[Editor’s Note: Today’s entry marks the blog debut of Uni Watch intern Vince Grzegorek. Please join me in congratulating him on his fine work. — PL]
If you’ve been watching any of the Browns’ recent games, you may have noticed that many of the players were sporting sideline ponchos with the “Brownie the Elf” logo on the back.
Here at the Uni Watch Intern Department, we think they look particularly snazzy. So with Christmas fast approaching and elves holding a treasured and storied place in holiday lore, this seems like an appropriate time to take a deeper look at the history of the Brownie logo and its association with Cleveland football.
The story begins long before the Cleveland Browns adopted the little creature as their logo — long before the team even existed, in fact. “Brownies” date back to folklore, where they were elf-like creatures who helped out with household chores as long as you left them little goodies to eat (further background is available here, here, and here, and the cover illustration from a children’s tale entitled “Brownie and the Cook” can be seen here). Palmer Cox was one of the first artists to illustrate Brownie on a consistent basis in his cartoons. Here’s an example from an 1896 comic he produced for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Cox is also credited with being one of the first to realize the Brownies’ immense commercial appeal. He began drawing and using the elves in advertising work that he produced for different companies, including Kodak, Luden’s, and Brownie soda.
All of which brings us, finally, to the Cleveland Browns.
The association of the elf and the gridiron Browns begins in the late 1940s with Arthur McBride, who was the team’s owner at the time. During a string of four incredibly successful seasons from 1946-49 (each of which resulted in an All American Football Conference championship), McBride sought to make his team more recognizable and marketable with music, parades, marching bands, and so on. He also asked for submissions for mascot logos, and after careful consideration chose Brownie as the new face of the team.
Brownie got an update around 1950 and looked like this until 1969. Alternate logos included an orange elf from 1950-69, and a halfback elf from 1960-69. After the Browns won the NFL title in 1964 (yes, it was that long ago, Cleveland fans), Brownie was often depicted with a crown signifying the team’s achievement.
Even representatives from the Cleveland Browns are befuddled as to the exact origin, date, and key figures in the creation of the logo (which made its first appearance in an ad for tickets to the 1946 opening game against the Miami Seahawks). However, many of the earliest versions of the elf are credited to Dick Dugan, who became the sports cartoonist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and often depicted Brownie in battle against the team’s opponents, like the Broncos and Redskins (although the scenarios he sketched took on a sort of gallows humor when the Browns stunk).
Cleveland fans loved the athletically inclined little creature with pointed shoes, whose image could be seen adorning various publications and advertisements (from both the team and the public), such as in this 1961 Browns schedule, and the 1949 Media Guide.
So, what do you do with a logo that the fans love?
Well, if you’re Art Modell, you get rid of it. Apparently, Modell, who became the team’s owner in 1961, was completely embarrassed by the elf and hated it so much that in the mid-1960s he began to phase it out. Yes, in addition to taking the team from Cleveland, Modell also was responsible for putting the lovable Brownie on the unemployment line.
Thankfully, when the Browns were resurrected in 1999, Brownie got a new lease on life. New owner Randy Lerner has made a big push to use the elf logo more and more for the organization. “I think it’s a great anchor for our tradition and for the look and feel of the Browns,” he has said. “But I also understand that there is something to freshening up the act, so I think that’s a balancing act we’re having right now.”
As you can see from the team’s sideline ponchos, the organization is using Brownie in more ways than just for merchandise sales (although it’s clearly evident from the hats and shirts and fleeces that there is a definite push in that direction too). In fact, the Browns have used the elf logo on the 2006 Training Camp Patch celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary, and a throwback elf logo appears on the front of their 2006 Media Guide (here’s a close-up view). Fans have embraced Brownie, too — one guy even put the elf on his RV, and another has gotten a more permanent reminder of his allegiances.
As many of you may have noticed in yesterday’s comment section, Ohio State QB Troy Smith was even seen reppin’ an elf throwback jacket at Tuesday night’s OSU basketball game.
While Brownie’s revival is welcome news, there’s one place that the elf should never appear (and thankfully, Lerner agrees). Paul Brown actually proposed this idea in 1953, but dismissed the idea after seeing mock-ups created by then trainer Leo Murphy. Good thing too, because the only thing that should ever be added to the team’s helmets are uniform numbers, like the ones the team wore with for its recent throwback game against the Bengals.
We’re generally pleased with Brownie’s reappearance. It adds a great traditional aspect to the team’s imagery, which meshes nicely with the more recent addition of the “Dawg” logo (but please, let’s not have them mesh like this or this, ideas that belong in the same graveyard as this one).
Three other Brownie items of note:
• Brownie was also pressed into mascot duty by the St. Louis Browns baseball team just prior to their move to Baltimore (where they became the Orioles). During this brief run, Brownie appeared on the team’s jersey sleeve, on the cover of the team’s 1952 schedule, and even on the door to owner Bill Veeck’s office.
• “Elf Brownie” is also the name of a typeface.
• Need a last-minute Christmas gift? Live near northeastern Ohio? You can get plenty of Brownie-related merchandise at the GPS Gift Gallery in Rocky River, Ohio, the self-proclaimed “Home of the Brownie Elf.”
Meanwhile, as far as the logos and designs of sideline ponchos go, the Uni Watch Intern Department and a group of elves will be working earnestly on this topic in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
#1 by Miguel on 12.21.06 8:50 am |
Very impressive!
Keep up the great work, Vince
#2 by Brian W on 12.21.06 8:56 am |
Well done, Vince!
I love the Brownie logo. I ALMOST wish I could sport one in public, but as a Steeler fan, that’s just not possible.
#3 by My name is not Earl on 12.21.06 8:58 am |
In light of the uproar over the Wisconsin logo, a school in the New Orleans area had better hope that the Tar Heels don’t find out about the logo they’ve been using.
http://www.nola.com/...
#4 by Cathy on 12.21.06 9:02 am |
Nice Job. I’m a Redskins fan, but love the throwback jacket Troy Smith is wearing…I’d wear that anyday!
#5 by Ed on 12.21.06 9:03 am |
Excellent job, Vince - and best wishes from a Cleveland area native.
ed
#6 by Frank on 12.21.06 9:05 am |
I love the return of traditional sideline ponchos, and the Brownie logo is a great symbol. Lots of history.
#7 by Tim on 12.21.06 9:14 am |
Just visited GPS last night and got some Brownie items for Xmas gifts.
#8 by Stan The Man on 12.21.06 9:14 am |
The Cleveland Browns have done a great service to all of competative sports by returing to their roots…such tradition and history in seeing “Brownie” returned to the sidelines!!! If only the rest of the NFL would pay homage to their past and return to “classic” uniforms, and get rid of the “modern” crap that I see in NFL games…(Vikings, Cardinals, Broncos, Patriots, Eagles, Rams, Seahawks, any of the newer teams…are you listneing???)
Great site, as always, and a Merry Christmas to my fellow Uniform Fanatics in cyberspace!!!
#9 by redhotfro on 12.21.06 9:17 am |
Good work Vince.
#10 by Richard on 12.21.06 9:18 am |
Not bad for your first post, Intern. Keep up the good work, and maybe Paul will let you inform us some more.
#11 by Kel on 12.21.06 9:19 am |
Great work, Vince. :) I actually found the hsitory lesson fascinating, and I don’t even like Cleveland. (I’m a die-hard Steelers fan, so while I will eat brownies, I will not wear them!)
I do hope they never put the elf on the helmet though. That would put the Browns at an unfair advantage, as they could easily score while the other teams were laughing at them!
#12 by Jeff on 12.21.06 9:21 am |
Great post, Vince. You’ll shed that “intern” label in no time.
#13 by Timmy B on 12.21.06 9:25 am |
GREAT work, Vince! Maybe we’ll bump into you with the other 20,000 or so who actually make it down this Sunday.
HERE WE GO BROWNIES, HERE WE GO! WOOF! WOOF!
#14 by Rich on 12.21.06 9:26 am |
Those St. Louis Brownies look like some sort of space aliens…
#15 by DJL on 12.21.06 9:28 am |
Nice job Vince. Now all we have to do is finagle discounts at GPS Gift Gallery for all the free publicity. Those cornhole sets they have are pretty expensive.
Also, alums of the west side all-boys Catholic high schools will be happy to know they have plenty of St. Ed’s and St. Ignatius gear.
#16 by Clevo on 12.21.06 9:28 am |
Nice one Vince. The Brownie is one of those things, that growing up in Cleveland I always wondered about and never sat down to research it.
I will go on record and state that I absolutely hate the dog logo. I was so glad that they don’t have them in the endzones anymore. (related note: how great do the script logos look in the endzones? I hope they stick with those)
This is all coming from someone that hasnt cared about the NFL since the Browns bolted for Baltimore, but I will always love those orange and brown unis.
#17 by Andy on 12.21.06 9:31 am |
NICE write up!!!!! VINCE!!!! You ROCK like Kiss on the ‘Hotter than hell’ tour in 74!!!!!
#18 by tessa on 12.21.06 9:36 am |
An interesting subject, and well written. Thanks for the information. And thanks to Paul for putting himself at risk to be Wally Pipped. I hope to hear more from the Intern Department soon!
#19 by Dave on 12.21.06 9:38 am |
Browns alternate all-brown pants (see this year’s Madden alternate uni which is baed on NFL uniform catalog) have Brownie Elf on each hip. . . .although the team isn’t planning on wearing them.
#20 by Pat on 12.21.06 9:40 am |
I gotta say, I really don’t like that dog logo all that much. Give that one up and bring back the Brownie full time. What does the dog have to do with the Browns anyway? Doesn’t make all that much sense.
#21 by Pittsburgh Gunny on 12.21.06 9:41 am |
Great article Vince and I don’t even follow the NFL!
#22 by jam on 12.21.06 9:41 am |
Am I the only one that thinks that elf looks incredibly stupid. The elf needs work.
#23 by Stuby on 12.21.06 9:44 am |
Good job Vince.
With all the Iverson footage being shown over the past few weeks, I was reminded of how bad some of the Sixers unis have been over the past 15 years. The exception was the kit from 1994-97 here. The white home unis (not shown) looked really sharp.
I never got why they went away from these after such a short time.
#24 by Kenny on 12.21.06 9:47 am |
Very solid first post…good history on the elves and their connection
I’m actually surpised how many people don’t like the dog logo…isn’t it used all over in Cleveland?
NOW GO GET ME SOME COFFEE INTERN!!!!!
#25 by Lou on 12.21.06 9:48 am |
Excellent job. I always liked Brownie. I always thought the baseball team used him first; never realized it was the other way around. Excellent history lesson!
#26 by Kenny on 12.21.06 9:49 am |
This and this are my favorite Sixers unis
#27 by DJL on 12.21.06 9:51 am |
I agree wholeheartedly. The logo was nothing more than a bullshit way to capitalize on the new, about-as-rowdy-as-the-doctor’s-office “Dawg Pound.” While the dog logo linked to by Vince wasn’t that bad, the first “Dawg Pound” logo was absolutely fugly. As was the football “B” logo.
The marketing team was trying way too hard to find a logo. Thankfully, they went back to the Brownie.
#28 by Matt B on 12.21.06 9:56 am |
As you can see from the team’s sideline ponchos….
Are those Sears ponchos or are they Mexican ponchos?
#29 by BtotheE on 12.21.06 10:02 am |
I agree.
#30 by AMS on 12.21.06 10:06 am |
I love the Brownie logo. I ALMOST wish I could sport one in public, but as a Steeler fan, that’s just not possible.
I wholeheartedly concur with this sentiment. I saw that t-shirt, and thought about it for just a second… Old football logos are often great, including the old Steelers logo of the steelworker punting. Nice stuff.
#31 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 10:09 am |
I know you’re a Browns fan, but I have to use the Colts reference because it’s appropriate. If Paul is our Peyton Manning, nice to see that Vince is his Marvin Harrison - the guy he can faithfully throw it to knowing that the ball won’t be dropped. Excellent work Vince. As someone who has been to Cleveland on business a few times, I have always enjoyed my experiences there. I have seen the new stadium (during off season) and it really is nice. I like Brownie as a logo - but I agree not to put him on the helmets. That would be like Notre Dame putting the pugilistic leprechaun on the helmets.
(Minna - pugilistic is for your vocabulary builder today!!)
#32 by Paul Lukas on 12.21.06 10:13 am |
No they don’t. Maybe they do in Madden, but not in the official NFL style guide.
#33 by Robert on 12.21.06 10:26 am |
I wholeheartedly agree.
Awesome job, Vince. Long live Brownie.
#34 by Mark on 12.21.06 10:32 am |
vince,
from a life-long Bengals fan and Browns hater, excellent article!
#35 by Shane on 12.21.06 10:35 am |
Well done, Vince! Those old cartoons are great.
#36 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 10:37 am |
I love the Browns, they ain’t my favorite, but I love’em. They got a swift kick in the nuts when buddy moved them out of town to Baltimore (which by the way, should’ve been named different than the Ravens, I would’ve picked the Stallions, just cause of the old Baltimore Colts). But you don’t just move a tradition based team, in pretty well where football is a religion. Depressingly, doesn’t look too good for another town based on hockey tradition, with #66 making the Penguinsa legendary team in the NHL.
#37 by Kim on 12.21.06 10:38 am |
Not to get off track from the great Brownie story, but there was some interesting NHL equipment info in last night’s Red Wings/Blue Jackets game.
Columbus goalie Fredrik Norrena started the game with this stick. Notice the blue butt end (the wad of tape at the top of the stick). This picture is from the Dec 18th game, I can’t find one from the 20th.
He was then told to switch to this, the TSN broadcast explained that the rules stipulate that a goaltender can only have a white butt on his stick. To avoid any confusion for the goal judge of any black circular object that may enter the net.
#38 by John in Athens on 12.21.06 10:39 am |
Nice job!
Although the title reminded me of an unfortunate incident involving those brownies, the Dead, and an added ingredient at Bonnaroo a few years ago…
#39 by Teebz on 12.21.06 10:42 am |
The “Baltimore Stallions” name is owned by the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. The CFL had a huge battle with the Indianapolis Colts over being called the Baltimore Colts when the CFL set up shop in Baltimore. It was settled when the owners of the Baltimore CFL franchise backed off the “Colts” name and went to the Stallions. Years later, the Stallions would leave town and move to Montreal where they became the Alouettes.
As for the Penguins, nothing is known about their future for another 4-6 weeks. The Island of Capri can file an appeal. I wouldn’t write off the NHL in Pittsburgh yet. I have a feeling that Bettman and Cuban/Marino may end up with a deal.
#40 by Seth H on 12.21.06 10:45 am |
A post from late yesterday mentioned the facemasks in this photo: http://sportsillustr...
The facemasks are impressive. Note that there are two different types, plus a goalie mask. But there are also many other items of interest in the picture.
1) When I first saw it, I wondered why the US Women’s team was playing a team from “McDonalds.” Talk about logo creep! You have to look carefully to see that it is the Japan national team. The Japanese flag is clearly secondary to the advertisement and is about the same size as the uni manufacturer logo.
2) Note the numbers on the shorts/skirts of the teams.
3) Armbands around biceps.
4) Some of the women are wearing earrings and/or bracelets.
Much of this is clearer in the two page spread in the magazine.
#41 by Teebz on 12.21.06 10:47 am |
Good call on that, Kim. I watched that game last night, and here is the wording of the rule:
“Rule 19 - Sticks
a) The sticks shall be made of wood or other material approved by the Rules Committee, and must not have any projections. Adhesive tape of any color may be wrapped around the stick at any place for the purpose of reinforcement or to improve control of the puck. In the case of a goalkeeper’s stick, there shall be a knob of white tape or some other protective material approved by the League. This knob must not be less than one-half inch (1/2″) thick at the top of the shaft.
Failure to comply with this provision of the Rule will result in the goalkeeper’s stick being deemed unfit for play. The goalkeeper’s stick must be changed without the application of a minor penalty.”
I assume that Norrena hadn’t got league approval for the blue tape, thus forcing the officials to make him switch sticks.
#42 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 10:51 am |
Let’s just say the Pens are done in Pittsburgh (hypothetically of course)…where are they moving to? I keep hearing Kansas City and Houston…with Las Vegas as a long shot. Teebz, and other puckheads, give me your ideal team names for all those locations.
Kansas City - got to go back to tradition and use Scouts, but with the Native American inference, I doubt they’d do that.
Houston - If it weren’t for Edmonton, I’d go with Oilers…but that ain’t happening either. I have a tough time with Houston
Las Vegas - I’d go with the High Rollers - but I’m an idiot.
#43 by Vince Grzegorek on 12.21.06 10:52 am |
Hey all-
Thanks for all the well wishes. I really appreciate it (and thanks to Paul for giving me the chance to write for the blog.)
Some notes…
1. I read on a message board somewhere that the Browns actually petitioned the NFL to create brown pants with the elf logo on each hip, but after Randy Lerner saw the mock-up he didn’t like it and ditched the idea (much like Paul Brown ditching the helmet idea.) However, that is all by way of hearsay.
2. The dog logo isn’t bad, but I wish they would have left it for the fans who showed up dressed like dogs and barked in the stands instead of making it an official alternate logo for the organization. Should have stayed a nickname in my opinion.
3. The updated dog logo (done in 2002) was actually designed by Paul’s friend Todd Radom who used his own bulldog as a model. There’s a Uni Watch interview with Todd in the espn archives.
4. The old cartoons were perhaps the most interesting thing for me to look through.
#44 by Feel the Steel on 12.21.06 10:54 am |
Great work. I feel the pain of the Steeler Fan in distress about actually liking a product of the city by the lake. However, the Steelers had a logo of a steel worker punting a ball on a beam, before they went to the current SteelMark logo with the hypocycloids.
#45 by Burrill on 12.21.06 10:55 am |
Teebz, you have an immeasurable wealth of knowledge. Seriously. I am constantly amazed.
Anyway, I hope you’re right about the Penguins staying in Pittsburgh. If they move, I will be severely bothered. I’m tired of franchises moving.
Also, on a different subject, this talk of Dawgs reminded me that I forgot to post the photo of Chelsea’s Top Gun-style warmups. I thought it was actually kind of a fun idea.
But it’s only recently that Chelsea has started calling its teams “Dawgs” and “Bulldawgs,” and I don’t really care for it.
#46 by Dave on 12.21.06 10:55 am |
When Cleveland got the Browns back in ‘99, the league supposedly designed a few different sets of new uniforms for them. The Browns of course said no to all and went with the traditional look.
Does anyone have any info or pics of what those “other” uniforms looked like?
#47 by Pittsburgh Gunny on 12.21.06 10:58 am |
The Penguins sadly are now done in Pittsburgh, I have zero faith in any “Plan B’ put together by the crooked politicians. The Pirates got their new stadium even though they have no intention of ever being competitive ever again and the Steelers, who could have paid for their own new stadium and didn’t even need one, got their’s, so the Pens get screwed and the only team I care about in this crappy town is now going to leave, nuts.
#48 by Kim on 12.21.06 11:01 am |
Something like that is rarely noticed by the officials, it’s usually called to thier attention.
I’d bet the Wings mentioned it at some point. Especially since they had played just two days before, and were likely looking at game video.
#49 by Teebz on 12.21.06 11:04 am |
Las Vegas didn’t work for the IHL, and it certainly wouldn’t work for an NHL team, so I’m not even considering it. People don’t go to Las Vegas to watch a hockey game, and there are strict rules on gambling on LV-based teams. Las Vegas is a bad idea.
Houston has a long tradition of hockey thanks to their WHA days as the Aeros. The IHL and AHL have come along as picked up the city of Houston, and even expanded the market with teams in Dallas (Stars), San Antonio (Rampage - AHL), Fort Worth (Brahmas - CHL, who have suspended operations this season), and a pile of other teams. Another NHL team in Texas isn’t a good idea, especially when it comes to dealing with Tom Hicks.
If you move Pittsburgh to Kansas City, you have to go to the name of Scouts. If they have the Chiefs, they can have the Scouts. Kansas City is practically chomping at the bit to get a team due to their new arena. The problem is that one of Nashville or Columbus then has to move to the Eastern Conference, and there has to be juggling thanks to Pittsburgh’s Atlantic division placement. Nashville could work as an Southeast division team, and move Washington to the Atlantic division, but shuffling teams is bad for business with their current scheduling system.
Honestly, leaving the team in Pittsburgh is good for Pittsburgh, good for the NHL, and good for hockey in general. Pittsburgh has great rivalries with Washington, New Jersey, Philly, NYR, and the NYI. Trying to develop a rivalry between Dallas-Kansas City or KC-St. Louis would take years to do.
#50 by Teebz on 12.21.06 11:10 am |
That may be the case. Scotty Bowman was famous for noticing little things to throw a player off. Mike Babcock is the same style of coach. I wouldn’t doubt that he noticed it on game film. And clearly, it worked in throwing Norrena off his game. :o)
#51 by Dave on 12.21.06 11:24 am |
Righto. . . but per my inside source, the Brownie Elf was going to be handstitched on each hip.
#52 by Jeremy on 12.21.06 11:24 am |
Awsome Job Vince!!! It sounds like you have been doing this for awhile. Even though I am a Steelers fan I can still appreciate the history of one of our rivals. I am definitally looking foward to another article from the uniwatch intern department.
#53 by Matt on 12.21.06 11:25 am |
if the Penguins move to Houston take the AHL name of the Aeros…
hopefully they will stay in Pittsburgh though…
#54 by Kevin from Ohio in Virginia on 12.21.06 11:27 am |
Vince,
Great job! Of course, that is to be expected - you are a Clevelander, and Clevelanders are good at everything… except professional sports.
I too wish the “Dawg” logo would go away. “Big Dawg” and the other knuckleheads in the Pound should have been where it ended.
Any word on if the Browns will sport the brown pants in the course of the last two weeks of the season? I’m waiting to pass judgment until I see them on the field.
#55 by Shane on 12.21.06 11:29 am |
Move ‘em to Hartford! I may be a Bruins fan, but I miss the Whalers.
#56 by Phil on 12.21.06 11:30 am |
Teebz,
Don’t worry about Nashville or Columbus, move the Red Wings back to the East. They need to play Toronto more than once a year, and avoid those early round playoff trips to Edmonton and San Jose.
#57 by Teebz on 12.21.06 11:35 am |
You lose out on the Colorado-Detroit rivalry then. Since they would only play against each other once a year, that’s a rivalry they can’t miss out on. Besides, do I really want to watch Detroit hammer Toronto every fourth weekend on Hokcey Night in Canada? :o)
#58 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 11:39 am |
eh Teebz. i forgot to thank’ya for yestaday
Tim Horton
#59 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 11:43 am |
I love the idea - but the Whalers name will never come back - and Hartford has done very well with their AHL team - plus the Wolf Pack have a great logo!
I too dismissed Las Vegas instantly - but I keep hearing it, so I thought I’d mention it. I agree another team in Texas isn’t a great idea (The only ice there is in the drinks!)
I hope they stay in Pittsburgh honestly. The Penguin is a great name. If they do go to KC, the re-alignment would be a major pain, but I’d definitely do the Caps to the Atlantic (as a Ranger fan, I’d get to see Ovechkin more).
ESPN had a great article on other teams that need to move before the Pens…they mentioned the Panthers, the Preds, and the Caps…all based on lousy attendance figures. It’s a good read.
#60 by Burrill on 12.21.06 11:44 am |
It seems like the Colorado/Detroit rivalry has died down quite a bit the last few years. At least that’s what it feels like to me. It was a serious frenzy around the whole Draper/Lemieux incident, but I haven’t felt that much of a frenzy in a while.
But since I don’t have my finger on the pulse of the NHL, I may just be missing it.
#61 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 11:44 am |
WHAT?! ehhh, come on now
#62 by KP on 12.21.06 11:46 am |
Forewarning for everyone watching the Las Vegas Bowl tonight: source tells me the Ducks will be wearing their black unis with the yellow helmets.
#63 by Stuby on 12.21.06 11:50 am |
So, they’re going to look like the Colorado Buffs?
BRILLIANT!
#64 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 11:52 am |
kewl
#65 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 11:55 am |
I thought the CFL owned the rights to the team, but wasn’t sure, huh.. Baltimore should’ve cut a cheque to the league for the Stallions name.
#66 by Matty L. on 12.21.06 11:56 am |
On the
“Years later” isn’t that accurate of a term, if my memory serves me correctly the Baltimore FC/CFLers/Stallions only existed for something like 2 seasons…along with the rest of the terrible US expansion.
#67 by Broker75 on 12.21.06 11:58 am |
bloody well hope they do, Pittsburgh without the Penguins?, come on. but hey, Cleveland was without the Browns. It’s almost like, who gives a shit about the fans, geez.
#68 by Kerry on 12.21.06 11:58 am |
Great job today Vince. I LOVE hearing the history behind these teams and their logos. I’m really glad that so many sports teams are starting to embrace their older logos, they had so much more character than today’s logos created by some marketing firm 1,000 miles away.
Also, it made me think about THIS OLD SAINTS LOGO that seems to be making a comeback!
Good Stuff!!!
#69 by Jerry on 12.21.06 11:59 am |
Milwaukee is also a possibility
#70 by Pat on 12.21.06 11:59 am |
By the way, after looking through SIs “This Year’s Most Interesting Pictures” gallery I decided that I wanted to nominate this photo as Uniwatch photo of the year. Did Djay Jones take Tyler Grisham’s head off? Was it because of his uniform? As a devoted uniwatcher I say yes.
#71 by anthony giaccone on 12.21.06 12:02 pm |
Great article.
As a graduate of the school of visual arts and a big sports uniform fanatic, it was great to read a comprehensive story about one of the more unusual – yet fitting – sports logos in American popular culture.
I would love to see more stories about franchise logos, their histories, and where they came from.
Happy Holidays
#72 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:02 pm |
Nice, Banker B. I’m throwing in bellicose and pugnacious. Great job, Vince the Intern. Erudite and enlightening.
#73 by Stuby on 12.21.06 12:04 pm |
I see those weird knee bands everywhere in sports. Even see them on arms sometimes. What the heck is the purpose?
Nice, i guess that he got them color coded to that Clemson monstrosity.
#74 by Kerry on 12.21.06 12:04 pm |
Here’s a BETTER LOOK at the old Saints logo.
#75 by Dane on 12.21.06 12:06 pm |
Great job, Vince. Yet another Steeler fan who hates all things Cleveland, but it was a well-written, well-researched article.
And who’s this “Paul” guy that keeps getting mentioned? It’s Vince’s site now, right? (smirk)
The problem with the Penguins moving to KC/LV/Hou is the lack of any potential buyers from those markets. The only two buyers on the radar are (1) Cuban/Marino and (2) Steelhead Brewery in Canada. Group 1 has obvious Pittsburgh ties, and and Group 2 has stated the team belongs in Pittsburgh.
If they do move, I hope there is a name change and the black/gold Penguins sweaters get mothballed before they ever become RBK form-fitting disasters.
T minus 8 hours to flaming Oregon helmets. Hope it’s in HD.
#76 by Essteess on 12.21.06 12:12 pm |
Is Brownie any relation to Coily the Spring Sprite?
#77 by Phil Pereira on 12.21.06 12:14 pm |
Regarding the Penguins potential move, as a current KC resident, I’d love it if they moved here. I grew up in Boston loving the Bruins, and it would be great to catch some hockey here. I work a couple of blocks from the sprint center site, and it’s gonna be a nice venue, and with other entertainment going up in the immediate area surrounding the arena, I think the penguins would do well here.
#78 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:14 pm |
KC KFC
Las Vegas Showgirls/Gamblers
Houston Steers/Shotguns
M. Scrooge, puckhead-in-training
#79 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:24 pm |
Better yet, how about the Penguins move to MN and become the North Stars reincarnated? That would be nirvana.
And that should be the KC KFCs in my last post.
#80 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 12:29 pm |
T minus 8 hours to flaming Oregon helmets. Hope it’s in HD
I’ll tune in just to see - it’s kind of like when the “Faces of Death” videos first came out - you had to see a little of them even though you knew it would scar you for life.
#81 by Big Green on 12.21.06 12:30 pm |
I was browsing through the photo gallery of VY on ESPN.com, and noticed that Vince can’t seem to make up his mind about how he wants to wear his sleeves. In college, he clearly wore the elastic style sleeve.
#82 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 12:31 pm |
As long as Dallas is still the Stars, that sadly will never happen. I always thought Dallas should go with the Lone Stars, team with the Cowboys and use a blue and silver uni. Not enough of a difference for merchandising I know, but MAN I miss the North Stars…and the Nordiques…and even the Winnipeg Jets.
#83 by Metsfan AZ on 12.21.06 12:32 pm |
And slyly sliding in “erudite”. I honestly have to look that up. I’m asking U of A for my money back.
#84 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:37 pm |
Sigh. I know. I agree that Dallas should be the Lone Stars if anything.
You know how I feel about the North Stars? It’s like the true love who got away. I have a hot new boyfriend (the Wild!) whom I love dearly, but I would dump him in a second if my old boyfriend (the North Stars) came back to me. Sad, but true.
#85 by Original Jim on 12.21.06 12:37 pm |
I’m still stuck on decolletage from the other day…
:D
#86 by Jeremy on 12.21.06 12:40 pm |
stetson was wearing their green road uni’s at florida last night. i noticed that stetson had a white nameplate (with green letters) on their green uni. it looked terrible. it looked like they had just pulled the nameplate off the home white uni’s and put it their road uni’s.
#87 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:42 pm |
MetsfanAZ, don’t feel bad about it. I used to read the dictionary (I’m not joking) when I was a kid. My brother said I informed him when I reached the letter ‘I’. I also read alot of real books, and I am happy to drop a little of my vocab skillz on my crew.
#88 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:46 pm |
Original Jim, yead, I bet you are. It’s a good word on which to be stuck, no? am reading third Soos’ baseball mystery book. The front cover is great with a pic of Wrigley back in the day and of lettering on the plackets. You were the one who read the series, right?
#89 by Anthony Verna on 12.21.06 12:48 pm |
Noooooooo!
(What memories.)
#90 by Phil Pereira on 12.21.06 12:48 pm |
Kentucky Fried Chicken has nothing to do with Kansas City, Missouri. I’m confused about your team name suggestion…
#91 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:50 pm |
Sigh. What good does it do to have a big vocabulary when I can’t freaking type? Yeah, not yead.
#92 by Minna H. on 12.21.06 12:52 pm |
Phil, yeah, I know. I was just being snarky because the initials were close. Sorry for the confusion.
#93 by Phil Pereira on 12.21.06 12:57 pm |
Ah ok, my snarky detector isn’t working today lol
As for an actual KC team name, I really have no clue what would be good. There was a minor league team called the outlaws and I thought it was lame. Scouts is a cool name, but native american imagery is something that sort of bothers me. I’ll have to think this over lol
#94 by Stuby on 12.21.06 12:58 pm |
There has got to be a KC Masterpiece tie in somehow. BBQ colored jerseys, shoulder patches in the shape of soppin’ bread, etc.
#95 by Stuby on 12.21.06 12:59 pm |
Even better…the KC Stengels!
#96 by Banker Bill on 12.21.06 1:02 pm |
If you’re stuck on the decolletage, Minna needs to use different glitter. Besides, wasn’t it Jerry Seinfeld who said cleavage is a lot like direct sunlight - a quick glance now and again is OK, but if you stare right at it, you can cause yourself great harm.
I used to read the dictionary too Minna - that’s why I have a lot of fun with the English language.
#97 by Dave A on 12.21.06 1:02 pm |
It looks like Snoopy wearing a Saints helmet.
#98 by Jay Palmer on 12.21.06 1:04 pm |
Let’s honor Buck, and all of the past players…
KC Monarchs.