Like a lot of Americans, I don’t really follow horse racing but still get a kick out of the Kentucky Derby, mainly because it’s a good excuse for a party. So on Saturday I baked a derby pie, put Uni Watch designated raceday tomato Amanda Madden on my arm, and headed over to Watch Your Back impresario Brian Corrigan’s pad, where a TV/BBQ party was in full swing. In between bites of grilled chicken and swigs of beer (no mint juleps for me this year), I made the following observations:
- The jockeys’ silks were a mixed bag. My favorites were the ones worn by Shaun Bridgmohan, who was riding Zanjero.
- Winning jockey Calvin Borel looked fairly sharp, bow tie and all. I kept wondering what happened to the propeller on his beanie, though. Also: I know it was muddy out there, but why did he have four pairs of goggles (here’s another view)? Was he switching them on the fly during the race? If anyone knows more about how this works, fill us in.
- I liked how the tape on some of the horses’ ankles created the equine equivalent of striped socks.
From there I headed over to the Mendez Boxing Club in Manhattan, where I joined No Mas principals Dave Larzelere and Chris Isenberg to watch the Mayweather/De La Hoya bout. It was a pretty raucous scene, never more so than when Floyd donned that big-ass sombrero for his ring entrance. He also wore the Mexican colors on his robe, trunks, and shoes, plus his cornermen were wearing “Mexico Loves Mayweather” T-shirts, all of which seemed like an obvious ploy to steal De La Hoya’s Mexican-identified mojo. Since turnabout is fair play, I was hoping Oscar would come out in blackface and some gangsta tattoos, but wit has never been the Golden Boy’s strong suit. Anyway, it was way too loud at the Mendez for me to hear any explanation that Jim Lampley or Larry Merchant might have offered for Mayweather’s Mexican-themed attire. Did they discuss it?
Meanwhile, anyone know the story behind the little portraits appearing on Mayweather’s WBC belts? Like, are they the faces of the current champions in the various weight divisions? The faces of fighters Mayweather beat to win his titles? If anyone knows, kindly fill us in.
Missing Persons Dept.: Hey, Ben Nickerson, if you’re reading this, please get in touch asap. Thanks.
Uni Watch Midwestern Road Trip Update: I’m happy to announce that the venue for this Saturday’s Uni Watch Chicagoland party will be the Montrose Saloon. So the weekend party itinerary is now set: We’ll be convening in Minneapolis this Friday evening, 7:30pm, at the very wonderful Nye’s Polonaise Room. And then, precisely 24 hours later, I’ll see all you Chi-town folks at the Montrose. Looking forward to it.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Not sure how we all missed this until now, but someone on the Chris Creamer boards alertly noticed that the Mariners have switched from using nameplates (that photo is from last season, and so are this, this, and this) to direct-sewn lettering (as additionally seen here, here, here, and here) — a major improvement. … Good slide show here on the history of sponsorship in the German Bundesliga soccer league (with thanks to Jeremy Brahm). … Interesting eBay items here, here, here, and here. … The Giants did the Gigantes thing for Cinco de Mayo. … Interesting note from Kel Hinkle, who writes, “I was at my daughter’s softball game on Saturday and the opposing team’s pitcher wore a mask.” Yikes — looks like Hannibal Lechter on the mound! … Bit of golf attire commentary here (as spotted by Seth Horowitz).
#1 by Brian W on 05.07.07 9:03 am |
During horse races, jockeys often wear multiple googles so if the goggles get muddy or dusty, they can flip down a new “clean” pair down so that they can get good visibility.
#2 by Scott Novosel on 05.07.07 9:08 am |
It looks like a pic of Muhammad Ali on each one of those belts.
#3 by stuby on 05.07.07 9:14 am |
-It looks like there’s a picture of De La Hoya on each belt as well.
-If the Giants are going to continue with the ‘Gigantes’ thing in the future, they really need to change the typeface - even a cursive would be good. Right now it just kinda looks like the team name is misspelled. Make it different so more people notice it.
#4 by Mike on 05.07.07 9:15 am |
Absoultely. They used to pull them up and off, but now pull them down around their necks.
#5 by Leo on 05.07.07 9:17 am |
Interesting note from Kel Hinkle, who writes, “I was at my daughter’s softball game on Saturday and the opposing team’s pitcher wore a mask.†Yikes — looks like Hannibal Lechter on the mound!
Those masks are getting to be very common in high school softball. Last year I was at an MHSAA Tournament game and one team had it’s entire infield wearing those masks!
#6 by Jason in Lexington on 05.07.07 9:18 am |
I think the jockeys need to get tear offs like they have in motocross. Motocross guys put sev eral thin plastic strips over their goggles and pull them off one by one as they race. Much better than wearing four pairs of goggles.
#7 by MH on 05.07.07 9:19 am |
Once the level of play for girl’s softball reaches a critical threshold, masks for pitchers makes good sense. Such variables as the relative short distance between the pitching circle and batter, pitching velocity, action off aluminum bats, and human reaction time combine to put these pitchers in legitimate peril. I know that if I had a daughter and she pitched she would wear a mask–or she wouldn’t play.
#8 by Joey Guns on 05.07.07 9:20 am |
The same thing occurs on NASCAR cars. They have around 5-10 windshield layers on the car, and if there’s a lot of debris on the windshield, one of the layers gets peeled off during a pit stop.
http://findarticles....
#9 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 9:23 am |
How about softball starts using wood bats again and they move the bases and mound back instead of making the players look like fools?
#10 by Joey Guns on 05.07.07 9:24 am |
Here’s a pic of Roger Clemens with last year’s hat during the press conference yesterday.
http://www.nypost.co...
#11 by Frank Mercogliano on 05.07.07 9:25 am |
Paul,
It’s “Gigantes”….I’ chalk that up to the early morning posting…and one typos in like nearly 365 days of blogs is allowable!
FYI, If anyone can come up with the old baseball DVDs “When It Was a Game”, I highly recommend it for the old uniforms and the old ballparks…very cool.
Frank
#12 by Dane on 05.07.07 9:25 am |
Since there was a lot of discussion on Saturday about the Padres’ uniforms, this video from NBC & SI should be of interest:
http://video.sionnbc...
#13 by Clevo on 05.07.07 9:27 am |
following up on the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team from last week, the 9 misfortunes, and Talkin Softball
http://www.youtube.c...
Talkin Homer. Ozzie and the Straw.
#14 by stuby on 05.07.07 9:29 am |
Drivers without windshields have multiple layers on their faceshields that can be pulled off during the race when they get covered in gunk.
#15 by The Original Lee on 05.07.07 9:33 am |
Paul you might like this,
Luke Moore, who plays for Aston Villa in the EPL, for some reason as his name on the back of his kit as Moore, L.
http://img126.images...
enjoy.
#16 by Justin on 05.07.07 9:34 am |
Did the twins switch from direct sewing to name plates this year? I could be completely wrong, but something looked funny about the white name plates over their pin striped uniform. Sorry, can’t find a good picture.
#17 by The Ol Goaler on 05.07.07 9:43 am |
Regarding the softball pitcher’s “mask,” I’d be willing to wager cash money American that the young lady in question was also wearing orthodontics (”braces” for us ol’ coots!)
For what it’s worth, high school softball here in Arkansas features football-type facemasks on the batting helmets. (Sorry, no pics) With the “pitcher’s plate” only 50 feet away from home plate, and the way even high-school pitchers throw, I’m amazed that anybody ever gets a hit!
#18 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 9:47 am |
Here is a picture of a football mask in softball. Scroll down to the softball story. I think it’s a national thing requiring softball players to wear them.
#19 by Ed on 05.07.07 9:49 am |
Adding to the goggles/tear-off discussion - perhaps there’s a rule in horse racing that nothing can be intentionally discarded by the jockey? (Pure speculation on my part.)
Anyway, a tear-off had a significant impact once in a CART race. Solution - the team put a screen over the turbo intake.
ed
#20 by DG Lewis on 05.07.07 9:51 am |
An entire section about horse racing and no bad joke about stirrups. I don’t know whether to be disappointed with your lack of imagination or impressed by your restraint.
#21 by stuby on 05.07.07 9:52 am |
When exactly did the Twins add names to their home white pinstripes?
2006
1987
#22 by Robert on 05.07.07 9:52 am |
“Designated raceday tomato.” Gems like that are why I keep visiting this site.
#23 by Joey Guns on 05.07.07 10:03 am |
Anyone see the new Visine commercial with Ben Stein? He’s wearing a white pinstriped baseball jersey and he has perfect stirrips on!
#24 by Jason on 05.07.07 10:09 am |
My favorite commentary about goggles, courtesy of McBain.
#25 by Tim on 05.07.07 10:12 am |
Here is a picture of a football mask in softball. Scroll down to the softball story. I think it’s a national thing requiring softball players to wear them.
Thats not a football helmet, Its a modified baseball helmet with a cage. There are several little leagues that require them so that kids don’t get hit in the face with a pitch.
#26 by DarkAudit on 05.07.07 10:12 am |
IIRC, ESPN did a segment on this last year during the pre-race show.
II don’t R as C, it was the year before.
In any case, the former jockey doing the segment showed how obscured the view was from behind four sets of goggles, and told viewers to watch the jockeys’ hands going up to their helmets when they pulled a dirty set down.
#27 by Bob Sullivan on 05.07.07 10:29 am |
Can’t use tear-away goggles or shields. You can’t throw anything on a racetrack. It could potentially injure a horse, distract a horse or rider, mess up the racing surface for the next race, and on and on.
#28 by LouUmp on 05.07.07 10:44 am |
As a high school/ASA softball ump, I can tell you that it has been made MANDATORY for 18U girls softball players to have a mask/chin straps on their batting helmets. It is MANDATORY for us as umps to check each and every teams helmets prior to a game to make sure those masks are secure. Have not seen too many wear the mask pitching yet. As the one poster stated, that probably is protecting mouth metal
We also have the responsibility to make sure all the kids have all their jewelry off, and to check for what the ASA calls ‘non-approved’ bats - check amazing list out - note all the Miken bats - one men’s league has got to the point where they have just banned all Miken bats to save problems!
#29 by Anna on 05.07.07 10:52 am |
In Minnesota they just passed a law that says that all high school softball players must wear a mask on their batting helmate as a saftey precaution.
#30 by todd krevanchi on 05.07.07 11:21 am |
the miken ultra II allowed us 50 runs yesterday…
#31 by Anthony Verna on 05.07.07 11:24 am |
Someone’s getting his bat banned in his own softball league!
#32 by todd krevanchi on 05.07.07 11:30 am |
oh, and dpnation,
i’ll see your dinner and eric haze dunk lows, and raise you a dinner and a pair of chris lundy dunk lows…or a pair of htm rainbow wovens.
#33 by todd krevanchi on 05.07.07 11:32 am |
wow! did that come out 50? i meant to type 5…
#34 by Kel on 05.07.07 11:39 am |
I totally understand the batting helmets needing starps/guards, but had never seen it on a pitcher before. Having been hit by a line drive in the face while pitching, I can’t say as I disagree with the sentiment!
#35 by Lexie on 05.07.07 11:41 am |
While I was in high school a girl on my softball team got hit in the face while batting. She ended up breaking her jaw. Because of this she had to wear almost a special helmet (basically a catchers helmet) while playing in the field to prevent injuries. Also a pitcher on my university team got hit in the face with a ball while she was on the mound and ended up shattering her nose and so of the bones under her eye sockets. Next year when she gets back to pitching she will wear a mask.
#36 by dan on 05.07.07 11:44 am |
This is embarrassing…Paul what has happened to your boys!
#37 by Mark in Shiga on 05.07.07 11:45 am |
Have those face masks actually proven to be effective, or are they just a feel-good solution to placate overprotective, safety-obsessed parents?
It seems to me that having big metal bars obstructing your field of vision would make it harder for you to pick up a rapidly-moving ball. Or are the lawmakers conceding that people are more likely to get hit in the head, but less likely to be hurt when that does happen?
#38 by Lexie on 05.07.07 11:59 am |
I don’t know if they have been proven. As I mentioned earlier the girl on my HS team just felt safe wearing it. She said it was very hard to play in the outfield because of the limited vision. But hers was a full helmet with a face mask, unlike the girl in the picture PL posted. But after being hit in the face I guess you would just feel more secure with that on.
#39 by Brian from Short Island on 05.07.07 12:07 pm |
I’ve been hit with a line drive on the mound before, but I still wouldn’t wear one of those masks! Call me whatever you want, but I the odds of getting hit again aren’t that great.
My favorite picture from the Bundesliga slideshow is this one… Look at the numbers!
#40 by Alex on 05.07.07 12:13 pm |
with the Ultra II, 50 homeruns would have reasonable….those are banned almost everywhere except senior leagues
#41 by Teebz on 05.07.07 12:14 pm |
I am a pitcher for our mens slo-pitch team, and I have the bruises to prove it. There is no rule for slo-pitch pitchers in Canada to wear a helmet, but guys at Nationals do it all the time. Why? Because shooting the middle is a guaranteed base hit. In fact, when we go to practice at Nationals, it’s not uncommon for teams to request wooden picnic tables for their pitchers for batting practice. It is the same idea as the screen for the pitchers at the HR contest in MLB.
As an aside, the ASA has banned a whole pile of bats starting next season, and there are several Mikens being added to the list including the highly-popular Miken Freak. The Easton Synergy 2 is also being added to the banned list.
The ASA redesigned their testing, and found that these bats broke the 98mph ruling for bats. As a result, they are being grandfathered out next season.
#42 by LouUmp on 05.07.07 12:16 pm |
Before the face masks were mandatory here in NY, I saw (while working the bases) a kid hit a ball straight down, and bounce straight back up and hit her right in the mouth -with a face mask, that would not have happened….
#43 by todd krevanchi on 05.07.07 12:23 pm |
no way not 50 homruns…
we dont even have anywhere near that for the season… not yet…
#44 by Joe on 05.07.07 12:27 pm |
..to direct-sewn lettering — a major improvement.
Why do you see this as an improvement? Ever look at the arch of team that use direct sewing? The practically go straight across. I hate it! Having the nameplate ensures a perfect arch of the name, no matter the length.
#45 by Jeremy on 05.07.07 12:28 pm |
I played for a team that went to Nationals a few years ago, and our pitcher decided to wear full catchers gear while he pitched.
In retrospect it was a really good idea, since he pretty much acted like a Hockey goalie the entire game.
#46 by stuby on 05.07.07 12:31 pm |
Yes, but as in the Twins case, it looks like crap with pinstripes.
#47 by Doug on 05.07.07 12:32 pm |
These masks are also mandatory for the pitching position in the Dixie Youth Baseball league my nephew plays in. It’s a machine-pitch league so it’s not like the kids have to pitch with the mask on. The “pitcher” just stands beside the machine.
#48 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 12:33 pm |
You know, all this talk of wearing equipment and gloves to play “soft”ball makes me sad. I grew up where we caught the ball bare handed.
Oh, I grew up in Chicago where they play 16″ or Kitten Ball as some people call it. Either way, no protective equipment for anybody for the most part. Once in a while a catcher would wear a mask becasue of his proximity to foul tips, but many didn’t.
#49 by Matt from the 'Ville on 05.07.07 12:33 pm |
Isn’t it ironic that we are talking about blody sports and this happens…
#50 by Mr. Met on 05.07.07 12:34 pm |
I’m wondering what are the chances that a rapidly-moving ball would hit her in the face in the outfield?
Maybe if she doesn’t pick up the ball properly on a fly ball and it smacks her in the face, but that would be diferent from the dangers faced by a pitcher.
#51 by Jeff B on 05.07.07 12:38 pm |
Why can’t they just make the nameplate out of the pinstriped material and line up the stripes? Can’t be that difficult.
#52 by Mark in Shiga on 05.07.07 12:39 pm |
Lexie, Teebs, and Lou, I’m looking at the one worn by the softball pitcher and I suppose it’s not that bad since it doesn’t obscure her eyes at all. When I was in Little League more than a decade ago, there were these special cage-like helmets that blocked your vision much more than, say, a catcher’s mask, and the kids whose parents forced them to wear them hated them. In addition to the reduced vision, the weight made it hard to move your head around. Even as a 10-year-old kid I’d trust my reflexes instead of having a heavy cage weighing my head down.
But I admit to never having pitched in softball where you’re less than 45 feet from the plate when the ball comes at you off the bat.
I still think it should be the player’s decision — only the individual can weigh the tradeoff between armor and vision.
Back aronud 1979 when Charlie Manuel was playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, a pitcher threw at his head, breaking his jaw. The doctors told him that if the same incident were to occur again, he would never be able to eat normally, so while he was healing up, he wore a helmet with a football-like bar across the front. (Here’s a great hand-drawn card of him wearing it.) He eventually gave it up because of the reduced vision, but was a hero to the fans for coming back when his jaw was still being held in place by wires!
#53 by Shaftman on 05.07.07 12:40 pm |
Which I guess is a good thing if you need an arch. I personally prefer a straight look (if possible). And obviously vertical is preferred over radial arching (if necessary) on all uniforms.
#54 by Jeff B on 05.07.07 12:41 pm |
And at least at this years Kentucky Derby, we didn’t get stuck looking at NBC boy constantly in NBC’s coverage.
#55 by Jason in Lexington on 05.07.07 12:43 pm |
I’d like to see you try to catch a softball of a bat bare handed. 16 inch softballs are much softer then the 12 inch balls let alone the 11 inch ball the girls use. There have been pitcher’s killed from getting hit with a 12 inch softball. That is the reason for all the extra rules and equipment.
#56 by Anthony Verna on 05.07.07 12:43 pm |
That would explain this:
http://youtube.com/w...
#57 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 12:45 pm |
I understand this. I was being funny. I suppost it’s hard to catch sarcasm in words. I have known a few people to play 12 ” outfield bare-handed. I too doub’t they’d fare too well in the infield.
#58 by Jason in Lexington on 05.07.07 12:51 pm |
Sorry for the confusion. Sarcasm is a bit strange in text.
#59 by patrick on 05.07.07 1:02 pm |
same thing in nascar w/the windshields
#60 by Teebz on 05.07.07 1:06 pm |
Ironically, in that picture of the girls’ softball team, there is a pitching circle as well. Any ball hit through that circle that has the opportunity to strike the pitcher (at the umpire’s discretion, of course) is an automatic out. The mask is just being worn as extra protection.
They need to institute the pitching circle everywhere. It will prevent 300lbs steroid-pumped freaks using juiced bats from crushing one off my chest (and it left stitch marks from the softball), and claiming the base hit as legitimate.
#61 by Philly Bill on 05.07.07 1:11 pm |
“Ze goggles! Zey do nothing!!“
Ah, what a classic.
#62 by Lexie on 05.07.07 1:15 pm |
Mark I agree with you. I really think it is up to the individual person. My friend wore one of the catcher’s mask kind and even though she felt safe in it, she hated it too. It was hot (we played in Kansas after all), heavy and really did block her vision. As soon as the doctor gave her the ok she stopped wearing it.
As far as wearing it in the outfield. The doctor thought it would be best in case she missed a fly ball or if the ball took a bad bounce on the ground.
#63 by Mike on 05.07.07 1:15 pm |
I’m no Volvo engineer, but it’s hard to imagine how “big metal bars” would not be effective. Personally, given the choice between a softball hitting me in the face vs. a softball hitting a metal cage two inches from my face, I would always choose the latter.
#64 by Metsfan AZ on 05.07.07 1:16 pm |
Is that what the circle is for? I never knew that. I umped before and we only used it to make the ball “dead” for the younger players to keep from having too many 3 base errors. But I agree, that HAS to be instituted for men’s leagues. Any truth to the rumor that softball was invented as safe recreation for pregnant women?
#65 by Joey Guns on 05.07.07 1:17 pm |
That’s pretty much a daily occurrence with Reyes now.
#66 by patrick on 05.07.07 1:23 pm |
Ill take it as long as he keeps playing the way he has… he’s hands down MVP this season so far
#67 by pete m on 05.07.07 1:26 pm |
The weirdest/ most ridiculous thing to me about NBC’s coverage of the derby was the “equestrian” outfit the female reporter wore on horseback while interviewing the winning jockey. I know nothing about horse riding/racing protocol or uniforms, but I thought that was over the top and hilariously pompous. The black equestrian hat with the huge “great gazoo” or “adam ant” antennae sticking out was just (i’ll say it again) ridiculous. Can’t they just wait for the jockey to come back to his dismount area and then interview him? No, lets costume up our “sideline” reporter to look like a jilted alicia silverstone in “The Crush”.
#68 by Minna H. on 05.07.07 1:29 pm |
Don’t care. I just like the fact that Joe posted Santana’s uni. I heart him.
Actually, I do care. I like the virtical arch best, but I agree that it looks funny with the pinstripes. Don’t know if a pinstriped nameplate would look better, though.
#69 by Broker75 on 05.07.07 1:34 pm |
I’m not a fan of the Gigantes thing. But I dig the Giants. Can we stop screwing with uni’s with all this honouring crap. We don’t even honour the U.S.A when it’s July 4th, if we did in a uni sense every team would have USA on the front of their jersey!
#70 by Jaye on 05.07.07 1:34 pm |
Any truth to the rumor that softball was invented as safe recreation for pregnant women?
Let’s see … a ball hit at a high speed coming toward your belly. The ball takes a bad hop…. nawwwww … I’ve never heard of that one, in fact, my doc told me most sports, especially softball, which I play, were off-limits. i was told I could swim, play tennis and little else.
Plus, could you imagine those unis???? Worse than the WNBA for sure!
#71 by Metsfan AZ on 05.07.07 1:46 pm |
Let’s see … a ball hit at a high speed coming toward your belly. The ball takes a bad hop…. nawwwww … I’ve never heard of that one, in fact, my doc told me most sports, especially softball, which I play, were off-limits. i was told I could swim, play tennis and little else.
Plus, could you imagine those unis???? Worse than the WNBA for sure!
Today’s softball is definitely out but that mushball may have been the egg before the chicken.
#72 by Minna H. on 05.07.07 1:48 pm |
Let’s see … a ball hit at a high speed coming toward your belly. The ball takes a bad hop…. nawwwww … I’ve never heard of that one, in fact, my doc told me most sports, especially softball, which I play, were off-limits. i was told I could swim, play tennis and little else.
Plus, could you imagine those unis???? Worse than the WNBA for sure!
Jaye, nothing can be worse than the satin nighties of the WNBA. I think it would be cute to have unis for pregnant women. However, I could see that playing sports while being pregnant might not be a good thing to do. How about in the early stages, though? I mean, in the first trimester, you could play right field, yes? Not much action there.
I am trying to find pics of pregnant women playing, but not much luck. However, there are women who say their docs told them they could play up to 15 weeks or so. One woman claims she played until her eigth month.
Well, one of these players were pregnant, so imagine this uni stretched a bit.
#73 by Metsfan AZ on 05.07.07 1:50 pm |
Today’s softball is definitely out but that mushball may have been the egg before the chicken.
I checked wiki, no mention of the the pregnant thing, just a nasty rumor my uncle used to throw at us…
#74 by LouUmp on 05.07.07 1:50 pm |
Sorry to bust you on this…BUT…in any softball I am familiar with, the pitching circle is there for the following rules:
When the pitcher receives the ball, and gets totally into the circle, the following rules apply when there are runners on base:
1. If a base runner is moving, they must keep moving in the same direction
2. If a base runner is STOPPED, they must IMMEDIATELY start moving in either direction without stopping again
3. If theere is a runner on base, and the pitcher has the ball within the circle, they cannot release from the base until the pitcher has released the ball to the plate.
violation of any of these results in a dead ball, and the runner[s} is (are) called out. In case of the runner starting before th pitch, it is declared ‘NO PITCH’ and the runner is out.
the only exception to the above rules is if the pitcher makes a play on the runners.
Have never, ever heard of that ‘pitcher having a chance to be hit’ rule before at all…unless its a rule those idiots at Little League Softball have instituted…as bad as those people have ruined youth baseball, what they do to softball is insane…
Lou, an Amateur Softball Association ump
for 20 years
#75 by Robert on 05.07.07 1:52 pm |
Quick, delete this post before someone at MLB reads it and thinks that it is a grand idea and runs with it.
#76 by Minna H. on 05.07.07 1:52 pm |
Let’s see … a ball hit at a high speed coming toward your belly. The ball takes a bad hop…. nawwwww … I’ve never heard of that one, in fact, my doc told me most sports, especially softball, which I play, were off-limits. i was told I could swim, play tennis and little else.
Plus, could you imagine those unis???? Worse than the WNBA for sure!
I screwed up. Or something. I was quotiong Jaye, so everything before Jaye, is not me.
This is me:
Jaye, nothing can be worse than the satin nighties of the WNBA. I think it would be cute to have unis for pregnant women. However, I could see that playing sports while being pregnant might not be a good thing to do. How about in the early stages, though? I mean, in the first trimester, you could play right field, yes? Not much action there.
I am trying to find pics of pregnant women playing, but not much luck. However, there are women who say their docs told them they could play up to 15 weeks or so. One woman claims she played until her eigth month.
Well, one of these players were pregnant, so imagine this uni stretched a bit.
#77 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 1:53 pm |
Great point. MLB doesn’t even wear a special 4th of July patch or put a logo on the field. Looks like our National Pastime is forgetting about it’s forefathers.
#78 by Lake on 05.07.07 1:54 pm |
The flags on the caps beg to differ.
And I want to say as a guy who had his face broken by a thrown softball (I was standing on second when the left fielder decided to show off, and the second basemen decided not to catch the ball), I see the value in a helmet while on the basepaths.
I even once saw a pitcher wearing a lacrosse helmet while in the circle (his skull had literally been cracked by a line drive).
#79 by Nick on 05.07.07 1:54 pm |
Michigan State wore their throw-back jerseys at Ohio State on Sunday. The unis represent the school’s former name, Michigan Agricultural College. Views available here.
#80 by Joey Guns on 05.07.07 1:58 pm |
I agree. A lot of NBA and NFL players untuck their jerseys after games too. I don’t think it’s a big deal. Now if they were to play with them untucked, that’s a different story, but that’s what the uniform police at MLB, the NFL, and the NBA are for……
#81 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 2:00 pm |
Oddly enough, If a hockey player tucks their jersey in, they look rediculous.
#82 by LouUmp on 05.07.07 2:01 pm |
Actually, one of the best thing ASA did was make the ‘hockey’ helmet mandatory for 18U catchers….for umpiring they suck…
I tried a friends helmet ONCE behind the plate - and RAN back to my Wilson A380 -way too claustrophobic, and you look like an idiot when you have to pull it off to call plays….
My current equipment:
New Balance cross trainer base shoes
Spot Bilt mid cut U55 steel toed plate shoes
Wilson A380 mask
Gerry Davis/Wilson leg guards
#83 by Minna H. on 05.07.07 2:01 pm |
Man, Joe D., you are on a roll today. You sure you can’t stop by Nye’s for a pint or two on Friday?
#84 by LouUmp on 05.07.07 2:03 pm |
oops..thats Wilson A3080….my bad…
#85 by Minna H. on 05.07.07 2:03 pm |
Read the Factoid that May Only Interest Peter King:
Pete’s point.
I’ll even excerpt it for you:
A rookie free-agent named Xzavie Jackson is in camp with the Bengals, trying to make the team as a reserve defensive lineman. That’s notable because there never has been a player in the history of American professional sports whose first or last name began with the letters “xz.'’
Is this true? Anyone know off-hand? If so, it’d be cool if he made it.
#86 by Mark in Shiga on 05.07.07 2:04 pm |
Your choice is a false one; you cannot presuppose that the ball will hit you in the face. Without a vision-blocking, weight-encumbering helmet on, you would have a better chance of dodging the ball that’s speeding towards you. The question is whether it’s worth it to you to have an increased chance of the ball hitting you, accompanied by a decreased chance of a severe injury if it does hit you, than the reverse.
#87 by Chad G on 05.07.07 2:04 pm |
how about this story of a pregnant women playing.
#88 by Teebz on 05.07.07 2:16 pm |
Lou, slo-pitch and fastpitch might be entirely different.
#89 by Jaye on 05.07.07 2:18 pm |
Wow! Do I feel like a whimp now, or what???
Minna, I was active in the first few months mainly because I didn’t even know I was pregnant. I played “short” stop (at 6 feet tall) and stopped playing the minute I found out we’d be bringing another ball player onto our team. Ok, I mainly stopped because I couldn’t figure out what to wear!!! The kid’s first outfit?? A newborn Braves uni with a hand-sewn 44 on the back, But alas, he was too small for stirrups!
#90 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 2:19 pm |
I would love to, but I have spent the past high school hockey season and now spring season coaching, therefor making my wife a “hockey widdow.” Now that the spring season is over and I have no coaching obligations for a while I’ve kinda lamented that I’ll be home every night for a long time now. I’m still thinking of excuses though. I am thinking of telling her one of my favorite writers (wouldn’t be a lie) is going to be at Nye’s and I’d love to drop in and talk, but I know, being Irish, I can’t just drop in for a short bit. I dropped in on my uncle once and 5 hourse later I left.
#91 by Joe Drennan on 05.07.07 2:21 pm |
Too small for stirups? Listen to yourself. You’re speaking lies now. If you were so determined to put your pint sized player in a proper uni you would have employed the 90 year old lady down the block to sew some. My Cabbage Patch doll when I was 3 had blue Cubs stirups to match its uniform.
#92 by Kenny on 05.07.07 2:24 pm |