basketballs make NBA logos by far the least interesting in sports.

    Notes from Clemson at Georgia Tech

    – Georgia Tech’s has returned to its “old gold.” I honestly liked their deeper gold they had last year. But at least Tech’s gold is not near as bad as Washington’s.
    – Tech is in all-white at home tonight. They started wearing white jerseys at home when Paul Johnson took over, but they usually wear gold pants at home. I don’t like the white jerseys at home, but really don’t like all white at home. Really liked the look they wore in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl last year (blue jerseys, gold pants). Should wear that combo at home.
    – Clemson took a great step forward by putting traditional stripes on the pants. The all purple look is looking decent with the stripes.

    [quote comment=”346870″][quote comment=”346852″]re: representations of balls on unis

    i’m pretty sure the brewer & philly logos were fine

    i think MLB wants link with that ruling[/quote]

    What’s wrong with balls on uni’s? Besides in the NFL, I don’t see any footballs on NFl team logos[/quote]

    I know there were a few back in the day=
    link

    [quote comment=”347049″][quote comment=”346870″][quote comment=”346852″]re: representations of balls on unis

    i’m pretty sure the brewer & philly logos were fine

    i think MLB wants link with that ruling[/quote]

    What’s wrong with balls on uni’s? Besides in the NFL, I don’t see any footballs on NFl team logos[/quote]

    I know there were a few back in the day=
    link
    Well, there’s this…

    link

    [quote]So you get to give a long rant, and then have Paul swoop in and prevent anyone else from commenting? Must be nice to be friends with the ‘boss’. :)[/quote]

    no — fair point, but wrong context

    i’m all for rebuttals to this TODAY

    but this topic seems to come up on a semi-recurring basis; i just don’t want it to come up tomorrow, the day after, etc.

    im sure we can all find much more to agree/disagree with about uniforms than why the pirates will have gone 17 years without posting even one winning season or why the mets continue to suck DESPITE having (at the beginning of the season, if not still) the second highest payroll in the game or why the cubs will go 102 years without winning the big one

    tomorrow is another day…i hope we can all agree to disagree on unis

    cheers!

    I finally got around to reading the ticker and A) The guy who makes the United Steaks – Friggin’ Genius!! and B) I have a newfound respect for Adrian Beltre.

    OK, I have something relevant to today’s main entry to post. Yay!

    As part of Comcast SportsNet’s “23 hours of MJ” they’re showing a Bulls/Nets game from 1987. No Bulls logo at center court, just “CHICAGO” inside the circle (actually, “CHICAGO CHICAGO” because it’s on there twice — facing both sidelines) and the four smaller logos were outside the 3-point line rather than on link.

    Oh, and Orlando Woolridge’s NOB? “WOOL RIDGE”

    Hey, I said it was on-topic. I didn’t say it was interesting.

    Ooh, one more. link.

    If only link could be teammates with Jung Bong. Too bad he has to start his career in Mets black hats, after they wore blue for two straight home games.

    [quote comment=”347055″]If only link could be teammates with Jung Bong. Too bad he has to start his career in Mets black hats, after they wore blue for two straight home games.[/quote]
    Or to take this is a different (but no less punny) direction, perhaps he can ride the subway to the games with link.

    Paul –

    Just got word from University of Colorado at Boulder Sports Magazine, that the Buffs will be wearing throwbacks for ‘Legacy Day’ next Saturday vs. Wyoming at Folsom Field.

    Legacy Day at Football vs. Wyoming on Sept. 19

    Join the University of Colorado in honoring the legacy of Byron “Whizzer” White, former CU football All-American and Supreme Court Justice next Saturday at 1:30 pm vs. Wyoming.

    By asking on twitter, (I know sort of lame, but when you get info this like, sort of cool) the magazine said that CU “…will be wearing throwback jerseys. Gray helmets, gray jerseys and we think gold pants.” It’s funny because when I first asked them, they responded with “Not as far as I know, but I’ll try to find out for you.”

    I just though about the school calling it a ‘Legacy Game,” and I read your blog every day, since day one, and the umpire in my softball league is none other than Robert Marshall, so I was suspicious of such an event, or should I say hopeful!

    Now, gray could mean silver, but it does not seem like they are going to be wearing this, which is being sold in the bookstore and through websites, like this:

    link

    Now, the only time I have ever seen them in throwbacks, is in my freshman year, for an anniversary (can’t recall which number, maybe 75) of Folsom Field.

    link…ogo.php?id=5351

    [quote comment=”347055″]If only link could be teammates with Jung Bong. Too bad he has to start his career in Mets black hats, after they wore blue for two straight home games.[/quote]

    don’t forget grant roberts

    he actually was a met when that was taken

    and what makes mike phelps so fast?

    it ain’t the suit

    [quote comment=”347058″][quote comment=”347055″]If only link could be teammates with Jung Bong. Too bad he has to start his career in Mets black hats, after they wore blue for two straight home games.[/quote]

    don’t forget grant roberts

    he actually was a met when that was taken[/quote]

    Well, sort of — he was a Binghamton Met.

    He was a New York Met, however, when the photo was made public.

    One of our UW people. Nick, I think it was had a Colorado Throwback. Actually authentic. I think he said Whizzer White jersey. Pretty sure he said it had the friction strips on the front

    [quote comment=”347002″]The best Tiger band in the land…
    link
    The pride of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the Black Tiger marching band.[/quote]

    I have not seen them in a while. I liked the Black Tigers uniforms.

    And I was curious how long Georgia Tech has worn white at home. I saw the comment above about the Paul Johnson years.

    [quote comment=”347063″]Too bad Colorado does not offer the Whizzer White jersey in this picture.

    link

    re: Gray/Silver for Colorado. Technically, their colors are still silver and gold, no?

    [quote comment=”347064″][quote comment=”347063″]Too bad Colorado does not offer the Whizzer White jersey in this picture.

    link

    re: Gray/Silver for Colorado. Technically, their colors are still silver and gold, no?[/quote]

    I think that is correct

    [quote comment=”347061″][quote comment=”347002″]The best Tiger band in the land…
    link
    The pride of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the Black Tiger marching band.[/quote]

    I have not seen them in a while. I liked the Black Tigers uniforms.[/quote]

    The band? Yeah, their unis were, and are, cool. The team? They’ve gone to the “Let’s pretend we’re tough by wearing as much black as possible” look.
    link
    link
    A little more gold would be nice.

    Them Oilers look pretty funny on that there football field…

    Oh darn, this isn’t a throwback game. I like the throwback slashed endzone in the open end of Heinz, though. I’d like to see a mix of the two endzones – fit the name Pittsburgh in with the slashes or something. I used to like the yellow endzones, but I’m glad they got away from them.

    Just noticed Ben has actual sleeves on his jersey. So does Jeff Reed.

    [quote comment=”347067″][quote comment=”347061″][quote comment=”347002″]The best Tiger band in the land…
    link
    The pride of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the Black Tiger marching band.[/quote]

    I have not seen them in a while. I liked the Black Tigers uniforms.[/quote]

    The band? Yeah, their unis were, and are, cool. The team? They’ve gone to the “Let’s pretend we’re tough by wearing as much black as possible” look.
    link
    link
    A little more gold would be nice.[/quote]

    Actually I was talking about the football teams uniforms. I have seen them in highlights over the years. Not sure if they still have basically the same look now as they have.

    [quote comment=”347069″][quote comment=”347067″][quote comment=”347061″][quote comment=”347002″]The best Tiger band in the land…
    link
    The pride of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the Black Tiger marching band.[/quote]

    I have not seen them in a while. I liked the Black Tigers uniforms.[/quote]

    The band? Yeah, their unis were, and are, cool. The team? They’ve gone to the “Let’s pretend we’re tough by wearing as much black as possible” look.
    link
    link
    A little more gold would be nice.[/quote]

    Actually I was talking about the football teams uniforms. I have seen them in highlights over the years. Not sure if they still have basically the same look now as they have.[/quote]

    They looked good when they looked like the Steelers. Just way too much black now.

    [quote comment=”347062″]And I was curious how long Georgia Tech has worn white at home. I saw the comment above about the Paul Johnson years.[/quote]

    GT, like LSU, almost always wears white at home. It works, but I like the gold shirts better, or at least the gold pants. The blue jerseys are great mixups, like last year’s bowl game. I’m very glad they got rid of that old gold from last year, even though that’s probably their true school color.

    Other things:
    *In all these years, I’ve never seen that baseball in that old Phillies P. who knew it was there??? I sure didn’t.

    *I like the Miami Heat’s use of the basketball in their logo. Well designed.

    *Yesterday’s link to that NBA logo countdown had the amazing revelation that the Clippers’ basketball has an extra seam in it. Now that’s quite a goof.

    Oh, forgot to add that the Miami Hurricanes also play far too much cd music, instead of letting the marching band play between plays. (This is based on the one game I attended in 2007. I’ll listen again at next week’s GT win over UM.) I know that that school caters to an urban fanbase, but it really took away from the pageantry of a college football game. Hearing the band play their school’s songs, no matter which school it is, is a joy, and replacing them with a jukebox is a real shame. I’d much rather hear “Rocky Top”, “Tiger Rag”, or any other song played by the bands of the teams I don’t like, than listen to a pressbox iPod.

    [quote comment=”347071″][quote comment=”347062″]And I was curious how long Georgia Tech has worn white at home. I saw the comment above about the Paul Johnson years.[/quote]

    GT, like LSU, almost always wears white at home. It works, but I like the gold shirts better, or at least the gold pants. The blue jerseys are great mixups, like last year’s bowl game. I’m very glad they got rid of that old gold from last year, even though that’s probably their true school color.[/quote]

    As long as they keep running the option, they look mighty fine!

    I have once concern with this post. It was mentinoed that the Bulls do not have any logos containing a basketball icon. Just curious, how does certer court at the United Center (Bulls home arena) fit into the equation?

    link

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