Click images to enlarge
As most of you probably know, the Cubs don’t use a conventional helmet logo decal — they used an embroidered adhesive patch. The good part is that the patch has more depth and texture than a decal, so the logo really pops; the bad part is that the patch doesn’t conform to the contours of the helmet as well as a decal and tends to come loose more often.
If Cubs pitcher Travis Wood wasn’t already familiar with that problem, he knows about it now. As you can see in the screen shots above, his first plate appearance in last night’s Mets/Cubs game featured MLB’s most comically askew headwear logo since Joe McEwing in 2005.
Both TV broadcast teams working the game had fun with this turn of events. Let’s start with Len Kasper and Bob Brenly in the Cubs’ booth:
Kasper: Uh, Travis..?
Brenly: It’s not quite that windy here tonight, that it would blow the C off the front of his helmet.
Kasper: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a decal in that particular location on a batting helmet. It looks like a U.
Brenly: Like a horseshoe, yeah. The closed side down, so the luck doesn’t run out. That’s where we’re goin’.
Meanwhile, over in the Mets’ broadcast booth, Gary Cohen and Ron Darling had this to say:
Cohen: What happened to the C on his helmet? It became…
Darling: Underdog!
Cohen: …dislodged and … [cut to view of Cubs baserunner’s helmet] … now, that’s the way it’s supposed to look. I wonder if Travis knows that his C has been cockeyed?
Darling: No, I’m sure he doesn’t. You would never look at that. You just throw your helmet on.
Cohen: Do you think the equipment manager is seeing that and cringing right now?
Darling: He is cringing. He is sprinting — because the locker rooms are so far from the field here — he is sprinting [to get a new logo patch] as we speak.
Cohen [laughing]: I mean, I’ve never seen anything like that! It’s almost like he was in the Mets’ clubhouse during spring training when they had the Underdog shirts.
Darling: That’s right!
The situation had been remedied by the time of Wood’s next at-bat (too bad). If you look at the close-up photo at the top of the page, it looks like the logo patch had already come loose and then been reattached with a loop of tape, although that doesn’t explain how it ended up so far from where it belonged.
Meanwhile, imagine if this had happened back in the days when the Cubs inscribed a player’s uni number in the center of the logo. That would’ve looked even more interesting.
(Thanks to everyone who provided info and screen shots, including Jonathan Mayer, Matt Edwards, Jim Brunetti, Bob Gassel, Benjamin Gordon, Zach Pearce, Kenneth Stephon, and Diego Bauzá.)
Research request: I’m still trying to document as much history as possible relating to players who’ve worn 0 or 00. One problem I’m facing is that there are over 60 NBA players who’ve worn 0 or 00, but I have no idea why most of them chose that number. (In the other major sports, I know the backstories for most of the zero-clad players.) For example, Robert Parish’s double-zero is as iconic as any number in NBA history, but I can’t find any info as to why he wore it.
Here’s the list of NBA zero-clad NBA players whose backstories I’m still trying to learn about:
Al-Farouq Aminu, Hornets; Greg Anderson, Hawks; Darrell Arthur, Grizzlies; Anthony Avent, Bucks and Magic; Milos Babic, Cavs and Heat; William Bedford, Pistons and Spurs; Marco Belinelli, Raptors; Benoit Benjamin, multiple teams; Mike Bibby, Heat and Wizards; Bismack Biyombo, Bobcats; Aaron Brooks, Rockets and Suns; Randy Brown, Bulls and Suns; Tony Campbell, Pistons;
DeMarre Carroll, Rockets and Nuggets; Lionel Chalmers, Clippers; Anthony Cook, Nuggets, Bucks, and Magic; Tony Delk, multiple teams; Kevin Duckworth, multiple teams; Evan Eschmeyer, Nets; Gary Forbes, Nuggets; Sundiata Gaines, Nets; Chris Garner, Raptors; Calvin Garrett, Rockets and Lakers; Drew Gooden, multiple teams; Andrew Goudelock, Lakers; Taurean Green, Nuggets and Blazers; Orien Greene, Celtics and Nets; Spencer Hawes, 76ers; Brendan Haywood, Wizards; Larry Hughes, Knicks and Bobcats; Darnell Jackson, Cavs and Bucks; James Johnson, Raptors; Ken Johnson, Blazers; Alvin Jones, 76ers;
Bobby Jones, Rockets; Fred Jones, Blazers; Johnny Jorgensen, Stags; Enes Kanter, Jazz; Lari Ketner, Cavs; Acie Law, Bulls; Voshon Lenard, Blazers; Art Long, Kings; Shawn Marion, Mavericks; Walter McCarty, Celtics, Suns, and Clippers; Amal McCaskill, Magic, Hawks, and 76ers; Jeff McInnis, Cavs, Nets, and Bobcats; Aaron Miles, Warriors; Eric Montross, multiple teams; Johnny Moore, Spurs and Nets; Jerrod Mustaf, Suns; Julius Nwosu, Spurs; Greg Ostertag, Jazz and Kings; Olumide Oyedeji, Sonics and Magic; Robert Parish, multiple teams; Olden Polyince, multiple teams; Leon Powe, Celtics; Soumaila Samake, Lakers; Dickey Simpkins, Hawks; Greg Smith, Rockets; Theron Smith, Grizzlies and Bobcats; Jeff Teague, Hawks; James Thomas, Hawks and Blazers; Dajuan Wagner, Warriors; Slick Watts, Jazz and Rockets; Russell Westbrook, Thunder.
If you know why any of these players chose to go zero-clad, please let me know. Thanks.
Collector’s Corner
By Brinke Guthrie
Today’s the second day for Wimbledon. We presented a brief Wimbledon preview on Sunday, but I wanted to feature some great vintage tennis items here on Collector’s Corner, starting with Bjorn Borg’s famous Fila jacket. I had this very model but in cobalt-navy. Had this Puma Boris Becker jacket, too! Here’s the Jimmy Connors T2000 steel racquet — notice it has the Lacoste croc. It’s not widely known, but in fact French star René Lacoste invented this frame. It eventually became a Wilson frame and Connors did well with it!
Speaking of frames, here’s the best I ever played with: the Head Guillermo Vilas, circa late 1970s. And I believe an early 1980s frame from the Belgian brand Snauwaert was made for the late Vitas Gerulaitis.
Ivan Ledl has had his own Adidas clothing line for a long time. Some of the designs were good, and others, uh, weren’t. Finally, say what you will about these Nike Agassi shorts, but they fit great.
In non-tennis eBay action:
• This is an excellent — or, if you prefer, Subarashii (ã™ã°ã‚‰ã—ã„) — late-1970s poster for an MLB All-Stars vs. Japan’s All-Stars game.
• Here’s a nice-looking 1973 Oakland Raiders helmet radio. Center stripe looks a bit thick, though.
• If you’re into bobbleheads (I am) and you have a ton of cash (I don’t) you’ll want to bid on this bobble set from the 1970s and 1980s.
• Cubbies fans may not have a Series title, but they do have this swell 1979 belt buckle.
• Look at these terrific 1970s Stride-Rite kids sneakers, complete with all of the MLB team logos.
• Here’s a nice lot of 1970s-80s NBA pennants.
Seen something on eBay or Etsy that you think would make good Collector’s Corner fodder? Send your submissions here, and you can follow Brinke on Twitter and Facebook.
Uni Watch News Ticker: We’ve known for months that the Twins would be wearing Minneapolis Millers throwbacks this Saturday, but we hadn’t gotten a look at the design until now. Nice! Video coverage here. … Padres bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds — known as “Ak” — died on Sunday. The Padres haven’t yet announced any uniform memorial for him, but former Padre Mike Adams, now pitching for Texas, inscribed Akerfelds’s nickname on his cap for Sunday night’s game (from Brady Phelps. … Good article about maintaining the grass at Wimbledon. ”¦ Here’s an article on the extremely depressing trend of cities and municipalities selling ads on their fire trucks, hydrants, school buses, and police cars. Very sad stuff. ”¦ Coupla good auction finds by Bruce Menard: a blazer from a Cardinals tour of Japan and — get this — a Cardinals jersey with a four-leaf clover shirttail patch! I ran that jersey by a few researchers, including Cardinals historian Brian Finch, none of whom had ever seen it before. Makes me suspect that the clover patch may have been an aftermarket addition. … Absolutely spectacular felt lettering on this old basketball uni. … Here’s a good infographic on Fenway Park (from Andrea Smart). … New jesey sponsor for Sunderland (from George Chilvers). … Also from George: A British man who wore a DIY soccer shirt to a legal proceeding as found to be in contempt of court. … Mike Mongada’s brother just graduated from WVU, so Mike threw him a party — complete with a DIY’d WVU beer pong table. “Got the exact Pantone color paint from my local household hardware megastore,” says Mike. “Painted the full table in blue with a gold boarder, then printed out the logo on a heavy stock paper, cut out the logo and attached together and to the table, traced the logo with a pencil and then taped off the traced logo with painter’s tape, and finished with a few coats of polyurethane gloss for a sealer and protection from the likely spills of competition.” Nice job! … Scott Hauck was watching this video clip about the 1967 Packers when he spotted Bart Starr wearing No. 51. “The image wasn’t reversed, and the other players’ numbers are correct,” says Scott. “In fact, there is another #51 in white on the defensive side (wearing the green cap). So, why was Starr sporting 51? Incidentally, there was no 51 on the roster that year.” … New football cleats for Texas A&M (from David Wilson). … Douchebaggery alert: “Dirk Nowitzki was the guest of honor at this weekend’s FC Dallas game,” says Harrison Thomas. “Nowitzki has a Nike contract, so he covered up the Adidas logo on his FC Dallas jersey with tape. Couldn’t do anything about the three stripes on the shoulder, though.” … In a related item, the absurdity of corporate-named bowl games is nicely illustrated by this tidbit: The Champs Sports Bowl is now the Russell Athletic Bowl. Since the two teams playing in that game will almost certainly be outfitted by either Nike or Adidas, well, you do the math (from Guy Finelli). … Vincent Delestree stumbled upon a shot of A-Rod wearing a double-flapped Yankees helmet. Must have been early in spring training and the regular helmets hadn’t arrived on the truck yet or something like that. … Here’s a video about Spain’s equipment manager (from Mike Edgerley). … Look how the Brewers marked Norichika Aoki’s spot in the lineup the other day (from Eric Longenhagen). … Speaking of lineup cards, Kevin Youkilis had his name misspelled on the lineup card for his first game with the White Sox. “Also, Youkilis got No. 20 from Jordan Danks, who’ll now wear No. 7,” says Tim E. O’Brien. … Kudos to Colts WR Quan Cosby and new QB Andrew Luck. Cosby offered Luck his number — 12 — if Luck would help out with Cosby’s youth football camp in Cosby’s hometown of Mart (population 2,273), and Luck agreed (from Matt Mitchell). … It’s not unusual for MLBers on minor league rehab assignments to wear their single-earflapped big league helmets, instead of the double-flapped S100s that are mandatory in the minors. But here’s something different: Rays farmhand Stephen Vogt, who got a cup of coffee in Tampa earlier this year but is now back in Durham, has been wearing his Rays catching helmet. Wonder how that’s going over with his teammates (from Cork Gaines). … Hmmm, are the old “Say no to drugs” wristbands making a comeback? Kinda looks like it based on that photo of Brandon Phillips (from Bob Lane). … Have I mentioned lately how much I love Hamilton Nolan? … Diego Bauzá is a big Mets and Rangers fan. “I’ve always loved sports patches look on a jersey and wanted a way to have them without buying multiple jerseys,” he says. “I opted to recreate the jersey design in Photoshop, complete with textures and stitching, and then add the real patch on top. I like the results and will continue to make more of these (Mets and Rangers only).” ”¦ Dustin Semore spotted an ump in the College World Series wearing a wireless mic thingie. ”¦ Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz wears his nickname, “Chooch,” on his chest protector collar (screen shot by Michael Stoudt). ”¦ Just What the World Needs Dept.: High-pressure basketball recruiting is now extending down to middle school. And you can bet that the sneaker companies will be involved in that soon, if they aren’t already. ”¦ NASCAR drive Brad Keselowski (driver of the #2 Miller Lite Penske Dodge) uses two brands of helmets: one for races and one for testing and practice (from Adam Jackson). ”¦ At one point someone thought “the catcher’s mitt of the future” would be able to send signals to the pitcher electronically. “The buttons are kinda hard to read on that scan, but the white ones read OH, IH, OL, and IL, for outside and inside and low and high,” says Kris McInnis. “The other buttons are for four pitches: Fast, Curve, Slider, and Fork. I guess the pitcher would wear the same kind of glove too..?” ”¦ Italy goaltender Gianluigi Buffon had some sort of tape behind his left ear for the match against England. Anyone know what that’s about? (From Todd Davis.)
I’ll be spending the day with my Mom, so that’s all for me for today. See you back here tomorrow.
It’s called a “lavalier”….not a “wireless mic thingie”
And every time I hear that term I think of link
And every time I hear it, I think of the naked gun bathroom scene.
The tape on the Italian goalkeeper is kinesio tape.
Yeah, he’s been wearing the it on both sides of his neck for most of the tournament. I think you could see it coming up from under his jersey in video shots, meaning it runs down to his back.
I believe that Robert Parish’s 00 is a tribute to his high school. He went to a place called Centennial High School, so how else are you able to wear two zeros at the same time? (Goes hand in hand with the school of thought that 00 comes after 99.)
I can’t find a record of which high school Parish attended, but I see that he attended Centenary College — is that what you’re referring to?
I found a site that stated that “Parish often told the media that he chose double zero in high school because teammates used to refer to him as “double nothing” in response to his lack of talent as a tall, gangly, often uncoordinated player”. The URL is link. I don’t know if it is a reliable site or not.
Centenary Gentlemen. My all-time favorite college mascot.
Yep, that’s exactly what I meant.
//Coffee time.
The Cubs dont want their Chicago Bear friends to corner the market on decal problems!
I can’t remember Robert Parish’s HS either, but it was in Northern Louisiana and they won the State Championship his senior season by one point.1970 or 1971 ….
By the way, The Russell Athletic Bowl will truly be a hoot to watch when it has two non-Russell teams.
Queary – since bowl games are after the regular season, and teams must be invited and then accept the invitation, could the Russell Athletic Boewl make it a cndition of the invitation that teams wear, say, Russell jerseys? I know colleges sign exclusive deals, but a bowl gane just may provide the exception – at least until the new contracts are drawn up with each individual deal to inclue specifically bowl games – assuming they currently are not included ….
You know, even though it’s disgusting to think about all of that being an issue, it will at least be interesting to see how it plays out (IMO). I wish college football would spend the time they’ve devoted to this stupid playoff idea (I’m a rare playoff-opposer) and use their energy to figure out how to get all the douchebaggery out of the college game. And yes, I know that Paul would consider being a vegetarian before that has a chance of happening, since it’s all about the Benjamins…
I too am a playoff opposer, one of the best things about college football championship is that you honestly see two of the best teams in college football playing. I forget how march madness played out this year but I know last year it was an 8 seed versus a 3 seed. Take the fact that you have 4 regional brackets and you’re looking at roughly a 10 seed playing a 30 seed. Would anyone ever stand for that in college football? Would anyone stand for seeing the third best team playing the fourth best team in college football championship? I know it’s screwed up the way it is but 4 teams turns into 8 teams eventually, etc.
As for the Russell sports bowl, heard on the radio Orlando was going to try for one of the playoff games. They are talking renovation to the citrus bowl, I think that would be the only way they get a playoff game in the 70+ year old stadium.
Respectfully disagree, Tom. At least in March Madness and virtually all other sports, the issue is decided on the field of play. If a higher seed can’t beat a lower seed, that’s tough luck. If a underdog can run the table, they’ve earned the championship.
Too frequently in college football, the national title game matchup is decided by a ridiculous mathematical formula. Let’s find out on the field with a short playoff on the 1A level. Actually, the best model would be a playoff more in the size of the other divisions, but we all understand about the bowl situation.
With a playoff we’ll see more great games,and a better way to decide a champion, what’s wrong with that?
Unlike pro football, the whole object of the college football season is to go undefeated if you can.
That creates an entirely different and unique level of tension. Your season can go in the tank in October.
In college, as Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has said, “Every week is a playoff game.”
A lot of people think that critical difference between Saturday and Sunday is worth preserving. But it’s lost on plenty of others, to be sure.
That said, I like the upcoming four-team playoff. That makes some sense. More teams than that is dumb because the fact is that if people say you’re the eighth best team in the country this year, you probably ARE…and shouldn’t be in the title hunt. In the NFL, sure. In college, no.
Differences are entertaining. Everything alike is…boring.
Well said, Rick. While I don’t even like the idea of the four-team playoff (winning a NC is already hard enough, without having to play an extra game), it’s the best compromise I suppose. It will be fun to watch no doubt. I just dread the day that my team’s QB tears an ACL in the last seconds of the semifinal game, and I have to watch us get pounded in the title game.
Your arguments about having to go undefeated is spot on. It’s’ my first defense whenever I argue my position. I love that games in September aren meaningful, and that you can’t “clinch a playoff spot” and throw your third-stringers out there for an entire game.
“If a higher seed can’t beat a lower seed, that’s tough luck.”
And what’s wrong with…”Oklahoma State, you lost to Iowa State when you shouldn’t have, tough luck.”
Thinking teams should get a second chance in a playoff after they’ve blown it during the season seriously patches into the Participation Trophy generation’s inability to deal with disappointment.
Sometimes you and your team get ambushed and you’re done. Time to go home and come back next year. Life’s like that. Live with it.
I’d rather see the top teams playing for the trophy, good points Ricko. There’s a reason teams are ranked 30th and should be no where near a championship. Watching 10 versus 30th in NCAA FB this year would have been the likes of Rutgers versus Baylor in the national championship. You think theres outrage at the current system? Think about that matchup in the championship! I wouldn’t even watch.
Same thing with LA Kings winning the SC this year, you know they actually had a losing record in the regular season? Yeah but they blew through the playoffs. Yeah, but where were they all season long?
I’d want to see #1 v #2 & that’s about it. I don’t know if I would want to see a #3 or #4 win the championship. I think there’s too many variables & differences in NCAAF to have a true playoff.
Wouldn’t it be possible for a #3 or #4 seed to have two losses?
Same thing with LA Kings winning the SC this year, you know they actually had a losing record in the regular season?
They did?? 40-27-15, 95 Points by my count.
But I do think a winning record should be the bare minimum for making the playoffs in any sports, and the NHL allowing fewer teams in the playoffs would help. What I don’t like is how the Phoenix Coyotes & Florida Panthers were both a #3 seed with 97 & 94 points when they should had been a #7 seed. That’s why I can’t stand divisions. I don’t think it’s cute, I think it’s stupid.
@Tom V.: Except that it would never be #10 vs. #30 in the college football national championship…they are only taking the top 4 teams so the worst we could get is #3 vs. #4. And last year, that would have been Oklahoma State vs. Stanford, which turned out to be a great Fiesta Bowl matchup anyway. More exciting than the actual national championship IMO.
Concealed, think about this, the LA Kings skated off the ice losers more times than winners in the regular season, 40 and 42 in my book.
I think the concept of who is #1/2 vs #3,4 is usually too subjective.
Most teams play something close to 9 In Conference games, 2 Games against Patsies and 1 Game against another significant opponent. Most of what separates #1 vs #3/4 is the impression of the team in the voters minds. All you can really say for certain (or close to it) is that they are the best team in their region (by winning their conference)
If you have these 5 teams
11-1 SEC (Alabama)
12-0 Big12 (Texas)
12-0 Big10 (Northwestern)
11-1 Pac12 (USC)
11-1 ACC (Miami)
I don’t believe there really is enough information to slot them 1-5. Especially not to pick 2 teams out of it. Teams get #1/#2 ranking largely subjectively (Polls and computer rankings). But if you look at their schedules there really isnt much to say one is better than the other (Well USC beat Stanford who beat North Dakota by 50 who only lost to Miami by 3 so USC is better) Maybe Northwestern is the best, But maybe Alabama actually had to play a harder schedule. There isn’t enough information to say.
For NCAA-mens the bubble argument is usually which middleing major conference team gets to be a #12 seed (48th overall seed). The argument over who is a low seed isn’t too important to be than if you are only picking 1/2. All the best quality teams play in the NCAA mens tournament. In College football there are a slew of teams left out on subjective biases. “this teams deserves to be #1 because they started there in the preseason poll and my feelings about their conference are that it is the best” Moving the argument from who is #2 to who is #4 is better for determining who is the best overall at the end of the day. And when it changes to who is #8 and who is #16, even better.
#51 on the Packers had been Jim Ringo, the long time center. Not sure of the timing. He was traded because he dared to have an agent negotiate on his behalf. Perhaps this is Starr’s farewell?
Love the story on that.
It was time or Ringo to negotiate his contract.
Instead of Ringo, a stranger showed up.
Lombardi asked, “Who are you?”
“I’m Jim Ringo’s agent.”
Lombardi excused himself and left the room.
When he returned, he said, “You’re in the wrong city. I just traded him to Philadelphia.”
More likely: The 51 was just a blood jersey.
Somewhere in one of my books or files I have a photo of Starr wearing a #77 jersey in practice.
Practices simply were NOT as precise as they are now, that’s all. I really don’t think it’s anything but that. Just a different time, that’s all.
They didn’t have blood jerseys back then. In fact if your jersey had no blood on it you were expected to find some to smear on.
I’m pretty sure the Packers wore reverse number practice jerseys on purpose, because Lombardi wanted them to. I think it was in a book…if not Jerry Kramer’s, then the George Plimpton/Bill Curry “One More July.” The practice really didn’t fool anyone, since the numbers were hardly random.
I don’t recall ever reading that, but you just gave me a research project. Thanks!
It is true that the 1960s Packers weren’t very precise in their numbering, especially when it came to link and link (check out the numbers on their jackets).
“…We’ve known for months that the Twins would be wearing Minneapolis Millers throwbacks this Saturday, but we hadn’t gotten a look at the design until now. Nice!…”
You bet. Very nice.
Really hope the Brewers do this – they haven’t TBTC to the American Association days in 16 years.
Robert Parish ent to Woodlawn High School in North Louisiana. There is another Woodlawn HS in Baton Rouge (that he did not go to). Robert Parish’s team LOST to Brother Martin 65-62 for the State Championship in 1971. I believe that it was his Junior season that he won.
I got this info from the 1971 Brother Martin yearbook on Classmates.com
I don’t think it holds much significance for Westbrook beyond not being the number he wanted (4): link
That Japanese é’木 (Aoki) on the Brewers’ lineup card has the ki (meaning “tree”; ao means “blue”) a little too small. It’s a good effort, though, from a calligrapher who probably doesn’t have any previous training in writing these Chinese/Japanese characters!
Here’s link.
link is a little harder to admire.
I once saw one for the Cubs back when Kosuke Fukudome was with them that had the entire lineup in Japanese. Either he or his interpreter (or So Taguchi, come to think of it) must have written it, because the handwriting was perfect. I’m scouring Google for it now and can’t find it.
What’s written next to “Milwaukee Brewers”? It’s not Japanese, but I have no clue what language it’s in. Hebrew?
I believe that’s the date: “3-3.” Pretty calligraphy, but the writer’s “threes” are a little odd (if not downright Hebraic!).
Never mind–was looking at the wrong link (durr). Those letters are indeed Hebrew, and it means “Jesus” (YShW`, or Yeshu’a).
Those Brewers lineup cards are done by Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron and the calligraphy and the Japanese characters are nothing new – he’s been doing them for years.
He started the Japanese characters in 2001 with Ichiro – he says he does it out of respect.
Here’s an article
link
Here’s a pic showing Saito of the Brewers and Nishiota of the Twins in Japanese characters
link
Basically, google “Jerry Narron lineup card” and you’ll see tons of examples.
Thanks for the clarification on the Hebrew. Great stuff.
It’s not basketball, but there was a goalie for the Cleveland Crunch of the various indoor soccer leagues of the 90’s named Otto Orf. He wore 00 because it was his initials.
link
Oh that’s a blast from the past. I remember him and his magnificent hair so clearly!
I sent an email in on Gilbert Arenas wearing zero. I didn’t see him in the list up there.
Those were the guys Paul’s looking for info on. Arenas’ reasons have been pretty well-documented.
Oh ok. Thanks. Silly me. I was wondering how his name could NOT be on there.
Right. I already know the backstory on Arenas, Orlando Woolridge, and a few others.
I’m looking at that White Sox-Twins lineup card, and Kevin Youkilis isn’t the only one who suffered the indignity of having his name misspelled. Twins backup Darin Mastroianni, towards the bottom, was missing an N!
you really need to get off your high horse regarding municipalities selling ad space. granted, i dont agree with it either, but these cities are reeling and need to make money. cash grab? yes. but totally (for me anyway) understandable.
You agree with him, but he’s “on a high horse” for mentioning it?
ABox, I hear what Nick is saying, but I think Paul has mentioned it in the past before what his stance was on it, roughly about the people and gov’t being more fiscally responsible-ish. That said, I think the problem partially lies in the upturn and subsequent downturn in the economy. For years the gov’t was making money and spending it, new police stations, city halls, parks, fire trucks, added patrols, etc. Now the cash flow has dried up but the people don’t want decreased services even though the tax revenue has decreased. They still want to live on the high horse and until folks can get used to living like the way they were things like selling ads on fire trucks is going happen, and it sucks.
Awful lot of ads on this site, though, to be complaining about it elsewhere…
Wait, this site is supported by tax dollars?
Who knew.
Hamilton Nolan is a hater, but he hates very well. And what better target than T.F.?
Is the M on the Millers’ cap accurate to the period, or is it influenced by the larger cap logo introduced by the Marlins?
The actual was a bit smaller, yes…
link
Kids dig it big.
For half a century or so, the typical letter size on hats has been 2″ (sometimes slightly larger). That is changing as teams now begin to wear hats “inspired” by streetwear.
Here’s Ebbets Field’s reasonably accurate recreation of the 1951 Millers hat…
link
This “M”…
link
…is clearly larger
Of course, the crowns on the Fifty-nine 50s are larger.
That’s why I’ve quit buying them.
The “bucket head” look should stay in the ’70s where it belongs.
that’s really gonna hurt their bottom line
That Ebbets Field replica is pretty good – here’s link from the period.
The “Travis Wood Helmet Sticker Incident” was actually named as the “Worst Play of the Day” on TSN SportsCentre this morning. Can’t think of another time a uni-related snafu has garnered that attention from the 3 letter network.
Do they really call TSN the “3-letter network” in Canada? Because I know people call ESPN the 4-letter network because many of the other networks here are three letters.
The tape on Buffon’s neck is Kinesio tape:
link
Yep, he has it on both sides of his neck. I believe that he’s had neck injuries in the past.
Anyone have odds that Georgia Tech will be an inaugural member of the Russell Athletic Bowl?
I doubt Georgia Tech will win enough games to get a bowl bid next year, even though they play in the weak-sister ACC.
before i left for the office this morning, i was trying to figure out what other russell team would be a suitable rival for GT
my thoughts exactly on who gets bids
It is common for catchers on minor league teams to wear the helmets and pads that match the colors of the parent club because it helps reduce costs and create continuity . When Scanton
Wilkes Barre was the Phillies’ Triple A club,their catchers always wore red pads and the red
Phillies helmet with the “P” even though Scanton Wilkes Barre’s team colors were navy and red.
Is this similar to the A’s system and white cleats?
Yup. Nothing odd here. I’ve seen that many times. They pick them up in Spring Training, throw them in their bags and off they go.
I have not been to AAA games in several years, but when Phoenix had the Firebirds, all their catchers wore Giants helmets under thier masks.
I was hoping this was a Beastie Boys’ related entry when I saw the title…but then I remembered the twitter pic last night?!?!
Also, a WVU grad? He’ll be selling that beer pong table for rent money in a year.
… says the UPJ grad who ended a statement with a series of question marks and exclamation points…
At any rate, link is the greatest WVU beer pong table of all time.
Really Bernard, I was just making sure you were paying attention today.
Funny story about that beer pong table though. WVU grad was really good at beer pong, like national champion calliber. He was hosting a party and some scrub beer pong player from Pitt came to Morgantown for what surely was to be a slaughter.
Pitt kid ended up winning 13-9.
That is the perfect score. H2P!
I hate you Kub Deklak!
I am going to have to admit that comment hurts deep. But it was funny as hell.
I still see Pitt fans wearing “13-9” t-shirts at Backyard Brawls… And it still hurts. Well, not anymore since we won’t play each other thanks to all this fucking realignment bs….
a college education put to good use
Don’t have a screen shot, but Joe Blanton was wearing stirrups and sannies last night. Normally he goes high-cuffed, but with solid red socks. Last night he wore the liberty bell stirrups. I believe I’ve seen the liberty bells on his socks before, but haven’t seen the sturrups.
It’s at least the third consecutive start in which he’s worn stirrups.
I believe Jake Peavy had an “AK” written on his cap last night as well.
Yeah, it was in memory of former Padres’ bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds, who passed away over the weekend.
Also note how on the Brewers’ lineup card, the calligrapher inscribed YHWH in Hebrew beneath and to the right of the umpire names.
Hey Paul,
I heard something interesting last night in the Nats-Rockies game. Stephen Strasburg his Marco Scutaro in the head with a pitch and Harold Reynolds (in the MLB Network studio) said that the reason guys wear single flapped helmets is so that, if they get hit in the head, the helmet will be knocked off and deflect some of the impact. I thought, huh, how about that? Have you heard that?
Consider the source.
I don’t know that he’s wrong.
It isn’t the sole reason, of course, but it likely could be an incidental beneficial result.
The fact that the helmet often DOES fly off involves energy and force absorbed and redirected. The helmet does not have an energy source of its own.
“… The helmet does not have an energy source of its own…”
Though it would be great if it did.
Yeah, like if right in the middle of an at-bat it would randomly spin.
That would be so cool.
(sniffles, goes back to basement to play Madden)
I can almost hear the legions of little league coaches sawing a single ear off of all their batting helmets. OMG.
Brandon Phillips’s wristbands are some he had made according to this post (link) on an excellent Refs blog (OMGReds.com). They are his face and signature – made to look like the old wristbands.
@ Diego Bauza, nice job! I am trying to get a sense of scale though, am guessing those are sleeve patches (actual size) in frames approx 8×11?
2nd. That’s a great idea and it looks fantastic. Think you could put together a DIY how-to?
Minor-league catchers are issued equipment at spring training. They can use it or not, depending on whether they have an endorsement deal. Some minor-league teams provide a skully with the team’s logo, but most do not. As far as the A’s and white cleats, the Athletics do NOT issue players cleats or turf shoes, only to coaches and training staff. Some big leaguers do get extra shoes from their shoe suppliers, which trickle down to the minors. A friend of mine had some Matsui “Godzilla” Mizuno turfies last year. Pretty sweet.
I went to UNC at the time Eric Montross was there, and I could have sworn that he chose the 00 number as a tribute to Dean Smith, who if I recall wore that number playing basketball in high school. Unfortunately, I can’t find anything on the web corroborating this, other than the fact that Montross was not wearing 00 in his junior year of high school. link
20+ year memories can be a bit fuzzy, so I may have no idea what I am talking about here. I did find a picture of Dean Smith in high school, but naturally the number is obscured. link I also found this quote in an article, “With a buzz haircut that’s harsh by military standards (he challenged his father to get a crew cut and his father double-crossed him, Montross said) and by wearing the unlikely number of 00 (he got tired of wearing a number in the 50s), Montross attracts more attention.” So I think my memory is failing me.
Jerry Narron, Milwaukee Brewers bench coach, is the one to thank for the great Milwaukee lineups every day. He has been writing Aoki’s name like that the whole season to make him feel more at home. The Brewer’s Facebook page almost always shows an image of the lineup card before the game, and I am always impressed by his calligraphy.
I have read in a couple of books that Lombardi would have players wear different numbers in practice to hopefully confuse spies. Just flopping the “1” and the “5” doesn’t seem to be too hard of a code to crack, but those were simpler times.
I have read in a couple of books that Lombardi would have some players wear different numbers in practice to confuse spies. Just flopping the “1” and the “5” doesn’t seem to be too hard of a code to crack, but those were simpler times.
I remember reading somewhere a LONG time ago that Lombardi would mix up their numbers in practice in case other teams had people watching their practices.
No one “graduates” from WVU. They just sober up.
Tell that to this guy…
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Cubbies fans may not have a Series title, but they do have this swell 1979 belt buckle.
For the record, the Cubs do have two Series titles (granted, Theodore Roosevelt was president when they were won, but they still count).
Yes, all of us Cubs fans age 105 and older sure do have some pretty sweet memories of those back-to-back titles.
I seem to recall something I read years ago about a game where the Packers reversed their jersey numbers, but I forget why.
(link)
So much potential to become a meme…
After Shawn Marion signed with the Mavs, he asked his Twitter followers what his new number should be. That info is also listed under the “personal” section on his nba.com bio: link
The Fenway infographic is cute, but didn’t seem to be all that well put-together…in a couple places, it could have probably used some more info, like how the Sox tweaked their requirements for retired numbers to add Fisk (used to be that they had to play their entire career), and how Pesky isn’t a member of the Hall at all. Plus there were a couple of grammatical errors (real minor stuff, but a pet peeve nonetheless) and a couple of places where it looked like part of the text was cut off or hidden by a graphic.
But still not bad!
Sorry to see Jamie Moyer was released by the O’s (at his request). One of the great stirrup wearers of the modern era.
Signed a AAA deal with the Blue Jays, I think.
During the 1960s the Packers often wore numbers other than their own during practices. For instance, in the tape left tackle Bob Skoronski is wearing Forest Gregg’s 75, not 76. Left Gurad Fuzzy Thurston is wearing 83. Defensive tackle Henry Jordan is wearing Leroy Caffey’s 60, not 74. At one point Dave Robinson is being helped on with a jersey that has only one visible remaing number, and it appears to be a 7, not his 89.
Lombardi did this because he thought it would confuse possible spies who might be watching practice sessions.
Bob is correct. Though the Lombardi-era Packers usually wore their correct numbers at practice — and I have seen lots of photos of that — Lombardi occasionally would switch it up. Which can be a pain for those of us who archive those old photos.
Jeff Ash, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Celtics guard Avery Bradley wears 0 in the NBA as he did at the University of Texas. Sorry if someone already mentioned this, no time to read all the comments.
Tony Delk wore his 00 at Kentucky, as well as in the NBA. Don’t know why, though.
Olden Polynice wore 24 in college, and 23 when he first came to the Association. I’m assuming he later chose 0 for Olden, but I’m looking for confirmation on that.
Ron Darling’s wrong….the Cubs training/locker rooms are right behind the Cubs dugout. It’s the visiting locker/training rooms that are not near the dugout.
“Ron Darling’s wrong”
~~~
shhhhhh
Although a sad occasion, a good reason to remember how cool football programs used to be. Rest in Peace Kevin Weil.
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Interesting matchup tonight in Atlanta. Hudson vs. Hudson. Has this happened before in MLB, two pitchers with the same last name face each other?
Probably, did the Niekros ever go against each other head to head?
//Same last name, no relation, might be a little more “random”-impressive though.
Neikro vs. Neikro; Forsch vs. Forsch. Being a lifelong Astros fan dating back to ’73, I remember this quite well. I am sure there are other instances as well.
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Bobby Jones vs Bobby J. Jones
Wow, that’s good!
Now, I wonder if once-Twins-now-Mets pitcher Johan Santana ever faced Angels’ Ervin (né Johan) Santana.
I believe we also had Dos Zambrano a couple years back.
Carlos contra Victor.
The Braves beat writer said Elias said it happened four times previous, but the Niekro matchup wasn’t mentioned. They faced each other at least once.
It had happened four times with pitchers who weren’t related.
For the Twins throwback game, will the Royals be wear the KC Blues 1951 uni?
Yes.
In somewhat related news, Nas (this poster’s nominee for greatest rapper of all time) has a link for his new album that sports a logo that looks to be a hybrid between the Mets and Golden State – featuring the 59th St/Queensboro/Ed Koch Bridge (of course).
I’d wear that.
I might have to go to that game (schedule permitting).
I know I’m sure as hell gonna DVR it.
What? you won’t be wearing your Millers jersey to the game?
it’s a road jersey
That and the last time I wore a wool flannel jersey when it was that warm was my 14-year-old year in Babe Ruth.
A sartorial experience I have no desire to relive.
I know you’re researching 0 & 00, but that reminded me of ole Benito Santiago, who wore “09” for a long time. Here’s one photo I found:
link
I always thought that was pretty cool. Internet research suggests that he wore 09 because it was more comfortable with the center strap of his chest protector. The single, centered digit would dig in, apparently.
The number of errors in that Fenway Park infographic is staggering!
Briefly:
Johnny Pesky is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but his number is retired
2012 bleachers are really $28, with just a handful of REALLY nosebleed seats @ $12
The attendence number listed is for 2011, not 2012, which is not yet complete (admittedly a small point)
I haven’t seen a soda for $4.05 at Fenway. They have a few price points, but I don’t think that one is valid
Fenway has not been used in 2012 (or in 2011 or 2010) for Basketball or Football
Other than that . . .
Yeah, the part where Fenway is famous for having the highest priced tickets in…in what?
And secondly, I don’t think having high priced tickets is something to be famous for.
I can’t imagine their prices are higher than Yankee Stadium.
try going to a game @ AT&T Park when ya factor in BART and MUNI.
eeeek
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Iowa football throwbacks. Discuss.
This article has information on why Russel wore zero
““That’s it,” said Russell Westbrook, who wears No. 0 for U.C.L.A. “You go with the zero when you’ve been through something and you are looking to get a new beginning. It helps you get going again. It helps you get the swag back.”
The swag, as Westbrook calls it, is short for swagger. Zero has clearly come a long way since the days when Orlando Woolridge wore the number in the N.B.A., simply because it looked like the first letter of his first name.”
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“a Cardinals jersey with a four-leaf clover shirttail patch! I ran that jersey by a few researchers, including Cardinals historian Brian Finch, none of whom had ever seen it before. Makes me suspect that the clover patch may have been an aftermarket addition.”
Maybe it was the player’s superstition. I bet there were a lot of those.
Cities selling ad space is a way for them to make ends meet. It is a stop gap measure used to offset tax flow leaving many cities in the North East and Midwest. If it means one less fire house is shut down and more schools get repairs, I’m all for it. How long will it be until one of these cities discovers the real cash flow intake of legalizing pot. Not long, I suspect.
Yes, of course, it’s just a “stopgap measure,” and the ads will disappear as soon as the fiscal crisis is averted, right?
Sure.
i kinda like the last idea tho
“How long will it be until one of these cities discovers the real cash flow intake of legalizing pot. Not long, I suspect.”
And after that happens, when the coffers run dry again, they can advertise hash bars and head shops right on the sides of squad cars.
The system works!
Prob old news here, but someone mentioned today that the SI cover with andre dawson getting beaned has a cubs batting helmet losing the (C).
Bad news on the golf front: The PGA Championship is moving to a standardized logo.
On his Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs rehab assignment, Chase Utley is not wearing his customary no. 26. Why? Because the team’s mascot, Ferrous, wears it. (It’s the atomic number of the element iron.)
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I LOVE the jersey patch posters! Very neat idea, I’d love more info on that, seems like a really fun project I may tackle.
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Cubs… worst record in MLB and aparently worst adhesive too.
The kinisio tape came front-and center, when Buffon’s teammate Mario Balotelli removed his shirt after his second goal vs. Germany today, revealing three strips of tape on his lower back. Possibly an Adidas formation, who knows. Nonetheless, he got the yellow for removing the shirt.
Article and photos:
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