Do you ever get jealous of people who somehow score front-row seats right along the first- or third-base line? They get to reach down and scoop up foul grounders like low-hanging fruit, players and coaches flip additional balls to them, and they’re close enough to the action to see a stray thread on a player’s jersey. And most of them didn’t even pay for the tickets! Ah, but reader Jackie Grady justified her primo vantage point at Monday night’s Marlins/Dodgers game by documenting a classic uni-related gaffe. Here’s her report:
I was sitting in Section 1, Row AA. These seats are on the field, between the visitors’ dugout and the visitors’ bullpen. Of course, I brought my digital camera.
In the top of the 1st, I noticed that Brad Penny’s pants looked funny and it appeared that his fly was open. While hoisting up my camera, I exclaimed, “OH MY GOD, A UNI WATCH MOMENT!” My friend Lynne, who knows that I read your blog, said, “What is it?” I said, “Penny’s fly is open.” Laughter erupted in the seats around us as I began taking pictures. But it was tough to tell for sure, and questions began circulating about whether it was perhaps just some dirt. There was considerable discussion about whether the dirt was there from Penny, ahem, adjusting himself.
I continued to click away and someone from behind remarked about how I’d spent the entire inning focused on the pitcher’s crotch. My friend also snapped some pictures and inquired, “Would Uni Watch really call out the guy and expose to the world that his fly was down?” I gave a rather annoyed look when I responded, “Yes.”
After the inning, I began reviewing the pictures and was able to zoom in on the area in question, confirming that his fly was down. The camera was passed around and adults laughed like school kids. When Penny took the mound in the 2nd, the issue had been fixed.
Jackie later caught a foul ball, but I think you’ll agree that she more than earned it with her ace camera work. Penny, meanwhile, joins the likes of Ray King, Chris Cooley, Anquan Boldin, and Marcus McNeill in the Uni Watch XYZ Gallery.
Uni Watch News Ticker: “I went to the Cardinals game tonight, and Anthony Reyes was selected to catch the first pitch,” writes Tyler Kulasza. “Apparently he does not show the stirrups for games that he is not scheduled to start.” … Nice striped stirrups being worn by the Sam Houston baseball team (with thanks to Glenn Stern). … Not sure if we’ve covered this before, but just in case: Interesting shot here of Paul Shmyr captaining the 1978-79 Oilers while wearing a “K” instead of a “C” (as spotted by Jacob Bestebroer). … Great little video survey of Padres uni history here (with thanks to Mat Strauss). … Uni Watch intern Vince Grzegorek notes that Don King was wearing a Rangers jersey the other day. … Vince also reports that all sorts of stuff from MLB’s recent Civil Rights Game is being auctioned off. … More trademark litigation (as forwarded by Bob Jordan). … Speaking of litigation, New York City’s ban on aluminum bats is being challenged in court. … “The new font on the back of the 2007-08 English Premier League jerseys found here,” writes Dominic Litten. “If you look at the previous font, you’ll notice that the lion in the EPL logo at the bottom of the number is different as well. That’s because the EPL has changed their logo from this to this. Details, details, details.” … Someone on the Chris Creamer boards posted this fascinating backgrounder on how the Royals’ logo was developed. … Mets reliever Joe Smith has a series of uni-related rituals (with thanks to Dan Herr). … Nick Bell notes that Peter King’s latest column includes the following tidbit: “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.’ ” Bell adds the following: “Because the Bengals already have Dexter Jackson, who will almost certainly stay on the team, Xzavie Jackson will get an ‘X’ on the back of his jersey if he makes the roster.” … Nike’s latest brainstorm: matching 99-cent store outfits for doubles partners Rafael Nadal and Carolos Moya at the Rome Masters. And don’t forget the matching Capri pants (with thanks to Todd Krevanchi). … Reprinted from Monday’s and Tuesday’s comments:Michigan and Michigan State wore pink softball uniforms the other day, and even the umpires got into the act. Additional pics here, here, here, here, here, and further details here and here. … Looks like the Bucs have new practice jerseys (as spotted by Rob Montoya). … “I noticed Dee Brown of the Utah Jazz uses an orange mouthguard,” writes David Arnott. “That suggests it’s the same one he used at the University of Illinois.” … Interesting query from Dan Bauso, who writes: “A while back I tuned in to ESPN Classic and watched a rerun of NFL Game of the Week, the old recap series starring Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier. This particular episode was 1969, Week 13. That week, Joe Namath and the Jets played in Houston against the Oilers. The announcers made no mention of it, but Namath clearly wore an all-white jersey with a green ‘12′ on it. It had no side piping/stripes, as was present on the rest of the Jets’ jerseys.” Anyone know more about this? … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Looks like I’m not the only one who gets a bit obsessive about socks.
#1 by Original Jim on 05.09.07 8:47 am |
The new EPL font looks very similar to the FA font, except it has little serifs. Maybe it was also designed by Jeremy Tankard, who designed TheFA font.
http://www.typograph...
#2 by Lockbull on 05.09.07 8:48 am |
Dumb question, why does an entire league (English Premier League) need to have the same font on all jerseys? I was going to chalk it up to English pretention, but the MLS does it too…
#3 by dirwuf on 05.09.07 8:48 am |
…Namath clearly wore an all-white jersey with a green ‘12′ on it. It had no side piping/stripes, as was present on the rest of the Jets’ jerseys.†Anyone know more about this?…
During this era the Jets wore those “plain” jerseys during the preseason…see:
#4 by B. Shubinsky on 05.09.07 8:49 am |
The Reyes picture link is broken. There’s an extra “h” in the front.
#5 by dirwuf on 05.09.07 8:50 am |
whoops… see: http://espn.go.com/c...
#6 by JoshC on 05.09.07 8:52 am |
It seems like that photo of Shmyr with a captain’s “K” would be from some sort of matchup in Russia or against a Russian team — K for КÐПИТÐÐ (KAPITAN) would be the standard marking in Russian. I can’t find any documentation offhand of such a game for the 78-79 Oilers, though.
#7 by Jim on 05.09.07 8:55 am |
Paul - I mentioned this on Saturday’s open thread, but wanted to state it hear again to get your opinion. Do you happen to have an evil twin that works at the University of Northern Iowa?
http://store.fansonl...
#8 by DC on 05.09.07 9:01 am |
Penny struck out 14 in seven innings with his fly down… let’s hope he isn’t superstitious or else it’ll be another XYZ moment for his next outing…
#9 by Big Mike on 05.09.07 9:25 am |
Penny struck out 14 in seven innings with his fly down… let’s hope he isn’t superstitious or else it’ll be another XYZ moment for his next outing…
Actually, it was noted that he fixed the issue between the first and second innnings.
#10 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 9:25 am |
In the Anthony Reyes pic, I noticed that the baseline markings haven’t even been laid out yet. How long before the game starts do they do thier “first pitch” ceremonies?
#11 by John on 05.09.07 9:27 am |
Was going through the NHL shop and found these doosies….
Good or Stupid 1
Good or Stupid 2
Umm….
In response to yesterday’s awful promotions, the Islanders have had some lame giveaways before. Ceramic bobbleheads, a ceramic jersey pencil holder, colored holiday pucks, and Isles elf hats. The best was the “Visit Bermuda” beach towel given away by the Isles farm team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The towel featured the blue tiger head logo and a pair of pink Bermuda shorts. A representative of the Bermuda travel bureau sang the national anthem in tuxedo jacket and pink shorts. He sang worse than Roseanne. But the towel was pretty cool.
#12 by Paul Lukas on 05.09.07 9:30 am |
If anyone needs me, I’ll be curled up in a fetal ball in the corner, whimpering.
#13 by Kel on 05.09.07 9:33 am |
“Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Looks like I’m not the only one who gets a bit obsessive about socks.”
Yeah, but the difference between you and him, Paul, is that he said he wants help with his obssession. “I know what I did was wrong,” he told the judge back then during sentencing. “And the thing with the socks, I would like to get help with it so I can get over it, get it out of my life and get on with my life.”
I don’t see you getting over yours any time soon. :-) :-) :-)
#14 by BCrisp on 05.09.07 9:36 am |
Looks like MLB will be swinging pink bats again for Mothers’ Day. Here is a list of Astros: Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Biggio, Morgan Ensberg, Adam Everett, Mike Lamb, Mark Loretta, Chris Burke, Jason Lane, Carlos Lee and Orlando Palmeiro.
Link
#15 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 9:40 am |
How about the Padres sport some pink camo jerseys for Mother’s Day and kill 2 birds with one stone?
#16 by BCrisp on 05.09.07 9:45 am |
I know it’s odd to quote your own comments, but I copied that list out of the article and pasted it. My question is: when did Craig Biggio become Cher or Madonna and only need one name?
#17 by Carl on 05.09.07 9:45 am |
Sorry to disappoint you, but Xzavie Jackson won’t have to wear X. JACKSON on his uniform. The NFL changed the rules last year regarding necessary initials on uniform names.
This subject came up when the Patriots signed Kyle Brady and it was confirmed Tom and Kyle can each just have BRADY on their back.
#18 by Ian K on 05.09.07 9:48 am |
Maybe he noticed it was down but superstitiously left it alone since he was pitching so well.
Uni Watch intern Vince Grzegorek notes that Don King was wearing a Rangers jersey the other day.
Don King threw out the first pitch of a weekend game at the Ballpark in Arlington. He then sat in the booth for an inning and talked about his friendship with Sosa. “Actually Sosa used to be a Ranger, before he was traded,” King said to Josh Lewin, play-by-play announcer and Tom Grieve, color guy. I guess Don King didn’t know that Tom Grieve was the GM who traded away Sosa in the first place.
#19 by luthermahoney on 05.09.07 9:51 am |
Re.: The Jets 1969 all white jerseys.
The jerseys were used primarily for the pre
season but,I noticed that Namath and Don Maymard
wore the jersey in selected games during the reg-
ular season.
#20 by Dan on 05.09.07 9:52 am |
Ha-ha… Brad Penny has a shirt weiner
#21 by luthermahoney on 05.09.07 9:52 am |
Re.: The Jets 1969 all white jerseys.
The jerseys were used primarily for the pre
season but,I noticed that Namath and Don Maynard
wore the jersey in selected games during the reg-
ular season.
#22 by Jeff on 05.09.07 9:53 am |
There’s hope for the future here in Kansas City. Here’s Billy Butler who was just called up last week. Check the stirrups! Here’s a quote from an article in the KC Star as well:
The little things are so much different here. Like the pants. In the minor leagues, you take what they give you, and it usually doesn’t fit right. Here, in the big leagues, Butler’s pants are tailored exactly the way he likes — extra room for his enormous legs and cut short to show off his stirrups.
#23 by Cathy on 05.09.07 9:54 am |
The writer mentioned his full name earlier in the article. Thus, following the rules of writing, he need not mention it again.
The Cubs that are using Pink bats are: “Floyd, Michael Barrett, Mark DeRosa, Aramis Ramirez, Jacque Jones, Alfonso Soriano and Daryle Ward.”
…notice “Floyd” is also only one name. Cliff’s name is mentioned earlier in the article.
#24 by Broker75 on 05.09.07 9:54 am |
Big showdown last night between the Mets and Giants, I watched the game. Giants looked good as usual, ballpark was looking spiffy; and the Mets, yeah, they weren’t dressed for the occasion
#25 by The Ol Goaler on 05.09.07 10:02 am |
Regarding the “sock-snatcher”…
How does he know that it’s women’s socks he’s snatching? With the exception of her pink socks, the only way to tell my socks from hers is by size… and that’s even close enough that we can wear each other’s socks with no discomfort!
All the black socks are mine… but we both have white, blue, red, and gray socks. Is that guy maybe stealing pantyhose? ;-)
#26 by Johnny O on 05.09.07 10:02 am |
The Brew Crew are also getting into the Mother’s Day spirit…Bill Hall, Prince Fielder, Geoff Jenkins, Corey Hart, Johnny Estrada, and Craid Counsell will all be weilding the Pink bats vs. the Mets on Sunday.
#27 by ML on 05.09.07 10:03 am |
Commonality in font is pretty standard in “real” football. I know La Liga, the Premiership, and Serie A all do it, but the clubs are not allowed to wear that font for *any* non-league sanctioned games (such as the Champions League or even tours of the USA)…. so there are generally two or three different types of home, and two or three different types of alternate, kits for each club. You might see:
- Manchester United Red EPL (white EPL font)
- Manchester United Red Champs League (gold font)
- Manchester United Red other (white non-EPL font)
Now, United have a blue kit and a white kit, so they literally have nine different configurations… but to the untrained eye it will appear all of the red ones are the same, all of the blue ones are the same, etc.
#28 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 10:04 am |
AP style guidelins require all people be identified by first and last name the first time they are identified. Each time after that use only their last name. An exception would be if you identify, e.g. Tom Barday, then refer to him as Brady for a few paragraphs, but then intorduce Kyle Brady. The next time you reference Tom Brady after introducing Kyle Brady, you again refer to him as Tom Brady so as not to confuse the reader.
This is done to cut down on words, alowing for more information to be squished into valuable space in papers.
#29 by Matt D. on 05.09.07 10:13 am |
The talk of Brad Penny reminded me of a similar uni-mistake, with Claude Raymond
#30 by baude on 05.09.07 10:16 am |
interesting image today to go with the main article. I get the XYZ, but the rest escapes me.
#31 by Leo on 05.09.07 10:17 am |
Dumb question, why does an entire league (English Premier League) need to have the same font on all jerseys? I was going to chalk it up to English pretention, but the MLS does it too…
It’s a uniformity thing, so that nobody looks like slobs. For some reason, they don’t want this.
#32 by Tim on 05.09.07 10:20 am |
The Cardinals and Padres will be wearing 1972 uniforms on Friday at Petco Park.
I’ll try to get to the game and take lots of pictures.
#33 by todd krevanchi on 05.09.07 10:21 am |
if im not mistaken, the only regular season date of the baseball year that barry hasnt homered on in his career is now August 5. i think thats a pretty amazing stat.
say what you want about barry, but i want to see the ab’s when he ties and breaks the record. we may never see a feat like this again in our lives (not sure how long a-rod will play).
i feel VERY fortunate to have grown up in the era i did. i saw perhaps the greatest to ever play their respective sports.
baseball- bonds
basketball- jordan
hockey- gretzky
football- debatable (montana, rice, e. smith, a few others)
tennis- sampras and/or federer
golf- tiger
#34 by todd krevanchi on 05.09.07 10:26 am |
im sure prince fielder is very happy to do the mothers day deal. im pretty sure his mom raised him and i think a sister. i doubt he’ll do the fathers day thing. saw a news piece once about how cecil paid no mind to any of them, no support, no contact, nothing. the last time i ever saw contact with cecil and prince was when he was like 10 and they played in an mtv rock and jock game together.
#35 by Adam on 05.09.07 10:27 am |
To date, more than 200 players have signed up to use a pink bat, which is more than twice the participation in 2006.
Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Pablo Ozuna, Joe Crede, Darin Erstad and Gustavo Molina have all tentatively planned to use the pink bats on Sunday during an afternoon game against the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field. Thome and Scott Podsednik also were scheduled to swing the pink bat but are currently on the disabled list, while Brian Anderson was another willing participant who has since been reassigned to Charlotte.
#36 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 10:30 am |
I think almost every generation can say this, as every generation brings new atheletes that continue to push the bar and raise the standards for everyone else.
#37 by Tyler on 05.09.07 10:32 am |
In the Anthony Reyes pic, I noticed that the baseline markings haven’t even been laid out yet. How long before the game starts do they do thier “first pitch†ceremonies?
It was only about 20-25 minutes before game time that I took those pictures of Reyes. At the game on Monday I was pretty close and snapped a couple of good pics of his stirrups while he was warming up.
#38 by Teebz on 05.09.07 10:40 am |
Um, no. The “K” was worn in place of the captain’s “C”. The WHA chose the “K” to be different than the NHL… according to what I’ve been told. It had nothing to do with Russian or playing in a Russian game whatsoever.
#39 by baude on 05.09.07 10:41 am |
Or this, this or this. But this uniformity also means no chance of this, this or this. I personally am willing to accept some duds in exchange for the gems.
#40 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 10:42 am |
That still seems strange though, a lot of fans probably weren’t even in their seats yet. While I don’t pay too much attention, I usually associate the “first pitch” occuring around the same time as the singing of the national anthem(s).
#41 by Tom Hoffman on 05.09.07 10:45 am |
Kennywood is indeed open.
#42 by baude on 05.09.07 10:45 am |
sorry this
#43 by Zach on 05.09.07 10:49 am |
Just a thought, and it doesn’t explain why, but it could be a FIFA rule that each league has to keep its name font consistent. I don’t know why they’d do this, but it seems like the type of thing FIFA would do.
#44 by Ed R. on 05.09.07 10:52 am |
Perhaps a Giants fan could shed the light on whether this is the norm, but during last night’s Mets-Giants game they showed several shots of a ball man down one of the lines but he was wearing a Giants road uniform rather than a home uniform.
#45 by Sir Jock Strap on 05.09.07 10:52 am |
LMAO
#46 by Broker75 on 05.09.07 10:55 am |
Hey Teebz,
the other day I asked ya if you preferred the new NHL shield or the old colors [pre-lockout]. Personally I like the old one, I haven’t looked for a pic of it, but why would they go to silver and black color scheme? The black and orange[or rusty color] rocked! especially when it came to the All Star Game.
Todays hockey is good, but when the Norris, Patrick, Smythe etc. divisions were around, it was hockey at its best. The games between the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Blues, Red Wings were amazing. And the Bruins, Canadiens, Sabres (Adams Division) were killer. Then the Capitals, Penguins, Flyers the list of rivalries back in the day were endless, I haven’t even mentioned the Nordiques-Habs and the battle of Alberta!
#47 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 10:55 am |
…been years since I heard that one!
#48 by DJ on 05.09.07 10:55 am |
Just a thought, and it doesn’t explain why, but it could be a FIFA rule that each league has to keep its name font consistent. I don’t know why they’d do this, but it seems like the type of thing FIFA would do
It isn’t. The Italian, Spanish, and German leagues, for example, have fonts that vary from team to team.
#49 by nick in napa on 05.09.07 10:56 am |
that was a local sportscaster, Verne Glenn. there was a story on it on the morning news today www.kron4.com
#50 by tBone on 05.09.07 10:56 am |
Those Michigan/Michigan State softball unis are pretty neat. I like that the players wore pink socks, and I especially like the pink face guard on that helmet. That’s solid. Although I have to say the pink jersey with the Spartan green pants really doesn’t do it for me.
#51 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 11:02 am |
I remember reading somewhere that they went with the new silver color to associate it with the “new” NHL. I think the orange is better though. The silver seems to sterile and blah to me. The orange and black was classic.
While it was hard to get used to the NHL slanting up instead of down, the resoning there was the slanting down implied the game was going down the tubes, but if it’s slanting up, it implies the game is on the rise.
I say bring back the old orange and black!
#52 by Brianfrom Short Island on 05.09.07 11:05 am |
Nope, not FIFA at all. Check out Italy or Spain, every team has their own fonts there. England and Scotland do standard fonts, which are dictated by their leagues. When these teams play games outside of their domestic leagues (Champions League, UEFA or Intertoto Cups, etc.), they all tend to wear fonts dictated by the manufacturer. They just want uniformity lest we get something like Valencia or Sevilla in the Prem…
#53 by diz on 05.09.07 11:10 am |
The main reason is probably to stop nightmares like this from cropping up, when teams decide to be daft. I can remember those shirts just looking blank on telly. Hopefully they don’t start insisting on a plain background for numbers - that just ends up silly. Round about the same time, Celtic started wearing numbered shirts, shame I can’t find a picture of their solution to the problem of legibility
On another football note, someone linked to the news that AC Milan won the toss and are wearing the away strips in Athens on the 23rd. Might get down the bookies then, they have a tendency to win the European Cup in all white.
Then again, I might not bet on it - Liverpool tend to win the European Cup in all red.
#54 by Teebz on 05.09.07 11:13 am |
I agreed. I much preferred the old days, and believe the NHL should abandon its regionalization and go back to the traditional names.
#55 by Matt on 05.09.07 11:17 am |
Wow…Drury making an appearance on uniwatch. I’m so proud of my tiny little school.
#56 by joe on 05.09.07 11:20 am |
And don’t puts the refs in silver (low visibility) armbands for crist sake!
#57 by Teebz on 05.09.07 11:21 am |
And don’t puts the refs in silver (low visibility) armbands for crist sake!
How about they stop re-writing the damn rulebook before each season? That’s my biggest gripe.
#58 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 11:33 am |
How about they stop re-writing the damn rulebook before each season? That’s my biggest gripe.
I agree. The arm band needs to stay orange. As a goaltender I keep an eye on that orange arm because it means I have to get my heinder to the bench so we can get an extra attacker on the ice. Blending it in as silver will make them resmple linesmen who (for those of you who aren’t up on hockey rules) can’t call a penalty unless it’s a blant penalty that could pretty much result in injury.
#59 by Anthony Verna on 05.09.07 11:40 am |
As for the pink bats, how are they made so that a pink bat plays the same as other bats?
(I guess I don’t understand bat-making to begin with.)
#60 by Dwight on 05.09.07 11:40 am |
Where did you see Drury, I am missing it! I assume you mean Drury in Springfield, MO?
#61 by Dwight on 05.09.07 11:40 am |
Just dipped in pink paint.
#62 by charlie on 05.09.07 11:47 am |
A possible explanation for the use of non-uniform jerseys by the New York Jets in 1969 - the regular shirts may have been “unavailable”.
From the New York Times Oct. 13, 1969:
Jets Lose Their Shirts But Not Winning Way
CINCINNATI, Oct. 12—Six members of the New York Jets wore white mesh Cincinnati Bengals jerseys with black numbers today after their uniform tops had been stolen from the world champions’ locker room at Nippert Stadium.
The victimized players were George Sauer Jr., Don Maynard, Babe Parilli, Bake Turner, Mike Battle and Al Woodall.
It was the third time this season that Turner’s jersey has been stolen. Joe Namath’s has been swiped twice, but the Cincinnati thieves missed it.
Maybe someone in Houston was more “successful” in making off with Namath’s game jersey?
#63 by Chad G on 05.09.07 11:49 am |
Here is an article about the Mets shaving their heads before yesterday’s game.
Best part:
“Green, who had repeatedly lost his cap in the outfield because of “all the hair,” had wondered aloud how he would keep his cap and/or his yarmulke in place. And once he had a look he clearly didn’t like, he asked for a new cap “four sizes smaller.”"
#64 by Kenny on 05.09.07 12:04 pm |
I saw Reyes had his pants down (no literally), showing no socks during a game he wasn’t pitching in earlier this year…meant to post it but I didn’t have a picture/screen shot or access to the Internet at that point
#65 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 12:08 pm |
Actually the best part (uni-related) was this:
“But not all went willingly. Wondering about the demonstration of unity, David Newhan asked, “Can’t we just pull our pants [legs] up?” After all, Newhan, Green and Jorge Sosa had the most to lose.”
Now that’s a much better idea!!!
#66 by J. Deaton on 05.09.07 12:13 pm |
Um, no again. The Oilers played a 3 game series against a team listed as “Moscow” during the 1978-1978 season.
http://www.chidlovsk...
The Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA did not use a “K” for Rick Dudley’s jersey, just a “C”.
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
#67 by Pedro on 05.09.07 12:14 pm |
RE: the Padres uniforms video, it’s interesting that the sand jersey is the bestselling or most popular since they’re only worn like twice a year. At least I know who to blame for having to see the terrible looking sand pants w/ navy jerseys.
#68 by todd krevanchi on 05.09.07 12:25 pm |
screw that! i dont think i’d ever cut off my hair as a sign of unity at my job… how does that unite your organization? i cut off my hair to show solidarity at work, but then what about after work? what then? thats ridiculous.
i think the only reason i’d go out of my way to shave my head would be to lend support to a loved one who may have lost their hair during medical treatments and might be feeling insecure about it.
#69 by Mike on 05.09.07 12:25 pm |
Same as a black bat…except of course, it’s pink
#70 by WVU Tom on 05.09.07 12:29 pm |
Exactly my point–I find it hard to believe that these guys would rather cut all thier hair off then ditch the pajama pants!
#71 by Kenny on 05.09.07 12:32 pm |
Holy crap! That’s supposed to read NOT literally
#72 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 12:34 pm |
This is something I’d shave my head for, and is something I’m planning on organizing in my area, partialy becasue my wife may have cancer and I’m looking for ways to help fund cancer research.
#73 by Teebz on 05.09.07 1:05 pm |
Hey, I wasn’t even around for the WHA days. Again, it was what I was told. :o)
#74 by jere on 05.09.07 1:06 pm |
Great. I’m all set to do a cancer-related joke, and the comment before mine turns out to be a serious cancer comment. So I won’t post my rather tame joke, which would have been to note that Paul Shmyr died of throat Kancer in 2004. Yeah, I definitely won’t do that now.
#75 by Joe Drennan on 05.09.07 1:10 pm |
OK, now that’s funny. My wife may have cancer, but it doesn’t mean we can’t joke about it. If you can’t joke about it, then you’re in trouble.
#76 by Anthony Verna on 05.09.07 1:10 pm |
My high school’s soccer team did the head-shaving thing. . . except one player, who curiously was also the son of the French teacher. (She said she wouldn’t allow him to do it!)
#77 by Matt B on 05.09.07 1:14 pm |
>i dont think i’d ever cut off my hair as a sign of unity at my job… how does that unite your organization? i cut off my hair to show solidarity at work, but then what about after work?
Never been on a swim team, have you? We celebrated our head shaving! Of course when you’re just a frosh or soph and your body hasn’t filled-out you look like a refugee from Dachau. But it’s still great fun.
#78 by jere on 05.09.07 1:22 pm |
Glad you feel that way. Since you took so kindly to my joke, I’ll put up a link to the St. Baldrick’s thing on my blog today….
#79 by Dave A on 05.09.07 1:31 pm |
XYZ = eXamine Your Zipper
#80 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 05.09.07 1:36 pm |
but doesnt shaving your head and body hair for a swim team also double as a measure to be more liquidynamic (if thats a word) shaving hundredths or tenths of seconds off of times?
joe d, i give you my best wishes that things go ok with you and your wife, whatever the prognosis.
and kudos to you for participating in that disease awareness/fundraising program…
the world needs more guys like you.
#81 by patrick on 05.09.07 1:44 pm |
They use adults, its easy to get adults and adults mixed up during a play, maybe to differentiate between ball man and players?
#82 by Derek G. on 05.09.07 1:46 pm |
I think it is more of a fun thing to do as a team. Seeing everybody with a shaved head can be pretty fun. These guys get to play a game for their job, I’m pretty sure they’re just doing it for fun. Obviously it shows they’re a pretty close team but the team unity isn’t the case since Jose Reyes wouldn’t do it so. They’re just a bunch of big kids.
#83 by Shane on 05.09.07 1:49 pm |
Paul, couldn’t you have found another shirt with the new EPL numbering?
Ugh, Newcastle’s shirt for next season is horrid. They’ve gone from black and white stripes to black with white stripes.
#84 by Jonathon on 05.09.07 1:54 pm |
Notes: Mets un-locked on Tuesday
05/09/2007 2:09 AM ET
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets conduct scouting meetings before the first games of all series, baseball versions of X’s and O’s. What they had Tuesday before they engaged the Giants in the second game of their series in San Francisco was something altogether different, though it still could be appropriately identified as a skull session.
Before batting practice and evidently after little forethought, the Mets got buzzed. One by one, players tread into a room by the shower room looking quite normal, and one by one, they emerged shorn like sheep. For no apparent reason other than “they could,” they had their hair reduced to boot-camp length by Carlos “The Barber” Beltran, a man of unquestioned tonsorial skill.
It was palpable peer pressure at work. All but a few conceded to the shear magic of Beltran, even Shawn Green, who had vowed to be the last man, submitted to the supposedly unifying experience. He became Shorn Green.
Jose Reyes resisted without his signature smile. Aaron Sele avoided the cut, too, noting that he would be posing for photos with his family Thursday. And Tom Glavine, the starting pitcher Tuesday night, after watching in amusement, said he would concede after the game, and he did.
But not all went willingly. Wondering about the demonstration of unity, David Newhan asked, “Can’t we just pull our pants [legs] up?” After all, Newhan, Green and Jorge Sosa had the most to lose.
Indeed, Newhan had taken a seat inside his locker with only legs visible, his upper body and full head hidden behind clothes on hangers.
Finally, just before he relented — giving in to Paul Lo Duca’s promise of a dinner — he did a brief television interview.
“His last interview as a good looking guy,” Green said of Newhan.
When Newhan emerged, he looked even more like his father, Ross, the Hall of Fame baseball writer, who had the shaved look, via natural means, for a long time.
Green, who had repeatedly lost his cap in the outfield because of “all the hair,” had wondered aloud how he would keep his cap and/or his yarmulke in place. And once he had a look he clearly didn’t like, he asked for a new cap “four sizes smaller.”
Mike Pelfrey swore he’d never remove his cap again, but not until Lo Duca decided, “Pelfrey looks like Sinead O’Connor.”
Lo Duca had his head shaven on two sides for a while, but then had it done evenly, making him what one of his teammates called “The last of the Mohicans.”
Moises Alou described his wife’s anger: “She’ll be mad I never cut it off for her, but I did it for the guys.”
The whole exercise began in the afternoon with David Wright, who had his buzz-cut done by his friend and bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello. The rest was left to Beltran, although it was unclear who scalped him.
“It has nothing to do with what’s going on on the field,” Wright said. “It’s just to change things up a little.”
Some — Carlos Delgado, Endy Chavez and Ruben Gotay among them — already had the uniform look. And Damion Easley just reverted to his Port St. Lucie look. manager Willie Randolph keeps his hair closely cropped anyway, so he just watched. And general manager Omar Minaya didn’t go looking for Beltran. Batting coach Rick Down submitted, but first-base coach Howard Johnson remained strangely invisible.
The one person everyone wanted to see in Beltran’s chair, though, was pitching coach Rick Peterson, who has more hair that he has analogies.
“There’s a better chance I’ll punch out 20 tonight” Glavine said, “than [Peterson will] get that cut off.”
“He’s hiding in the outfield,” Heilman said.
Billy Wagner suggested, “Let’s get him. What’s he gonna do, soft-toss us to death?”
And when it was nearly time to take the field for batting practice, Glavine, his graying locks untouched, found a silver lining in all the ugliness he saw before him. “At least now we won’t spend any time at the mirror,” Glavine said, “and the bus can leave on time.”
#85 by Chad G on 05.09.07 2:01 pm |
I hate to be “that guy”, but I posted a link to this over 2 hours ago (comment# 63). Haven’t you noticed the ongoing discussion since then?
#86 by Smail on 05.09.07 2:12 pm |
Wow, Don King with one button buttoned, super flat brim and the 5950 holo sticker still on the hat.
Wonder how many other high profile visitors get the same jersey and hat slapped on them whenever they drop by?
#87 by Broker75 on 05.09.07 2:15 pm |
Holy shit, what the hell is this Mets talk.??!
Yankees!
there, I had to squeeze that in
#88 by Kenny on 05.09.07 2:18 pm |
David Carr wearing gloves at minicamp
#89 by Broker75 on 05.09.07 2:18 pm |
oh my god, stop the presses
#90 by Jason on 05.09.07 2:18 pm |
Sadly, given the reason law changes regarding shirt sleeves and the wearing of masks during goal celebrations, this does seem like something FIFA would do. However, it seems more likely that the leagues do it for the purpose of brand identity. Remember, they can’t put any sort of league marks on the field, so this is their way of identifying themselves to the public.
There is an interesting story about field markings, which may be apocryphal. Apparently, at MLS’s inaugural game in 1996, the league had painted a large league logo in the middle of the field. The referee, who had arrived well before kick-off, noticed and made them clean it off before the game could start.
#91 by Broker75 on 05.09.07 2:20 pm |
They both look happy now, wait a bit, then we’ll see who gets jealous, even though it’s Delhomme’s job to be lost.
#92 by Jason in Lexington on 05.09.07 2:31 pm |
He’s probably catching the ball for Delhomme.
#93 by John Zajac on 05.09.07 2:58 pm |
I haven’t seen it posted yet, but does it look like Posada has his number on the outside ankle of his left shin guard to anyone else? I know it was up a few weeks ago about that player from Japan having personalized shin guards like that, but it had yet to be seen in MLB.
#94 by John Zajac on 05.09.07