There was big news at last night’s NHL All-Star Game, but it had nothing to do with Reebok’s much-vaunted new uniform system. The real story, flying beneath everyone’s radar, was the refs. Why were they wearing silver armbands instead of red? And why were the refs in Tuesday night’s YoungStars game doing likewise? Was this just a special all-star thing?
Nope — turns out this is how the refs will look next season. According to an NHL spokesperson who e-mailed me last night from Dallas, the idea is to give the armbands “a consistent look with the new NHL logo.” Never mind that the “new” NHL logo is now a season and a half old. Or that the old one was black and orange, not black and red, so the refs’ armbands never matched up with that logo to begin with. Or that hockey refs all over the world wear red-banded sleeves, regardless of whether they work for leagues with red logos. Or that the silver bands blend in with the refs’ zebra stripes, making it tougher to tell the refs from the linesmen. Or that the whole idea of basing this particular uniform element on the league’s logo colors is completely arbitrary. Or that not a single word was said about this major change to the game’s look until somebody (me) asked. I don’t like to pile on the NHL, but seriously, what the hell are they smoking over there?
As for the player unis, what a big fuss over nothing. Yes, the actual graphic designs were total crap, but so what? All-star games always look like crap (see any similarities between this and this?), so that’s no surprise. The actual engineering of the new unis, which is the only thing we’ve seen so far, looks mostly fine.
But I emphasize “mostly.” A few things are cause for concern. To wit:
• I cannot stress enough how much I hate the look of those stretch-mesh panels that come up from the armpit to the collar. They were glaringly visible on the Eastern Conference jerseys, but less so on the West, which may mean Reebok still has some work to do in terms of getting the white fabrics to blend under TV lights.
• As if we all didn’t know already, jersey side panels and striped breezers tend to misalign when the players are actually moving. Why is it so hard for the NHL and Reebok people to grasp this simple fact?
• And as if we all didn’t know this too, that deep wishbone collar looks ridiculous, especially with the NHL logo pushed down so low. Fortunately, this collar style will not be a league-wide thing, but let’s hope no team uses it. V-neck, square neck, lace-up, whatever — anything’s better than this.
As for the slimmer fit and all that, I thought it looked fine. Wake me when the Canadiens announce their 2007-08 jersey.
All-Star Jersey Raffle — Last Call: Okay, forget all the negative things I just said about the NHL All-Star jerseys, because this one is being raffled off tonight. If you haven’t entered yet, PayPal me ($5 for one virtual raffle ticket, $10 for two, etc.) at paul_lukas at earthlink dot net by 10pm eastern in order to get your name in the hat. I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.
Post-Holiday Cheer: Got a visit yesterday from the UPS guy, who delivered a very light, flat package. Inside was this embroidered emblem and the following letter from reader Jeff Stephens of Middlebury, Indiana:
Happy Holidays! I know it’s a little late, but here’s a piece of “holiday cheer” I had made up for you. My mother has an embroidery business on the side, and she has an old chenille machine that she uses to make letters, chevrons, names, graduation years, and just about any kind of patch you might see on a letter jacket. I’ve had her make patches and such before, and her work is very good. So I asked her to make this “UW” patch, and she did it in no time flat.
I know the font is not exactly like the Uni Watch logo, but the colors match. You could purchase a jacket or display it in some other way. I just wanted to send something to thank you for all the hard work you put in on the blog and your ESPN column.
Man, is that a super-cool gift or what? Über-thanks to Jeff and his mom! And I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Uni Watch readers are the best. Thanks to everyone for all the contributions — chenille and otherwise — that flow into Uni Watch HQ each day. You people all rock.
Uni Watch News Ticker: This AP photo shows a scene from the very first Cleveland Browns game, in 1946. “What’s really interesting is the numbers are orange with a white outline,” says Jeff Lindquist, who discovered the photo on this message board thread. “Most Browns fans know that the numbers have been solid white on the dark jerseys and seal brown on the white jerseys for most of the team’s history (although those awful orange unis from a few years ago had drop-shadowed numbers).” … “Mascots usually wear a uniform jersey consistent with what the team is wearing on the field/court/ice,” writes Doug Keklak. “But look at this photo, which ran in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Compare that jersey to Pitt’s two hockey squads, here and here. I’d be curious to hear from any other Pittsburgh-area folks if that jersey the Panther is wearing has ever been worn by the team.” … According to this article, the Florida Panthers will have “a much more contemporary look” next season (with thanks to Perry Gattegno). … And as many of you already know, Minnesota is making changes too. … “I just came across this article,” writes Jack Krabbe. “I’m really confused as to why Satchel Paige has his name on his jersey.” Anyone..? … Good hockey equipment timeline (reprinted from this booklet) toward the end of this blog post (with thanks to Vincent Vignola). … “I just got the 1987 National League Green Book on eBay for a project I’m working on,” writes Jesse Spector. “It had two pages of uniform specs for that season, so I scanned them and am passing them on.” … Eric Carsner has come up with another collegiate logo mascot wearing a sailor and/or freshman cap, as seen here. “I remembered this Michigan logo being on some of my older Rose Bowl shirts, but I don’t recall seeing them anywhere else.” … The NBA All-Star Game uniform packages (including shorts, warm-ups, etc.) will be officially unveiled tonight at 7pm. I’ll have coverage tomorrow. … NFL officiating executive Larry Upson has cleared up a point we’ve occasionally discussed here: According to what Upson told me yesterday, NFL teams wearing black shoes must wear black shoelaces, and white-shod teams must wear white laces. So this is technically a violation. … White-laced black shoes are also visible here, but the real story in that photo is Thomas Jones’s socks (good catch by Jacob Reed). … Our own Scott M.X. Turner sent along this photo of his 1975 Pony League team in Greensboro, North Carolina. That’s Scott at front left, No. 5, looking pretty classic. But check out the kid next to him — higher stirrups and white shoes with green laces! Major clash of styles there. … I did a really fun interview last night with the here or stream it here (either way, my segment, which lasts about 20 minutes, kicks in a little more than halfway through the two-hour show).
#1 by KT on 01.25.07 8:59 am |
“As if we all didn’t know already, jersey side panels and striped breezers tend to misalign when the players are actually moving. Why is it so hard for the NHL and Reebok people to grasp this simple fact?”
Man, you worry about the craziest things sometimes. Humans move. Clothing moves. Watch the game.
#2 by Andy on 01.25.07 9:14 am |
NHL referee armbands are currently and as far as I know, always have been orange.
Same goes for most hockey I can think of. Even the picture you used as an example of red armbands, shows orange ones.
This isn’t to say that some leagues do use red ones because I know you can purchase red bands, but I’ve never seen them in use.
USA Hockey, as well as every high school eague I’ve run into, as well as college use orange bands.
#3 by Ryan B. on 01.25.07 9:15 am |
In the 1987 National League Green Book in the Comments section, in the bottom left, it mentions a secondary red road jersey top for the Cincinnati Reds that year. I don’t remember the Reds wearing it. I’ve looked for pics but haven’t had any luck.
Anyone know about or remember these?
#4 by Matt B on 01.25.07 9:15 am |
FYI: Scott Turner’s 1975 photo doesn’t work. Flickr sez it’s unavailable.
#5 by Ian K on 01.25.07 9:15 am |
I feel so juvenile for bringing this up, but the Pitt Panther mascot looks like he’s mounting the girl in front of him.
And I would pay good money for a Bob Dunn Ford jersey. A-maz-ing!
#6 by Original Jim on 01.25.07 9:16 am |
Change for the sake of change by the NHL referees…bad decision. How is one going to tell the referees apart from the linesmen? Different colored helmets?
Let’s see what happens when a team gets caught out of position trying to change personnel on a delayed penalty when it’s just a call for offsides.
I didn’t like the All-Star uniforms. Jerseys need stripes along the hemline, otherwise it’s the unitard effect.
#7 by austin on 01.25.07 9:17 am |
I too always thought of them as orange.
#8 by Banker Bill on 01.25.07 9:18 am |
I wonder if I have to buy new armbands for my referee jersey now…I don’t think the parents in Poughkeepsie NY care one way or another - they’d hate me no matter WHAT color I was wearing on my arms, because I still have stripes on the rest of me!
#9 by chris on 01.25.07 9:20 am |
wow, I’ll admit I was all up in arms about the uni changes but after seeing them in action, they’re not that bad. I actually don’t mind them. I couldn’t see the side paneling during the game except for the close-ups, plus I don’t have an HD tv.
I kinda dig the ‘rail cam’ they had, and the conversations with Marty Turco while he was playing were great, although I think he might have let in his three goals because of it.
Just a small point I always thought that the ref arm-bands were orange, not red. Am I color blind?
#10 by Ian K on 01.25.07 9:21 am |
There’s a hanging BR tag on the end of it. If you pull the image code, you can see it here and view the greatness of Bob Dunn Ford.
#11 by Chris H on 01.25.07 9:22 am |
Pitt’s ice hockey team is a club team and not a varsity sport, which means the team probably controls what the uniforms look like more than the Athletic Dept does. For example, nothing in Pitt athletics is allowed to use that panther-head logo, everything must be the block PITT - my wife works in their athletic dept and she has shirts at home she can’t wear because they have that or the script-Pitt on them. So Roc (the mascot) can probably wear whatever he wants. But sorry to say I don’t know much about their other uniforms….
#12 by Chris H on 01.25.07 9:25 am |
In the Florida Panther article, these ear-bleeding words were spoken about ‘contemporary’ hockey jerseys. “Yormark said horizontal stripes are out and vertical stripes are in”. Ouch, it hurts my ears so much….
#13 by Josh on 01.25.07 9:25 am |
The Paige jersey is probably from his All-Star team, although I can’t confirm they played in the 50s (assuming the photo is correctly dated, it does look like a St.L on the cap).
Paige had his won all-star team in the 30s and 40s, and he often played against the Dizzy Dean All Stars. Can’t find photos of either team’s jerseys…
#14 by Ryan B. on 01.25.07 9:25 am |
I answered my own question. The Reds website confirms this. Still looking for pics though.
#15 by Dave on 01.25.07 9:26 am |
I refereed for years and hockey referee bands are a deep orange.
Also, while it looks bad to have the side-panels not aligned, I think it is the goal of Reebok and others to create a sense of movement.
Keep up the good work Paul!
#16 by Jay Palmer on 01.25.07 9:29 am |
I posted this last night but it seems relevent to todays topic as well.
The new sweaters look fine to me. I’m not crazy about the design but the fabric, stitching, and “snugness†are not factors to me. That being said, I reserve all rights to bash the crap out of these if some teams decide to use it as an excuse to do something silly and over the top with their designs. Remeber, K.I.S.S.
Ref’s are still wearing the silver arm-bands. If it aint broke, don’t fix it. Does RBK really have a problem with orange? Yes, it’s not the “coolest†color in the world but this is a matter of function over form. The orange is there too be noticed, not to be hip.
#17 by Kim on 01.25.07 9:29 am |
Just adding another voice to the opinion/fact that the NHL refs’ armbands are indeed orange.
#18 by Paul Lukas on 01.25.07 9:31 am |
Fixed.
#19 by Joe Hilseberg on 01.25.07 9:31 am |
NHL Jerseys….actually not that bad like Paul said, but I didn’t like some things.
On some of the players the top portion of the jersey just looked way to tight and you could see the contours of the pads underneath…personally just don’t like that look, but it’s a by product of the new design. I can live with it, but I wonder why a material has to be tight in order to be flexible and wick moisture?
HATE the curved hemline of the front an back of the jersey. If a team wants to incorporate horizontal stripes at the bottom of the jersey things could get messy.
The sleeve seemed to get very tight just below the elbow pads of some players, and sometimes looked awkward. Seemed to be more visible on the whites, but just another personal preference thing here.
And what was that little mark on the back of everyone’s jersey? 51inch HiDef and still couldn’t make it out!!!
#20 by Seth H on 01.25.07 9:32 am |
I understand from an earlier comment that it is a club sport, so the goalies probably pay for their own equipment, but the red, white and blue worn by one of the goalies in the first photo really looks bad with all the blue and gold.
#21 by Ryan Real on 01.25.07 9:33 am |
Get a load of this abomination, but at 125 bucks, that’s practically a steal. Way to go, NFL.
Also I’d like to say that the slimmer silhouettes look really good, something about the snugness looks more modern.
#22 by Paul Lukas on 01.25.07 9:34 am |
OK, OK, I get it — but I still say the orange used by the refs (more of a tomato, I’d say) isn’t the same color as the orange in the old NHL logo.
#23 by Joe Hilseberg on 01.25.07 9:34 am |
Rail cam was kind of sweet, however I wish it was on the far rail so when they went to the wide angle we didn’t have to see it zooming back and forth.
#24 by Anthony Verna on 01.25.07 9:37 am |
I just don’t see what the big deal is between orange bands and silver bands.
(I know, I know - this is the website for such changes.)
The refs and the linesmen are still marked as different. It might not be as much of a difference, but I’m not sure it’ll change my enjoyment of hockey.
(Which doesn’t mean the NHL doesn’t need to take about 20 hours of PR classes.)
#25 by Pittsburgh Gunny on 01.25.07 9:38 am |
Just guessing Joe but I reckon that mark is the NHLPA insignia, but I can’t be sure. BTW, I kinda liked the new NHL uniforms I thought they worked rather well and hopefully the snugger fit will help to cut down on the clutching and grabbing that seems to be sneaking its way back into the game.
PS, another vote that the old referee arm bands were in fact orange.
#26 by Erik on 01.25.07 9:38 am |
1. I liked the All-Star uniforms last night, especially the Eastern Conference duds and their crisp, white gloves.
2. As Paul brought up Canadiens ‘07-’08 jerseys, I’d like to see this sweater stay alive somehow, someway.
3. Mad props for the Uni Watch varisty letter. It gives me reason to show off my similarly emblazoned shoes.
#27 by Pat on 01.25.07 9:39 am |
Yes, orange.
I don’t mind the side striping on most uniforms, even when it doesn’t match up. (Yes, as a Celtics fan it pains me to post two pictures of the Lakers). But, it definitley doesn’t belong in hockey.
I also don’t really mind the low cut collar on the new NHL uniforms (or at least the All-Star ones). I just think they stood out too much being gray and the rest of the uniform white or blue.
#28 by Ryan Real on 01.25.07 9:39 am |
And what was that little mark on the back of everyone’s jersey? 51inch HiDef and still couldn’t make it out!!!
Looks like the NHLPA logo.
#29 by ToasterPoodle on 01.25.07 9:42 am |
Well, thanks for the confirmation that big hdtv’s are not all that they are cracked up to be. My 32 inch, LOW def let me see that it was an NHLPA logo.
#30 by Rich on 01.25.07 9:44 am |
HA! I love the “conversation”
#31 by chris on 01.25.07 9:45 am |
The camera and the rail itself were annoying, but it was a great shot on the breakaways. Much better looking than the rail cam that the NBA used for a few games years ago.
I noticed this the other day. Are NBA jerseys really that long underneath the shorts?
#32 by Paul Lukas on 01.25.07 9:47 am |
Just checked in at the NHL Officials Association discussion board to see what they thought of the silver armbands. Not much chatter about it yet, but someone mentioned that there was a new, higher-pitched whistle being used in last night’s game. The idea, apparently, was that the pitch of this particular whistle would automatically stop the clock (instead of a human clock operator hearing the whistle and flicking a switch).
#33 by Kim on 01.25.07 9:48 am |
Something a little more interesting that arguing over the hues of orange. Brian Rolston was apparently wearing some sort of NHL All-Star pants cover. over his normal Minnesota Wild pants/breezers.
#34 by ToasterPoodle on 01.25.07 9:50 am |
I thought that the design of last night’s AllStar Sweaters was HORRIBLE. However, I really dig the shape of the new design.
I think it has a much more vintage shape to it like this
#35 by JJD on 01.25.07 9:54 am |
By the past low standards of NHL All-Star unis, I’d say last night’s were pretty OK. At least they were fairly clean looking. I think the NBA all-star unis are about 1,000,000x uglier, from what I’ve seen.
Those jersey numbers in the old Browns photo you linked to look drop-shadowed AND outlined to me, but they look drop-shadowed UP and right instead of the commonly seen down and right.
#36 by Kim on 01.25.07 9:54 am |
Here’s a better look at a jersey with the NHLPA logo.
#37 by Dave on 01.25.07 9:55 am |
It’s just a pant shell. You often see this so that players don’t have to break in new equipment.
#38 by austin on 01.25.07 9:57 am |
If those whistles work that would be a great thing not just for hockey but sports in general. I’m not sure how they would work in loud venues like autzen though.
#39 by Mark Dancer on 01.25.07 9:57 am |
I admit that I am not a die-hard NHL fan. I can’t help it… I lived my whole life in the South. That disclaimer aside, I really like the new jerseys. I do have a couple of complaints, however.
1. The shirt tail should be boxy, bot curved. It liiked like they were skating around in dress shirts out there with that goofy tail hanging out. Tails are made in that curved fashion so they will look good when they are tucked in. If they are not going to be tucked, they should be finished off in a nice box.
2. Sock stripes. While I like how they look from the side and front, they look absurd from the back. The stripes don’t meet in the back, but just dive into the skate. What the crap!?!? If they met at a point, I’d be all for it, but as it is now it makes the sock look like two separate pieces, with the striped portion layered over a sani.
Just my .02
#40 by Chris on 01.25.07 10:08 am |
Here in Ontario, I know that referees in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (the body that looks after kid’s hockey in Southern Ontario outside of Toronto and South-Western Ontario) wear red arm bands. I don’t know why the different colour of choice though.
#41 by Gibby on 01.25.07 10:09 am |
We can add Daniel Briere to the list of players with their fly undone.
#42 by Pat on 01.25.07 10:16 am |
You know, I’ve always thought the complete opposite. I always thought the NBA had some of the nicest All-Star jerseys.
Examples of my favorites:
1975
1987
1996 (I know these are much maligned, but if you fixed the numbers on the front and made them horizontal instead of skewed a little bit these may be my favorites ever.)
2003
Also from 2003
It’s hard to find NBA All-Star uniform pictures online but you get the idea. Granted, they have some ugly ones… The one’s Karl Malone and John Stockton won the MVP in while they played in Salt Lake City…………..
#43 by Joe Hilseberg on 01.25.07 10:17 am |
Don’t hate on the TV!!! It was my lack of NHLPA knowledge…just wasn’t familiar with that logo. Now that I have seen the logo it’s obvious!
#44 by Brian Baute on 01.25.07 10:20 am |
I remember the Reds wearing what looked like their BP jerseys (they were mesh as well if I remember corectly) for some games in the early/mid 80s (with the wishbone C like the home jerseys), but I don’t remember a red jersey with “Cincinnati” like the road design. This was around the time when the Cubs were wearing their solid blue jersey on the road.
#45 by JJD on 01.25.07 10:26 am |
I should’ve specified THIS year’s NBA All-Star jerseys, although that one year they were in Phoenix and had a severe southwestern theme might be THE ugliest uni, ever.
#46 by Kyle O. on 01.25.07 10:30 am |
Check out the logo creep on the helmet at the Senior Bowl. I’m shocked another company didn’t think of this first. Under Armour breaks a new barrier with logo creep.
#47 by Pat on 01.25.07 10:31 am |
Have they released this year’s NBA all-star uniforms yet? Paul said tonight at 7. If you’re talking about last years… I have to respectfully disagree.
#48 by Kyle O. on 01.25.07 10:36 am |
Is this the one you are talking about?
#49 by Eric on 01.25.07 10:38 am |
i think the collar and shield on the new hockey sweaters look kind of like necklaces or medals. maybe not so much in the shots where the players are standing still but definitely on the action shots.
#50 by Teebz on 01.25.07 10:38 am |
The NHL also was testing out a new idea with removing the goal judges. The had no goal judges (the guy who sits behind the net and turns the red light on when someone scores) in the Young Stars game, and are exploring the idea of removing them altogether.
Also, Brian Rolston has to be your new favorite hockey player, Paul, after this quote: “You know with those original six teams, I hope we can have the same look with the new fabrics. But I think they’re awesome jerseys.”
#51 by Clevo on 01.25.07 10:39 am |
Paul, doing some digging on the AAFC and the Browns, I came across this painting of Otto Graham wearing a white jersey w/ orange numerals.
http://nflhistory.ne...
#52 by Matt H. on 01.25.07 10:45 am |
I love the ‘96 NBA All-Star Unis…
As for the new NHL threads, I love em. The white stripe is a little funky, but I’m sure it will be modified.
SI.com has a good gallary from the all-start game, and as usually they have good clear photos…
Can’t wait to see what the Rangers’ new jersey looks like!
#53 by Teebz on 01.25.07 10:45 am |
Oh, and the NHL linesman emailed me back.
The NHL basically didn’t give the officials any leeway on the new ref’s duds. It was a case of “you wear it, or we’ll find someone who will”. It’s funny, but the NHL officials are the most under-appreciated group of individuals in the NHL. It seems that any chance the league gets, they throw the officials under the wheels of the bus. Take the Chicago Blackhawks-Minnesota Wild shootout from a few weeks ago. Here’s the disallowed Blackhawks goal. Now, the on-ice officials called it a goal, but were overruled by the NHL’s video review team in Toronto, and then the NHL said the on-ice officials made a mistake.
By the way, the linesman that I know worked that Chicago game, and he said the ref got ripped by the NHL brass after he was interviewed on TV, saying that he made the right call. Apparently, the NHL is the one place where you don’t cross the boss.
#54 by Luther Mahoney on 01.25.07 10:45 am |
On Prime Time Sports,which is a simulcast of a
popular Canadian radio show,last night,host Bob
McCown wore the blue Western Conference All Star
jersey that was given to him by either the NHL or
by Reebok. When he was interviewing CNBC sports
business reporter Darren Revell,he said that the
jersey was valued at about $295 US. He even showed
a FedEx invoice to the nearest camera.
#55 by Matt D. on 01.25.07 10:48 am |
It was always listed in the Okkonen book - the bible for baseball uniform geeks - but I never remember seeing it in a game.
#56 by Brianron on 01.25.07 10:55 am |
Thank you. Growing up in Wisconsin, I always called hockey pants “breezers.” When I got out of school and moved to Detroit — a hockey hotbed with Canada just over the river — whenever I called them breezers, I got a strange look and no one had ever heard them called that. I even married a Canadian with a hockey-mad father and 7 hockey-playing sons. No one had ever heard them called that. So, for years, I just chalked breezers up as some odd term my father had for them.
Thanks for redeeming my father and giving my always-lacking self-confidence a boost.
(By the way, changing the referee arm bands was like changing the NHL logo colors and direction of the diagonal stripe: The Powers-that-be being more concerned about meaningless window-dressing gestures than the nose-diving NHL TV exposure. Yep, Gary, those red arm bands are all that’s standing between the NHL and major-sports league status.) Weasel-faced idiot.
#57 by UwantRadie on 01.25.07 11:06 am |
3 things:
1) That is Zdeno Chara. He could wear a baseball tarp and it would still be tight n him. The guy is like 20 feet tall for christ sakes.
2) That looks like a silhoute of an NHL Player. Kind of like the NBA and MLB logos.
3 The refs armbands were orange. C’mon Paul. You knew at this? haha. Just playing man.
#58 by Pat on 01.25.07 11:09 am |
No those are the 1996 unis from San Antoinio. Check out the 1995 unis from Phoenix that he is talking about. I honestly don’t think they are all that bad. The color scheme goes along with the Phoenix Suns color scheme from the time.
#59 by UwantRadie on 01.25.07 11:11 am |
I thought so too.
Then i realized that switching between the two would “flip” the direction the players were skating.
Hardly the type of confusion you want to create when trying to allure more fans.
Did any casual hockey fans watch last night that dont normally watch hockey? I am always curious to get those fans’ reactions.
#60 by specs on 01.25.07 11:21 am |
You honestly like those uniforms? I can see liking them in a “so bad they’re good” way, or looking back on them with a sense of nostalgiac humor (as I do with these Toronto Raptors uniforms), but to me, there’s no way you can make a case that they’re straight up aesthetically pleasing.
#61 by Banker Bill on 01.25.07 11:24 am |
Last night wasn’t the night to compare clutching and grabbing though, PBG Gunny - it was an All-star game where there is NEVER clutching or grabbing.
#62 by kc on 01.25.07 11:27 am |
The officials arm bands are orange, similar to a hunter’s/safety orange. Hockey Canada referee’s are supposed to wear the red bands. I see NCAA officials and other levels weekly during games that my teams play in. They are definently orange
#63 by Kim on 01.25.07 11:28 am |
But my point is that the NHL made a big deal about all the players wearing next year’s stuff. Sleeker, faster, better, yada yada yada….
But Rolston wore his normal gear…..does this mean that some/many players will wear old gear?
#64 by todd krevanchi on 01.25.07 11:32 am |
when it comes to nba all star unis, ive always wanted them to be a direct reflection of the host teams uni’s (this year would have been an exception).
take the color, template and typography of the team name and number of the host cities home and away uni’s and replace it with east and west.
this was tried like in 72 in LA… the numerals should have the drop shadow, and “west” should be more in the “lakers” typography though…
#65 by todd krevanchi on 01.25.07 11:34 am |
photo…
http://images.google...
#66 by Pat on 01.25.07 11:41 am |
Whoa Whoa, I never said I LIKED them. I said I honestly didn’t think they were that bad. Maybe i t’s just a nostalgic, NBA on NBC, John Tesh theme song kind of thing for me. I have a soft spot in my heart for any uniforms that were worn on Saturdays and Sunday during the early/mid 90s, it was awful basketball. Pat Riley single handedly ruined basketball in the early 90s with his slow it down and beat them up Knicks teams, but that era pushes my nostalgia button. Except those Seattle Supersonics uniforms they inexplicably came out with, man those were awful.
I know those all-star uniforms weren’t the most aesthetically pleasing all-star uniforms ever but they were far from the worst.
#67 by Ryan B. on 01.25.07 11:42 am |
Neither do I. But, according to the totally reliable [sic] Wikipedia article, the Reds wore them at least once for a game in San Francisco. The article states that they were originally intended only for use during batting practice.
#68 by Mark in Shiga on 01.25.07 11:42 am |
Did Jerry West play in this game? Would he have been the first person to have identical words and numbers on both the front and back of his jersey?
#69 by Original Jim on 01.25.07 11:42 am |
Hockey would just be following basketball and football with this electronic whistle. Officials in both leagues wear special equipment (looks like a pager) that is linked remotely to the scoreboard. When the whistles are blown, the clocks are stopped.
I’ve seen ads for these whistles in Referee, and I think they’re made by Fox40, whom I linked to yesterday.
#70 by Nolan on 01.25.07 11:46 am |
In an article in the Dallas Morning News it was said that players won’t be required to wear the Reebok Edge Pants, I’m sure guys will still wear whatever they like and those manufacturers will continue to stripe the pants accordingly.
#71 by Ryan B. on 01.25.07 11:50 am |
He did play in the game. He was voted the Most Valuable Player.
#72 by Ryan B. on 01.25.07 11:52 am |
TRIVIA: Who is the only player to be voted NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in consecutive seasons?
#73 by chris on 01.25.07 11:52 am |
What happened to the socks being so well fitting that you don’t need to tape your shin-pads?
#74 by Eric on 01.25.07 11:55 am |
Complete agreement with those that think there will be confusion between penalties vs. icing vs. offsides. Orange you can see at a glance… silver on a black and white striped jersey? Not so much. Gotta love the fact that the officials are just getting it rammed down their throat too.
As a faithful Center-Ice viewer, I was watching that Wild-Hawks game with the shootout controversy, and I cannot understand on what grounds they overturned the goal. It clearly crossed the line completely, and the official was right there to see it. Bleh.
Finally, what ever happened to the special mask that Ryan Miller was supposed to wear in support of the troops? When he came out to start the game, he had his regular Sabres mask on. Anyone know?
#75 by Kenny on 01.25.07 11:57 am |
I watch a little bit of it…didn’t think the jerseys were bad at all, except for the typical gaudy All-star design
As said yesterday though…I am interested to see the individual team designs. Hopefully the Original 6 keep their same style
#76 by todd krevanchi on 01.25.07 12:03 pm |
not only that, but he did in college as well…
http://www.msnsports...
http://cache.gettyim...
http://cache.gettyim...
#77 by Ricardo on 01.25.07 12:05 pm |
System needs some work then, because if I recall correctly, the missed a goal during the young stars game. After every other goal there was the horn and music and the red light and all that jazz, but after one of the goals (Zach Parise’s, I think) there was nothing. The players all stopped skating and there were the usual high fives and congrats, but the red light, music, horn etc. were all significantly delayed because (apparently) the powers that be didn’t notice the goal. Even the play by play guy on Versus said something along the lines of “it’s a goal, apparently”. I found it odd at the time, but it makes more sense now that I know there were no goal judges!
-Ricardo
#78 by Philly Bill on 01.25.07 12:11 pm |
That’s great — I didn’t even think of that. Zeke from Cabin Creek!
Anyone else think Zdeno Chara shoulda had an extra star or two along the side panel of his uni?
#79 by Alex on 01.25.07 12:14 pm |
KT definitely doesn’t Get IT
#80 by Patrick on 01.25.07 12:16 pm |
Oh man, just NO. I was at the 1996 All Star Game, and those monstrosities looked even worse in person - quite possibly the ugliest basketball uniform ever worn.
#81 by Bob A on 01.25.07 12:16 pm |
I’m going to take a guess at some old school guy who actually played hard in exhibition games… Bob Cousy?
(How many decades off am I?)
#82 by Richard on 01.25.07 12:18 pm |
According to the NBA, nobody.
#83 by Richard on 01.25.07 12:19 pm |
because Pettit split it one year.
#84 by JJD on 01.25.07 12:19 pm |
Those is them. Ugh.
I could’ve SWORN I saw an ‘07 All-Star jersey that was a shiny silver and blue-combo. Maybe it wasn’t that actual one.