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I Need to Be Shoveling Off Now

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Every so often somebody will send me a link to one of those places that sell MLB-themed burial caskets and/or urns. I never run them, because it’s old news — I’ve been seeing these things for the better part of a decade now, and you probably have too. If you Google “MLB casket,” you get like a jillion results. Next.

But when Bill Henderson recently sent me a link to this MLB casket page, he included an intriguing tidbit of additional info:

A long time ago, I amused myself by drawing a detailed casket for Joe DiMaggio, complete with baseball bats as side handles, pinstriped lining, and a large logo. My friends told me I was “sick.” Who knew it could be a real, moneymaking idea? I still have that drawing if you want me to find it.

Naturally, I couldn’t turn down an offer like that, so I told Bill to go ahead and find the drawing. A few days later, he came back to me with this (click to enlarge):

joe dimaggio coffin concept.jpg

The drawing was accompanied by this explanation:

I found it. I never throw away anything, it seems. I was at an industry conference in March of 1999, right after Joe DiMaggio had died, I drew this on the back of one of the pages in my book. Passed it slyly to my work associate Al sitting next to me, with a note suggesting I could “make this in my workshop.” He wrote back, suggesting that he might open the lid and see if Joe still had “a pulse or two” to give an autograph (Al was German, and his English always made me smile).

I was ahead of my time. Why, if I had patented this back in 1999, I might be retired now with the residuals.

Good stuff. I especially like the “pine tar line to promote an air-tight seal.” Too bad Bill never followed through on it. But somebody should — this is a DIY project waiting to happen, am I right?

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Collector’s Corner

By Brinke Guthrie

Did you ever collect media guides? I did when I was growing up. Teams back then would gladly ship ’em out to you, along with decals, schedules and photos. I bet I wrote to every team in every league. This Falcons guide caught my eye during some recent eBay reseach. Lots on here to like — white Adidas as well as blue, old-style Riddells on Bartkowski, not to mention his white Dungard facemask, proper jersey stripes and socks. Ah, those were the days.

Lots of media guides in this week’s rundown:

• Speaking of Dungard facemasks, look at John Williams’s crazy two-part mask on the cover of the 1977 Rams guide. [I’ve seen that photo many times over the years but had no idea it was on the cover of a media guide! ”” PL]

• First thing I thought about regarding this 1977 Steelers guide was, “Why have a 77 on a QB or kicker’s helmet?” Then I thought, “Uh, duh.”

• Love the cover art on this 1975 Eagles book.

• The mid-1970s weren’t a very good period for the New York Football Giants, and even their media guide covers from that time felt kinda uninspired. Things were a looking a little more interesting by 1980. Look at that exaggerated facemask!

• Speaking of facemasks, did the Redskins misplace theirs or what?

• Okay, enough media guides. I don’t normally include expired auctions here, but this MLB Cooperstown Collection jersey is worth a look. That’s just logo madness.

• Wonder what fans of the other NHL teams thought when they saw the kid wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey sweater on the box lid of this game?

• Very comic book-style artwork on the cover of this 1978 Pro! program.

• Big set of those great 1970s NFL cardboard mini-posters (the ones where they use the same graphic for multiple teams and just change the colors) right here.

• This early-1970s NFL party decoration kit from Hallmark is the perfect thing for your NFL draft party next month.

• Reader Warren Junium sent this in — a pricey set of actual seats from the Boston Gah-den.

•  And from reader Jerry Wolper, check out this sensational Wilt vs. Oscar photo — with Wilt wearing a mask.

Seen something on eBay or Etsy (or anywhere else) that you think would make good Collector’s Corner fodder? Send your submissions here.

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’Tis the Season

By Vince Grzegorek

Hello, folks. The annual Uni Watch March Madness bracket competition is back for those of you who love college basketball and/or have interest in acquiring some of the stuff Paul has sitting around his apartment. You can join here (password: stirrups). There’s also a second group if the first one fills up, which has happened each of the last two years. Password for that one is the same as the first. Standard scoring: 1 point for correct picks in the first round, 2 points in the second, 4 points in the third, and so on. 32 points will be your reward for correctly picking the champion. Only one entry per person, please.

The top three winners will get to choose from some of the swag that Paul has accumulated since last December’s reader-appreciation raffle. Good luck to all.

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Stirrups Club reminder: Today’s the last day to order from Robert Marshall’s latest set of stirrup offerings. Full details here.

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Uni Watch News Ticker: Here are some of the new NFL Draft Day caps (from Joel Hatfield). … Former MLBer Kevin Millar, who wore No. 15 for most of his career, recently sent a Tweet to fellow 15er Jeremy Guthrie regarding another 15er. Interesting bit of cross-sport uni-numerical solidarity there (as noted by Tyler Kepner). … Check out the specialized headgear worn by Mark Astley in the mid-1990s (from Jeff Wilk). … Tom Arnel reports that Elena Elms, who sends me a batch of uni-themed cookies each Xmas, recently designed a T-shirt For his running group. … Those of you who’ve enjoyed Charles Sollars’s football uni concepts will also enjoy this story about him. … “While writing a piece on Herb Carnegie — the almost-Jackie Robinson of hockey — I found this pic of him,” writes Josh Eisenberg. “Based on my limited research, it’s unusual to see a player wearing a helmet in that era. There was no info on why Carnegie wore the helmet and no other photos of him wearing one.” … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Astros by the numbers. ”¦ This is seriously creepy: a compression suit for horses. No word on whether Andre Ethier’s horse is cutting the logo out of his (from Hugh McBride). ”¦ This is kinda cool: The Altoona Curve were almost called the Altoona Lake Monsters, so on May 30 they’re running a “What if?” promotion and wearing Lake Monsters uniforms (from Yancy Yeater). ”¦ I love pork and I love donuts, but I bet even Homer Simpson would draw the line at pork donuts. Two great tastes that do not belong together (thanks, I think, Kirsten). ”¦ Ryan Perkins recently spotted a clear Schutt football helmet at a small sporting goods store in Jackson, Mississippi. ”¦ “I flipped over to the Pittsburgh Power/Orlando Predators arena football game last Friday and thought it was kinda odd that only a few of the Power players had NOBs,” writes Rob Ullman. “Turns out I didn’t know the half of it. Apparently the entire team was let go just hours before the game — in an Olive Garden, of all places!” Of course, this would qualify as a kindness if the mass firings had taking place before the food arrived. ”¦ Another one from yesterday’s comments: New team names and branding for the Amateur and Junior Penguins. … In what I’m sure will come as a complete shock, the Packers’ uniforms aren’t getting a Nike makeover (from Nicholas Honeck). … Wondering how the Sacramento Kings ended up with their current colors, logos, etc.? Okay, so you probably weren’t, but here’s the story anyway (from Chris Chaussee). … Key quote: “Is there no one at Nike able to Google ‘Black and Tan?'” To see why someone had to ask that question, look here (thanks, Brinke). … “FC Tampa Bay in the new NASL wanted to reuse the old Tampa Bay Rowdies name but was not granted permission to do so (the name was owned by some group out of Dallas),” writes Randy Williams. “They were finally able to come to terms and purchased the name a few months ago, so 2012 will be their first year as the Tampa Bay Rowdies! They’re showing off their new practice jersey here and will release their new jersey on March 30.” … More soccer news, this time from Omar Jalife: “Here’s a gallery with the jerseys that will be worn on Poland/Ukraine for the Euro 2012, only the Ukraine jersey is missing.” … Marty Turco, recently signed by the Bruins, was wearing his old Stars gear on Sunday (from Jesse Buckner). … Lots of cool new Ebbets Field Flannels product showcased in this video clip (from Matthew Robins). … Mmmm, beefsteak. … You say you like hat pins? Then you’re gonna love this (big thanks to JP Samsel). … Here’s what the Mets will wear on St. Paddy’s Day. Too bad about the white side panels. ”¦ According to Okkonen/D2the9s, the Senators wore pinstripes at home in 1924. But now Todd Radom has found some photos from the ’24 World Series indicating that the Sens wore plain white uniforms in that year’s Fall Classic. ”¦ Maryland’s softball team appears determined to prove that there are ever-stupider things you can do with camouflage and the state flag (from Samuel Shipley). ”¦ New road cap for the Missoula Osprey. ”¦ I was watching a bit of yesterday’s Dodgers/Angels game and noticed Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier wearing a non-Cool Flo batting helmet. That’s not the new Gazoo, and I can’t recall which make/model it is. Anyone..? ”¦ Fun DIY project from Ron Lienhardt: “I got bored over Christmastime, so I sanded down an old helmet that was lying around and decided my den could use some creative lighting. The right side is the modern version of the CU helmet, and the left is from the 1958 Bowl game they played in (I believe it was the Orange Bowl). After it was all perfect from a few hours of wet-sanding, I decided to sand it down, rough it up, and add ‘Nebraska red’ impact marks for a game-used look.” ”¦ New uniforms for the New Orleans VooDoo. “One interesting detail: The players aren’t wearing high socks,” notes HHH. “Will the VooDoo really go with bare shins and calves like a college team? Or did somebody just forget to pack the socks?” ”¦ The designer of the much-maligned Buffaslug has posted some of his early conceptual drawings from that project. … The Bulls wore rojo en casa last night against the Knicks.

 
  
 
Comments (143)

    It would take a strong, strong man to rick-roll Mark Astley. I think I would hear a cry for help.

    Okay, I think that’s enough wikipedia-ing Rick Astley song titles to try to add to your comment. :-)

    On a serious note about the photo, Pat LaFontaine wore the same head gear when he had a broken jaw with the Sabers as well.

    link

    That photo shows that he was wearing it 3 years earlier.

    The batting helmet that Kemp and Ethier are wearing looks like the new Rawlings helmet that offers protection from pitches up to 100 mph. They are calling it the Rawlings Adult Safety Batting Helmet. Very creative.

    Maybe another revised version of the S100 or potentially a new prototype? The venting at the top of the helmet does look similar to the S100. And Rawlings does have the exclusive on supplying batting helmets to MLB and MILB, since they acquired ABC a few years back

    Maybe that Dodgers batting helmet is a pro version of the Rawlings Isotope helmet without the “radical” two-tone paint job and a modified earhole. The three vents seem to be the same.

    link

    link

    Typo!

    “Speaking of facemasks, did the Redskins misplaced theirs or what?”

    “Misplaced” should be “misplace”.

    “… Elena Elms, who sends me a batch of uni-themed each Xmas…”

    Think you left out the word “cookies.”

    PS She is so great!

    If you’re going to have Brown uniforms this is the way to do it

    link

    For Arena Football (who cares) , the New Orleans Voo Doo, have quite a distinctive look

    “… Key quote: ‘Is there no one at Nike able to Google ‘Black and Tan?’ To see why someone had to ask that question, look here (thanks, Brinke) …”

    Hypersensitive Hibernocentric Hogwash. So you can say it when you’re ordering a stout/lager combo at the pub, but you can’t say it about a stupid pair of sneakers? Can we get over the tales of bloody Saxon oppression, please?

    “…Here are some of the new NFL Draft Day caps (from Joel Hatfield)…”

    Curiously appalling.

    “… More soccer news, this time from Omar Jalife: ‘Here’s a gallery with the jerseys that will be worn on Poland/Ukraine for the Euro 2012, only the Ukraine jersey is missing.’…”

    Thanks, Omar, Great public service. And you gotta love the neologistic “Los Jerseys de la Euro.”

    I’m with you on this one, Connie. Like you I have Irish ancestry (as well as Anglo-Saxon, Scottish, Welsh and Manx) but to me a black and tan is primarily a drink. We can’t go around being offended by everything in life, otherwise I would be grossly offended by anyone calling their child Norman, as it is a reminder of the oppression of my ancestors by William the Conqueror.

    And anyway – St Patrick was Welsh.

    Not sure I can agree with you fellows.

    When you’re launching an Irish-themed product at St. Patrick’s Day, you really ought to make sure you know what the term means in Ireland. Especially if, as the article implies, said product will also be sold in Ireland.

    Without a doubt the “Black and Tan” name is not an accident. Nike chose it as a double-pun on purpose. The name absolutely refers to both the alcoholic drink (since an Irish stereotype is that they drink a lot) and “the notorious paramilitary force that terrorized Ireland during the War of Independence.”

    No way in hell this was an error. Nike is too successful of a company to make mistakes. They KNEW this name would cause controversy and get people talking about Nike. As they say, all press is good press.

    To PROVE this wasn’t a goof, all you have to do is look in the book “Swoosh: The Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There”. On pages 77 and 78, the authors tell the story of why one of Nike’s most successful sneakers, the Cortez, was given that name. The Cortez was originally named the Aztec “in anticipation of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City”. “But adidas, which had traditionally showcased a major new model for each Olympics, already had a model called the Azteca Gold.” Adidas sent Phil Knight a letter threatening a lawsuit. So Knight had to think of a new name. Since adidas always gave a new shoe “a name that reflected the site of the Olympic Games”, Knight went with Cortez because he was the “Spaniard that kicked the shit out of the Aztecs”.

    So Nike “dropped the Aztecs in favor of the man who conquered them… a man known to every Mexican schoolchild as the gold-hungry conquistador who tortured the last king of the Aztecs and roasted his feet over a fire.”

    “Nike is too successful of a company to make mistakes.”

    ~~~

    depends upon how you define “mistakes”

    It’s probably more offensive to those in Ireland, rather than those of us who are part of the Irish diaspora. As for me, I barely qualify as part of the latter, as I’d have to climb pretty high up the maternal side of my family tree to find my Irish forebears (that side is predominantly of Scottish descent, while my paternal side is predominantly Polish).

    In any case, associating a shoe with alcohol (as Nike intended to do here) just sounds like a bad idea to begin with.

    “… It’s probably more offensive to those in Ireland, rather than those of us who are part of the Irish diaspora…”

    I think not, actually. The Ireland Irish, in my experience, are considerably less rabid on the question of nationalist slights than many of the US Irish never-forget types.

    True that about insuilar vs diaspora Irish. I have relatives who will come close to blows on Collins vs De Valera, but in Dublin and Kerry, the attitude I’ve seen is more like “meh.”

    Across the pond a half lager/half stout pint is conveniently known as a “half and half” not a black and tan. A shot dropped into a half a glass of Guiness is NOT known as a “carbomb” either.

    If we’re going to be precise a “half and half” is lager and stout; a “black and tan” is a pale ale and stout.

    Either of which are an abomination to stout and pale ale.

    Lager, by the way, has no right to exist on Earth, except on a Spanish beach. But certainly never mixed with anything.

    You’ll be saying next that you should have soda in your whisky.

    We’ve disagreed with Bavarians a couple of times in the last hundred years ;)

    I was going to include a line about them having a history of vehement disagreement… great minds.

    I’m partial to lagers, stouts and pub ales myself. The Belgiums, IPAs and crafty/hoppy stuff is way too flowery for my pallet.

    I studied abroad for a semester in Ireland and you won’t make any friends ordering a “Black and Tan”. IF the pub serves them it’s a half and half, but most Irish pubs would never water down their Guinness!

    I’m a stout and chewy-beer guy, too. But if a} it’s hot outside; and b) you’ve run around a lot in the sun, then a nice crisp lager (Bud, for example) is just the ticket. Then you take the half-empty bottle and place it gently atop third base so it’s there when that screaming liner goes past you into the left-field corner.

    I toyed with the idea of mixing Guinness and Iron City to make a Black & Gold, but you just don’t mess with Guinness. Enjoy it responsibly, and by itself.

    As for the sneakers, they look as if someone had an accident with a spray painter.

    “I toyed with the idea of mixing Guinness and Iron City to make a Black & Gold”

    ~~~

    “bandwagonbeer”?

    The Spirit folded on me. I didn’t fold on them.

    Oh, you mean concussionball? I don’t root for anyone there anymore.

    I’ve never heard of a black & tan in ANY other context in my life other than the drink. Then again, I’m not Irish, I’m American. People need to quit being so damn sensitive.

    Also, Guinness is nasty.

    I see my email didn’t meet the deadline. lol The Steelers have link that they will be wearing new throwbacks next season. (The article is from January but I just now found it. Aw well, I first heard about it in link anyways.) What will probably make Paul happy on two accounts is this: one, it doesn’t appear it will be the 1933 prison throwbacks the team wore in link (Thank God!) Second, reportedly it will be the 1967 throwbacks–yes, the link I could actually see these as a good fit. Since the Northwestern-style stripes are absent, with the truncated sleeves I can still see it looking pretty good.

    I had heard that they would be the 1933 uniforms, but that was a long time ago, when the news first broke.

    I had heard from the Steelers Sideline Store in Grove City back in October that it would also be the 1933 uniforms. The Sideline Stores are owned-and-operated by the Steelers themselves. That’s when I emailed Paul and he published it in the news feed for the October 18th blog.

    But according to Steelers Depot, they are supposedly going with the Batman uniforms instead, which, aside from the jersey itself are actually pretty similar to the current uniforms. Same pants, same socks, ALMOST the same hemlet. (The Steelers had gray facemasks until 1977.) My guess is, while the recent throwbacks were, aside from a couple of minor details, accurate from 1962, I could see the new throwbacks being a mesh of several different eras. I could see the Batman uniforms paired up with white pants and gold, logo-less helmets. Maybe the ones with the numbers on the side.

    If they do go with the Batman uniforms, it would be an about-face for the team, and obvious evidence that Art Rooney II, not his father Dan, is running the show now. Dan Rooney said in 2007 when the last throwbacks first came out that the Batman unis would never be worn on-the-field again. (Of course, in 2004 Dan Rooney also said that the team wasn’t going to wear ANY throwbacks for the foreseeable future.) But that same season, the team honored longtime running backs coach Dick Hoak (who had just retired at the time) with a framed replica jersey from his playing days–a Batman #42 jersey. And the following year, the Steelers started selling customizable black Batman jerseys, link, although if it doesn’t have your own name & number has to be one of the current players. No link, link, or a bunch of guys that would be gone when Chuck Noll took over in 1969, a year after the Batman jerseys were retired in favor of the current look. (Hoak and Russell have seven Super Bowl rings between the two of them after the Steelers ditched the Batman look and started winning.)

    As a Steelers fan, well, to be honest, I liked the recent throwbacks, but the Steelers are one of those teams that should just have their standard white and colored jerseys. Black at home, white on the road unless in Cleveland, Dallas, or Florida, where the Steelers would be wearing black.

    Joseph, your email didn’t miss the deadline; it just didn’t make the cut, because it didn’t add anything we haven’t already discussed (i.e., that there are rumors that the Steelers’ new throwback could be this or that, but no hard info yet).

    “Maryland’s softball team appears determined to prove that there are ever-stupider things you can do with camouflage and the stage flag”–that should read “state flag.” Actually, as a native Marylander, I wish that item didn’t have to appear at all. More shame for the home state.

    Nice job on the link, Ron Lienhardt. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. If Colorado would adopt link helmet design full-time in gold, and left everything on their current unis the same, they would easily leap into my college football Top 5.

    Interesting to read the discussion with the Buffaloslug logo designer, K. Bazen. It sounds like he was pretty young when he designed that logo. He obviously took a lot of criticism when his work was unveiled and implemented into the Sabres identity. It is good to hear that he has moved on since then and looks to have a pretty nice graphic portfolio.

    As someone in the design field, I look back on my early work when I was just out of college and I laugh. We all had to start somewhere and experience is always the best teacher. I am sure that Bazen’s work with the Buffalo Sabres was a great experience. I am just shocked that an NHL team with such a strong following and history would allow the buffaloslug to ever come into existence. For them to trust their identity with a young designer just out of school is pretty incredible.

    I don’t want to speak for Kris, but I think it wasn’t so much ‘trusting their identity to a young designer’ as much as it was commissioning the company Kris worked for to design their identity. The team is the one who calls the shots in a situation like this and says “I want it to be fast and modern, a total departure from our classic look.” The designer doesn’t draw something fast and modern if the client doesn’t ask for it.

    “Here are some of the new NFL Draft Day caps”

    sucks! they use the same stupid font for every hat?!?! lazy! would have been really cool if new era actually used the team font. as is… sucks!

    love elena’s “turtle train” logo! thanks for sharing, tom

    will the horse compression suit make them swim faster too?

    i would have got up from the table and thanked the owner of the pittsburgh power for cutting my olive garden “meal” short (in fact… i probably would have been conviently absent from that “meal”)

    pittsburgh vengeance?!?! ThrewUpInMyFuckinMouth… a) gives us yinzers more opportunity to misspell “vengence” in our day to day routine, and b) kudos to the Penguins organization who in the process of starting their own program, “offered financial assistance to both the Amateur and Junior Penguins organizations in an effort to minimize the financial impact of this name change on their players and families. In addition, the Penguins offered branding research and marketing advice to both organizations as they begin preparing for the 2012-13 season”

    great job on the lamp, ron!

    Ain’t gonna happen. The guy who bought the rights to the name “Cosmos” turns out to have had a history of — how shall we put it? — irregular financial transactions, and the MLS won’t admit him to the club.

    Which is too bad, cuz Cosmos is a great name for a New York team.

    Actually “that guy” got bought out by a Saudi group. Paul Kemsley is not what’s keeping the Cosmos out of “the” MLS.

    They’re bound and determined to have a second New York team, but it won’t happen until they get a suitable stadium location, and they’re actively working on that.

    There’s no guarantee a second NY team either will or won’t be called “Cosmos,” but it will have nothing to do with Kemsley’s financial irregularities. The current group (which may or may not simply be squatting on the name and selling “hip” Cosmos gear to people who want to look cool and trendy) may or may not be the ownership group that eventually wins out.

    As Mr. Tony always says, it’s 50/50.

    The Rowdies remind me of McDonalds.

    Every spring driving from Cincinnati down to Sanibel, we’d pass thru the various McD’s in FLA and they seemed to always have Rowdies stuff on the doors, tray liners, everywhere.

    Wow. Those Voodoo uniforms are absolutely horrible. I loved the old look. There was nothing wrong with it…just another thing the current ownership does much more poorly than the organization did under the ownership of Tom Benson. Sad.

    Same with the Georgia Force’s uniform, what was wrong with the original black helmet, blue jersey, & white pants. Why do they have to go all black.

    link

    A nice article on the history of the Sacramento Kings identity since the early 1990’s and how they’ve managed to keep the brand integrity in place for over 20 years and through different ownership groups.

    How is it I have no recollection of this “NY” logo on the Giants helmet from this 1975 press guide?!?!?
    link

    How many years did they use this?

    -Jet

    I won a $20 bet because of that logo. I told my friend, a “Giants” fan (ahem..bandwagon) that they wore that logo in the ’70s. He thought it was just a concept. I also bet him that FSU had “Florida State” on their jerseys (one year only)in the early ’80s. He did his research…and backed off.

    One thing I noticed about the NYG’s 1980 guide; it shows red numbers on the side of the jersey with the 80s style uniform. I never noticed that.

    I noticed that same thing. Brad Van Pelt is shown with a red number… granted I was only 9 years old at the time, but I think I would have remembered something like that….

    “The Packers won’t be changing their uniforms”

    Good for them. When any manufacturer tries to introduce a new “system” I automatically cringe. Look at all the NHL teams that ditched the Reebok harlequin costumes and returned to their senses, i.e. a traditional (read “professional”) look.

    weren’t the packers one of the teams that first went to the “super stretchie” material, with the nameplate discrepancies, like the colts?

    There were a handful of Packers, Jaguars and Bengals who wore them in addition to the more well-documented Giants and Colts.

    “The Packers won’t be changing their uniforms”

    ~~~

    is that really a surprise? there are at least 10-15 *untouchable* (or as close to untouchable as you can get) that nike will gladly suit up in their current classic style, and anywhere from 22-17 teams that will or might see small to wholesale revamps over the life of the nike contract

    don’t be surprised to see the league looking very much as it does now in 10 years

    If pork and doughnuts do not sit well with you, how about bacon and doughnuts – Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland have a Bacon Maple Bar on their menu (link – sorry, no direct link to the specific doughnut)

    And that’s two distinct mentions of the best doughnut store in the world in today’s comments!

    bacon donuts… aren’t… good…

    some things, like donuts, just shouldn’t be toyed with! lemonade and milkshakes are also on that list

    :-)

    Pulverized magic mushrooms work pretty well inside a big thick chocolate shake. Or so I’ve heard.

    “Or so I’ve heard.”

    ~~~

    uh huh

    bacon donuts taste pretty good on those shakes

    The Bacon Maple ones at Dynamo Donuts in SF are pretty bomb, too. Been featured on the Food Network.

    Been to Voodoo Donuts, and as bad as bacon+donut sounds, it’s actually pretty good.

    You know how people put syrup on bacon? That’s what it tastes like with a little added dough. Admittedly, it’s not my cup of tea, but the idea works as it’s a huge seller.

    link

    Maple bacon voodoo donut pic. I hate to say I have never been even though I live just 30 minutes away. If I do go this is definitely on my list of must try items.


    Peace Love and Little Donuts
    in Pittsburgh also rocks the maple bacon donut (and they’re topped to order, so I bet you could get a chocolate bacon donut if you are so inclined). I was a little freaked out at first, but those things are just awesome!

    The maple-bacon donuts at Voodoo are simply delish. In China, pork buns are quite common and cha siu bao can be found in any American Chinatown as well.
    link

    I’m getting pretty pissed having “This is Ford Truck Month” blast through my speakers whenever I go to the site. Tough to fain doing work when you have a loud ad blasting your ears.

    This is embarrassing. I keep bugging the people who serve our ads to make the audio ads stop, and they keep saying they’re “working on it.” Very frustrating.

    For starters: Try a different browser.

    Apologetically,
    Paul

    That doesn’t really work for some, Paul. For those whose desktops are locked down by company IT policies, adding a new browser is a huge no-no.

    I have never once seen one of these ads, but can you not put pressure on them in a way that affects their business? Inform them that you will remove all the ads until they figure out a way to solve the audio problem?

    Honestly, “working on it” in the IT ad industry (which I’ve done) means “we haven’t looked at it since last time you called, and we probably won’t bother looking at it since it’s making us money”. They get paid by Ford to place a specific ad that Ford has paid them to advertise on their media platform. If Ford is paying them, they won’t piss all over them.

    If you want to hit them where it hurts, cut off their audience. If they don’t advertise as they promise to the companies they deal with, it will hit them in the pocketbook quickly.

    “For those whose desktops are locked down by company IT policies, adding a new browser is a huge no-no.”

    ~~~

    i would imagine it would also be a huge no-no to be viewing UW under those circumstances, as well

    here’s a thought…is there a “mute” button on your computer? perhaps you could try that before logging onto UW at the office feigning work

    I don’t Have audio problems, but I do receive an annoying “..8 need to be” ad banner on my mobile device (iPad). This started a few weeks ago and requires constant closing.

    also: if you can find out the url that’s serving the address, you can add it to the HOSTS file with an ip address (127.0.0.1 is good for ads) that means your browser will not download it.

    I don’t have a problem with it as I have my speakers muted all the time, unless I actually wish to listen to something.

    Too often have I had loud sounds suddenly emanating from the speakers that I don’t want others to hear… I mean… erm… that might disturb others… erm.. no … so that others won’t know what I’m… no… well, I just have them muted ;)

    At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, how about turning the volume off on your computer when surfing the blogs? To be honest, I never turn my volume ON unless I need to, for fear of running into some surprise audio messages.

    Is it just me or are the Yankees missing from that cascet site Paul linked too? Does that mean the splash photo came from a different site?

    I’m an idiot they are all there, i guess i was looking for the interlocking N and Y, sorry.

    Two Andrew Luck(y) nuggets:

    1) Andrew Luck has signed with link.

    2) From the Tiedman & Formby Vintage Athletic Co. Facebook page came a link they shared of Luck throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Stanford baseball game. He had his own cardinal pullover jersey with #12 and threw a 62mph blunder in the dirt.

    Anyone else notice on that 1980 Giants media guide how the white jerseys have RED tv numbers?

    link

    According to gridironuniforms.com, the 1980 Giants’ white jerseys had blue tv numbers and jersey numbers. They matched:

    link

    Paul has mentioned on the blog in the past that the only football jersey he has ever seen that had mismatching-color jersey and tv numbers was the 1993 Patriots blue jerseys and the 1993 and 1994 Patriots white jerseys.

    link

    link

    I wonder if the mismatching-color jersey and tv numbers on the white Giants jerseys on the 1980 media guide were just artist error, or were the Giants actually considering this look at the time the painting was created?

    It’s funny how when I first opened the pic for the Giants Media Guide, my eyes went straight to the TV numbers and thought it didn’t look right. I was only 9 years old at the time, but I think I would have noticed red tv numbers. Also odd to remember that Brad Van Pelt wore number 10…

    I think the Vick-era VT uniforms are perhaps the most famous example of non-matching jersey/TV numerals.

    link

    “Crane also said that the Astros are still in the process of evaluating new uniforms for 2013 and will have a focus group of fans into the ballpark next week to help with the decision making. The Astros must submit changes to their logo, uniform and/or other branding by May 1.”

    I don’t know whether Paul checks the @UniWatch Twitter (some people only use it to broadcast links), but I just RT’ed an epic picture from @si_vault.
    link

    I’m sorry, Black and Tan is a drink, Black and Tans were a terrorist group.

    “In March 2006, Ben and Jerry’s released an ice cream flavor in the United States for Saint Patrick’s Day inspired by the drink; the name offended Irish nationalists because of the paramilitary association. Ben and Jerry’s has since apologized. A spokesman told Reuters, “Any reference on our part to the British Army unit was absolutely unintentional and no ill-will was ever intended.”

    If the nicest company in the world (hyperbole) can make the mistake, who says Nike couldn’t’ve done the same thing. It’s not like they called them, “Irish Car Bombs,” (which are delicious, btw, just like a black and tan) then I might see the outrage, this was probably just an oversight.

    Sometimes when you know something’s definition intimately you don’t even bother to think what it might mean to someone else. Take, for example, Dago Tee. I called “wife beaters” (there’s another right there but that one’s probably too obvious) that for years without realizing Dago was a slur for Italians.

    If I were coming out with a new sleeveless Tee shirt back then, I wouldn’t’ve even thought to research what Dago meant.

    it may have been an oversight, but it’s still a rubbish name to use. What does it say about the product? It’s good for slaughtering Irish with? Or that Americans are ignorant? (since it’s an American company)

    branding and marketing are tricky disciplines to get right

    “What does it say about the product?”

    I think it says that the product is both black and tan. That’s it’s colorway (*snicker*).

    Listen, I’m Irish American (O’Brien, obviously…) I’m close to 100% Irish even though I’m fourth generation American (my father is 100% Irish, my mom is like 75% or more Irish and the rest english… I know, gross.) I’ve been to Ireland AND Northern Ireland, I’ve studied the troubles and Irish independence and I still didn’t know about the nickname Black and Tans.

    To me, a stoopid ignorant American, a Black and Tan is a delicious mix of Bass and Guinness and it’s delicious.

    But you know, other ignorant American companies have made the same mistake:
    link
    link

    OH WAIT, Guinness licensed that coaster! Looks like an Irish company can make the same mistake…

    Sorry, Tim. I really can’t let one small part of that go.

    The Black and Tans were the representatives of the British Government in Ireland, a part of the British Army. There are arguments to be had about how they exceeeded their authority, terrorised, etc etc… but they were not, and can never be described as, a terrorist group.

    One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter, but even the most oppresive Governmental forces are not described as terrorists.

    And my credentials for saying this are that I was brought up in Liverpool, and taught by Irish Christian Brothers (I am still in therapy!). Our school had two flagpoles – on important days the flags of the Vatican and the Republic were flown.

    But I wholeheartedly agree that Nike were actually really probably thinking of the drink. Most people in the UK (and possibly a majority in Ireland too) would now have no idea who the Black and Tans (capital letters) were.

    You didn’t know “Dago” was an ethnic slur??

    Although I’m not perfect either. Back when I was a teenager I didn’t realize “oriental” was offensive to some.

    Dago is a phrase for Spaniards (from Diego), not Italians. That’s a different word.

    I’m not condoning any of this, btw, but as this is an OCD site we may as well get things right :)

    Gotcha. Didn’t mean anything insulting by my comment though (as I mentioned when I was a kid I thought oriental was a perfectly fine way to describe a Korean friend of mine. She corrected me.)

    “Back when I was a teenager I didn’t realize “oriental” was offensive to some.”

    ~~~

    kinda like “redskin”?

    Looks like the Philadelphia Soul got new uniforms. link. First time I have ever really seen a light blue with a matte finish which you can see here link. Not sure if I like them or not…but its only arena football, so who cares haha.

    Hi all,

    Avid Uni-watch reader with a question. I’m a law student, writing about baseball’s exemption from federal antitrust laws. Part of what the exemption does (or might not do, depending on your interpretation of case law) is insulate Major League Baseball Properties from antitrust lawsuits for collectively marketing MLB teams’ logos and marks (i.e., telling New Era, if you want to sell Yankees caps, you have to buy all the teams, including the Royals, and pay a premium for doing so, thus protecting teams whose logos wouldn’t be as valuable on their own).

    Anyway, Steinbrenner sued MLB in 1997 to allow him to have a side agreement with Adidas, in addition to the league-wide deals, that gave Adidas additional rights to market Yankee gear. The case settled, and Steinbrenner got to keep the deal (10 years, $95m).

    My question: have other teams since the Yankees negotiated team-specific deals with apparel manufacturers, like the Yankees did? I know some of you folks out there have to know the answer. Any help (including links) would be much appreciated!

    The Adidas deal has expired, and now Nike is in its place.
    I’m fairly confident that the answer is “no,” that it’s only the Yankees. Funny enough, that (and not any sense of tradition) is why Yankees game-worns do not have the Majestic logo; however, straight-to-retail authentics and, occasionally, Yankees’ ASG jerseys have the Majestic logo.

    Thanks Mike. But why wouldn’t other teams have jumped into the fray with their own deals by now?

    In 1997, only New Era, Majestic, Starter, and ProPlayer had deals w/ MLBP. Today, Nike is involved with a league-wide deal in addition to the Yankees deal, and many of the other big players (UA, Reebok)…right?

    So maybe, since none of the big players are on the sidelines now (like they were in 1997), they’re less incentivized to cut a deal with specific teams?

    It could be a combination of “They’re the Yankees, so let them be the exception before George gets too wrapped up in a lawsuit that could cost a lot of money,” and “Only the Yankees have enough name recognition to really pull it off.” I’m not sure.
    I know for a fact that there are a trillion “official” pieces of equipment for MLB. Last time I checked, Wilson fielding gloves, All-Star catcher’s equipment, and Franklin batting gloves were all “official.” Other brands can be seen on the field, but only the official brands get to use the Dior batter-man logo.
    Once upon a time, the Dallas Cowboys were “on their own” for merchandise. Not so much anymore (maybe due to the salary cap?), but every once in a while, the Cowboys will have a special item that doesn’t fit the template of the year. (The Raiders also buck the trend every once in a while, but it’s usually to say “Raiders Football” instead of “Oakland Raiders” in order keep a façade of a threat of relocation alive.)

    The Cowboys still have their own deal. They can buy the Nike and New Era stuff if they want, but they’re also allowed to design and sell their own gear.

    Jimmy Johnson had something to do with getting the Cowboys with Apex..and then Jerry did the Nike deal all on his own; there was a swoosh on the PA speaker @ Texas Stadium, but for a season the whole team and coaching staff went logo-less. plain white or blue polos, etc. Depressing.

    Watching the Cards/Mets ST game on MLB Network. When they came back from commercial, link appeared. Stanton and Ozzie have the “Miami” Marlins caps, but the old “Florida” Marlins jerseys with pinstripes. Why would they update the caps but miss the glaring error with the jerseys?

    Looks like a skinny M-hat logo. I will guess that it was a Photoshop job. (Why wouldn’t the new headshots be ready? I have no clue.)
    Remember that Ozzie used to manage the White Sox, which also (along with the old Florida Marlins’ uniforms) had black pinstripes on the home whites.

    I know the question as to whether or not the white panel will be present on the home batting helmets for the Orioles has been asked a few times (most recently someone asked about it yesterday).

    There hasn’t been an answer yet, and there are concerns as I believe currently they have not worn such a helmet in spring training. However the answer can be found in the release posted on the team’s website way back when they announced the changes.

    “The club’s new home cap will feature the cartoon bird on a white front panel with a black back and orange bill and button. The look will be replicated on the club’s home batting helmets.”

    that quote is taken from the 2nd paragraph from this page:
    link

    It also says that the road helmet will replicate the look of the road hat.

    Hopefully they are still sticking to this plan, and that the use of the road helmets in spring training is because of other factors. Such as the fact that they are outfitting players that will not make the team, and its easier to use just the one helmet for every game, as well as not produce the comparatively more complex helmets for more players than will actually make the regular season squad.

    Bears are already selling Brandon Marshall jerseys but the number is “00”

    link

    Interesting that they are already selling these without notification of if and when his number will be added to the jersey.

    #15 and #19, his numbers in Denver and Miami respectively, are both available.

    Maybe he’ll go with an 80’s number. Those seem to be coming back in vogue. I guess the novelty of a wide receiver wearing a teen’s number is wearing off.

    From Jay Cutler to Marshall on 1/7/12:

    @JayCutler6: I can get #15 out of storage! Suit you back up. RT @BMarshall19: I miss @jaycutler6 believing in me like that.

    Looks like Cutler was already reassigning numbers a few months back.

    I think Mr. Radom is wrong about that Senators pic.

    That year, Okkonen shows the Giants wearing solid pins only at home: link

    And the Senators wore solid grays on the road: link

    So, I’m thinking that is a Sens road game, and those jerseys are actually gray.

    Color vs. color alert in the NIT, where “home team” Dayton brought their road reds to Iowa City and “away team” Iowa is wearing their road blacks.

    Color on color alert in the NIT: Iowa vs. Dayton. Dayton is the “home team”, but only brought their roadies since the game is being played in Ames.

    Random question, and I apologize if this has been clarified earlier in the blog.

    Why does Baylor have deals with Adidas’ for Men’s Basketball, but also have deals with Nike for other sports (such as football and women’s basketball). I find it bizarre that Baylor employed both Adidas’ glowing yellow promotion during the men’s Big East Tournament, while also wearing Nike’s ‘platinum’ special for the women’s team. Frankly, I’m utterly confused. Does anybody have an explanation? Thanks…

    I think the men’s team had a scandal and Nike dumped them, so the mens basketball team had to find a new supplier, and adidas was it.

    Some of the Buffaslug logos were actually outstanding. Unfortunately, not ONE graphic designer has ever had the power to actually choose the final logo a team selects. This decision always goes to the owner or his wife.

    “The Astros must submit changes to their logo, uniform and/or other branding by May 1.”

    why?

    So TV channels can adjust graphics, so MLB can update info on programs/press kits/ect. league wide, so they can start selling authentic gear and gear with their 2012 logos.

    There are a thousand good reasons the ‘Stros need to shit or get off the pot.

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