Last Friday afternoon I made a quick trip out to Giants Stadium, where Jints equipment director Joe Skiba wanted to show me the new Schutt XP helmets he’d gotten in. That’s the XP on right (with a Schutt Air Advantage on the left, for comparison) here and here, with an interior comparison here.
Personally, though, I don’t get so excited about new helmet models — I get excited about details. Fortunately, Joe had plenty of cool details to show me. Among them:
• Here’s a closer look at the raised, rubberized logo that appears on the nose bumper plate of the Giants’ non-Riddell helmets. (The Riddell helmets get a flat Riddell wordmark decal, but Skiba says these will be replaced by a 3-D rubberized version shortly.) Last year the “ny” was solid blue, except when the Giants wore their red alternate jerseys, when it was solid red; these year it’s blue outlined in red, and that will be reversed when the team wears its red alts.
• As you know, no company but Riddell is allowed to have its logo on an NFL helmet. The prohibition includes Oakley and Nike, who make the visors that many players wear. But Nike, true to irritating form, has found a spot where they could sneak in a swoosh: on the little clip that holds the visor in place. Not only that, but look what’s printed on the visor’s edge. Fuckers.
• See that clear plastic clip holding the lower portion of the facemask on a Riddell Revolution helmet? It’s called a side stabilizer, and as you can see, it’s usually screwed into the helmet. But Skiba showed me how Riddell has come up with a new screw-less fastening system that just snaps into place, so the stabilizer clip just pops right into position. So far, though, the Giants haven’t used this for regular game action.
• And here’s the ball the Giants and Dolphins will be using for next weekend’s game in London.
Skiba (who, incidentally, is in a very amusing state of denial about this) also introduced me to the team’s director of creative services, Doug Murphy. In addition to getting those rubberized nose bumper logos made, Doug also coordinates the team’s extensive photo archive. We agreed that I’d come back in the near future so he could show me some old pics — stay tuned.
Uni Watch News Ticker: As many of you know, Wisconsin is my favorite state. But even if you’re not a Badger State fan, you’ll still want to check out this page that David Sonny and the Rev. Nørb both alerted me to, where you can page through every Packers yearbook from 1960 through 1967. Loads of great pics and info — highly recommended. … Not truly uni-related, but still very cool (with thanks to Casey Lute). … Holy crap (blame Scott Turner). … Logo revisions aren’t just for sports teams. … Someone over on the Chris Creamer board noted that Yi Jianlian was wearing a jersey patch — presumably a 40th-anniversary mark — the other night. Not clear why Yi was wearing it but the other Bucks weren’t. … Doug Mooney found an early reference to tearaway jerseys in this Time magazine article from 1947, which includes the following: “No matter how far ahead they are, Michigan players always manage to look half undressed — their blue jerseys and yellow pants ripped and torn. [Coach Fritz] Crisler has a reason for that too: once he lost a game at Princeton when an opposing player grabbed his halfback by the sleeve and brought him down. Now Crisler uniforms his teams in flimsy zephyr cloth so rippable that [RB Tom] Harmon once used up 20 jerseys in one season.” … Also from the Time archives: This 1929 rundown of college football results, including the following: “Eight out of eleven Oregonians took off their jerseys, played with their bare arms sticking out of their pads.” … If you lost an eye while serving in Iraq, would you have your glass eye imprinted with your favorite team’s logo? Philip LaBonte did. … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Nice breakdown of basketball footwear history here.
#1 by Dane on 10.23.07 9:53 am |
Happy Mole Day, everybody!!!
#2 by MAO on 10.23.07 9:55 am |
A few comments on the Packers Yearbooks.
1. Bart Starr’s facemask looks green on the 1960 cover.
2. Looks like they did some editing on these on the 1963 cover.
#3 by Tim on 10.23.07 10:01 am |
Anyone notice the Jags’ helmets last night?
During pre-game footage, the helmets looked hazy & dull and didnt reflect any light at all, but when the game started they were shiny black like normal.
Game pics are easy to find, but i cant find any pre-game photos.
My guesses
1. They apply a coat of polish and then buff them off right before the game.
2. They were wearing practice helmets.
Anyone else see this?
#4 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 10:04 am |
Tom Harmon of course is a former Heisman Trophy winner and father of former UCLA quarterback and actor Mark Harmon (St. Elsewhere, Summer School, NCIS)
#5 by Chance on 10.23.07 10:16 am |
Sorry if this was discussed before, but I reading the New York Times this past Sunday, and this article on icing the kicker contained a photo with an amusing detail: holder Scott Player is wearing the standard template default #5 jersey.
http://graphics8.nyt...
At first I thought maybe he had requested the number, so he could be nice and anonymous with the Browns. But he wore #10 with the Cardinals.
Now I’m thinking that the equipment manager obviously has a sense of humor.
#6 by Don on 10.23.07 10:18 am |
Isn’t that Paul Horning? Bart Starr wore number 15.
#7 by JeffB on 10.23.07 10:20 am |
If you are going to have a team logo on your glass eye, well ok, if that’s your thing. But the Detroit Lions? Celebrating decades of mediocrity as part of your face? At least you can change it, unlike a tattoo I guess.
#8 by Eriq Jaffe on 10.23.07 10:25 am |
If Phillip LaBonte had preferred baseball, he could literally have had the Eye Of The Tigers.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
#9 by The Ol Goaler on 10.23.07 10:29 am |
Crisler uniforms his teams in flimsy zephyr cloth so rippable that [RB Tom] Harmon once used up 20 jerseys in one season.
And one of the reasons that football jerseys have become sleeveless is the “outlawing” of tear-away jerseys… about the time that Earl Campbell left the college ranks. I remember watching a game on TV where they showed a stack of #20 jerseys on the Texas bench; if memory serves, the “Tyler Rose” usually needed a new jersey every series!
#10 by Kevin on 10.23.07 10:30 am |
Interesting stuff on the new Schutt helmet. I think after Riddell released the Revolution, Schutt got worried and started pushing R&D to come up with new stuff, and now they have just gone nuts. In the past year they have come up with the Fusion, Ion, and Air XP. I think people will like the classic look of the Air XP, but isn’t the shell design on the Revolution and DNA designed to minimize glancing blows and prevent concussions? The shells, save for the angled earhole and crease across the back on the XP, are very similar to the older helmets.
#11 by Jake Haseman on 10.23.07 10:30 am |
Speaking of football helmets….does anyone know of a resource that identifies all of the different type of NFL facemasks used today? During the last few seasons I’ve seen some crazy ones out there, including those worn by LDT (this season) and Demarcus Ware.
#12 by College Kid on 10.23.07 10:30 am |
I work in a college Eq Room, and before every game we polish the helmets with a milky mixture that adds a little shine. We do it before the team even goes out for warm-ups, the Jags may do it just before the real game. Or, as you said, they could wear practice helmets during warmups and change into game helmets later.
#13 by Aram on 10.23.07 10:34 am |
The tearaway jersey was just one of the many innovations Fritz Crisler created during his tenures at Princeton and Michigan. He also invented the modern goal posts, the winged helmet (of course), and pretty much wrote the book on NCAA recruiting.
I had the opportunity to hear Bob Chappuis, the player profiled by the Time article, speak last week. He’s 84 now, and boy does he have some great stories.
#14 by FC on 10.23.07 10:38 am |
I enjoy Uni Watch but the Nike-bashing is getting tiresome and stupid. NO other company comes close to Nike. Uni watch will *not* be getting any of my money any time soon.
#15 by Mike on 10.23.07 10:40 am |
In calamitous Soccer kit news; Nike just bought Umbro!! *ugh*
From the BBC.co.uk site - “Umbro, the maker of the England football team’s kit, has agreed to be bought by US sportswear giant Nike in a deal worth £285m ($580m).
Nike said the deal would allow it to “significantly expand” its presence in “a key growth category” for the firm. As well as providing kit for the England team, Umbro also supplies the kit for six Premier League clubs. The Football Association said Nike had assured it that the FA’s relationship with Umbro would be protected. Manchester-based Umbro said last month that sales of England tops had been “disappointing”, and analysts are concerned that sales could suffer if England fail to qualify for next year’s European Championship. “
Slainte’
Mike
#16 by Matt B on 10.23.07 10:43 am |
Nike bought Umbro. For all the knocks Nike takes, their futbol jerseys are generally nicer than the rest. Still, it’s sad to lose one of the major brands.
#17 by Bryan on 10.23.07 10:46 am |
And here’s the ball the Giants and Dolphins will be using for next weekend’s game in London.
Sprint looks like they had an input on the file…compare to their logo
#18 by Kevin on 10.23.07 10:47 am |
I like the Nike bashing. Will I still buy Nike stuff? Sure. Just like I will still shop at Wal-Mart. It’s just enjoyable to poke fun at “The Man” once in a while.
#19 by Ryan B. on 10.23.07 10:49 am |
I have no proof of this at all–it’s just merely a guess. But maybe Yi’s Milwaukee teammates are still wearing last year’s uniforms which obviously wouldn’t have the 40th anniversary patch.
Since Yi wasn’t with the Bucks last season, they would have had to create his uniform this summer, which might explain why it has a patch and his teammates’ uniforms don’t.
#20 by J on 10.23.07 10:59 am |
Hey. Dude’s got a Lions logo in his eye. 4-2! Woo!
When I clicked that link I figured itd be another team. That was a nice surprise.
#21 by Doug on 10.23.07 11:05 am |
Uh, Brady Quinn already wears #10 for the Browns. Player couldn’t get it.
#22 by Brian Baute on 10.23.07 11:08 am |
Looks like I-AA Elon University is wearing jerseys from two different companies this year. All the coaches are wearing Nike gear on the sidelines and players are wearing Nike jerseys on the road but still wearing last year’s Russell jerseys at home. Elon is new with Nike this year, so maybe Nike only provided new road jerseys this year and they’ll do new home jerseys next year.
#23 by Gabe on 10.23.07 11:11 am |
What’s funny about him wearing #5? Am I missing something?
#24 by Marty Met on 10.23.07 11:16 am |
Too bad the Icelanders didn’t go in this direction for their RBK Edge sweaters
#25 by duckstyle187 on 10.23.07 11:23 am |
Why is the number funny for a football player to wear?
#26 by Kevin on 10.23.07 11:24 am |
The shoulder patch on the sweater sort of looks like a lit cigarette.
#27 by NateL on 10.23.07 11:24 am |
Is there a place to get a blank template for jerseys? My summer league baseball team is looking to get new jerseys for next year, with a new color scheme (better than our current forest green and gray) and I want to try to design something. Any help would be awesome!
#28 by Ben Dover on 10.23.07 11:27 am |
Ok, Either you are a chemist, or you were in Mrs Steponovich’s class at BBHS…whom i hated
#29 by Ben Dover on 10.23.07 11:29 am |
#30 by Kevin on 10.23.07 11:36 am |
I know this subject probably wasn’t broached in the interview with Skiba a couple of weeks ago, but what do you figure an NFL equipment manager makes per year?
#31 by Teebz on 10.23.07 11:41 am |
I like it, Marty. I like it a lot.
#32 by Dane on 10.23.07 11:45 am |
“Ben? Victor Hugo. Nice to meet you.” - Fletch
I wonder if Paul will let me get 10^23 as the number on my next membership card…
#33 by marc on 10.23.07 11:48 am |
UNLV does the same thing. no pictures though
#34 by BCrisp on 10.23.07 11:51 am |
I’m not sure how many of you guys care, but we just had a beautiful shuttle launch. This mission will be a culmination of about a years’ work for me.
#35 by Broker75 on 10.23.07 11:52 am |
Few things on the Giants helmets, I find it strangely fascinating the screw used to fasten the cage and rubberized logo has Schutt inscribed on it. Speaking of rubberized logos, did you get your hands on a couple for auction??, those are sweet..And the ball that’s being used, priceless.
#36 by Chance on 10.23.07 11:57 am |
“PLAYER 5″ is the standard default for templates, as seen in the leaked Rays uniforms. It tickled my fancy to see somebody wearing that particular combination on the field.
#37 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 11:57 am |
congrats man! i guess you guys are kinda like major sports coaches… no praise for success and great work, all the blame when things go wrong…
#38 by DRob on 10.23.07 11:59 am |
I’d be surprised if Nike kills off Umbro. Adidas after all did buy Reebok not too long ago, and Reebok still kicking.
BUT, this is Nike we’re talking about…so I could see them killing Umbro off very soon. Euro 08 is this summer, so they’d have to hurry to replace national team kits, but league kits could wait until this summer to be replaced.
#39 by Ryan on 10.23.07 12:04 pm |
Awesome pics and interview w/ Skiba, especially for us Giants fans/equipment enthusiasts. I noticed Pierce and Shockey wearing new helmets during the SF game, Schutt’s w/ angled earholes, so this explains it well. Ask Skiba, if you will, why Eli ditched the Revolution after ‘05 (I heard it was b/c it rode down over his eyes when he got hit) and why Toomer and Jacobs no longer wear the Ion. I bet neither goes back, b/c each have had big games since switching back to more traditional styles.
Jake, I bet you’re thinking of Chris Canty, not DeMarcus Ware. But you did get me thinking:
At some point, is the League going to need to begin to regulate facemask styles? I mean, if guys like Canty, LDT and previously Darrell Russell of the Raiders can pick these outlandish styles, who’s to say, for instance, somebody couldn’t wear a facemask with jagged barbs on it? I’m being admittedly over the top with that example, but I’m surprised, with the minutae regulated by the League, that they don’t mandate a list of approved facemask styles (i.e. NJOP, etc.) and say anything not on the list will get you fined. Also, I’m surprised they allow kickers to have their masks sawn down, because it would seem the edge could be a cut hazard. I’m just sayin… Any thoughts?
#40 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 12:06 pm |
i doubt it. they havent killed off the cole haan, converse, and hurley brands, and the kept bauer as well. in fact its to their benefit to keep the brands in tact.
#41 by Bob Nolte on 10.23.07 12:06 pm |
I saw it on tv. Congrats. Crazy stuff you guys are doing there. I also like the fact that you are on UniWatch so soon after.
#42 by Andy from KC on 10.23.07 12:07 pm |
Holy crap (blame Scott Turner).
AAAAAH!! Must wash eyes! “Holy crap” doesn’t even begin to cover that! Normally, I’m the most laid-back guy ever, but I’d have no choice but to kick the ass of anyone who voluntarily wore something like that. I’d probably preface it with “sorry, but this is for your own good” or something, but still. Jeebus.
#43 by Ryan on 10.23.07 12:08 pm |
Also, if anybody is interested in trading, I have a brand new SB XXXVII (Raiders v. Bucs) game ball and China Bowl (game that never happened this preseason once the NYG/MIA game was announced) ball and always love Giants memorabilia.
#44 by +JohnnyBoy- on 10.23.07 12:17 pm |
I work in an optometry office that sells Nike Vision products, and all of their lenses have that wordmark, along with other descriptors, such as “Nike Max Polarized”, “Nike Max Vision”, etc. In terms of brand-cramming, the Nike frames are the least gaudy items Nike sells. Small swooshes, and very seldom do they say “Nike” on the outside.
#45 by Jeff on 10.23.07 12:24 pm |
Never noticed this before but South Carolina State has 2 different NCAA decals on the back of their helmet! Overkill!
http://www.pbase.com...
#46 by JoeS on 10.23.07 12:32 pm |
Dammit! My computer won’t load the images on that page (firewall?). No fair, I want to have to wash my eyes too!
#47 by Ben Dover on 10.23.07 12:32 pm |
Lady:
#48 by Ben Dover on 10.23.07 12:33 pm |
#49 by Paul Lukas on 10.23.07 12:34 pm |
As I’m sure everyone can imagine, I’m gonna lose a LOT of sleep over that announcement.
#50 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 12:35 pm |
i’ll bet some kid knew his dad was a lifelong niners fan. so he saved all year for christmas to have enough money to buy the (probably) over priced nfl pro line sweater having no idea his dad would wear it only on that christmas day, and only to try it on in front of the family.
#51 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 12:37 pm |
does anyone have a copy, scan, picture or replica of an actual size patch affixed to a pro football hall of fame jacket?
seen here…
http://msnbcmedia.ms...
#52 by Ian K on 10.23.07 12:39 pm |
Part of me wants to make an Aggie joke about working on a shuttle mission but I’m sure you’ve heard it all before. Instead I’ll just offer my congratulations.
#53 by Jake Haseman on 10.23.07 12:40 pm |
You’re right. It is Canty!
#54 by hott rodd on 10.23.07 12:43 pm |
Do you work out of KSC or JSC, BC?
#55 by BCrisp on 10.23.07 12:47 pm |
JSC
#56 by Paul Lukas on 10.23.07 12:47 pm |
Not sure about Eli or Jacobs, but Toomer stopped wearing the Ion because he couldn’t get an Ion-compatible version of his preferred facemask, in titanium. The titanium masks are lighter, and Toomer felt the mask he was using with the Ion was too heavy, especially late in games, when the weight began to become very noticeable to him. Skiba says they hope to get a titanium Ion mask for him later in the season.
#57 by Billy D on 10.23.07 12:51 pm |
I thought I just read an article a few weeks ago saying Nike/Bauer is going out of business. Can’t find it now but Nike/Bauer is dead.
#58 by Kevin on 10.23.07 12:52 pm |
Not to mention all of the money that guy apparently spends on the site. Wow! I hope you don’t go out of business.
#59 by hott rodd on 10.23.07 12:53 pm |
Oh? My uncle actually works out of JSC.. He doesnt work directly for NASA, but for, i think, USA is the company?
Anyway congrats on the successful launch!
#60 by John in Athens on 10.23.07 12:53 pm |
Congratulations.
I wish I could have been back home in New Smyrna Beach to witness the silent spectacle… followed five minutes later by the freight train that roars right through you.
Anyone who ever has a chance to witness a launch, do yourself a favor. It is unlike anything you have ever seen.
And if they still do night launches, to see the night turn into day is mind blowing.
Ummm… and how about them spacesuits, eh?!
#61 by Kevin on 10.23.07 12:58 pm |
Not to be nit-picky, but does a lighter face mask really effect late game performance? “Coach, I would have had that last catch if I could have kept my head up, but this damn mask is weighing me down!” I now have another reason to hate Toomer…the number one reason, of course, being that his name reminds me of cancer.
#62 by Justin on 10.23.07 1:05 pm |
Technically, you’d need 6.28 x 10^23
#63 by Jake Haseman on 10.23.07 1:06 pm |
Good point. LDT’s already looks like it is on its way to be used for stabbing/maiming purposes. Canty’s, on the other hand, looks as if he spent hours in the shop welding on extra bars. I’ve never even seen that one in an equipment store. Why not have standard rules/procedures?
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Ted Ginn. Why wear a kicker’s facemask? If it weren’t for the clear visor, I’d try to punch him in the face at every chance I got as a defender. At least at OSU he wore this one for a short while.
#64 by Chad S. on 10.23.07 1:10 pm |
Last night Quinn Gray, Jacksonville’s back-up QB, came into the first half of last nights game wearing a tinted visor , but came out after the half visor free.
Also, two observations from over the weekend, Todd Sauerbrun of the Broncos utilizes hockey style sock tape.
Also, I do not think I have ever seen a team that places the team nickname in the helmet stripe, until I saw highlights from the Minnesota vs North Dakota State game on Saturday (it says Bison, a little hard to see in the picture, but it is the best i could find).
#65 by hott rodd on 10.23.07 1:12 pm |
6.02 x 10^23
#66 by Trevor Kruger on 10.23.07 1:14 pm |
Yes.
#67 by J.J. Carton on 10.23.07 1:22 pm |
Mole Day=My Birthday!
I love all the Giants talk here, we should make Skiba a regular contributer here at UniWatch.
Just a thought about the new Schutt Helmet, to me the Ion was just a crazy prototype, and the new XP is the refined product that will be the new helmet, they seem very similar without all of the extremes of the ION. To me it just seems like the progression seems like that is where the XP got its inspiration.
#68 by Jerico on 10.23.07 1:26 pm |
Nike IS selling off the Bauer hockey line; it’s one of, if not THE, least moneymaking line in the Nike stable. I do subscribe to the notion that, much like Converse, Nike will keep Umbro up and running. However, don’t be surprised to see the England national team adorned with the swoosh come 2010. It’s been no secret that Nike is trying to become the world #1 in terms of soccer/football.
#69 by Dan on 10.23.07 1:26 pm |
Two things about last night’s Jags/Colts game.
1. A little hosiery malfunction for Reggie Wayne in the 2nd quarter just before halftime. I didn’t notice if it was fixed after halftime, but I would have to assume so.
2. When Quinn Gray came in in the first half for a series or two, he had a dark visor, but when he came out after halftime he was visorless. Unfortunately for the Jags, the newly added vision did not help him see the filed any better.
Couldn’t track down any pictures of this, hopefully someone can help me out with this.
#70 by Justin on 10.23.07 1:27 pm |
You’re right.. my chemistry is a little rusty
#71 by Jerico on 10.23.07 1:27 pm |
Addendum: England currently wears Umbro.
#72 by Rick on 10.23.07 1:27 pm |
So it’s safe to assume the Giants will be wearing their road white/red jerseys in London?
#73 by Cathy on 10.23.07 1:29 pm |
B Crisp..I’m down in Palm Bay, saw the launch…beautiful as usual. Congrats.
#74 by Chance on 10.23.07 1:29 pm |
With the quality of their recent designs, I actually hope this happens.
Better than Adidas.
#75 by klay on 10.23.07 1:31 pm |
i may be wrong but im sure the reason chris canty of the cowboys wears a weird facemask is because a few years ago he had a serious eye injury…and thats prolly why he wears the eyeshield
#76 by Chance on 10.23.07 1:31 pm |
Dolphins are the home team, but why would they wear aqua?
#77 by Tim D on 10.23.07 1:31 pm |
LOL….oh man…that response just cracked me up Good one Paul.
#78 by Kek on 10.23.07 1:33 pm |
I don’t know, I think it is getting old. We all know you hate Nike and you hate purple. It’s kind of like we know that Ann Coulter hates liberals. Maybe it’s time for both of you to move on.
And the comment about money, well, look, you’re running a site that asks for memberships. You’ve done a great job building that roster, but you might have to realize that some people probably didn’t and won’t buy a membership because of these types of things.
Just my two cents, great site and I have some photos I’ll be sending you in the not too distant future.
#79 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 10.23.07 1:42 pm |
membership has never been mandatory.
you can enjoy all the benefits of this blog without having to pay a dime. remember that…
#80 by Zurk on 10.23.07 1:48 pm |
More important is he is the father of Kelly Harmon! (the Tic Tac girl)
#81 by Jake Haseman on 10.23.07 1:50 pm |
That, or you have a lucrative NIKE contract that forces you to say such things.
#82 by Tim D on 10.23.07 1:52 pm |
Won’t buy a membership because Paul hates purple and chooses to point out Nike’s blatent logo usage where it effects the integrety of the uniform?…THAT is kind of what the site is about, isn’t it? Hey I understand what you are saying Kek, but most people just scroll past the subjects or comments that are not interesting to them, and move on to what they do like. I for one have no interest in Soccer uni’s and such…but I have to tell you I have learned a great deal about them from reading some of the comments here from the people who are interested in them. You don’t have to pay a dime to use this site..but I choose to because it gives me real pleasure on a daily basis….So I hope you WILL send in some pictures and contribute what you enjoy…we all will appreciate it as we do Pauls opinions and dislikes..
#83 by Dan on 10.23.07 1:59 pm |
Found some evidence of Quinn Gray’s visor.
with
without
I’m pretty sure I screwed up the links so I will add the addresses.
with: http://scores.espn.g...
without: http://www.colts.com...
#84 by Tom in Baltimore on 10.23.07 2:06 pm |
Here’s hoping that Nike doesn’t do to soccer what they did to hockey.
#85 by John Gabes on 10.23.07 2:07 pm |
Agreed….the Nike thing is completely played out Paul….still love the page though…..
#86 by Ian K on 10.23.07 2:18 pm |
Okay, I’m going to be the Uni Watch Apologetic here. I did purchase a membership, but I also attended a college with a sports team that uses primarily purple as a color. I continue to wear purple to support them.
But here’s my thoughts on the subject of the Nike branding on helmets. the Swoosh branded on the visor clip=a sneakily innovative way to brand your products. I’ll let it slide. But printing an entire website URL on your product?? Unnecessary and hideous.
#87 by Tom in Baltimore on 10.23.07 2:22 pm |
Is it safe to say that Rbk defeated Nike in the realm of hockey?
If so, is this unprecedented? Has the Swoosh ever been driven out of a sport like this?
#88 by Brandon T. on 10.23.07 2:24 pm |
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but Nike isn’t alone in their placing their logo on the visor holders. As far back as I can remember, Oakley has had their “O” logo on the holders also. You can sorta see it in this picture, but just look around at other photos and it’s their.
#89 by JoeS on 10.23.07 2:35 pm |
Of course, anyone can say what they want. That is the beauty of a blog like this. But when I read comments like this one, it sounds to me something like “Hey CNN, the whole politics thing is so played out…” You know what you’re getting when you come to this site: great info about sports uniforms and purple/Nike bashing. No big deal.
#90 by JoeS on 10.23.07 2:39 pm |
Paul/Vince:
Is there a way to have poster’s URIs open in a seperate window like the image links do? I like to check out other people’s websites, but sometimes I forget to right-click and open in new a tab. If possible, I think it would be nice. Thanks for the great site.
#91 by todd krevanchi on 10.23.07 2:45 pm |
shoot, im just waiting for avatars!
#92 by Tod H. on 10.23.07 2:47 pm |
Never. Please, Paul.
#93 by dm00n on 10.23.07 2:55 pm |
Everyone puts their logos on everything these days. I am sure if there were swooshes on those Schutt facemask bolts we’d be groaning at that too. I think what separates Nike from the rest is that they tend to over do it, especially in a sport where players wear a lot of equipment. When a player puts everything on, he is sprinkled head to toe with swooshes (of course Nike would like to sell all those little bits and pieces of gear to every amateur player out there).
Thay have also come up with some of the most ridiculously ugly uniform designs.
#94 by Graf Zeppelin on 10.23.07 3:03 pm |
Saw it live on CNN.com between classes. The Space Shuttle is a beautiful machine. I’ve been a fan since I woke up real early one morning in 5th grade to watch COLUMBIA fly for the first time. That’s great that you get to work so closely with such an amazing program.
Hey, since you’re at NASA and are on the Uni Watch board, I’ve got some questions for you about the shuttles’ markings. Most of these are about COLUMBIA, although I don’t want to open an old wound so if you don’t want to talk about it I’ll understand.
The COLUMBIA shared the same markings as the experimental shuttle ENTERPRISE, specifically the U.S. flag on the left wing, “USA” on the right wing, and the orbiter’s name on the forward end of the payload bay doors. However, when CHALLENGER was completed, the markings were changed to “USA” and the flag on the left wing, the NASA “neon” logo and the orbiter’s name on the right wing, and the orbiter’s name inscribed on the forward fuselage flanking the flight deck windows. DISCOVERY, ATLANTIS and later ENDEAVOUR all shared these markings.
Later, the markings were changed again; the NASA “meatball” logo on the left wing, with the U.S. flag and the orbiter’s name on the right wing. The NASA “neon” logo was also removed from the aft end of the payload bay doors. COLUMBIA was re-marked this way as well to match the other three orbiters.
Now, questions:
- Why the difference in markings between CHALLENGER et seq. and COLUMBIA?
- Why did NASA wait 20 years, until 2001/2002 (prior to what sadly became its next-to-last flight) to change COLUMBIA’s markings to match the others? (I know the wing markings remained the same until then, but I think the name was moved to the forward fuselage at some point in between; if I’m right, when did that happen?)
- Why were the wing markings of ENTERPRISE changed in the 1980s to match those of the later orbiters, but COLUMBIA’s were not? And why was ENTERPRISE’s name not moved to the forward fuselage to also match the others? (ENTERPRISE, on display at the Smithsonian, still has its name on the payload bay doors as it originally did. Yet in the opening credits of the TV show “STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE,” there is a brief shot of the craft with its name on the forward fuselage. Was this real, i.e., did it have the name inscribed there at some point, or was the shot altered?)
Thanks, congrats, and GO DISCOVERY.
#95 by Kek on 10.23.07 3:07 pm |
That, or you have a lucrative NIKE contract that forces you to say such things.
Hardly. Just because I feel the Nike bashing is getting old doesn’t necessarily mean I am defending them as a company. Personally, I think they’ve gotten into some product lines and sports that they’ve had no business getting into.
It’s not that I disagree with Paul all that much, just think it’s played a little.
Is this what it comes down to when you disagree about this topic, that you are accused of being a Nike employee? That’s pretty pathetic. I don’t even work in the same industry as Nike, so you might want to think before you make that kind of assumption.
#96 by Rick on 10.23.07 3:11 pm |
You can sponsor the USC Song Girls! haha
http://www.usc.edu/s...
#97 by Kek on 10.23.07 3:13 pm |