Sportswear companies are always talking about their “performance-enhancing” features, whether it’s moisture-management technology or extra-stretchy fabrics. But what if a uniform could provide superior results simply by virtue of its graphic properties? That’s the question raised by an intriguing note I received in August from reader Dan Franko. Check it out:
I was talking to a friend who works for [a company that does some number-crunching for the NHL]. He was telling me that they have data supporting the theory that teams with symmetrical logos, or more rounded logos, have a goaltender advantage. He said that they’ve noted a higher save percentage in goalies who have what they call a “target” logo — the Flames’ “C,” the Habs’ “C,” the Caps’ “splattered bug,” the circle behind the Devils’ “NJ.” They have a theory that a shooter’s eye is drawn to this image, and that the shot is usually pulled more toward the goaltender’s center mass.
Apparently when they have logos like the Caps’ eagle or the Rangers’ slanted letters, the shooters have higher scoring percentage.
I don’t know where you would even start to validate this theory. But the idea of a uniform/logo giving a team an on-ice advantage — I thought that was something you’d be particularly interested in.
Indeed, I was plenty interested, especially when Franko offered to put me in touch with his friend. Unfortunately, despite my repeated entreaties over the next several weeks, his friend failed to respond (understandable, if frustrating), which essentially leaves us with an unsubstantiated rumor, or maybe an urban legend.
Still, it’s interesting food for thought, especially since target-style jersey designs — or at least logos surrounded by lots of empty space — are pretty much the norm in the NHL. The only clear exceptions are the Rangers, the new Ducks design, and the Avalanche’s third jersey, plus I suppose you could make a case for the Stars and the Senators’ home design.
Anyone ever heard of this phenomenon before? Any hockey players — either goalies or sharpshooters — have any thoughts on the matter?
And I’m going to be v-e-r-y disappointed if the Rev. Nørb doesn’t have some choice comments regarding the hockey/Mod connection.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Wes Walz was wearing mismatched gloves last night (great catch by Matthew Lepke). … Genuinely surprised to see that the Mets didn’t wear any sort of memorial for Cory Lidle last night. On the other hand, almost everything about uniforms feels so scripted and predictable these days that it’s nice to find myself surprised, just for variety’s sake. … Speaking of scripted and predictable, check out the miserable new template-driven college hoops unis that have just been unveiled for UNC and Michigan State, both designed by you know who. … Interesting similarity between the UNO hockey team’s 10th-anniversary patch and the Super Bowl XXXVII logo. Full details here. … Someone else is getting into uni-watching — sort of (registration may be required, but it’s free and worth it). … Huge condolences to the family, friends, and customers of Patrick O’Connor — as fine a bartender, and as good a friend, as ever walked this planet — who died on Sunday. R.I.P., buddy.
#1 by Andrew on 10.13.06 7:51 am |
Perhaps there just wasn’t enough time for the Mets to come up with some sort of patch. I wonder if the fact that his only year with the Mets was 1997 played into that, as well. I wonder how many of the seven teams that he played for will wear some sort of memorial next year.
On a ligther note, I enjoyed the description of the Caps’ Capitol Building logo as a “splattered bug.”
#2 by Clevo on 10.13.06 7:58 am |
Would a true MOD be caught dead in public wearing shorts?
#3 by Richard on 10.13.06 8:11 am |
The MSU uniforms look similar to the ones they wore last season, and also the UNC uniforms look horrible, since the flag does not sit well on the jersey – or in the same spot on the players, it looks like.
#4 by Eric G. on 10.13.06 8:16 am |
I am wearing my Carlos Beltran shirt today, but alas! It is in black. My David Wright shirt is in blue though.
Have fun getting frostbite tonight, Paul.
#5 by Paul Lukas on 10.13.06 8:17 am |
Richard said:
I beg to differ: last season; this season.
The whole collarbone stripe thing has officially entered the “10 Most Annoying Nike Tropes” list, clocking in at about No. 8.
#6 by Matt on 10.13.06 8:17 am |
Plus Lidle didn’t even pitch a full season with the Mets in 1997 and none of his teamates or couching staff from the 1997 are in the organization anymore.
#7 by zep on 10.13.06 8:18 am |
Did UNC get rid of the argyle pattern on the shorts? Thats a disgrace if true…
#8 by Richard on 10.13.06 8:32 am |
Paul Lukas said:
My bad, Paul. Thought they had a jersey they wore at least once or twice that looked very similar.
#9 by Terry Mark on 10.13.06 8:33 am |
Paul Lukas said:
I couldn’t agree more about the collarbone stripes. While I love watching college basketball, I increasingly find that I need to look past the many horrible designs — many perpetrated by Nike — creeping into the college game.
I’m grateful that my team, the Indiana Hoosiers, have largely stuck with tradition. Who doesn’t love the candy-striped warmup pants? And former coach Mike Davis nearly incited a fan revolt alone by implying that team jerseys might carry players’ names. The vociferous negative reaction from IU Nation spiked that idea, thank God.
#10 by Kevin A. on 10.13.06 8:35 am |
wasnt the mets pitching coach Lidle pitching coach in Oakland?
#11 by Brian on 10.13.06 8:43 am |
Re: the rounded logo phenomenon in the NHL, I’m guessing there’s a subconcious desire of shooters to aim at something that even slightly resembles a target.
Maybe this leads to more shots hitting the goalie right in the chest…
#12 by Brian on 10.13.06 8:45 am |
The Hurricanes’ logo has a target thing going on as well…
#13 by Kevin on 10.13.06 8:48 am |
Brian said:
As a hockey player for over 15 years now, I can say with a high level of confidence that any evidence “they” may have is probably coincidence. When I go to shoot the puck, I am not looking at the goalie. I am looking at where the goalie ISN’T. In other words, I look for holes and shoot at those holes, whether they be over the shoulders, between the legs, etc.
#14 by Brian W on 10.13.06 8:51 am |
May have made the rounds already, but someone out there is poking some good fun at Oregon’s unis:
#15 by Brian W on 10.13.06 8:55 am |
Sorry, I forgot the link.
#16 by ESS on 10.13.06 8:58 am |
Kevin said:
I thought that was the first thing they taught in hockey: shoot where the goalie ain’t!
This may have been covered before, but when a school signs a contract with a supplier (Nike, addidas, UA, etc) do they automatically get stuck with that supplier’s template, or does the school make a conscious decision to forgo years of tradition in a uni to do whatever the supplier wants? I can’t imagine that a supplier would turn down the bucks generated by outfitting a team just because the school wants to keep a traditional uni design.
#17 by The Original Lee on 10.13.06 9:00 am |
Paul-
i think Michigan State may have played in jerseys very similar to this years for at least one game last year. there was a weekend when most of the “nike elite” teams ditched their traditional uni’s for the collarbone line template with gray/silver shoulders. here is UNC’s for that one game.
http://www.eastbay.c...
notice the difference between that and their regular jerseys
http://store.fansonl...
i know that duke and ohio state did this, but i believe both michigan and michigan state were alos involved in the promotion.
#18 by Miguel on 10.13.06 9:06 am |
zep said:
Looks like UNC kept the argyle on the shorts and jerseys.
I’m usually pro-Jordan brand, but the collar stripe has to get the hell out of here for traditional teams and the shorts look like cheap replicas. The waistbands look too thin and they don’t even have the symbol on there, the way they used to.
#19 by moten21 on 10.13.06 9:06 am |
I like the MSU and Carolina jerseys. Nike might be a four-letter word around here, but nobody does college hoops better.
Those collarbone template jerseys were worn in the Big 10/ACC Challenge last year.
#20 by Scott H on 10.13.06 9:17 am |
Kevin said:
I concur. I always look at the netting around the goalie or between his pads. Never at his chest. Always aim for the corners.
#21 by Richard on 10.13.06 9:18 am |
Kevin A. said:
Yes, and right after the crash he did interviews on ESPN about Lidle.
#22 by Matt on 10.13.06 9:22 am |
Will we ever get the flags off unis? Seems to me that liking one’s home country is pretty much the default position of Americans everywhere, so that the flags aren’t needed. And usually they just don’t look good, esp when the team has a different color scheme.
Maybe take the flags off of all shirts, hats, and helmets UNLESS you really do dislike America, in which case you can wear O.G. upside down. Or move to Russia or something.
#23 by Marcus on 10.13.06 9:22 am |
Marty Turco holds the GAA record in the NHL when he was while wearing the Stars jersey. More legend than truth if you ask me.
#24 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.13.06 9:32 am |
paul said
Speaking of scripted and predictable, check out the miserable new template-driven college hoops unis that have just been unveiled for UNC and Michigan State…
at least they didnt return to that disgrace from 1999-2000
http://graphics.fans...
as i lifelong and diehard carolina fan this new uni-tweak really grinds my gears… i still pine for the return to the regular block numbers. for msu, i dig the jersey and short panels…
Someone else is getting into uni-watching
I LOVE SEER SUCKER!!!
Brian W said:
wow, where did that dude get the, ahem, balls, to put himself into a uni reminiscent of the movie tron
http://tastytronic.n...
and then put it on the internet… again, dudes got, ahem, balls…
on an NLCS note… to anyone who watched it on TV… there was a guy holding a sign “glavine and maine, and pray for rain” and “you gotta believe (thanks tug)” on the reverse side…now i have seen this guy at basketball games for like the last 15 years, i started seeing him in indiana when they were good, with those signs, at virtually all the nba all star games, and most recently in miami! at first i recognized the sign font, but the guy has always had some serious face time on TV… then all of a sudden, i see him again last night!!! any info on this dude?
#25 by Trollatollah on 10.13.06 9:35 am |
This reminds me of the George Plimpton book where he becomes a goalie for the Bruins (sorry, can’t remember the name off the top of my head). He’s thinking about painting something on his helmet and has an idea about an evil eye that would ward off shots. When he suggests it to one of the Bruins, he gets told; ‘are you sure you want a target on your head?’
Q: Why are there no Mods in Iraq?
A: Would you walk around there with a target on your back?
#26 by Austin Gray on 10.13.06 9:35 am |
RE: target logos
Yet more proof to go back to the old Sabres logo and ditch the buffaslug.
#27 by Jill on 10.13.06 9:39 am |
I think it is impossible not to look at the goalie when you are shooting. You have a rather large field of vision and even when you concentrate on the areas where the goalie is not, you still see the goalie. I would assume this target phenomenon would be more prevalent the farther away you are when you shoot.
It would be interesting to see the methodology used in this study. Maybe the teams with asymmetrical jerseys just have crappy goalies.
#28 by peteagus on 10.13.06 9:40 am |
Ohio States new Basketball unis:
http://ohiostate.sco...
Awful, just awful. The shorts are like the freaking Broncos. The typeface on the jersey is pretty sharp however.
#29 by Dan from PC on 10.13.06 9:41 am |
quite an interesting view of the dot-matrix Nike horror on Carlos “Cardinal killer” Beltran
1-0 BABY
#30 by joe on 10.13.06 9:42 am |
The Idle story is sad, but teams can go way overboard commemorating a deceased journeyman pitcher. I really can’t fault the Mets for not acknowledging him in anyway, since he only tossed a couple games several years ago.
If teams make a habit of commemorating dead players, then some of the oldest teams will be doing it every week:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, lets have a moment of silence for Hal Jones, who passed away last Tuesday, doing what he loved best – watching TV. Hal played in three games for the Indians in 1947 as a back-up utility pinch-hitter; his career highlight with Cleveland occurred in his second game when he drew a base on balls, and was subsequently caught stealing second. Lets all pause and remember Hal’s contributions to our proud organization.”
#31 by Richard on 10.13.06 9:44 am |
i guess OSU is too cheap to put the Nike stripes on their women’s uniforms, but they can afford to put them on the men’s uniforms. Very interesting.
#32 by Plasters on 10.13.06 9:49 am |
Although I’ve never played hockey I’ve played lacrosse for well over 12 years now and can tell you that of course you’re taught to shoot where the goalie isn’t but that bright colors and targets do attract your eye. it’s a natural human reaction. i know many of my goalie friends swear by bright colored mesh for their stick becuase the shooters eye is naturally attracted to it. who can look away from neon yellow?
#33 by Natron on 10.13.06 9:49 am |
Anybody catch Kirk Herbstreit and Mark May on SportsCenter before the BC/VT game game last night discussing the best & worst unis in college football?
Herbstreit said Michigan had the best and Wyoming the worst.
May copped out and just went with conferences… said the Big Ten had the best (cited Michigan, OSU & PSU as examples), and the Pac-10 as the worst (Oregon, WSU, Cal).
I can’t stand either of those dorks, but it was uni related so I posted it… wtf.
#34 by Riley on 10.13.06 9:50 am |
I can’t say I’m surprised that Oakland and the Mets have not come up with a memorial patch. He did not spend much time in either city and in both cases most or all of his connections to the team are gone. In addition, there are still players that don’t like him because he was a replacement player. The Yankees may come up with some sort of uni memorial, but I don’t much expect his other teams to.
#35 by shadoquad on 10.13.06 9:55 am |
Richard said:
um, if you look more closely at the chica to the far right in the back, you’ll see the swoosh-stika on her shorts.
#36 by joe on 10.13.06 9:55 am |
“Lidle was signed in 1990 by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent. After his release in 1993, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers. Lidle was then traded in 1996 to the New York Mets, and made his Major League debut for the Mets on May 8, 1997. Due to his participation as a replacement player during the 1994 baseball strike, he was not eligible to join the MLB Players Union.”
Did not know that. I did hear a news blurb today that his wife and children would receive his pension, but if he’s not a member of the union is he eligible?
#37 by Daniel on 10.13.06 9:55 am |
Why do the uniforms for the ohio state women’s team look so much better than the unis for the men?
#38 by dchis on 10.13.06 9:56 am |
Just a thought about the curved logos. Would this then hold true for other sports. Like in baseball many teams wear sleeve patches. So would that increase the pitchers chances of hitting the batter? i.e. The Houston Astros normally have a sleeve patch on their jerseys and Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell were normally tops in the leagues in getting beaned.
#39 by joe on 10.13.06 9:56 am |
above quote from wiki
http://en.wikipedia....
#40 by Paul Lukas on 10.13.06 9:59 am |
joe said:
Lidle pitched for the Mets and the Yanks and died in NYC — it’s an NYC thing. I’m surprised that the remaining NYC team in the playoffs didn’t acknowledge his death on their uniform. I’m not saying they should have acknowledged it, or that they were wrong not to, just that I’m surprised they didn’t.
#41 by a arauz on 10.13.06 10:02 am |
Terry Mark said:
Yes, Hoosier nation’s insistence on tradition has carved itself a corner of my heart. No small feat as I’m a Syracuse alum that was witness to Keith Smart’s nano-second in the sun (in person, mind you).
#42 by The Ol Goaler on 10.13.06 10:03 am |
Scott H said:
Interesting… as a goalie, I was taught that you were “on your angle” (properly positioned) if you could draw a line from the middle of the net through your crest to the puck! Goalie coaches weren’t prevalent back in the late ’60s and early ’70s, so I picked up everything I could from watching Hall of Famers Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante play for the St. Louis Blues. Try not to give the shooter any net to look at, and let the puck hit you! (Of course, with the inferior equipment available back then, it was preferable to catch the puck, or stop it with your stick or leg pads. Shots to the chest and arms hurt, dammit!)
Maybe the crests are of more help to the goalie than they are a hindrance to the shooter… playing “pick-up” ice/roller/street hockey in my 30s and 40s with better equipment allowed me to let the puck hit me in the chest and arms without the pain and bruising of my teenage years!
#43 by Dave on 10.13.06 10:04 am |
http://photo.the-ozo...
Ohhhh no, look at the back of the OSU hoops jerseys, the Nike bib, ala U of Miami football
#44 by Natron on 10.13.06 10:04 am |
shadoquad said:
This may be a bit of a stretch, but if you look at the red stripe on the left left leg in the mens picture and follow it to the right leg, then up along the ribs, it looks like the stripe on the jersey juts in a little bit in a curved maner (see #31), almost in a “swoosh-like” fashion.
Am I seeing things, making too much out of nothing, or are those unis one big giant swoosh?
#45 by Chad Edwards on 10.13.06 10:06 am |
Ohio State is wearing wrap around NIKE jerseys in basketball this year.
And was it just me, or did Tom Glavine’s hat seem to have a really short bill last night. It looked likea kiddie hat.
#46 by Chad Edwards on 10.13.06 10:08 am |
Dave said:
beat me by a minute!
#47 by Richard on 10.13.06 10:08 am |
Natron said:
I was not necessarily talking about the stripes on the shorts, but rather the uniform jerseys, which don’t have the Nike black stripes on the shoulders.
#48 by Jeff on 10.13.06 10:09 am |
Seeing those new basketball uni’s makes me happy that KU switched from Nike to Addidas awhile ago. Also, is that the “Air Jordan” logo on Carolina’s shorts? That’s pretty tacky if you ask me.
#49 by Scott Novosel on 10.13.06 10:09 am |
I’m watching the Cards v. Mets this morning(I live in Tokyo), and I am thinking to myself, is it me or do those Majestic brand jerseys look like cheapo replica jerseys?
#50 by dchis on 10.13.06 10:11 am |
Richard said:
They are not BLACK STRIPES!! They are color specific to the team. I think someone yesterday said that the UNC uni’s stripe was black and it’s not it’s Navy Blue, which is their third color to Carolina Blue and White. Also, OSU and MSU stripes are red and green respectively.
#51 by shadoquad on 10.13.06 10:16 am |
Richard said:
Ah. I realize that now. True enough. While it would be nice for women’s and men’s teams to have the same unis, I think, as an earlier poster said, that the women’s team is better off without the excessive striping.
#52 by Dave on 10.13.06 10:17 am |
Chad Edwards said:
Yeah, but nice photo Chad, where did you get that one?
#53 by Jeremy on 10.13.06 10:18 am |
the template used for unc and osu this year looks like the one used by uk last year (the shorts and side panels are different)…
the throwbacks from last year were pretty pimperish though.
#54 by Matt on 10.13.06 10:19 am |
joe said:
#55 by a arauz on 10.13.06 10:19 am |
Matt said:
Dude… TANGET ALERT:
Why is it that if you don’t like america it’s always ‘move to Russia’? Why can’t we be original and say something else…. like move to France or ‘andate a Costa Rica’ or ‘off you go to Scotland’ .. the move to Russia thing sounds a bit ‘Rush Limbaugh’ to some (and we know what he’s on, right?) Sorry about the rant, but had to get it off my chest. Hope this doesn’t earn me a stint in Paul’s ‘Sin bin’. (That’s a hockey reference, you sickos)
#56 by chad on 10.13.06 10:20 am |
better look at osu wraparound look. yuck.
#57 by John in Athens on 10.13.06 10:22 am |
Good Dark Alt. Cap v. Bad Dark Alt. Cap
All night I was reminded how ugly the Black Mets Cap is compared to the Cardinals Black Cap.
The Cardinals black cap uses the red, white, and black of their traditional cap. The Mets scrunch the tradional blue and orange from their traditional cap into the little NY logo then surround it with random black and then patronize tradition with the blue bill. What cap has ever looked good with a contrasting brill?!
As great as the game was (for us, anyway), the caps are like having a guy sitting behind you at the game explaining the game to his wife… and getting the rules wrong.
#58 by The Original Lee on 10.13.06 10:22 am |
Jeff said:
technically, nike doesnt make UNC’s jerseys. the jordan brand does. no swoosh just the jumpman on the jerseys
#59 by Wade on 10.13.06 10:23 am |
Alabama had the collarbone jerseys last year, but when the SEC had throwback week toward the end of the season, the team stuck with those jerseys for the rest of the year because they thought they looked better. Unfortunately, they went back with the collarbone this year.
#60 by Terri on 10.13.06 10:24 am |
About the target theory- I don’t know about ice hockey, but as a field hockey goalie, I’ve definitely heard this one before. There is even a blocker glove that comes with an actual target printed on the front (sorry, can’t find a pic). And we always have worn bright colored jerseys- orange and (sorry) purple.
#61 by Dan on 10.13.06 10:24 am |
Scott H said:
I said the same thing to my buddy when he told me about this. I’ve played hockey for years and said I never really look at the goalie…so I wouldn’t care if he had a round or diagonal logo…it wouldn’t impact my shot.
He said that it’s something you pick up in your periphery. If you’re looking toward the net t all…if the goalie is framed right…no matter where you’re looking, you will pick up the logo if it’s one of these target logos. Some players might not be affected at all….some, it might move their shot just a hair more toward center.
They didn’t have hard numbers as to whether or not it was a causal connection or mere coincidence. He thinks that the NHL might have gone one, after the fact, and done their own study…because he never heard about it again.
Like I said…it’s a theory they have.
#62 by Jeremy on 10.13.06 10:24 am |
John in Athens said:
i thought the cards cap was navy.
#63 by Matt on 10.13.06 10:30 am |
Matt said:
I saw it on ESPN.com or SI.com or something don’t remember where. It could have been Sportscenter this morning. I also vaguely remember it from when Rick Reed pitched for the Mets (I remember having to redo Reed’s name in the game).
#64 by joe on 10.13.06 10:30 am |
I think the Card’s navy caps are almost as bad as the Mets’ black caps. Whats up with teams that are named for their propensity towards red shedding it from their wardrobe almost completely: Cardinals, Reds, Red Sox.
#65 by dchis on 10.13.06 10:32 am |
Matt said:
Kevin Millar, Barry Bonds, and Brian Daubach were also not members of the MLBPA and subsequently were either missing from the video games or were a made up character. Millar and Daubach were normaly left off but Bonds was a white guy #51 and batted right handed on the EASports game that no longer exists.
#66 by Bob on 10.13.06 10:34 am |
Cardinals hats are blue, not black
#67 by Kris on 10.13.06 10:35 am |
Plasters said:
I agree with the lacrosse player. As a hockey player, you are taught to look where you want to shoot, as was the case when I dabbled in lax as well. If circular shapes are more pleasing to your eyes, your natural human response is to look there. While this may not cause you to shoot exactly at the target, it may cause you to shoot slightly off where you inteded to shoot, more towards the logo. I am sure some university could do some research testing accuracy when there is a second target present or something.
#68 by a arauz on 10.13.06 10:37 am |
Dave said:
Wow… when in that site, check out the subsequent photos… that Greg Odon is a very scary man ! The Intimidator.
#69 by Skip on 10.13.06 10:38 am |
Two years ago I needed a new keeper jersey for Soccer. One of my choices at a local store looked pretty much like the guy in the picture at the lead of this article (Yellow instead of white with the target). The tag on it had a whole write up on how the target would cause strikers to shoot the ball right at the keeper instead of the back of the net. Kinda wish I would have got it just for the laughs on the pitch.
#70 by Sheldon on 10.13.06 10:39 am |
Interesting note about the goalie gear.
I remember it being explained once that the reason why Batman has a yellow insignia, is to draw bullet fire away from his face.
#71 by Kyle on 10.13.06 10:42 am |
Boo on Ohio State for adopting that nasty uniform. Now I have to look at it when they show up at my school, and that is just no good.
On the hockey logos: Looks like Buffalo may be the best team in the league this season. Any time someone shoots the puck, they’ll be distracted by/want to take their anger out on the slug. (side note: Paul, you might want to start up a Uni Watch Buffalo Office and make it the headquarters for “Ditch the Slug”)
#72 by a arauz on 10.13.06 10:44 am |
John in Athens said:
Well, I can think of the Orioles, A’s, the old Angels (think Rod Carew) & others i’m sure, as examples of good looking contrasting bills. But i’m with you on your general point. Met’s need to pull out the blue for the remainder of the Cardinal’s swatting.
#73 by Chad Edwards on 10.13.06 10:44 am |
Dave said:
Front page of the Indianapolis Star
#74 by dchis on 10.13.06 10:45 am |
joe said:
The RED SOX. When the John Henry group bought the team they started a return to the red. They added a Sunday jersey then they started selling player t-shirts in red, which had only previously been sold in blue. They also started wearing red for spring training rather than blue.
#75 by Matt on 10.13.06 10:49 am |
a arauz said:
I may be superstitious, but the Mets haven’t lost in the playoffs wearing the snow whites and the black/blue hat… why mess now with what ur winning with…
#76 by Eric on 10.13.06 10:52 am |
This reminds me of the George Plimpton book where he becomes a goalie for the Bruins (sorry, can’t remember the name off the top of my head). He’s thinking about painting something on his helmet and has an idea about an evil eye that would ward off shots. When he suggests it to one of the Bruins, he gets told; ‘are you sure you want a target on your head?’
The George Plimpton book is called Open Net, and is a must-read if you’re a hockey fan.
#77 by PheasantHunter on 10.13.06 10:55 am |
I am buying the target goalie theory. in pheasant hunting most hunters miss behind the bird because his long tail thrashes the air and draws the eye to it. you end up shooting at this tail feathers and that won’t get it done. anything done in a flash is subject to the eye being drawn to the wrong thing.
#78 by Chris Hilf on 10.13.06 11:01 am |
for those of you trying to read the LA Times without a password and need one without reigstering, type the address into Bug Me Not and they will give you a login and password without having to register. This works with lots of those types of sites (I think the Washington Post is one like that, too).
#79 by Andrew F on 10.13.06 11:01 am |
I happen to own one of these jerseys. DOn’t know if it helps or not, but I’ve saved my fair share of pucks.
#80 by Kenny on 10.13.06 11:07 am |
Jeremy said:
They are!!! Click on the link and go to the color and size drop down menu, nothing but navy options. Also they wore navy hats from 1940 to 1964 and then stopped until 1995. There is some history there when a team where’s a hat for 24 years and then again for 11 more. There is nothing wrong with the NAVY hats the Cards wear on the road
#81 by Natron on 10.13.06 11:07 am |
dchis said:
Wonder why they haven’t brought these babies yet?
#82 by Lou on 10.13.06 11:09 am |
Paul Lukas said:
I’m not surprised at all. Like others have said, he pitched a part of one season with them 9 years ago.
#83 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 11:11 am |
The Original Lee said:
they wore the silver-shoulder jerseys for the acc-big ten challenge
#84 by Lou on 10.13.06 11:11 am |
So Paul, looks like no chance of shaming the Mets into wearing their blue caps for even ONE game in the postseason, huh?
#85 by Morgan Doninger on 10.13.06 11:16 am |
I too am fascinated by the goalie target logo theory, but I call into question using the Capitals and Rangers getting scored on more as proof of this theory. Both of these teams have not been that good recently, and that can easily explain why more pucks fly past their goailes than other netminders.
Now if there was a study on how many goals go past Ranger goalies when they wear their slanted lettering jerseys versus how many go in when they wear their Statue of Liberty head logoed third jerseys you may be on to something…
#86 by Buckeye Mike on 10.13.06 11:17 am |
#35 by shadoquad
um, if you look more closely at the chica to the far right in the back, you’ll see the swoosh-stika on her shorts
WOW, that is too funny!!!! I never thought anyone would go there, i think your right though.
#87 by Chad Edwards on 10.13.06 11:22 am |
Do the Mets starting pitchers not pick what jersey they wear for that game?
I know with the Cubs, the starting pitcher gets to wear whatever jersey he wants, and the rest of the team has to follow in accordance.
For instance, Mark Prior always picks white pinstripes, whereas always picks to wear the Blue alternate uni.
#88 by Kenny on 10.13.06 11:22 am |
Link to the Cardinals with blue hats in the 40’s – 60’s.
#89 by Natron on 10.13.06 11:23 am |
Lou said:
I think the key would be to send the organization a check for $37.73. It worked for other Mets uniform related endeavors initiated by Uni Watch.
#90 by Chad Edwards on 10.13.06 11:23 am |
Chad Edwards said:
EDIT TO ADD: Zambrano picks the blue alternate uni.
#91 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 11:24 am |
a arauz said:
the Braves contrasting bill makes for one of the best hats in all of baseball
http://sports.yahoo....
#92 by Tony on 10.13.06 11:35 am |
Speaking of hockey jerseys, has anyone noticed this season that several teams (NY Islanders in particular) seem to have stitched two-digit back numbers too far apart? The numbers have been much closer together in seasons past, and it is very noticeable this year.
#93 by norb on 10.13.06 11:35 am |
The mod/hockey connection is a malicious fiction concocted by internet bloggers in order to sell more Vespas to Canadians. If there were truly a mod/hockey/target connection, why would the Minnesota Wild play across the river in St. Paul, as opposed to downtown Minneapolis at the TARGET CENTER (which is, incidentally, kitty corner from the First Avenue/7th Street Entry rock-plex which has, from time to time, played host to mod bands [and, if you don’t believe me, here’s the Minnesota Historical Society’s archive of all the bands that have played at First Ave/7th St: http://www.mnhs.org/...)? Further, the fact that the one and only “hockey” jersey i own is a KISS “Rock And Roll Over” jersey should put the kibosh on the whole mod/hockey thing once and for all. Then again, now that i think about it, the central “Rock And Roll Over” image is clearly a target itself (www.kissfaq.com/albumcovers/raro/raro_sticker.jpg) so maybe i better STFU for a while.
#94 by ard on 10.13.06 11:36 am |
Plasters said:
i know that some soccer goalies subscribe to this school of thought. jorge campos was particulary famous for his jersey’s. the idea is that you will aim for the last thing you look at, in this case, the goalkeeper.
#95 by Kenny on 10.13.06 11:38 am |
Nice looking contrasting bills:
Braves
A’s
Orioles
Indians
I have always liked the A’s hat. The Indians hat is Ok.
#96 by norb on 10.13.06 11:39 am |
Phooey on the preceding linkage!
http://www.kissfaq.c...
http://www.mnhs.org/...
Also, please strike the capitalization of “CENTER.”
#97 by Andrew on 10.13.06 11:40 am |
The Original Lee said:
Also, Jordan went to UNC, so I’m sure that played into it. Thankfully, he has better taste (or at least more respect for tradition) than his parent company.
#98 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 11:41 am |
Still looking for photos, but Auburn should be Under Armour’s first foray into D-1 basketball unis. Their deal with the university is for all athletic teams. I’m understandably nervous, although they stuck with tradition for Auburn’s football unifroms. That said, Auburn has no real uniform tradition for basketball. This could get ugly.
#99 by Lou on 10.13.06 11:41 am |
Chad Edwards said:
No, Charlie Samuels, the Mets equipment manager picks, and since he thinks the blue caps clash with the Mets black jackets, HE does not let the Mets wear their blue caps whenever it is cold enough that people other than Rick Petersen will wear jackets in the dugout.
Ridiculous, no?
#100 by Bob on 10.13.06 11:42 am |
any thoughts?
#101 by Matt on 10.13.06 11:43 am |
Why is it that if you don’t like america it’s always ‘move to Russia’? Why can’t we be original and say something else…. like move to France or ‘andate a Costa Rica’ or ‘off you go to Scotland’ .. the move to Russia thing sounds a bit ‘Rush Limbaugh’ to some…
Just a holdover from the Cold War days I guess. I know passions can get pretty high when the flag is involved, and I didn’t want my comments to be taken too seriously so I just threw it in there as a pro forma joke. (See also: “Will these damn kids get off my lawn?”)
#102 by redemske on 10.13.06 11:43 am |
The Indians’ home hat looks awfully nice with a contrasting bill. the A’s have nice home lids …
#103 by Jay on 10.13.06 11:44 am |
Why is it that the Cardinals have never had “St. Louis” on their away jersey?
#104 by Smail on 10.13.06 11:53 am |
Best photo from OSU hoops media day. I like to imagine that he’s saying “But I don’t want to wear these ugly uniforms!”
Also, on a non-uni related sidebar, how is this 40 year old man considered an incoming freshman?!
#105 by Jeff on 10.13.06 11:53 am |
Just have to add my two-cents to the “Ditch the Black” debate. I have no problem with the Mets using black as an “accessory” color, the way the Giants use gold as a color to add a backdrop to their normal logo.
But c’mon, name one team that looked good using black and royal blue as primary uniform colors…
#106 by Kenny on 10.13.06 11:55 am |
Jay said:
They did….from 1900 -1908 and 1920 and 21…never actually thought about that before though…maybe cuz the birds on the bat look so damn good
#107 by Kyle on 10.13.06 11:55 am |
That Phillies cap with the star in the middle of the “P” is a good one. Might make a good Sunday alt. uni.
See, people are talking about good-looking contrasting-color hats, and I can’t agree more with the examples presented. The key difference between a hat like the Orioles’ and a hat like the Mets’ is the fact that Black and Orange are and always have been the Orioles’ official colors. Black didn’t become a Mets color until recently, and that is part of the reason that their color-contrasting hats are so shunned.
#108 by dchis on 10.13.06 11:57 am |
Jeff said:
I’ll name one Inter Milan!!!!
#109 by r on 10.13.06 12:00 pm |
i’m going to sign on to the theory about shooting at a target jersey. it would be really tough to prove using game data (GAA is dependent on defense and opposing teams, etc.), but could possibly be tested in a lab.
growing up as a lacrosse goalie, i knew guys who dyed their stick heads and meshes bright colors or who would put paint on their gloves to try to draw a shooter’s eye on a quick shot.
it’s anecdotal evidence without photo backup (this was high school ball), but it was the prevailing theory among coaches and goalies across the northeast at the time…
#110 by joe on 10.13.06 12:01 pm |
#100
How ’bout this?
It would be distinctive.
Or this?
Or even this, Charlie Brown?
#111 by TJ Smith on 10.13.06 12:17 pm |
Those new MSU hoops unis are so lame it’s laughable. Washington State also wears something that is completely stupid. A uniform should identify what school you play for, right? Then what the hell does “State” tell you? Other than the school is incredibly lame! It’s like Belushi’s great “College” sweatshirt in “Animal House” only that was intentionally funny. Seriously,”state” is the best thing they can come up with to put on a uni? The “state” of higher education seems be in trouble indeed!
#112 by Kenny on 10.13.06 12:18 pm |
joe said:
Good God!! I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
And even more so with this, this, this, and this.
#113 by a arauz on 10.13.06 12:21 pm |
Matt said:
I think I’m closer to the ‘chase kids off my lawn’ character that I care to admit. :)
i’m getting a bit to curmudgeony for a person in their 30’s.
#114 by Natron on 10.13.06 12:22 pm |
dchis said:
Here is a link that clears up Lidle’s benefits/union status a little bit. Essentially, his family would be entitled to a $1.5m benefit package through the union – unless it’s determined that he was flying the plane.
The plan contains an exclusion for “any incident related to travel in an aircraft … while acting in any capacity other than as a passenger.”
Whoo boy… not good.
#115 by Kenny on 10.13.06 12:23 pm |
TJ Smith said:
Wow!! The STATE on the jersey goes back to the Magic years. They are classic unis as far as MSU basketball goes
#116 by Jason on 10.13.06 12:23 pm |
The Buckeye Bib
http://www.dispatch....
And If you look very closely, it says Buckeyes inside the bib!
http://www.dispatch....
Nike is even selling it as the Ohio State template
Jersey:
http://www.eastbay.c...
Shorts:
http://www.eastbay.c...
#117 by a arauz on 10.13.06 12:25 pm |
Kenny said:
Shouldn’t that be ‘Good Grief’, Kenny?
#118 by Plasters on 10.13.06 12:28 pm |
ard said:
Just for some lacrosse examples even though just about no one here knows about it….
you have lots of different ways to draw the “shooters” eye
The Sidewall Strings to kind of frame the stick
Shooting Strings To give you a striped look and break up all the white
The Head to really frame that white and get you looking right into the stick
Color Everything Just color everything and see what happens
#119 by Jeff on 10.13.06 12:29 pm |
quote comment=”13596″]
Jeff said:
I’ll name one Inter Milan!!!!
Well, OK, I’ll give you that one. My soccer ignorance is glaringly obvious. But for the major domestic sports, black and blue is just odd.
#120 by Plasters on 10.13.06 12:38 pm |
On a side note Oregon’s lacrosse jerseys aren’t half bad
#121 by John in Athens on 10.13.06 12:40 pm |
Matt said:
They also have never won a World Series since adopting black into thier color scheme.
Hmm.
#122 by skott on 10.13.06 12:40 pm |
flags:
why the hell do all these teams have to wear a flag? people worship a piece of cotton so much they consider the materials used more important than the meaning it’s supposed to represent.
i’d be more impressed if a team had the Bill of Rights on a helmet – THAT would be cool.
*(yes, i’m liberal punk rocker)*
on another note, isn’t it weird to see SO many athletes from so many different countries have to wear an American flag but cannot wear their own home countries flag? I’m thinking baseball in particular here…
unrelated: i think Nike sucks, pretty much generally. i don’t like anything they’ve done in years…
#123 by dchis on 10.13.06 12:44 pm |
skott said:
So do Toronto and then Montreal have to wear the US flag on July 4 at home?
#124 by alvarez on 10.13.06 12:44 pm |
Marcus said:
Spoken like someone who’s never actually seen any of the Stars three jersey options, if you ask me – talk about screaming ‘hit me in the chest’!
#125 by John in Athens on 10.13.06 12:45 pm |
dchis said:
While not bad, they don’t look as good as thier neighbors!
#126 by Kenny on 10.13.06 12:46 pm |
a arauz said:
Damn that’s funny
Charlie Brown
#127 by Natron on 10.13.06 12:47 pm |
Jeff said:
Well, OK, I’ll give you that one. My soccer ignorance is glaringly obvious. But for the major domestic sports, black and blue is just odd.
Black and blue looks odd? Speak for yourself! It’s an all time classic!
#128 by joe on 10.13.06 12:52 pm |
John in Athens said:
I’m rooting for the team with the best uniform this post-season, and the winner is: The Athletics. They haven’t messed with a stylish uniform, although, I would cheer harder if they revived this.
You might laugh, but when I played little league ball as a kid, our unis were an exact copy of this jersey. Damn they itched.
#129 by dchis on 10.13.06 12:58 pm |
The Blue Jays did play the Expos on July 4, 2004 in Montreal. I have not yet been able to find proof if they wore American flags on their hats or not.
#130 by Kenny on 10.13.06 1:03 pm |
Natron said:
Black and blue looks odd? Speak for yourself! It’s an all time classic!
Don’t you mean Big Time classic!
#131 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 1:05 pm |
Kyle said:
that phillies hat with the blue bill is used during interleague play.
#132 by Rob on 10.13.06 1:09 pm |
Jorge Campos wore some wild outfits as a goalkeeper.
It is WIDELY speculated in soccer that the bright color would cause shooters to drive the ball towards the goalkeeper, much like that phenomenon when you can’t decide who to pass a ball to, so you just put it, impotently, right between both of them.
Seeing how Jorge was a little guy, but played large between the posts, gave some support to people’s speculation.
#133 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 1:18 pm |
phillies “alt” cap
http://shop.mlb.com/...
#134 by Jonathon on 10.13.06 1:23 pm |
click on “Phillies 10 Red Sox 5″ for photos of alt cap in game action
http://www.boston.co...
#135 by Joe Drennan on 10.13.06 1:26 pm |
I came a bit late to the blog today seeing as though there are already so many post, so I may be repeating. If I am repeating, i’m sorry.
I played goalie through the college ranks. I did notice that the one team I played for that didn’t have a big logo, but rather Rangers style lettering was a difficult season for me as I had to react more to better shots.
If you look at former Devils goalie Chico Reeshe’s 3 rules of goaltending (1-keep you stick on the ice 2-stay square to the puck 3-forwards are stupid) I think the third rule helps explain what’s happening.
While shooters are taught to shoot for the open net, when they’re looking at the net and the goalie in it, their eye is unconsciouly drawn to the big logo on the goalie’s chest instead of the holes to which they can score through. This is why so many shots go right into the goalies chest.
#136 by dw438 on 10.13.06 1:43 pm |
Re: the rounded logo phenomenon in the NHL, I’m guessing there’s a subconcious desire of shooters to aim at something that even slightly resembles a target.
Maybe this leads to more shots hitting the goalie right in the chest…
So how does that explain the lousy record as of late of the Fishsticks?
#137 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.13.06 2:25 pm |
does anyone else think that the sim picture that paul used today could pass for a young adam morrison?
#138 by bluenoser on 10.13.06 2:28 pm |
As a hockey player of many years the logo to save% theory seems utterly ridiculous. Players are taught from day one to shoot for the “white” of the net and goalies are taught to take the white away. The best goalies in fact will intentionally leave an area of the net open, knowing the white will attract the shooters eye, anticipate the shot in that area and make the save. “Roy offered him the five hole and then took it away”! Sound familiar? The theory may have some validity when talking about beer league players or kids but I’m not buying it when we talk about the best players in the world that can hit spots in their sleep. They are not goin to be hypnotized by the “birdie”. Another weapon goalies use in offering the shooters white that isn’t actually there, comes in the form of the design of their pads. Often there will be a solid color with white appearing on the inside of the pads to make it appear as though there is more space in the 5 hole. See here..
http://www.recoilmag...
#139 by nastykjn on 10.13.06 2:34 pm |
Hey Paul, any thoughts? I know you want to “ditch the black” and all but would this be a better alternative if you couldn’t just have your blue cap?
#140 by Ricardo on 10.13.06 2:48 pm |
ESS said:
I don’t think it’s automatic. I imagine there’s a financial incentive offered to go with the template, and I wouldn’t be surprised if in some cases it was simply “design lazieness” on the part of the school, ie. it’s just quicker and easier to pick something out of the pattern book rather than coming up with something original. The hockey program at my own alma mater (UVM) just switched from being an all-RBK program (jerseys, helmets, gloves, pants, socks) to an all-Nike program, and aside from the inevitable addition of a thousand or so swooshes (even on the socks, ick), the design of the home, road, and third jerseys are unchanged…
-Ricardo
#141 by Paul Lukas on 10.13.06 2:49 pm |
nastykjn said:
Oh, please. What, are you gonna wear that with orange sleeves and an orange belt. Look, it’s simple: blue cap, blue sleeves, blue belt, blue socks. This is a WHEEL, people, there’s no need to reinvent it!
#142 by Jonathan on 10.13.06 2:50 pm |
nastykjn said:
I had a thought . . . .EEWWWWWW!!!!
#143 by Banker Bill on 10.13.06 2:55 pm |
Bob said:
Yeah – my thought is – not good enough to make the playoffs no matter what hat they wear – Howard is a monster though.
#144 by nastykjn on 10.13.06 2:59 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
Thank you Paul! I appreciate that. Let’s all remember that before we have another Saints Uni-redesign conversation like yesterday.
Either go back to this or leave it be!
#145 by Kane on 10.13.06 2:59 pm |
I’ve never really thought that this looked like a bullseye. How can the theory then be used to explain this?
#146 by Matt on 10.13.06 3:02 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
That hat would look perfect with this jersey.
#147 by Dennis O'Neil on 10.13.06 3:04 pm |
Central Florida will debut new black jerseys tonight against Pitt on ESPN. I think the fans are going to have a “blackout” or something.
#148 by Matthew on 10.13.06 3:08 pm |
Matt said:
Orange is one of those colors that’s very easy to misuse. It definitely looks good on some teams (Clemson Tigers, Syracuse Men’s Basketball team, come most quickly to mind), but that I think is an example of orange gone wrong.
#149 by Joe Drennan on 10.13.06 3:12 pm |
bluenoser said:
Great photo. I actualy had those pads for a few years for that exact reason. I now have mostly black pads because if the ref can’t see the puck, you get a quicker whistle.
How about this. Do you think this causes shooters to hit the goalie more? I couldn’t muster myself to buy that one for the obvious reason, so I bought this one instead.
#150 by Scott H on 10.13.06 3:16 pm |
bluenoser said:
Besides, looking at the jerseys from this year, only two teams don’t have “target-like” logos- the Ducks and Rangers. It would be next to impossible to make a strong statistical argument there.
#151 by Teebz on 10.13.06 3:25 pm |
Sorry for the long post, but I have been researching this all morning. I have to agree with all those who have said that there is nothing relative between logo and save percentage. Since 1982, when stats tracking changed, there have been a few dominant goalies who have played for very good teams. Here’s a look:
Since 1982, there have been a total of 23 different goalies who have shared or won the William M. Jennings award for having the best goals-against-average (GAA). If you take out the one-time winners, there have only been 6 repeat winners. Since 1982, there have been a total of 12 goalies who have won the Roger Crozier award for best save percentage, but there have only been 4 repeat winners in that time. Since 1982, there have been 15 different goalies who have won the Vezina award for best goalie, and only 4 goalies have been repeat winners.
If you examine the lists of goalies, there are a few names which keep coming up: Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, and Ed Belfour. From 1989-1995, these four goalies dominated the NHL award podiums:
Hasek won the Crozier award 7 times (1993-99), the Jennings award twice (1994, 2001), and the Vezina award 6 times (94-95, 97-99, 2001).
Brodeur has never won the Crozier award, won the Jennings award 3 times (97-98, 2004), and won the Vezina twice (03-04).
Roy won the Crozier award 4 times (88-90, 1992), won the Jennings award 5 times (87-89, 1992, 2002), and won the Vezina award 3 times (89-90, 1992).
Belfour won the Crozier award twice (91, 2000), won the Jennings award 3 times (91, 93, 95), and won the Vezina award twice (91, 93).
If you look at the years listed with those goalies, all of their major accomplishments happened in and around the same time frame. The fact that Hasek, Roy, and Brodeur played for a team with a somewhat circular logo is coincidental. Belfour played for the Hawks and Leafs when he was winning awards, and they are far from circular.
Save percentage and GAA are based on the goalie’s ability to stop the puck, and nothing else.
#152 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.13.06 3:26 pm |
#153 by Kane on 10.13.06 3:26 pm |
Kane said:
On second thought, the ‘93 Rangers hat emblem does have the same colors as a bullseye. I can’t figure out how this all lead to Canseco’s Tommy John’s surgery after only a few pitches later that year though.
#154 by Richard on 10.13.06 3:48 pm |
follow up Seminole article
It looks like some lucky, or unlucky if you think that way, fan will get the chance to win the auction for a uniform, cleats and all, from the ‘Noles game vs. BC on the 21st.
#155 by Taylor on 10.13.06 4:07 pm |
As a lifelong Carolina fan I’m usually pro-UNC on everything, but the new jersey tops (the shorts look the same) are hideous. There are a few schools that have such a tradition that their jerseys shouldn’t be messed with. Such schools are UCLA, Indiana, Kentucky (Nike messed them up), Carolina (Nike has now done them) and Duke (the black makes them look like a high school team). Carolina should go back to these shorts.
#156 by Taylor on 10.13.06 4:08 pm |
And this top, I mean.
#157 by Taylor on 10.13.06 4:12 pm |
Carolina should go with adidas, for real. I know Jordan wen to Carolina and all, but this Nike stuff has gotten out of hand. Heck, they can go with ProKeds or BusterBrown for all I care, just get regular jerseys again!
#158 by Shane on 10.13.06 4:41 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
Villegas, anyone?
#159 by a arauz on 10.13.06 4:42 pm |
Taylor said:
oh, i dig the Syracuse shorts there… those are Bowie & Louie Show era uniforms. SWEET.
#160 by a arauz on 10.13.06 4:45 pm |
Taylor said:
I despise Duke & all that, but I’d love a jersey that just said ‘Boozer’ on the back. That’s a great drinking shirt !
#161 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.13.06 5:02 pm |
a arauz said:
just get this throwback jets jersey…
a beaut!
http://www.fansedge....
#162 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.13.06 5:03 pm |
lets try this again…
this retro jets
http://www.fansedge....
#163 by nastykjn on 10.13.06 5:05 pm |
a arauz said:
Too bad Juneau-Douglas High School didn’t have the foresight to put names on the backs of their jerseys. That could’ve been a great revenue producer for them. Could’ve paid for their plane tix everytime they go on the road.
#164 by Brian from Short Island on 10.13.06 5:10 pm |
Jeff said:
Inter Milan comes to mind. How about Celtic’s change shirts, which are black and green stripes (not hoops)? There’s another instance of unnatural black.
#165 by Ron Nelson on 10.13.06 5:24 pm |
> Wes Walz was wearing mismatched gloves last night
Wes changes his gear between each period, feels that dry equipment helps his game (speedster). I can see that leading to equipment mismatches.
#166 by Jack H. on 10.13.06 5:28 pm |
I’m watching the Tigers-A’s game now and Marco Scutaro is wearing this over his normal cap at short. What’s the rule about this?
#167 by ACC on 10.13.06 5:29 pm |
Terry Mark said:
I HATE the NC State style jerseys with no names on the back! They look like they’re used in a cheap TV commercial. The players who made the team deserve the names on their backs in this day and age.
#168 by ACC on 10.13.06 5:37 pm |
a arauz said:
Kentucky??? They have no uniforms almost every season. Florida State too, and Cal, and Wake Forest,….There are schools that like to constantly tweak their designs.
#169 by ACC on 10.13.06 5:40 pm |
Natron said:
Those guys are dorks! Can’t stand them. What lame responses.
#170 by John in Athens on 10.13.06 5:47 pm |
Brian from Short Island said:
All Celtic second and third tops are shite. Notorious for adding black and flourescent colors to their strips, as a Ranger supporter I respect the green and white hoops and laugh at the rest.
Even so, the green and white can’t make this monkey look good.
#171 by ACC on 10.13.06 5:48 pm |
Jeremy said:
I too thought so…Navy hats = zzzzzz.
#172 by Jack H. on 10.13.06 5:52 pm |
Bob said:
They need to wear those more often, I really like them.
#173 by Jack H. on 10.13.06 6:02 pm |
TJ Smith said:
Not to burst your bubble or anything, dude, but MSU has worn simply “State” on their unis for ages, or at least since the days of Magic.
#174 by C.N. on 10.13.06 6:03 pm |
ACC said:
Um, no. Kentucky hadn’t changed their jerseys in at least a decade until last season’s Nike template foolishness and the SEC throwback exercise in futility.
#175 by Tod on 10.13.06 6:10 pm |
To Todd in post No. 24 in regards to the sign guy. I am not sure of his name, but he is a big Pacers guy as he is originaly from Indiana I belive, and he owns a bar/restaurant on Sanibel Island, Fla. called the Sanibel Grill. So I think he’s pretty well off. Try searching for that on Google and see what you get. I haven’t tried that yet. But my family vacations there and I have met him and eaten at his bar. The walls are covered with pictures of him with sports people and of him with all of his signs. Last night was the first time I remember seeing him on TV. Hope that helps.
On the college BB uni note, I don’t have time to post a link now, but Illinois will have the same collar bone stripe on their new jerseys this season too. Looks like all Nike Elite schools will have this same generic look. Yuck!
I’ll post a link to their new jersyes and pants when I get a chance.
#176 by ACC on 10.13.06 6:21 pm |
Jack H. said:
Yeah so Magic wore them. I agree with the first guy. It’s lame and laughable.
I just don’t care for the ultra generic and basic looking crap that says S T A T E. I prefer a bit more creativity.
#177 by ACC on 10.13.06 6:24 pm |
C.N. said:
Are you sure about that? The only NCAA I watch is the tourney but UKentucky is in it almost every year and it seems they have new threads. I’ll look for some proof.
#178 by Junior on 10.13.06 6:43 pm |
But c’mon, name one team that looked good using black and royal blue as primary uniform colors…
The New York Knicks are a great example.
#179 by Phil T on 10.13.06 6:47 pm |
I don’t know where you would even start to validate this theory. But the idea of a uniform/logo giving a team an on-ice advantage — I thought that was something you’d be particularly interested in.
You would’nt try to validate. It’s an example of too much useless information to even worry about discussing.
Now asking why a team would select the logos of the Ducks or the Sabres identity woudl be something to study and try to fix.
Phil T.
#180 by Jack H. on 10.13.06 6:56 pm |
ACC said:
All I’m saying is, it’s tradition at least for MSU’s standards. I mean, Penn State has never worn any sort of logo or wordmark on their football jerseys and no one complains that they look ultra generic and lame.
#181 by Brian E. on 10.13.06 7:05 pm |
Did anyone see Marco Scutaro with the A’s skullcap on OVER his ballcap?!
I thought we had reached the bottom with Placido Polanco’s ‘I’m-about-to-go-rob-a-711′ head wrap, but that atrocious look from Scutaro takes the cake.
To make matters worse, here’s what Steve Lyons (Former major-leaguer and current fox analyst) had to say:
‘I like the A’s minicap over the baseball cap look.’
That’s a direct quote.
This calls for some sort of grass-roots protest of Fox.. I mean, c’mon, SOMETHING has to be done to stop this!
#182 by Art Mah on 10.13.06 7:11 pm |
Forgive, but does it look like to anyone that Kenny Rogers was wearing the BP cap instead of the 5950? I didn’t take any screencaps on the HD feed, but it sure looked like it to me.
It looked like the trim on the brim was darkened somewhat anyways, but I could be wrong…
#183 by Forrest on 10.13.06 7:19 pm |
Brian E. said:
Are you kidding? I think that’s AWESOME! There are so many better reasons to boycott Fox. I’m definitely stealing that idea next time I play baseball.
#184 by Eric Forsgren on 10.13.06 7:26 pm |
After watching two games pitched by Kenny Rogers of the Tigers, I’m convinced that he wears the BP hat instead of the regular issue on field Tiger hat. The bill has a white stripe on it and it is the more form stretch fitting 3930 rather than the somewhat boxy 5950 normal issue. I worked at a cap store for a while and picked up on it.
#185 by Riley on 10.13.06 7:27 pm |
I can’t believe that the umps are letting Scutaro wear that toque (Yes I’m Canadian, and yes it’s a toque. Not a knit hat, not a skull cap, a toque). Paul, is there any precedent for that? I remember someone for the Cubs wearing the mask but that was still underneath the rest of the uni, not on top.
#186 by Lake on 10.13.06 7:37 pm |
Eric Forsgren said:
Yep, you’re right. We’ve talked about this on the site for a while now. I love the BP caps, and I wish more players would switch to it (that is, those who play on teams that could get away with it, like Detroit and the Yanks).
#187 by Mike on 10.13.06 7:48 pm |
I was just watching highlights and they showed some clips from Leafs and Senators practice, and their practice jerseys both look really different. I think they may have been the new reebok jerseys. Looked really weird, I can’t really describe them
Also, was Detroit’s second baseman wearing a belaclava?
#188 by Minna H on 10.13.06 7:50 pm |
Tigers’ blue hoodie under the batting helmet = thumbs up.
Oakland’s green stocking cap over the regular cap = thumbs down.
Tigers win that duel as well. Hey, guys, it ain’t THAT cold out—ditch the extra lids. Look at Harden going sleeveless—now there’s a REAL man. Then again, he’s Canadian, so it’s only to be expected.
That last note was for you, Teebz. You know how I love me some Canadians! Especially when ils parlez francais. Pardonne-moi if I messed up the tenses and such. It’s been awhile.
#189 by allenjd on 10.13.06 8:08 pm |
Dennis O’Neil said:
The black jerseys look sharp. Unfortunately, Pitt ran the opening kickoff back 97 yards for a TD.
#190 by Shawn Knowles on 10.13.06 8:16 pm |
The point that everyone is forgetting about with regards to the goalie logo thing is that with hockey being one of the fastest games on earth, as much as you would like to, you rarely acutally have the time to aim at where you’re shooting. More often than not a shot is just “putting the puck on net” and the shooter has no idea where the puck is going.
lets also not forget:
New Jersey: Martin Brodeur
Calgary: Miikka Kipprusoff
Montreal: Pat Roy, Jose Theodore, Cristobal Huet
Washington: Olie Kolzig
— not bad goalies there
#191 by Sebastian on 10.13.06 8:18 pm |
i’m not sure if this has been mentioned before, but while watching the A’s-Tigers game i noticed when Ken Macha, the A’s manager, ran out onto the field to pull Harden he was wearing some stirrups
i don’t have a picture, but here is an older one:
#192 by Teebz on 10.13.06 8:19 pm |
#193 by Sebastian on 10.13.06 8:20 pm |
sorry, here’s the link
#194 by Teebz on 10.13.06 8:20 pm |
#195 by Brian from Short Island on 10.13.06 8:39 pm |
dw438 said:
Charles Wang. The end.
They got a lot better before the past two years, however.
#196 by Brian from Short Island on 10.13.06 8:42 pm |
John in Athens said:
…let’s not start this… Stay off my Boruc and Zurowski!
#197 by Ryne on 10.13.06 8:58 pm |
One thing that people have to remember regarding Scutaro’s toque is that the past six months these guys have been playing in 60-70 plus weather nearly every day. I live in ND and it has been in the upper thirties the last couple of days and it is relatively chilly. And it really does not look that bad, at least he centered the A’s logo on his hat.
#198 by Ryne on 10.13.06 9:52 pm |
Commenting on the Ken Macha Stirrup issue:
Oakland Managerial Tradition with the Stirrups? (Couldn’t find a LaRussa picture)
Ken Macha
Art Howe
Billy Martin
Alvin Dark
Dick Williams
Also a picture of Billy Martin in green stirrups with white sanitaries.
Another interesting bit of the Oakland coaching past is that in the ’70s the coaches would wear white hats at home compared to the players green/yellow. (Picture is of Gene Tenace- third row all the way to the right).
#199 by Dave on 10.13.06 10:14 pm |
Dennis O’Neil said:
Good thing. If UCF wore their regular gold jerseys, the game would have been very hard to follow, much like the Notre Dame-Georgia Tech game earlier this year. Gold helmets/white shirts/gold pants against gold helmets/gold shirts/white pants is tough on the eyes (and brain).
I’m not sure if this is what Central Florida was thinking, but if they were I applaud them. I wish more teams would consider who they are playing when determining which uniform to wear.
#200 by Josh W. on 10.13.06 10:19 pm |
200th comment!!!! that’s all.
#201 by Kenny on 10.13.06 10:41 pm |
McCarver just brought up how dirty Mota’s hat was even though he’s only been with the Mets since August
#202 by Smail on 10.13.06 10:48 pm |
Kenny said:
Mota’s just ditching the black… for a dirty, gray, brownish color.
#203 by Super Mario on 10.13.06 10:52 pm |
Minna H said:
i was watching the game and the commentators said that the a’s pitching coach (i can’t remember his name) asked if Harden wanted to wear sleeves that had special coils in it to make his arms warm. i thought that was pretty interesting. anyone have any links at all to back this up? they said is was an invention by the pitching coach or something, i might be wrong on this one.
#204 by Riley on 10.13.06 10:53 pm |
Minna H said:
Chad Harden spent 7 years of his childhood in my fine city (Calgary, AB). 3 degrees celsius is certainly not THAT cold to anyone that has lived here.
#205 by Super Mario on 10.13.06 10:56 pm |
Riley said:
actually it’s Rich Harden, but whatever.
#206 by Super Mario on 10.13.06 10:59 pm |
Smail said:
yeah, i noticed that too. that was one dirty hat.
#207 by Nolan on 10.13.06 11:05 pm |
John Stewart joins the Ditch the Black??
#208 by Kenny on 10.13.06 11:13 pm |
Nolan said:
No, I just think he knows how it should be…also regarding Harden, the announcers said the pitchers stay the warmest during the game along with the catchers because they move around the most…well and also the whole Canadian thing probably plays a factor too, especially if you believe in the Dusty Baker factor…anyone know what I’m talking about?
#209 by Josh W. on 10.13.06 11:24 pm |
Kenny said:
no actually i dont, please enlighten me, and any others who dont get it
#210 by Minna H on 10.13.06 11:27 pm |
Teebz said:
Merde! Zoot alors! I knew I’d mess something up. Ils…parlont? No, that’s not right. Back to parles? Help me out, Teebz—it’s the only one I can’t conjugate. I was always better at comprehension.
As for Scutaro–can one of my Northern neighbors (maybe you, Teebz) define toque to me? The definitions I have read do not fit what Scooty was wearing.
Finally, spotted a woman at the Mets game wearing an orange fur hat with a Mets logo sewn on. Please, dear god, let that be homemade. No sign of Paul.
#211 by Minna H on 10.13.06 11:39 pm |
Jon Stewart = yummy. As for Harden, he himself said that he liked the cold weather because it pumps him up. He said he’s used to it from playing in -33 degree weather, Celsius, in Canada.
#212 by Minna H on 10.13.06 11:41 pm |
That should read -33 degrees in my last post.
I just have to say that the orange and blue of the Mets are so great together! The stands seem tilted in favor of the orange and blue.
#213 by Colin on 10.13.06 11:41 pm |
OK … goalie topic of a different sort tonight, as interesting as the “target logo” theory is.
The Vancouver Canucks are wearing their blue alternate/throwback unis tonight [which they should go back to fulltime, btw]. Roberto Luongo is wearing a different mask to go with these unis as well… and he was wearing pads that match the colours of the uni, as seen here. Now, I say “was”, because the announcer mentioned how he switched pads during the first intermission, and is now wearing his regular pads. Hopefully someone else has noticed this and can provide more/better pics.
#214 by Nolan on 10.14.06 12:45 am |
Colin said:
Holy shit those canucks unis kick ass.
#215 by Kenny on 10.14.06 1:33 am |
Josh W. said:
Dusty Baker made a comment at the beginning of the year saying that black and Latino players would play better in the heat in the middle parts of the month because they came from hot weather countries
#216 by Kenny on 10.14.06 1:34 am |
Kenny said:
whoops…middle part of the year
#217 by Andy on 10.14.06 2:33 am |
#218 by Chris on 10.14.06 9:27 am |
Dave said:
Pitt probably would have countered with their blue pants, which they don’t wear very often. They need some white pants – couldn’t look bad with white-on-white or blue jerseys on white, right?
#219 by matt1977 on 10.14.06 11:11 am |
“…like having a guy sitting behind you at the game explaining the game to his wife… and getting the rules wrong.”
Man, that drives me insane.
#220 by Joel Keller on 10.14.06 12:31 pm |
Lake said:
By the way, doesn’t it look like Rogers took a black Sharpie to the white stripe on the bill? The black just looks inconsistent, like it was filled in by a marker. That was the first inkling I had that Rogers was using a BP cap.
#221 by Riley on 10.14.06 3:13 pm |
Minna H said:
Give me a break. Harden said he lived in Calgary (where I live) and it can get down to -30 C (-22 F) in the winter (which it does very rarely). Trust me. Nobody spends very much time outside at all, when it gets that cold and I can assure you nobody is playing baseball
#222 by Al on 10.14.06 4:33 pm |
Colin said:
Royal Blue/Forest Green kick serious ass. 3 thumbs up for the canucks braintrust. BTW: Fox firing Lyons during the playoffs must set some type of record. I’m hispanic & cannot understand Fox’ overreaction. On the brightside, the replacement has got to call a better game.
#223 by Stratplans on 10.14.06 6:26 pm |
zep said:
UNC unis have always been distinctive and reflected the class of the program. A shame to see them go the corporate route. The argyles came from unis that were designed by Alexander Julian as a favor to Dean Smith.
#224 by Taylor on 10.15.06 12:50 pm |
Stratplans said:
They’re just like any other recent Nike jersey designs. It’s like the designers are trying to make new designs so they can impress Phil Knight and make him think they are worth their paycheck. Nike usually makes excellent stuff, but their recent jersey designs have been brutal. Now they haven’t reached Reebok-ugly status yet, but it’s coming soon.
#225 by Ben on 10.15.06 3:45 pm |
Re: The new UNC basketball unis.
Ehh, these new ones won’t last more then two seasons. Recall a few years back when the unis were designed by MJ with that horrible NC interlocked logo on the front? These new ones will last about as long as those MJ designed ones did and then will be replaced by a slightly revamped version of the old classic UNC design.
Mark my words and put it in the book.
#226 by Taylor on 10.15.06 8:57 pm |
Ben said:
I sure hope you’re right. In comparison to all the new jerseys Nike is making righ tnow, I would take the jerseys from a few years back with the interlocked logo in a second!
#227 by Jack Rabbit Slim @ VT on 10.16.06 3:03 am |
Taylor said:
No, You Wouldn’t. Everytime I saw the interlocked NC jerseys, I threw up and little and cried myself to sleep, bsides like Ben said most nike jerseys are only for the moment. Hopefully cooler minds will prevail, and my beloved Tar Heels will go back to the more classic looks,or something like last year.
Hokie for the moment, Tar Heel for Life…..
#228 by Andy on 10.18.06 4:22 pm |
Any Bruins fan can tell you that the circle target doesn’t help the goalies, in true boston fashion, “there’s always next year”
#229 by Paul Frankenstein on 10.18.06 8:54 pm |
I think it was in ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ that Batman explains that he put a target on his chest because he couldn’t armor his head…
#230 by clinton bowen on 10.23.06 7:43 pm |
As a collegiate hockey player, I must say this is very interesting. I would ask this guy that works for a company that does number crunching for the NHL to sample old game footage to test if players were more likely to shoot at a goalie’s chest if he wore a symmetrical logo than a goalie not wearing a non-symetrical logo. That could be a second test to this hypothesis.
I had this wierd theory that dark or black away jerseys would make it harder for a goalie to find the puck. It might have some truth since the only team in the NHL that wear a really dark away jersey (that I can think of), is the Vancouver Canucks.
#231 by Jamie on 01.04.07 12:14 pm |
actually, the american flag stays on the uniforms because we are a country at war. This was the same in 1991 when we were in the first gulf war. The next season saw the flags come off. But since we continue to be a nation at war, we continue to have flags on most teams jerseys, as is the case with helmets in college and pro football.