New ESPN column today — here’s the link.
Meanwhile: Last week, in the middle of our server changeover, I got an e-mail from Chris Hill, with a subject line that read, “Homemade uniform traditions from Rochester.” For some reason it came through in teeny-tiny type that was nearly illegible, and there were 20 attached photos, all of which was more than I wanted to deal with in the midst of the site’s technical woes. I nearly deleted the e-mail altogether.
I’m glad I didn’t. What Chris had sent me was a document of a pretty amusing little project. I’ll let him describe it:
In 2006 a group of my friends and myself started playing baseball in a kid’s back yard. Within a week or so we decided to mow the grass to create an infield, and used his fence as a home run marker.
We played pickup games throughout the summer, but for the 4th of July we decided to have an All-Star Game. In order to make it official and over the top, we made up two teams: the Maplewood Steamboats and the Jambo City Harbors of Wellington. We also built a scoreboard and brought out a P.A. system and announcers for the game. We had yet to discover how to fully use the screen-printing uniform shop in town, so most of our uniforms were homemade. The Harbors even had separate batting practice uniforms, but no picture exists of us in those.
Winter came along and we decided to do the same thing with a football game. It was slightly less intense, but we once again had the same teams wearing homemade uniforms.
This past summer we all had some money and ideas, so baseball was much more enjoyable. We started off the year making spring training jerseys to wear randomly throughout the season. At some point we realized we were doing the All-Star Game wrong — it should be a game between two leagues, not two teams. So the Steamboats and harbors turned into the League of Steamboats and the Harbor Leagues. From there we created about 16 different teams, all based on inside jokes and cities someone had been to: the Douglas Gorns [that’s Chris wearing No. 44; note the all-star game sleeve patch! — PL], Joe Montana 3-D Graphichs Manipulators, Toronto Tippy Ducks, Gnomes, Tuscon Tra La Las, Mt. Rushmore Compatriots, Boise Canistorshots, Brockport USB-ports and the Ocean City Monsoons. The guy in that last photo got so into it that he had home and away jerseys made, but the shop mistakenly put the team name on the road jersey, instead of the city name, so he bought the botched jerseys at a discount and went back to have it done right, giving him a total of FOUR jerseys, when he just needed one — dedication.
Indeed. And that dedication is what I love about this project. Okay, so the uniforms kinda suck, and many of you probably think the whole thing has “Get a life” written all over it, but so what? The day you’re too cool to embrace your own little field of dreams fantasy is the day you may as well pack it in. Instead of sitting on their sofas watching the ballgame or playing with the latest EA video game, these guys built something real. I say good for them.
Raffle Results: The three winners of last night’s raffle are, in order, J. Yung (who gets his choice of an L.A. Kings jersey, a Washington Capitals T-shirt or an assortment of MLB sleeve patches), Mike Carpenter (who gets to choose from the remaining two items), and Rick White (who’ll get whatever item is left). The three winners should get in touch with me asap.
Thanks to all who entered — more raffles coming soon.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Yesterday’s comments included excerpts from this article, which suggests that the new NHL jerseys are (a) possibly causing injuries during fights and (b) tearing at the seams. I don’t have much sympathy for fight-related concerns (simple solution: ban fighting), but there’s a lot of very interesting info here — start with the sixth paragraph. … Also from yesterday: The UK has produced a really nice series of stamps documenting the history of British military uniforms. You can click through the gallery here. … We’ve all seen photos of Rich Karlis kicking barefoot. But Brendon Yarian found a photo of him doing, well, a little more than kicking. … Dynamite Hanshin Tigers uniform history site here. Even if you don’t care about Japanese baseball, this is worth checking out, because the site is nicely interactive (start clicking and you’ll see what I mean) and many of the designs are wicked cool (nice find by Scott Curl). … Yet another case of a 2 rendered in two different ways on the same jersey: the Rangers. … Still more typography news: Kansas’s university-wide move to the Trajan typeface has resulted in a backlash movement (with thanks to longtime Uni Watch pal Rob Walker, who first brought the anti-Trajan site to my attention on his own excellent blog, Murketing). … Best argument yet for a barter economy: Purple is being added to the $5 bill. Alarming details here. … The Washington Huskies will wear 1960 throwbacks on Sept. 29th. According to this page, the team wore navy back then, but it was called “Northwestern Purple.” Odd (with thanks to Rob Weber). … Who needs a game-worn jersey when you can have Sandy Koufax’s synagogue-worn yarmulke? … Good info here about the Redskins’ throwbacks, which they’ll be wearing this weekend while pounding the living shit out of playing the Giants. … Reprinted from last night’s comments: Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett changed his uni number from 13 to 85 to honor injured Bills player Kevin Everett, but his helmet still has his old uni number. … Arguably the weirdest reason ever for choosing a particular uni number: According to this article (forwarded by Jeff Barak), Wild rookie James Sheppard likes No. 15 because he “began wearing it as a 15-year-old midget player because he already had size 15 feet.” … If your coach can grab you like this, then your jersey’s definitely a few sizes too big. … My friend Liz Danzico, who’s more or less a genius, recently started a really good site called A Brief Message, which features a series of 200-word essays about design. I wrote a little something about uniforms for today’s installment, which longtime readers will recognize as a re-hash of the very first post that ran on this here blog. My own redundant content notwithstanding, A Brief Message is well worth checking out for anyone who cares even a little bit about design, sports-related or otherwise.
#1 by Kevin from Ohio in Virginia on 09.21.07 8:43 am |
This brought back so many memories of childhood wiffle ball games…
AWESOME.
#2 by Nick on 09.21.07 8:49 am |
psssh I don’t think those unis are lame at all. I’ll take the gnomes and tra-la-las font anytime.
#3 by Dane on 09.21.07 8:49 am |
Big round of applause to the Field of Dreams gang. A bunch of friends goofing off and having fun together - no one is too cool in the room to appreciate that.
Brings back my childhood memories of spray painting yard markers on the street where we played NERF football. Ah, vandalism…
#4 by George on 09.21.07 9:00 am |
Props to those guys for getting out of the house and away from the video games. I wonder if they would be able to play under the light from the fireworks on the 4th of July like The Sandlot.
You’re killin’ me, Smalls.
#5 by doogie on 09.21.07 9:02 am |
“new espn column today”
i love reading those wprds
#6 by Stephen on 09.21.07 9:11 am |
Well, some may think it is lame (I’m sure my wife would), but I think it is cool that they had the dedication to make their own unis, and then play the games.
Did anyone see the Braves/Brewers game last night? Jeff Bennett made his first major league start last night for the Braves, and he was rocking the stirrups. Of course, he got the win.
Can’t find any pics, though.
~E~
#7 by AB on 09.21.07 9:13 am |
Slow day at the UW house?
More importantly about the $5 bill…you know what they strong>CLAIM about Mr Lincoln…
#8 by Matt B on 09.21.07 9:13 am |
I can deal with the purple in the new fiver but what really pisses me off about the various new designs is that they’re so inconsistent from denomination to denomination. From the $5 up they all have mostly the same template, but the colors are kinda the same and kinda different. And they’re revamping each note one by one in this ad hoc, half-assed manner. Meanwhile the single hasn’t adopted any of the new features and looks like totally out of place.
I know the Euro has taken some heat for having non-existent windows and bridges on the notes, but at least the design scheme is coherent, despite color and size variations.
#9 by Duckstyle on 09.21.07 9:17 am |
Seeing this feild of dream-ish post has given me an idea. I played competative Laser tag for about 7 years, nearly every team at competion was decked out in their respective uniforms, usually a nifty t-shirt and matching gym shorts. If anyone shows any interest I can spend some time later and dig up some of the better designs and post em here. If not I’ll just spend my afternoon looking at them by myself and crying myself to sleep on my huge pillow.
#10 by Stephen on 09.21.07 9:20 am |
Video Evidence on this page.
#11 by Dan on 09.21.07 9:21 am |
That’s great…reminded me of The Sandlot.
Love the committment!
#12 by Mike on 09.21.07 9:22 am |
I like the Redskins wearing throwbacks. Does anyone else think their burgundy pants need to go? The article said the team went 6-0 when it went white on white in 2005. I think it was because they ditched the burgundy pants.
#13 by Mike V on 09.21.07 9:24 am |
Got to give it up t the sand lot gang. It should not even be a question if its cool or not. Who cares, I am just glad to see some youth doing something positive and pro-active. If I was in that town, i would have to volunteer to umpire the games. Good for them indeed.
On another note, hockey can not, and should not, ban fighting. I’m not going to get into it, but fighting in hockey is not just two thugs going after eachother, it serves a purpose that, believe it or not, keeps the games safer and in order. I am sure the other hickey guys here would back me up.
#14 by Frank on 09.21.07 9:26 am |
I can deal with the purple in the new fiver but what really pisses me off about the various new designs is that they’re so inconsistent from denomination to denomination. From the $5 up they all have mostly the same template, but the colors are kinda the same and kinda different.
Which makes counterfeiting that much more difficult.
In the Rich Karlis photo, I don’t get it. What are we looking at? It just looks like he’s watching the other players trying to recover the football.
#15 by Rob Curtin on 09.21.07 9:27 am |
Who cares if the uniforms suck? Most of them are rockin’ the stirrups and high socks, something we need to see more of.
Personally, I’m jealous I never had that growing up, in my back yard…
#16 by Mike V on 09.21.07 9:27 am |
I meant the other hockey guys. I hope we don’t have any hickey guys here.
My Christmas wish list:
1. Pens win Cup
2. Peace on Earth
3. Edit button on Uniwatch Blog Comments
#17 by Mark on 09.21.07 9:34 am |
How many NCAA teams have worn white at home recently. I’ve seen LSU, Vandy, and Mississippi State where white at home this season.
Also, how many games have featured neither team wearing white, a la Rutgers-Norfolk State. Didn’t Oregon wear their yellow jerseys on the road last year once?
#18 by Adam on 09.21.07 9:36 am |
They don’t look great, but I think that’s kind of the point, because they figure if they keep changing them (and they plan to change them all every few years) and make them different, they’ll be easier to tell apart and harder to fake. I agree that the $1 looks really out of place now, but they have no plans to do anything about it anytime soon because it’s not often faked, and that’s fine, because I’d rather the government not spend millions of dollars fixing something that doesn’t need fixing.
#19 by Adam on 09.21.07 9:38 am |
I should clarify that I didn’t mean that not looking good was the point, but that they’re supposed to all look a little different and have different colors.
#20 by doug judson on 09.21.07 9:44 am |
I think those kids rule. When i was a kid we had a wiffle park in my yard we kept stats and everything I wish we had thought of the uni’s. i totaly love that there are more people like me out there. Now i don’t feel compleatly nuts
#21 by stan aka the took on 09.21.07 9:45 am |
where do they live? i wanna join… man ohh man i haven’t played ball in 3 years (since high school) and i miss it soo much… the field and the uniforms and the pa system makes me want to move to suburbia and go field of dream on my backyard.
#22 by Kerry on 09.21.07 9:47 am |
LSU wears white at a majority of their homes games.
#23 by John O'Hare on 09.21.07 9:48 am |
LAME??? No effin’ way! I want to play in those games so bad it hurts! Props to all involved! Home made unis, no logo creep and even All-Star game patches! On a scale of one to ten, this goes to eleven!
#24 by James on 09.21.07 9:49 am |
That’s awesome!
The funniest part is that I’m wondering if those kids live in my development as I live in a suburb of Rochester and it’s called Wellington.
I’ll need to wander around next summer and search out the field.
#25 by Kerry on 09.21.07 9:52 am |
Did anyone else catch the Hampton/Morgan State football game on ESPNU last night? I ask because I noticed 2 Morgan State players that added decals to their helmets.
Normally, the Morgan State helmet looks like THIS. However, there were 2 individuals - one being the QB and another on the defense - that had a “Morgan” wordmark decal - similar to the PREVIOUSLY USED HELMET - stuck on the front of the helmet as well.
Just wanted to know if anyone caught this or got a screen grab or picture of it.
#26 by SATCH on 09.21.07 9:53 am |
Nice to see they decided to model their homemade football uniforms after the classic and storied University of Oregon.
#27 by Matt B on 09.21.07 9:53 am |
I agree that the $1 looks really out of place now, but they have no plans to do anything about it…that’s fine, because I’d rather the government not spend millions of dollars fixing something that doesn’t need fixing.
Of course they can solve the aesthetic problem problem AND save money at the same time by axing the $1 note at committing to the dollar coin.
#28 by Alan on 09.21.07 9:56 am |
today, props go to the amateurs. I’d pay $30 for a Tra la las uniform. Seriously.
#29 by Stuby on 09.21.07 9:59 am |
When I was in Scotland a couple years ago, I got used to not having anything below a 5-pound note as far as “foldin’ money”. It didn’t take long to grow accustomed to the 1 and 2 pound coins.
I’d be all for losing the 1 dollar bill, as well as the penny.
#30 by Teebz on 09.21.07 10:02 am |
Fighting in hockey doesn’t happen all that often enough for it to be banned. Besides, if Cam Janssen gets hurt from fighting, the entire league is better off for it. However, fighting in hockey is as integral as hitting in football. If you take it out, I guarantee you that cheap shots on star players goes up exponentially.
As for the Sandlot crew, that is probably the best things I have seen to date to warrant an “Honourary Member” status. They created jerseys with stirrups for individula teams, made their own scoreboard, and are having fun. If anyone should be honoured with member status, those guys should be.
It takes me back to our days of 3-on-3 baseball. That was a workout and a half.
#31 by Dane on 09.21.07 10:05 am |
I love how the nameplate isn’t even close to being centered over the numbers:
http://www.lelands.c...
And this is a logo that I had not seen before… and not sure I want to see again:
http://www.lelands.c...
#32 by blt on 09.21.07 10:09 am |
A uni-related question to team historian Lee Remmel from Packers.com:
“Hi Lee, when was the last game, if ever, in which the Packers wore their road uniforms for a regular season game at Lambeau? Thanks! - Frank, Los Angeles
Dear Frank, I haven’t been able to come up with a definitive answer to your question, but I have found some related information. Equipment Manager Gordon “Red” Batty said, “We haven’t worn white in “Lambeau” in my 14 years here. But Bryan Nehring (assistant equipment manager) has been here longer and may have other information from previous years).”
And Nehring did have an answer, although he wasn’t able to identify the specific year involved. He recalled, “It was in the late ’80s or early ’90s, very hot, in the first three weeks of September, and we were playing Tampa Bay, who had Vinny Testaverde at quarterback. We decided to wear white because we wanted to see if the white jersey would be cooler than the green we normally would wear for a home game.”
The jury apparently is still out on that specific question. “We haven’t done it since that time (worn white jerseys at home),” Nehring said, “so I would guess it wasn’t a big factor.” “
Anyone here remember this at all?
#33 by Andy on 09.21.07 10:10 am |
I love the fact that Karlis still has his sock stripes even without the sock.
#34 by TOG on 09.21.07 10:10 am |
The current helmet logo, of an Indian chief in full head-dress, was adopted in 1972.
Sometimes, of course, there’s a sense of superstition involved in the look of the team. In 2005, for instance, the team went 6-0 (including a playoff win) with its white-on-white attire late in the season.
The six game playoff “white on white” superstition sent a new design for the Redskins unis into the never to be seen again files. They were burgundy. black and yellow. Very sweet.
#35 by Walaitis on 09.21.07 10:11 am |
#36 by JJD on 09.21.07 10:14 am |
The Washington Huskies will wear 1960 throwbacks on Sept. 29th. According to this page, the team wore navy back then, but it was called “Northwestern Purple.”
Nice swooshes. Just like Mom used to make back in ‘60.
#37 by Ryan Hare on 09.21.07 10:18 am |
Hey James, we don’t all live in the development but we play there (I live in the city). I didn’t know if anyone from Rochester even read this. Some of the neighbors out there got real mad at us but cars would just like park out there and watch. I, Ryan (the shorter of the Mt.Rushmore set), would like to say this probably made my year being “featured” on this site.
#38 by JJD on 09.21.07 10:19 am |
Last night I watched the end of the Mullen-Cherry Creek football game (because John Elway’s son is the Cherry Creek QB, and they gave him the ball with 2:00 left down by 7, and just like in the movies he had no protection so he was sacked twice and fumbled twice and they lost) and the Mullen helmets had a “BB” decal on the back. Any Denver-area folks know what that’s about?
Also, Mullen’s uniforms had some pretty cool numbers. (Plus they had some big UA logos. *thumbs down*
#39 by Darin K. on 09.21.07 10:21 am |
I love how it’s always people who don’t follow hockey who want to suggest all of the changes to the sport. I wish the NHL would do what they should have done a long time ago–tell the critics to cram it and do whatever they want to do. Most of those people will never watch hockey in the first place–so why listen to them and subsequently anger your hardcore fans?
#40 by Robert on 09.21.07 10:24 am |
I have hated the burgundy pants since the team started wearing them decades ago. That color does not look good on pants in general, and the two thick stripes look awkward and unbalanced. I was loving the white-on-white look and wished that the team would have stuck with it.
#41 by todd krevanchi on 09.21.07 10:25 am |
exactly what i was thinking…
those pics of the field got me thinking,
one of my favorite sports comedians, john caponera, links to this wiffle ball field.
http://www.chicagojo...
#42 by BDiamond on 09.21.07 10:29 am |
I love the burgundy pants/white top combo. It’s the burgundy top/white pants I dislike.
#43 by Paul Lukas on 09.21.07 10:34 am |
I am a lifelong hockey fan. When I was 8 yrs old, I’d fall asleep to the sounds of Marv Albert calling Rangers games on the radio (home games weren’t televised in those days). Before I knew anything about college, I wanted to go to Cornell just because Ken Dryden went there.
And yes, I’d like to see the NHL ban fighting. I’m not trying to start that debate here, so let’s not go down that road. I’m just saying that you can’t write me (or anyone) off as someone who “doesn’t follow the sport” simply because I’m proposing something you disagree with.
#44 by Ryan Hare on 09.21.07 10:35 am |
Actually the home uniform was modeled after the nike “football is everything” commercial. We snuck into a local high school to play, so i used that template a few hours before we played. I am a huge Oregon fan tho, and the numbers were going to be modeled after the ducks tapered ones but they cam out no looking like that. (I’m number 19 in the black) Heres the commercial:
http://youtube.com/w...
#45 by Giancarlo on 09.21.07 10:35 am |
Please - think of the strippers, man.
#46 by Stuby on 09.21.07 10:35 am |
I just read in yesterday’s USA Today the the Cleveland Indians will be searching for a corporate partner to rename their ballpark. So good-bye Jacobs Field and Helloooo LendingTree.com Park!
#47 by Kim on 09.21.07 10:37 am |
Thought I’d throw this Marseille photo out there for comments.
Paul….it has no purple or black…..but you may have comments.
#48 by Eric on 09.21.07 10:37 am |
Henrietta representin’!! I wore my Uni-Watch shirt to the Public Market a couple of weeks ago and actually had some random guy mention he liked it, so unless it was one of your gang, there’s at least one more out there…
And props to the pickup games in general, let alone the uniforms (although I love the effort put forth on those)! It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to participate in a pickup hockey game, and we used to do all the stats and stuff too, back in the day. I miss that!
#49 by Chance on 09.21.07 10:39 am |
Any more information on what the design would have been>
#50 by Jeff on 09.21.07 10:43 am |
Soerry for the REPRINT
Schutt is known for creating custom masks from at least the 1970’s (Doug Williams with the Tampa Bay Bucs wore one when he broke his jaw back in the late 70’s) and to this day they feature custom masks on their website as an option. Also, I know that for many teams who wear Riddell helmets (with the Revolution model being an exception) they still use Schutt masks due to a better quality mask.
P.S. Steelers definitely need to wear grey facemasks and black shoes to complete the throwback look.
P.S.S. HelmetHut.com has a great article on the Iowas State throwback helmets.
#51 by Teebz on 09.21.07 10:46 am |
Now we’re talking.
We used to have “regular season” games between streets in the neighbourhoods around my place. There were four streets that had enough kids (read: 6) to “ice” a full street hockey team. Every Sunday, there would be games to 10 played in a dead end section of the street in “Old Timer Arena” or the racquetball court at a local tennis court, called “Madison Squared Garden”. After 12 weeks (usually December to February), playoffs would be played on a weekend in early March - Saturdays for the semi-finals, and Sunday for the finals.
I wish I was 12 again. :o)
#52 by joe on 09.21.07 10:51 am |
that makes for a whole new coin slot
#53 by todd krevanchi on 09.21.07 10:52 am |
i understand the justification, but does fighting happen enough in baseball and basketball for it to be wrong there?
hmm, like this?
http://farm2.static....
#54 by Paul Lukas on 09.21.07 10:55 am |
Post of the day. Or the week.
#55 by Robert on 09.21.07 10:59 am |
Not a problem. I understand that in Canada the patrons toss dollar coins (”Loonies”) to the performers.
Locally (DFW), the clubs give change in two dollar bills to encourage larger tips.
#56 by Jeff Ingalls on 09.21.07 11:00 am |
Rochester eh?
Being Canadian I can only wish that I could live near that neighbourhood!!! Ya’ don’t see stuff like it in downtown Toronto… trust me!
Great to see spirit like that! Bravo!
#57 by DenverGregg on 09.21.07 11:01 am |
That Rebels’ logo is quite the startling juxtaposition for a semiotician to unpack.
#58 by Teebz on 09.21.07 11:02 am |
The difference is that fighting in hockey is a way that the players police themselves. You don’t hit a Wayne Gretzky or a Steve Yzerman knee-on-knee without knowing that Dave Semenko or Bob Probert was going to kill you on your next shift. It was a way to keep a highly emotional and violent game in check… before the ridiculous instigator rule was made up.
The Anaheim Ducks proved the importance of fighting last season as none of their stars missed significant time due to the Ducks sticking up for one another. Anaheim had the most fighting majors last season in the NHL, 32% more than second-place Phoenix. Brian Burke even said, “That’s why Corey Perry doesn’t get roughed up after whistles. That’s why Ryan Getzlaf doesn’t get punched in the head after he takes a shot at the net. We have a team that makes people accountable. That’s never going to change as long as I’m here.”
As long as it’s being used in the right way, and you’re not just icing a bunch of goons, fighting in hockey is as important as the puck.
Awesome cards, Todd. Those should be the Honourary Member Cards. That’s sweet!
#59 by AB on 09.21.07 11:05 am |
Things like this work well in Europe or even Canada eh…but lets face it, Bums, stripers and those idiot guitar playing suitcase open subway performers wont like lugging around coins, nor does the average man…rememeber Sachagawia? (spelling is like darts, close is good enough) therefore we as american will never loose the $1 BILL, we dont coins…why do you think so many of us are stupid enough to throw them in wishing ponds? B/c paper doesnt sink
#60 by josh on 09.21.07 11:05 am |
Yesterday’s comments included excerpts from this article, which suggests that the new NHL jerseys are (a) possibly causing injuries during fights and (b) tearing at the seams.
A few years back, largely as a result of Marty McSorley’s pre-fight striptease, the league instituted a rule that a player received a misconduct penalty if his jersey came off during a fight. It’ll be interesting to see how that’s enforced if jerseys are TORN off during fights.
#61 by Johnny O on 09.21.07 11:06 am |
Kind of related… the Pack wore their home jerseys in a preseason game versus the Titans this year. I thought it was extremely odd to see the Pack in green jerseys away from Lambeau.
Packers at Titans in home jerseys
#2
#62 by I AM A WEREWOLF! on 09.21.07 11:09 am |
Best post of the day.
I like how Janssen is mentioning the jersey issues when the dude who kicked his can is trained in martial arts.
NHL meets UFC means some real knockouts… just ask Todd Fedoruk.
#63 by Gretchen on 09.21.07 11:10 am |
I went to the “Trajan Sucks” site and it mentions the Yankees are changing their font to Trajan…was that a joke or is there something up with that?
#64 by Teebz on 09.21.07 11:11 am |
It was Rob Ray. The rule is called the “Rob Ray Rule” regarding the fighting strap not being done up or altered in any way so that it came apart. Ray was always topless after a fight.
The “Marty McSorley Rule” is if any player is caught altering their jersey. McSorley used to wear a jersey that had extra fabric sewn into the sleeves so that if he got into a fight, he could still throw punches while a guy hung onto his extra-loose sleeves. These was deemed an unfair advantage, and was banned by the league.
#65 by xyz on 09.21.07 11:12 am |
Redskins throwback unis look great and helmets have grey facemasks! Would have loved to see the feather helmet instead of the Lombardi ‘R’.
#66 by David T. on 09.21.07 11:13 am |
The Washington Huskies color referred to is actually “Northwest Purple,” not “Northwestern.” But it’s described as navy blue, not purple at all, so it still doesn’t make much sense.
#67 by Joe Drennan on 09.21.07 11:16 am |
Ah, bringing me back to the days of old. I remember playing whiffle in my back yard with the neigbor kids. We played 1 on 1 and had a league of 3 teams. The foul poles were the exhaust vents, with the home run fence being the driveway gate. Anything off the wall/roof was fair play, and as long as you cought it before it hit the ground, it was an out. We even had our plastic batting helmets we got at ball games and 3 or 4 different whiffle bats to choose from when batting.
#68 by todd krevanchi on 09.21.07 11:16 am |
let me see if i understand this correctly. the fighting or policing (which i think is probably a better word because when fighting is used, im imaginging these 1 on 1 bloodbaths) is similar to a charles oakley hard foul on a piston who may have fouled jordan a bit too hard? or a brush back pitch to a batter who earlier may have cleated a short stop in a take out slide that was too wide?
#69 by Kevin M on 09.21.07 11:16 am |
Amen. Take fighting out of hockey and you will start to see more cheap shots like high-sticking, knee on knee hits, elbows to the head, etc.
#70 by Mike V on 09.21.07 11:18 am |
#71 by Rob Lewis on 09.21.07 11:23 am |
This article got me out of bed this morning after a phone call from chris saying we made it on uniwatch. it’s what we live for in the summers between work and whatever else is going on, and every year it gets better and better. yea STEAMBOATS!!!!
-Rob
#10 Mt. Rushmore
#72 by zach on 09.21.07 11:24 am |
Quick, what does everybody think of this alteration to the new Sharks jersey?
Rough as hell, but you get the idea.
#73 by Nate on 09.21.07 11:27 am |
From what I gather (and Paul will appreciate this) it was really hard to find a purple dye that would hold in the wool football uniforms of the time, so the Huskies went with Navy blue (evidently readily available). Wait, wasn’t the world in black and white back then anyway?
#74 by Mike V on 09.21.07 11:28 am |
A little top heavy, but not displeasing to the eye overall.
#75 by blt on 09.21.07 11:30 am |
Well a number of teams use white home unis so I don’t think it’s surprising to see the pack wear green away from Lambeau, but to wear white at Lambeau is a whole other story.
#76 by Teebz on 09.21.07 11:31 am |
Somewhat similar, but not entirely the same.
Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, and Mario Lemieux are the guys that put people in the seats and, for the most part, put wins on the scoresheet. If those players get hurt by a knee-on-knee hit or a check from behind into the boards or concussion from a punch to the head, your team could miss the playoffs depending on how long he is out. All of those “cheap shots” I just listed normally result in injury, and losing your most-skilled player for any length of time will certainly hurt your team. Don’t forget: hitting is hockey is football on ice, only faster. Taking a clean bodycheck hurts. Taking a dirty, unexpected one hurts a lot more.
Once the fight is over, the game resumes. If there is any other bad blood between the two teams, normally the designated goons will slug it out, not the skilled players. Occasionally, there is a retaliation of going after the other team’s skilled player, but once the fight happens to “rectify” the situation, it rarely carries over.
A hard foul on a Piston will only result in a harder foul being put on Jordan. What Oakley has done, in your example, is made a bad situation worse. Instead of making it equal, he has forced the Pistons to one-up Oakley’s antics again.
Cleating a shortstop in a takeout slide is not part of the game, and the player in baseball who commits this foul should be ejected and/or suspended. Hitting him with a beanball only makes a bad situation worse as most beanball retaliations result in bench-clearing brawls.
#77 by Joe Drennan on 09.21.07 11:33 am |
Great way of putting it. Baseball is even trying to do away with the bean ball and I’m not OK with that either. A guy spikes a player or thinks his ego is bigger than the game, hit em on the butt or thigh. Guy crowds the plate, hit em. I won’t comment on basketball as it’s not my sport.
#78 by Teebz on 09.21.07 11:34 am |
… hitting IN hockey… not hitting is.
#79 by Jeff B on 09.21.07 11:38 am |
The single can stay. The penny on the other hand, needs to be revamped. Who would make a coin worth 1 cent that costs 2 cents to make? … Who would take that 2 cents worth of metal and use them in transactions where the only got 1 cent of worth out of them? …
#80 by Joe Drennan on 09.21.07 11:38 am |
Take the hitting out of hockey and you’re left with girls hockey..Yawn.
#81 by Kim on 09.21.07 11:38 am |
Practice jersey. That’s what it looks like.
#82 by ross on 09.21.07 11:39 am |
Northwestern was known as “The Purple” before they got a mascot, which was the Fighting Methodists, and now the Wildcats.
#83 by Teebz on 09.21.07 11:41 am |
But again, the beanball is retalitory. If the shortstop was allowed to get up and deck the guy that did it, do you think he would? I would bet dollars to dimes that he would. No one likes to get cleated.
That’s what the hockey fight does. It makes the player who has done something stupid accountable for his actions. You want to check a superstar from behind or hit him knee-on-knee? You’re going to be accountable for that move on the next shift.
#84 by Johnny O on 09.21.07 11:44 am |
But I don’t remember the Titans to be one of those teams who wear white at home. Am I wrong on this?
#85 by LunchBox on 09.21.07 11:46 am |
Rochester, NY i assume? I grew up in Pittsford. Where abouts are you guys? Man that would have been awesome to have a sweet baseball league like that. We had a small rollerblade hockey league going in my neighborhood with custom uniforms made of undershirts and decorated using markers. Ahhh to be a kid again.
#86 by Nate on 09.21.07 11:49 am |
Who would make a coin worth 1 cent that costs 2 cents to make? … Who would take that 2 cents worth of metal and use them in transactions where the only got 1 cent of worth out of them?
They’re thinking about making steel pennies again.
But I don’t remember the Titans to be one of those teams who wear white at home. Am I wrong on this?
No, but some teams do that in the preseason.
#87 by todd krevanchi on 09.21.07 11:49 am |
at my community park they have a morning activity program.
20 yrs ago they started a morning baseball league (using nerf baseballs, remember those?)
it was played on a basketball court which butted up against a tennis court that provided a huge fence in left field, in right it was like the polo grounds… a long way. into a creek.
that was called pine tree park due to the large pine trees down by the creek.
eventually there was a move to a new field across the creek called triple dip stadium due to the large hill from left to center with 3 natural “dips” in to them (a great sleigh riding hill by the way). the ball was then changed to the “rag balls”.
there has always been an allstar game and our borough’s works department paints the logo and a hit it here spot.
the league works just like mlb with a hr derby, etc.
each year, gold gloves are awarded at each position, division, pennant and world series winners, as well as career home runs, all since 1986.
a hall of fame was created after the first “group” of players graduated HS. really, you only play this until your freshman or sophomore year of HS, then you are HOF eligible after HS graduation.
the one year i was tied for the HR lead with 34 going into the last day… i hit 4, the guy i was tied with hit 7, one every at bat… nothing worse than losing the HR battle after hitting 4 in a day…
ahh, summer memories of youth.
#88 by Joe Drennan on 09.21.07 11:54 am |
So I just checked the daily photo on NHL.com and they have a pic of the Thrashers and their all-star patch. The partch is in the normal right chest spot, but what gets me, is that becasue of the stick of the Thrasher logo raising above, to me it creates the same effect as the tip of the wing on the Red Wings logo. Since the tip forced the wings to move the C and A to the other side to avoide stitching over seams, I’d think the Thrashers would have had to relocate their all-star patch.
Just another instance of the Red Wings theory coming up short.
#89 by Commisso on 09.21.07 11:55 am |
I don’t mind hitting in hockey, it belongs there. I don’t turn away from hockey fights, they belong in the game also. It’s that UFC shite that is disgusting, men in underwear creating human pretzels with their bodies and knocking the sense out of eachother. (I wish I was the winner of the L.A Kings jersey)! now I’m gonna have to stop payment on my mortgage this month to buy one, shitey.
#90 by Ronnie Poore on 09.21.07 11:56 am |
yeah, the gnomes uni is better than the new Tampa Bay Rays design!
#91 by Vtron on 09.21.07 11:58 am |
I saw this on Game used universe regarding new Tampa Bay Rays jerseys..
Logos:
http://kalleboo.mirr...
Home Jersey: http://ft.mirror.waf...
Away Jersey: http://kalleboo.mirr...
Sorry if this was discussed or is “old news”
#92 by Ronnie Poore on 09.21.07 12:02 pm |
i’m with you on the “unbalanced” pants stripes. i’ve hated that since day one. the stripes should be the same as the pattern on the helmet THREE STRIPES!!!! sleeve stripes on the jersey should also use the 3 stripe pattern.
#93 by Stuby on 09.21.07 12:03 pm |
Here’s what I don’t get about that “Rays” uniform thing (aside from the obvious ‘why such a fugly logo?’ question): The socks/stirrups are part of the uniform - shouldn’t they have done up a drawing of a player showing some sock? I mean, I think they would probably be blue, but who knows?
#94 by Mike on 09.21.07 12:05 pm |
I thought they looked good on Mon night, but maybe it’s the particular color. My favorite was the burgundy with gold pants they wore in ‘02. Wish they had kept ‘em.
http://sports.espn.g...
#95 by sean on 09.2