[Editor's Note: Today's entry marks the site debut of new Uni Watch bench coach Bryan Redemske, who's found a uni-related angle on an interesting topic. I'll meet you down at the Ticker. -- PL]
By Bryan Redemske
When schools introduce “creative” new uniforms, some apologist always says, “Yeah, but the kids really like it, so it helps with recruiting.” And sure enough, you can now see that concept — uniforms being used as recruiting tools — playing out in today’s media guides.
Now, back in the dark ages — say, anything before the 1990s — a college sports media guide was just that: a guide, for the media. Every sport at a school had one, and it included basic biographical and statistical information on the team and its players. They were typically digest-sized, contained few pictures, and were almost always boring. But the media needed guidance, and this was where they got it. As a guy who has relied upon a media guide or two in his day, I can attest that having that information handy is a lifesaver.
But then desktop publishing came along, and the internet recruiting boom began. Suddenly, the humble media guide wasn’t just for the media. It became a place to showcase a program’s past — or its goals for the future — complete with slick pages and computerized graphics. Somewhere along the line, football guides became known as media and recruiting guides.
And then things got really nuts. Guides got bigger, shinier, and loaded with more useless crap every year, until Missouri unleashed this thing in 2004. Maybe they’d been emboldened after their 2003 guide was judged the best in Division I-A, or maybe they just got carried away. In any case, the 2004 guide, weighing in at 614 pages and four pounds it was, and still is, the largest media guide in history. Every player, even the redshirt freshmen, was given at least two pages, including a full-body shot, biographical information in large type, and a map showing their hometown.
What’s interesting about all this is the recruiting stuff — specifically, the 26 pages devoted to the team’s equipment. Every item of clothing issued to players is listed, along with the technical description and what appears to be Mizzou’s own indexing number.
For example, after practicing in your Nike Stretch Woven Football Pants, including Dri-Fit 5 Pocket Pro Girdle, wouldn’t it be nice to slip into something more relaxing? Say, the black Varsity Block Survivor Tee, paired with light gray Hail Mary Shorts. Or perhaps the always comfortable Off Tackle Pant and Sueded Microfiber V-Neck? The possibilities are endless — and also slightly ridiculous.
In 2005, the NCAA finally forced media guides to go on a diet, but Mizzou still found plenty of room to tout their uniforms home, road), helmets and facemasks, shoes (and there’s more), T-shirts (more), shoulder pads, gloves, jackets, headwear, off-field clothing, technical apparel, and polo polo shirts.
It’s safe to say that the media has little if any use for this information (well, except maybe for Paul). But it’s an interesting peek into all of the stuff college football players get, and also the lengths schools will go to use their uniforms to sell their program.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Zzzzzzzzz. … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Those Akron uni numbers sure am big. … Kenn Tomasch notes that ECHL officials are wearing a memorial sleeve patch for linesman Ryan Birmingham, who was killed in a car accident last May. … Starting next season, MLB base coaches will have to wear helmets. They’ll also have to sit in child-safety seats when riding to the stadium and hold the manager’s hand when crossing the street. … Kansas is an Adidas school, but apparently Mark Mangino didn’t get the memo (good spot by Alex Chiu). … Interesting find by Jim McCue, who reports that Pepperdine’s practice jerseys have the “NE” printed in a different color — it stands for “no excuses.” … More cool sports-based maps from Bill Turianski here and here (for more, check out his site). … Not a good idea. … Think Oregon has a lot of uni combos? Check out Gateway High, near Pittsburgh, which has worn at least six different looks this season: one, two, three, four, five, six (compiled by Nate Budziszewski) … And while we’re at it, James Robertson reports that the Anchorage Seawolves have five different uniforms: one, two, three, four, five. … Some very odd socks on display at the Iowa State Volleyball Tournament (with thanks to Jesse Gavin). … Terrell Owens has been hit with a towel fine. … You know about old-style “base ball” games with 19th-century rules and attire, but here’s something I hadn’t seen before: a vintage-era basketball cage match, complete with old-school uniforms (with thanks to Black Fives honcho Claude Johnson).
#1 by John O'Hare on 11.09.07 8:54 am |
The Rays’ unis are clean, but look like a high school uni rather than a major league. You were right with your grade of ZZZZZZZZZZ. Hopefully the players will be more exciting than their uniform….BWAH-HA-HA, just couldn’t keep a straight face!
#2 by Chris on 11.09.07 9:01 am |
Missouri mailed their 2005 media guide to me all the way in Massachusetts when I was a junior in high school.
I remember it because they had the entire guide stuffed into an envelope far too small and put what appeared to be an entire book of stamps on it.
#3 by Josh on 11.09.07 9:01 am |
I like the new Rays hats. Since I will be sporting one whenever the Franchise caps come out. Navy and Baby Blue are a match made in heaven. That sunspot thing on the jerseys will haunt my dreams forever.
#4 by dm00n on 11.09.07 9:05 am |
In the Black Fives game, they must have just used off the rack throwbacks, because one team is all number 9 and the other is all number 6.
#5 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:07 am |
Gateway High School is a very good team…Western PA HS football is a thing of beauty…any given friday you’ll find an amazing game within driving distance.
#6 by Robert on 11.09.07 9:09 am |
If Missouri wants to pump so much money and effort into even their reduced-weight model,why don’t they use color photos of the uniforms, equipment and such? Black and white just looks bad.
#7 by ChrisM70 on 11.09.07 9:11 am |
Some talk on the new logo:
http://www.undercons...
#8 by Robert on 11.09.07 9:13 am |
Regarding the photo of the strangely-socked Iowa volleyball players: Why don’t volleyball players wear hi-top shoes?
#9 by Dave on 11.09.07 9:15 am |
Couple things…
First, I’m not one of those people that is always complaining that we focus on sports too much in schools (even though we do..) But man, SIX uniforms for a HIGH SCHOOL team!? That is absolutely outrageous…especially since they look like nice uniforms. Buy a new computer lab or something, jeez.
Secondly, no matter how many jerseys the UAA Seawolves have (I’m from Alaska, we never call them Anchorage by the way)…the UAF Nanooks will always be the better team.
#10 by ScottyJ in WV on 11.09.07 9:15 am |
Today, as a Mountaineer fan, I’m at a loss for words.
Well, except for one maybe……
Blech.
#11 by Joe H on 11.09.07 9:19 am |
I’m soooo mad that I missed all of the great Maryland uni/state flag talk yesterday.
As a MD resident and a Terp (my recent wedding was at the Memorial Chapel on campus) I’m sure I’m biased, but I have always felt the MD flag was a very strong and distinct example of good design.
Normally I would say 4 primary colors for an athletic system is too much, but MD has been lucky to pull them off very cleanly. The key has always been that the only “feature” at most 3 of the colors and then use the 4th as an accent.
That being said I really miss the “checkerboard” trim on the b-ball uni’s (and on the old Nike football unis) and think the backs of the current ones look ridiculous.
I’ve always enjoyed that my Terps had their own identity with their unique uni and trim, and didn’t succumb to the frocks for jocks, but now we are just one of the many that have fallen in line…sad.
#12 by Daniel on 11.09.07 9:22 am |
Perhaps Mangino can’t see the logo on his shoes.
#13 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 9:24 am |
Daniel said:
that’s not the only thing he can’t see below his waist
#14 by Andy--01 on 11.09.07 9:24 am |
That Mangino picture is from November 20, 2004. It was taken at Missouri, and that is the only time he has won in Columbia. While kU was an Addidas school at the time, it’s not exactly a recent picture. Surely he has changed his shoes in the last 3 years.
I guess it’s just that no one paid attention to kU’s football program until now.
#15 by Boston Nick on 11.09.07 9:26 am |
Daniel said:
Damn…beat me to it.
#16 by Dane on 11.09.07 9:27 am |
Redemske, I like ya, kid. Ya got spunk. Ya got moxie. Stick with us at the Daily UniWatch Bugle and you’ll go places. Maybe a Pulitzer. At least a Webby.
What, you still standing there? Go get Mr. Lukas his coffee! Time is money, kid.
(That’s my tongue-in-cheek way of saying welcome aboard, and congrats on an entertaining first entry.)
#17 by Ryne on 11.09.07 9:28 am |
I actually kind of like the West Virginia jerseys. They were much better than the Cal-like look a likes they wore a couple of weeks ago. The yellow on yellow is much better than yellow on blue.
#18 by Jason Axel on 11.09.07 9:28 am |
i love it when teams put out a special “Bowl Edition” of their media guide for a bowl game, which really the only difference is the cover has pictures from the season and like 10 extra pages worth of box scores from the games from the season, yet they reprint the whole damn guide…central michigan did it last year…ive got both, and i honestly think there is maybe 15 extra pages in an already 200 pageish media guide
#19 by xyz on 11.09.07 9:29 am |
Paul,
Have to admit I am liking the red Giants jersey especially with the winged (Michigan style) helmet. Are you still disliking the red Giants jersey after seeing the 1940’s winged helmet that went with it ?
#20 by MichaelM on 11.09.07 9:30 am |
ScottyJ in WV said:
Looked like a Highlighter Factory exploded all over their white unis.
#21 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 9:31 am |
last nights yellow on yellow kept reminding me of this picture.
http://www.thevib.co...
#22 by Justin Barrett on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
Has West Virginia done a yellow helmet before?
#23 by Mike on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
As a WVU grad I am ashamed they wore those uni’s last night…..horrible….just horrible….maybe if they had thought about the fact the lines on the pants did not match the jerseys, a common problem they seem to have had the last couple of years, someone could have waved them off….
#24 by Michael B on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
Does anyone else feel like the Rays new unis make them look like a minor league affiliate of the Yankees???
#25 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
Dane said:
there are no regulations on internet hazing, is there?
#26 by John on 11.09.07 9:38 am |
The new official nickname of the “Rays” is the “Gays”. That logo is terrible and looks like it is trying waaaay too hard to be “happy”! Someone with photoshop skills could easily convert that logo to Gays. I’m guessing that it will be on here by the end of the day!
#27 by scott on 11.09.07 9:39 am |
So MLB mandates helmet wearing for coaches, even though a helmet would have done nothing to save Coolbaugh’s life? Talk about an overreaction.
#28 by Mike on 11.09.07 9:41 am |
John said:
Well that would be just stupid and immature.
I’m straight, by the way.
#29 by Andy--01 on 11.09.07 9:41 am |
It’s a small pick, but the stripes on Mangino’s Addidas shoes are hard to miss.
This shot was taken at the Fort Worth Bowl in Dec. 2005.
#30 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:44 am |
as a follow-up to Western Pa football there’s a big game tonight:
Jeanette and Terrelle Pryor (10-0) are facing Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney’s grandson and Shady Side Academy (9-1) in a playoff game. Wish I was home…i’d go check that out!
#31 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:44 am |
sorry…here’s the link
#32 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:45 am |
ok…i’m failing today
http://www.post-gaze...
#33 by Tony on 11.09.07 9:46 am |
Devil Rays to Rays…Eh eh eh!
Color, color, color where is the color? Where is the originality? The team logo looks good, but it did not translate to the uniform. Has anyone noticed the Rays new uniforms look a lot like the Blue Jays? Rays vs Jays, there is a matchup. Maybe on the same day you will have the Astros vs D-Backs.
We can make new retro looking baseball stadiums with a modern touch that look different from each other, why can’t we do the same for uniforms? Back in the day, not one team looked like another. Uniforms had style, they had simplicity, and all that with a smaller color pallet. Now a days, with computers that can produce millions of new colors, and Hi-Def televisions to show off those colors, we have a lot of teams that look like each other.
Don’t even get me started with 99% of baseball teams using gray for their the away uniforms.
Come on baseball, get with it!!!
#34 by keith on 11.09.07 9:46 am |
Y’know what? I like the Rays home jersey a lot better now that I see it in pictures. The shadowing detail pops the wordmark a lot better, though the Cap logo could be a little more. . .appealing? exciting? And the road jerseys should display the city name, not the team name. They could have done more, but I like that they went with a clean, simple approach. And at least they’re not Civil Rights Game jerseys.
#35 by al on 11.09.07 9:47 am |
Boooo for the Rays … they could have just changed their name and gone with this: http://shop.mlb.com/...
#36 by mg12 on 11.09.07 9:53 am |
As a KU alumni I feel much less intelligent after seeing so many images of Mizzou today.
I have to agree with Andy–01. The picture of Mangino was from 2004, but it was the last year that KU football was outfitted in Nike. You can see that Mangino and his staff are all wearing dark navy, just like the KU uniforms from that year. When KU switched to Adidas for the 2005 season they also modified the blue color that was used. The blue used with Adidas KU jerseys was much lighter. Just as the jersey color was lightened, so were the jackets, sweaters and even Mangino’s patented tent-like vests that the KU staff wore.
#37 by Kenny on 11.09.07 9:53 am |
MichaelM said:
There are some unis that look good only on the fast guys and there are some that look good on the fat guys
These look good on nobody
And L’ville (stupid by the way put UL or something) – you are the Cardinals. Yes there is black, but it is not a dominant color – i’m just sayin
#38 by Bryan Redemske on 11.09.07 9:54 am |
Robert said:
NCAA rules say you can only have color on the front and back covers, as well as on the inside of the front and back covers. That’s it.
Dane said:
Sir, Mr. Lukas doesn’t like coffee. I mailed him a Diet Coke yesterday, though.
And thanks. Glad to be here.
#39 by John on 11.09.07 9:56 am |
Mike said:
gay /geɪ/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[gey] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb
–adjective 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
#40 by College Kid on 11.09.07 9:57 am |
RE: Protective headwear for base coaches.
I’m for it. Something simple won’t detract from the game. In 1907 the first batting helmet was created after people were hit in the head (not killed, but injured) but were not mandatory in MLB until 1971. This was only after many years of many players being hospitalized from pitches to the head. Only one baseball player died directly as a result of being hit in the head (in 1920). I’m sure the batting helmet was despised and hated when first made mandatory as well, but 36 years later and you can’t begin to imagine what the game would be like without batting helmets.
#41 by Joemanji on 11.09.07 9:57 am |
No “Tampa Bay” on either road or home- they’re moving within the next few years. I’d put money on it. And did they get rid of the vest? It sort of seems like they’re attempting to emulate the Yankees unis (without the pinstripes). There are more Yankee fans in the Tampa area than Rays fans, so it’d sort of make sense?
#42 by dm00n on 11.09.07 9:59 am |
Heh, rumors are swirling that Georgia has black jerseys for this weekend.
#43 by Rick on 11.09.07 10:01 am |
Not uni related, but sports related, and odd….
http://sports.espn.g...
#44 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:02 am |
Hey, if anyone is in Pittsburgh, stop by and check this out:
dm00n said:
If you read the article, it sounds like there will be tons of good stuff there.
#45 by al on 11.09.07 10:03 am |
xyz said:
Amen ! That picture is my new desktop background. Ol’ No. 7 was the Butkus of his time! I wish I could locate this type of football jersey, so much better than the bloated ones available to the public now. if anyone knows a decent site to find these please give a shout out.
#46 by Johnny O on 11.09.07 10:06 am |
Does anyone know if the Golden Gophers will have special uniforms for next weeks boarder battle against Wisconsin? I had heard on here a few months ago they might go all maroon? Or will they go with the urine soaked unis again?
#47 by al on 11.09.07 10:06 am |
John said:
I don’t think you’ll see that happen as this site is a PC zone. Try elsewhere.
#48 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:08 am |
Besides losing the names on their jerseys, Colorado has banned headbands.
#49 by Stuby on 11.09.07 10:10 am |
If the “Rays” were going to recycle another team’s unis, they should have gone with these. That would’ve been cool and distinct.
#50 by Eriq Jaffe on 11.09.07 10:13 am |
Maybe it’s just the photography, but the button placard on the Rays’ home jersey seems about 8 shades whiter than the surrounding jersey. The same effect can be seen on the road jerseys, but it’s not quite as pronounced.
#51 by Anthony Verna on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
I think the phenomenon of desktop publishing is not limited to these media guides.
I think it’s also in law. Speaking to older lawyers, they shake their heads about document discovery today and very long judicial opinions (just to name two issues that have become more complex more easily).
#52 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
Eriq Jaffe said:
The white fabric overlaps there. On the rest of the jersey the dark blue undershirt can be seen through the thin white jersey, darkening it some.
#53 by Rick on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
Johnny O said:
Minnesota shouldn’t even waste the money on different jerseys this year. They’ve been one of the biggest disgraces in college football this year. A record of 1-9 and loses to Bowling Green, North Dakota State, and Florida Atlantic, to name a few!
#54 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:19 am |
Other Colorado basketball news:
dm00n said:
#55 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:22 am |
Allegedly, Chase Daniel’s recruitment to Mizzou was partly due to the media guide. He said that he liked how it showed everything the players got, and how they did a great job showcasing the players and the program.
#56 by Tim on 11.09.07 10:22 am |
RE: High school uni combos.
I wish i could find the link, but Massillon (OH) Washington High School wore 9 different uni combinations a few years ago.
They had white, black and organge jerseys and white, black and orange pants…..that’s 9 different combos, they repeated a combo for their 10th and final game.
#57 by Mike on 11.09.07 10:24 am |
John said:
Well duh, obviously gay means that too. But do you really think that anyone that is gonna satirize the Ray’s jersey in that way is gonna be thinking of gay in the “happy” term?
#58 by Adam on 11.09.07 10:25 am |
Joemanji said:
I doubt it, since they apparently have a pretty iron-clad lease. And even if they were moving, I doubt that the lack of city on the uniform would have anything to do with it. If they ever did move, I’d bet they’d totally change the name, why would they want to be associated with the horrible past that franchise has had?
#59 by The Ol Goaler on 11.09.07 10:26 am |
Not uni-related, but I think I spotted an error on the floor of the “cage” basketball game… if memory serves, the “three-second” lane was only three feet wide “back in the day”, widening to a “jump circle” centered on the free-throw line. The result looked like an old-fashioned keyhole, and was called “The Key”. So a player standing directly in front of the basket beyond the free-throw circle (about 20 feet out) was said to be standing “at the top of the key”; a phrase I’ve heard used by broadcasters to this day!
The lane was widened with the advent of athletic “big” men; George Mikan of DePaul (and later the Lakers) being the most notable. The “cage” match shown today was played with a standard high school/college “lane”.
#60 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:28 am |
Dave said:
The high school I played for, Lake Highlands High School in Dallas TX, had more uniform combos than that. We had red white and black jerseys, two pairs of white pants, two pairs of silver pants, black pants, and red pants, and red white and black socks. thats a total of 54 possible uni combinations. That was 2003. I think they have added more possibilities to that now… so who knows how many they have now…
#61 by Kevin on 11.09.07 10:33 am |
Kevin said:
Guys — really, really love the site. But is it really necessary to mock the new helmet rule? I’m sure Mike Coolbaugh’s widow and two sons wish the rule had been instituted years ago.
I know you’re just trying to make a joke — but I’ve seen this kind of sentiment elsewhere, and it’s baffling. When did protecting yourself (even if it’s just with a lined or hard cap) become something to be mocked?
#62 by Anthony Verna on 11.09.07 10:35 am |
The Ol Goaler said:
You, sir, are 100% correct.
#63 by Kevin on 11.09.07 10:39 am |
Kevin said:
I think it has to do with the fact that even with a helmet Coolbaugh wwould still have died. He was hit at the base of his skull and the helmet doesn’t protect that area.
#64 by Jeff on 11.09.07 10:42 am |
Hmm… not sure what happened to my post that had pics of Kansas Nike and non-Nike. As mentioned above they switched from Nike to Adidas sometime in 2005. That’s why the picture of Mangino is with the “coal miner’s blue” that was used on the football uniforms. The switch to Adidas lead to the NY Giant unis they have now.
The pictures showed the Nike basketball unis in the 04-05 season and the non Nike ones in the 05-06 season.
#65 by Kyle O. on 11.09.07 10:43 am |
I wonder f the Alaska Hockey team has so many different uniforms for laundry purposses. I would assume there are many long road trips where facilities might not be readily available. That would seem to be the only functional purpose of that many unis
#66 by Jonathan on 11.09.07 10:49 am |
I have to agree with Mike…kind of a tasteless attempt at humor with the new helmet rule. This isn’t babying base coaches, this is protecting their lives.
#67 by Chance on 11.09.07 10:51 am |
Kevin said:
Bingo. It’s an empty gesture.
#68 by Kenny on 11.09.07 10:53 am |
I do enjoy the new TB hats though…but I kinda have a thing for navy hats
#69 by Frank Mercogliano on 11.09.07 10:55 am |
Regarding that media guide (which as someone who writes them, I do know about them), Bryan is right in the that they have to be black and white on the inside, although Division II can have color.
I was the contest coordinator for the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) publications contest, and in 2004, I ran the football one (Oklahoma was the big winner I believe). When those Missouri things showed up we just laughed…first of all, I couldn’t believe they had won the thing the year before, but the excess actually pissed me off. It is because of stupid things like that that we now have the 208-page rule, which is sort of asinine anyways because now you get crap pulled like at Texas A&M last year (and I love those guys….this was a basketball coaching thing), where they put out a 208-page “Media Guide” that is so full of nothing and is totally about recruiting, and then the print a more compact version of the guide with no cover, that is 188 pages and is on a keychain-type thing as “an addendum”. Way to get around the rule.
Anyways, that Missouri thing didn’t even finish top 40, and if I remember, Fresno State’s book was like 140 pages (tiny compared to the others) and finished like 11th.
Frank
#70 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:58 am |
I found the uni combos for LH this year… and its not complete because its only from 8 of the games…
red and white
white on white
white on black
red on black
I know for a fact that they have a black jersey hidden somewhere in the closet because its a tradition dating back to the 80s. Also the JV wore the red pants for some of their games see here so I know they have those too.
#71 by Kek on 11.09.07 11:00 am |
Dave said:
Regarding Gateway, i don’t think they’re taking any money away from other programs in the school. From what I gather it’s a great facility. Speaking of facility, check out their stadium: http://www.gatewayga...
yeah, it’s a pretty good year for HS football, even by the high standards of western PA. Pryor is the #1 recruit in the country. Lots of good games this year.
i live in west mifflin and two of the teams featured in those gateway slides (Norwin and Mckeesport) are playing each other at the local stadium. they said on the news they are expecting a huge crowd so if you don’t need to drive near the field, don’t!
#72 by Cosmo Kramer on 11.09.07 11:08 am |
Good observation on the requirement of base coaches to wear helmets. Unfortunately, a helmet would not have saved Mike Coolbaugh’s life. He was struck in the neck,below the ear, causing a ruptured artery and ultimately, his tragic death.
Note:
http://sport.moldova...
The Pulaski County (Ark.) Coroner says Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh died from a ruptured artery that caused a loss of blood to his brain.
He was struck in the left side of the neck below his ear by a line drive during Sunday’s game against Arkansas. The force of the blow caused an artery to burst.
Baseball should require a suit of armor if they want to prevent such tragedies…
#73 by tim on 11.09.07 11:11 am |
love the rays jerseys..very classic
#74 by Josh on 11.09.07 11:16 am |
The Rays are not moving. They are locked into a lease. They took out Tampabay on the jerseys because Stenberg wants the entire central florida area to identify with the team. It is a marketing strategy. Not one I am a fan of, but one none the less.
#75 by Jason Axel on 11.09.07 11:18 am |
Article from the (Devil) Rays website about how the committe that made the uniforms loves them…including their work with MLB about making sure their design and color scheme were “unique” in baseball. Zzzzzzzzzzz
#76 by Wes Covington on 11.09.07 11:22 am |
So what does the nature of Mike Coolbaugh’s death have to do with whether or not a base coach should wear protective headgear?
The helmets will provide a modicum of protection as opposed to what they have now. Which is none.
Baseball knows it can’t come up with a foolproof plan that will protect against every injury, but there are at least some kinds they know they can avoid. And to say that coaches shouldn’t wear a helmet because it isn’t sartorially correct is akin to people who don’t wear seat belts in cars because they wrinkle their clothes.
#77 by John on 11.09.07 11:25 am |
Charlie said:
Everyone says there state has the greatest high school football. But nothing can compare with western PA. Its just not football if your in the playoffs and it isnt 30 degrees. Rivalries run so deep that you hate people that went to that school fifteen years after you graduated just because it has always been that way. When you walk off the field with tears of happiness (or frustration) freezing to your face you know you have played western pennsylvania high school football.
#78 by David Potter on 11.09.07 11:27 am |
“Coolbaugh was struck in the neck by a line drive during a minor league game.” So how does wearing a helmet make a difference…he still would have died. Pay attention
#79 by jere on 11.09.07 11:30 am |
Tony said:
I agree with what you’re saying about the uniforms, but I’ve been sick of these stadiums for years now. I call them “the new cookie cutters.” In the 60s/70s, the “new” stadiums they were building were thought to be cool, too. That’s why every team started copying them. It took a while before they realized the mistake they’d made.
Let’s just say if Camden Yards was the Ramones, the new Oakland A’s field is even worse than Green Day–more like Blink-182. (Are we still making fun of them? If not, insert 2007’s top pop-punk-for-kids band.) As much as I like old-style parks (I am a Red Sox fan, after all), I’m just waiting for a team to break this new mold everybody seems to be locked into.
#80 by TOG on 11.09.07 11:32 am |
Article from the (Devil) Rays website about how the committe that made the uniforms loves them…including their work with MLB about making sure their design and color scheme were “unique” in baseball. Zzzzzzzzzzz
Yeah, say “Rays” to me and I think navy blue?
Rays conjures a lot of great bright color options yellow, gold, orange complimented by royal blue, sky blue, etc.
And Tropicana Field, the dark gross domed abyss that it is could be re-energized by some bright, hot color palette.
Instead we get the San Diego Padres (sans khaki)?
Too bad. Bland is NOT beautiful.
And man you should have seen the outtakes. Sweet.
Oh well. Design Committees = Boredom.
#81 by Ronnie Poore on 11.09.07 11:32 am |
regarding those Pepperdine practice unis…who came up with their wordmark? looks like it should be read “PEPPER)INE”
#82 by Andy on 11.09.07 11:39 am |
Did anyone notice how multiple Chicago Fire players were wearing Under Armour under their jerseys last night? Does that violate Adidas’ contract with MLS? This isn’t the best photo ever:
http://web.mlsnet.co...
#83 by Bill on 11.09.07 11:41 am |
My roommate at Mizzou played football. While he had a lot of the shirts/pants/jackets that were in the media guide, he said he probably had about 1/5 of what was featured in the media guide.
On a sidenote, Mizzou plays a “Gold Rush” and a “Blackout” game every year. For the past 3 years I’ve heard rumors that MU was going to come out wearing All-Gold unis for the “Gold Rush” game. My roommate told me last year they were fitted for new jerseys after their original fitting in the off-season apparently for the purpose of an All-Gold uniform. He says they never received the jerseys for whatever reason.
#84 by Shaftman on 11.09.07 11:43 am |
re: Ray’s Uni’s
The new uni’s are not ugly. They are boring in the sense that much more could be done with them. I just don’t understand change for the sake of change. IMHO the (now) defunct uni’s represented the most underappreciated design in the majors. They were sweeeet and there was no reason to make an “upgrade”. I’m sure they could have shortened the team name and still kept the previous template (my apologies for the size).
Methinks that it might have had something to do with increasing revenue.
#85 by Ed R. on 11.09.07 11:50 am |
dm00n said:
My cousin took me to that museum last time I was in Pittsburgh. Definitely some interesting uni-related items including lots of high school football helmets.
#86 by Moose on 11.09.07 11:52 am |
Kevin said:
While I agree in some respects, didn’t Coolbaugh get hit in the face and not the head? Would a helmet have made a difference in that situation?
#87 by Rick on 11.09.07 11:53 am |
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but Don Mattingly will be wearing #8 next year for the Dodgers. He obviously wanted #23, but Derek Lowe currently has that number. He said he chose number 8 to honor Yogi Berra…..
#88 by Adam on 11.09.07 11:54 am |
David Potter said:
The thing is, even though the helmet wouldn’t have helped him, this made people realize “wow, coaches can get hit in the head by a ball”. Once they realized that, they wanted to do something about it. Why wait until somebody IS hit in the head? Will people change their minds if some coach is hit in the helmet in the next few years?
#89 by Pat on 11.09.07 11:58 am |
I have mixed feelings about the Rays new uniforms. On one hand, there isn’t enough going on. But on the other hand, it’s nice that there isn;t much going on. The road grays really bug me. Something about a darkish gray with navy blue as the other predominant color just screams blah. I may have gone with a secondary logo for the grays that is heavy on the light blue color and was just 1 or 2 letters (TB maybe) or was a small graphic symbol (something with that sunburst or the ray itself) and put it on the left chest of the jersey.
The biggest problem I have with the jerseys however, is a problem they had with these. I can’t stand the way the buttons go right through the middle of the ‘A’. And the same thing is happening with the new jerseys. Problem with that is obvious. It doesn’t result in a repeating leter, like with the Phillies or the Diamondbacks but still looks dumb. To me, a the seam for the buttons should not interrupt your logo or wordmark. It should be split letters like the Red Sox have or should have the logo on the chest like the yankees and tigers have.
I feel like this could have been fixed on the new Rays jerseys and they failed to do so.
#90 by Cy on 11.09.07 12:03 pm |
Mike said:
You should indeed be ashamed.
You should be ashamed that you don’t know the history of your school’s football team. The Mountaineers used to wear the gold-on-gold regularly for big games throughout their history. (this would be back in the pre-Flying WV days) (yes, there were pre-Flying WV days)
#91 by Big L on 11.09.07 12:04 pm |
Basketball cage match?! Awesome! Too bad it The Malice in the Palace couldn’t take advantage of that throwback
#92 by Perry on 11.09.07 12:05 pm |
Adam said:
I think after 130+ years of professional baseball, people knew coaches could be hit. This is purely an empty PR move to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
#93 by Adam on 11.09.07 12:13 pm |
Perry said:
I knew somebody would say something like this. Yes, obviously if people thought about it, they’d know coaches could be hit, but I’m sure nobody did. This forced people to think about it. I hardly think it’s a PR move – why would GMs care about the general public relations of major league baseball? I’m sure they just want to do everything they can within reason to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’ll look weird for a few weeks and then everybody will get used to it, like happens with every change like this. If it saves one life 25 years from now, it was a good change.
#94 by Big L on 11.09.07 12:18 pm |
Wes Covington said:
Helmets will help, but they won’t always provide 100% protection
#95 by Johnny O on 11.09.07 12:19 pm |
Rick said:
9 times out of 10 players in any league choose a number because they are honoring a former player, or someone they idolize. But my question is back in the day, why did certain athletes choose certain numbers? Or better yet most baseball players didn’t have a choice because their number was based on their batting position. I think it would be cool to compile a list of old school athletes and why they chose their numbers.
#96 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 12:21 pm |
a. anyway we can agree to disagree on the base coach helmet decision and how it relates to the coolbaugh death and move on?
b. “…is even worse than Green Day”
“1039…” and “kerplunk” are two great albums. green day will always be one of my fave all time bands.
c. “Everyone says there state has the greatest high school football. But nothing can compare with western PA. Its just not football if your in the playoffs and it isnt 30 degrees. Rivalries run so deep that you hate people that went to that school fifteen years after you graduated just because it has always been that way. When you walk off the field with tears of happiness (or frustration) freezing to your face you know you have played western pennsylvania high school football.”
its the same way here on the eastern side of pa too. and im sure its like that in ohio, florida, texas, california and any other state with a “big high school football” reputation.
#97 by Stan aka the took on 11.09.07 12:29 pm |
My mission for today is to run out and get a devils rays hat before they take them off the shelves completely.
The Rays look exactly like my old high school team. We’re the John Bowne Wildcats and our unis we’re pretty close to what the Rays have for at least the 3 seasons I was on the team.
Now we can say that that the uniforms are just as bad as the players wearing them (save for a very select few)… that’s the circle of life as the monkey in the lion king would say.
#98 by Bob Nolte on 11.09.07 12:37 pm |
ChrisM70 said:
From that Site…
Adam’s comment is:
First the Diamondbacks now the Devil Rays. If the Rockies change to the ubiquitous red or blue there will be no more purple or teal, people are no fun anymore.
I don’t think he was joking…
#99 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:38 pm |
dm00n said:
Here is what Georgia should look like tomorrow against Auburn.
http://bp3.blogger.c...
#100 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:39 pm |
Here is what Georgia should look like tomorrow…
#101 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:39 pm |
#102 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:40 pm |
http://bp3.blogger.c...
#103 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:42 pm |
Here’s another Georgia pic
http://docgoku.com/f...
#104 by Joemanji on 11.09.07 12:43 pm |
Good thing they changed their name to the Rays to represent the Sunshine State- considering they play in a DOME! It must be difficult to play for a team that God hates.
#105 by dm00n on 11.09.07 12:44 pm |
Ian said:
When I played we had a dark jersey, a light jersey, a practice jersey, game pants and practice pants.
I don’t know how old our uniforms were, but our JV squad wore uniforms that my cousin wore as a varsity player 12 years before.
Shortly afterwards my school changed their uniform colors. We had white pants with red and blue stripes and red and white jerseys. Our helmets were white with red stripes and a red block B. The next time I saw the team they had a blue helmet, blue pants and blue jerseys.
Big L said:
The heel of his bat looks bigger than the ball.
#106 by Tim on 11.09.07 12:45 pm |
RE: Gateway fans….
How’d that game against Youngstown (OH) Cardinal Mooney go?
Ohio football is right up there with Texas, Cal. and Florida, and i’d dare say on par with anything Pa. puts out.
#107 by Mets Fan in Chicago on 11.09.07 12:47 pm |
Robert said:
As a club-level player for almost 20 years, I can safely say that a high-top shoe would probably be a good idea (I wear a mid-cut shoe myself), as opposed to low-cut shoes with the ankle stabilizer/protector thing-a-ma-jig. I’ve seen WAY too many people dislocate their ankles by landing awkwardly after jousts at the net. Maybe it’s a concern about the overall weight of the shoe that leads to the use of the low-cut shoe, but I can’t imagine those anle protectors are THAT lightweight. Just my $ 0.02
Ditto on the cool socks, though
#108 by dm00n on 11.09.07 12:51 pm |
Brazil celebrated getting the 2014 World Cup with some giant jerseys.
#109 by Robert on 11.09.07 12:52 pm |
Adam said:
In order to provide 100% assurance that no player, coach, umpire or fan is ever hurt or killed by a baseball, the only reasonable thing to do is shut down MLB altogether.
#110 by KW on 11.09.07 12:57 pm |
So if base coaches are required to wear helmets out of safety why shouldnt umpires be required to do the same?
Extreme over reaction made in an extremely over reactionary world…same over reaction has caused New York to go back to wood bats for High School teams.
#111 by Justin B on 11.09.07 12:59 pm |
Charlie said:
Lot’s of Pittsburgh noise on here today. I have to comment on the Gateway Unis (Gateway Alumn here). They are pushing the limits on the ridiculous Oregon trend. Also, I’m glad to see my tax money is hard at work getting the Gators a different Uni for every game.
#112 by Pat on 11.09.07 1:00 pm |
Pat said:
That’s the way Sammy Sosa has always done it.
#113 by Pat on 11.09.07 1:04 pm |
KW said:
I don’t know if I would call the move from aluminum to wood an over reaction. I may just call it a smart move.
#114 by jere on 11.09.07 1:05 pm |
“b. “…is even worse than Green Day”
“1039…” and “kerplunk” are two great albums. green day will always be one of my fave all time bands.”
But do you see where they fit into the “punk spectrum”? That’s the comparison I was making with ballparks. You’ve got the original, then the the followers, then the copycats, then the wannabes, then the “invented by a record label executive to cash in”s, etc. Not to say the Ramones themselves didn’t have their influences…. just like Camden was based on the original parks…
#115 by jere on 11.09.07 1:16 pm |
Okay, for Green Day fans: Fenway Park was to “At the Library” as Camden Yards was to “Longview.” and that new A’s park with be that “Time of Your Life” song. How’s that?
#116 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 1:21 pm |
KW said:
First and third-base umpires (in a 4-man crew) stand well behing the base at the corner of the infield and in 95% of the cases have ample opportunity to react to even hard-hit foul balls. The base-coaches are probably 25 feet closer to the batter and their reaction time is far less.
I’m really struggling with the notion that this is an overreaction or “a P.R. move”. This in no way affects the “integrity of the game”. It doesn’t change the rules and the base coaches are, at BEST, peripheral parts of the game. It also doesn’t give two young boys (and a third on the way) their father back, a wife her husband back or in any way reverse the tragedy that happened that night in Tulsa.
What is does do, is recognize that any athletic contest, professional or amateur, contact sport or or non-contact sport has built into it an inherent amount of risk. It is the job of a governing organization, whether it be MLB or the NY State High School Athletic Association, to protect its constituents and members from that risk to the best of their power.
Making base coaches wear helmets or high school baseball players use wood bats won’t bring Mike Coolbaugh back. But it might save the life of someone else, maybe someone you love.
#117 by Robb on 11.09.07 1:21 pm |
I was just curious, I havent been online lately, but I noticed in the Giants article (about the red jerseys yesterday) that the NFL requires that the alternate uniforms allowed cannot use pieces of the modern uniforms, that they must reflect the throwback uniform in entirety. Then why are the Steelers allowed to wear black facemasks and the current “Steelers” decal instead of the proper “Steel” decal and gray facemasks?
#118 by Philly Bill on 11.09.07 1:22 pm |
Regarding the base coaches’ helmet issue, which is quickly devolving into a fiasco here:
There is a reasonable chance that wearing a helmet may have saved Coolbaugh’s life insofar as, if you’re wearing a helmet and you see a ball coming at your head, and you have only a fraction of a second to react, you’ll turn your head so the ball will hit the helmet. Anyone who’s ever stood in a batter’s box knows this. Even on TV, you can clearly see this effect at work any time a pitch comes in toward a batter’s head.
We’re dealing in fractions of a second here, obviously, but it takes less time to turn your head or tilt your neck down than it takes to move your entire head out of the way.
#119 by ScottyJ in WV on 11.09.07 1:22 pm |
Cy said:
Bad idea then, bad idea now.
#120 by Kek on 11.09.07 1:29 pm |
Justin B said:
I wonder if this will do anything to curb all these uni combos:
Especially this part:
Changes in the football game jersey specifications that were approved last year for implementation in 2010 were revised slightly this year, and the implementation date was moved back to 2012. The revised rule will still require the visiting team’s game jerseys to be white and contrast with the home team’s jersey.
Maybe if teams are forced to sport white at home, the athletic departments won’t be all about buying several color jerseys. A lot of these trends have to do with teams using colored jerseys on the road and at home (like gold, yellow, etc) but you’re seeing other shades too. In PA, you’re seeing contrasting colors. This I don’t have a problem with.
For instance, my alma mater, Johnstown, uses a black jersey at home and a light blue on the road. However, we don’t have a white jersey at. Just the two, but this new rule would affect us and force us to go back to using a traditional white jersey.
I think contrasting colors are OK, I’d love to see a USC/UCLA game with both teams in their proper jerseys but by forcing the white rule, I guess you’ll always be guaranteed some sort of contrast.
To your original point about Gateway, at least they only have the one helmet!!!!
#121 by Rick on 11.09.07 1:29 pm |
Rick said:
If he choose 8 to honor Yogi then Mattingly goes to the top of my respect list!
#122 by Chance on 11.09.07 1:33 pm |
GoTerriers said:
Making Mike Coolbaugh wear a helmet wouldn’t have saved his life. He was struck in the neck.
This is a “solution” to a non-existent problem.
#123 by Rick on 11.09.07 1:37 pm |
Chance said:
Geez folks! it’s just a helmet instead of a hat. The way y’all are going on you’d think they were letting the pitchers pick someone else to bat for them.
#124 by J-P on 11.09.07 1:37 pm |
adidas’ Sports Licensed Division announced today that they have bought out Mitchell & Ness.
#125 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 1:44 pm |
Chance said:
I think you’ve misinterpreted my point. I understand that Mike Coolbaugh’s death wouldn’t have been prevented by wearing a helmet. That point has been made by the coroner’s office and by countless people here in the comments section over the last 2 days. However, someone else’s death could be prevented in the future at little expense and with a transparent effect on the game itself. I still need someone to explain to me how that is a bad thing.
#126 by Paul Lukas on 11.09.07 1:46 pm |
J-P said:
Details here.
Bit of a surprise, because I had heard M&N would be purchased by Nike. But maybe I just got my gossip mixed up.
#127 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 1:49 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
Doesn’t seem like Nike would be a good fit. How could you include a swoosh on a piece of “Authentic” vintage apparel?
#128 by patrick on 11.09.07 1:52 pm |
Charlie said:
Many a friend went to Shady Side Academy… one of the best school names out there
#129 by patrick on 11.09.07 2:01 pm |
John said:
You’re right, it never gets 30 degrees in november other than western pennsylvania
#130 by TimInGA on 11.09.07 2:04 pm |
I a big UGA fan. I noticed earlier this year that a black replica jersey was available in their on-line store. This wasn’t there last year and created alot of speculation among my friends. We figured they were going to break them out this year.
Replica from UGA site
#131 by Pat on 11.09.07 2:17 pm |
GoTerriers said:
I think this is WORSE than Nike acquiring M&N. Nike may put it’s swoosh everywhere. It’s been well documented on this site. But I find the way adidas puts it’s 3 stripe thing EVERYWHERE to be worse than a small swoosh on a garment. I don’t feel like looking for a picture right now but check out the NBA warm ups. Three stripes on the neck, three stripes down the sleeves on some of them as well as the logo in a few other places. Last year’s All-Star game uniforms had the three stripes down the sides. Adidas college basektball programs get the three stripes all the way down the sides.
I find adidas’ branding to be much more annoying. I would hope they wouldn’t ruin the M&N product by putting their logo on it anywhere but you never know.
#132 by u2horn on 11.09.07 2:22 pm |
Lake Highlands sucks.
Go Rams!
#133 by scott on 11.09.07 2:31 pm |
So what does the nature of Mike Coolbaugh’s death have to do with whether or not a base coach should wear protective headgear?
The helmets will provide a modicum of protection as opposed to what they have now. Which is none.
I hope MLB will ban players from driving vehicles because Josh Hancock was killed while driving one.
Geez, Don Zimmer got nailed in the head a few years back while sitting on the bench. Why didn’t MLB mandate all people on the bench have to wear helmets then?
I think my gripe with this rule is why should it be mandated? The only reason MLB would want to mandate it is for the publicity. Coaches are grown men who can make their own decisions. Maybe they should be put in steel cages after the bat hit Tommy Lasorda while he coached third in the 2001 All Star Game?
#134 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 2:33 pm |
jere said:
im more of a “going to pasalauqua” fan myself jere!
todd krevanchi said:
just trying to reiterate the above.
Chris in Nashville said:
im guessing that georgia will come out for warmups in their standard jerseys and then when they come out for the game, they will be in black.
#135 by dm00n on 11.09.07 2:34 pm |
Sabres uni mock-up. Looks good.
dm00n said:
#136 by bmarlowe on 11.09.07 2:35 pm |
KW said:
_____
Because base coaches in particular sometimes are not looking at the batter when the ball is pitched.
#137 by bmarlowe on 11.09.07 2:39 pm |
Chance said:
___
Your “logic” amazes me. We should wait for a coach to be hit in the head – then it would be a problem.
#138 by Moose on 11.09.07 2:39 pm |
todd krevanchi said:
I’m fairly sure its the same anywhere…doesn’t matter if you have a “big state football” reputation. Rilvaries are rivalries–sports are sports.
#139 by Mark on 11.09.07 2:47 pm |
Based on the prevalent logic against the base coaches wearing helmets…
I should take the airbags out of my car since I have never had a head on collision. And, some people have been killed in accidents where even an airbag would not have saved their lives.
I hope none of you take your airbags out of your car based on this “logic.”
#140 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 2:47 pm |
did you just question my fanhood in front of the ladies?
#141 by Moose on 11.09.07 2:50 pm |
patrick said:
Except maybe in any state located north of pennsylvania. I count approximately 18 of them.
#142 by College Kid on 11.09.07 2:50 pm |
Bill said:
I work in a collegiate Equipment Room…the players really only get, like you said, about 1/5 of the gear shown in that guide. The polos, jackets, hats, gloves, shirts, etc., are things that the equipment staff, coaches, and trainers receive. Most of the t-shirts, off-field gloves, jackets, headwear, polos, and off-field attire are things the players will never wear.
#143 by Joey Guns on 11.09.07 2:59 pm |
Speaking of Jeanette and Terrelle Pryor, has anyone got an inside track as to what college he plans on attending this year? I can see him going to Ohio State, personally, but I hope it doesn’t happen…..
#144 by Broker75 on 11.09.07 3:03 pm |
The Rays new Zzzzzzzzz’s, whoa I dozed off there for a sec. Anyways, an empty dull dark stadium which interfere’s in play once in a while combined with those new Zzzzzzzzz’s..snort..damn! forget it, I give up. One more thing, this team/franchise does not belong in MLB.
#145 by DenverGregg on 11.09.07 3:05 pm |
Chance said:
I’m kind of sorry to post this for the dozenth time, but Coolbaugh isn’t necessarily the reason for coaches wearing batting helmets.
Glenallen Hill, Rockies 1b coach, has consistely worn a helmet this past season, even before the Coolbaugh incident. I was at the March 9 spring training game at Seattle’s complex in Peoria, Az, where he got nailed in the head (wearing a cap). It made an impression on everyone there. He was on the ground for quite a while and the crowd was visibly relieved when he finally got up and off the field. IIRC Hill got a relatively serious concussion.
Sure, a helmet would not have helped Coolbaugh, who was hit in the neck. From Hill’s standpoint, it’s a solution to an actual problem.
#146 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 3:08 pm |
these pics of alternate pants worn by georgia were posted in august.
im really a fan of the red, but i like the black just the same!
http://farm3.static....
http://farm3.static....
#147 by Kevin on 11.09.07 3:21 pm |
todd krevanchi said:
When did the Dawgs last wear the red pants? That pic shows their new jersey they started wearing just a few years ago but I don’t remember them wearing red pants.
#148 by Robert on 11.09.07 3:21 pm |
Mark said:
First, let me say that my position is that the coaches should wear helmets, body armor or whatever they want, but it should be their option.
That said, your comparison makes no sense. While you may not have been killed in a car wreck, 25,000 people a year are. No professional base coach has ever been killed by being hit in the head with a batted ball.
#149 by Chance on 11.09.07 3:21 pm |
GoTerriers said:
It’s a bad thing because it wastes time on a problem that doesn’t exist.
We could prevent fans from being killed by requiring them to wear helmets at all time during the games. Or, since somebody was once hurt this way, we should mandate that all fans in upper decks be forced to wear tethers so that, in the event they trip and stumble over the edge, they will not fall on the people below.
We could eliminate most traffic fatalities by restricting the top speed of automobiles to 20mph.
Nobody would ever choke to death on a Martini olive if bartenders were required to chop them into quarters (or better yet, eighths) before adding them to the glass.
You can’t child-proof the world. All you can do is treat adults like children. And that’s why this is a bad thing.
#150 by nastykjn on 11.09.07 3:22 pm |
GO SEAWOLVES!!!! UAA Class of ‘03.
#151 by Chance on 11.09.07 3:23 pm |
bmarlowe said:
See “Olive, Martini” in Post #147.
#152 by raskul on 11.09.07 3:24 pm |
Regarding the photo of the strangely-socked Iowa volleyball players: Why don’t volleyball players wear hi-top shoes?
most serious volleyball players wear some form of ankle support (i.e, tape, brace). seeing as hi-tops are pretty much useless in providing ankle support anyway, the addition of the extra support means to hi-tops would make footwear impractical and way too bulky for players who need prime flexibility.
#153 by Hank on 11.09.07 3:30 pm |
Base coaches and helmets:
So what happens if a batted ball hits a pitcher in the chest or head and seriously injures or kills him? (Like it has done a few times over the years in Little League games?) Require pitchers to wear protective vests, or helmet, or have them use the protective pitching net used during BP? Why not extend it to dugouts and put safety netting in front of them? (Recall Don Zimmer getting beaned by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout.) Why not extend it to field seats along the baselines to protect fans from foul balls and/or bats that go into the stands? Why not just put everyone in bubble-wrap and be done with it?
No matter how much we try, we cannot take away all the risk in daily life. This is more a knee-jerk reaction than a true protective measure. And, it cannot be equated to air bags in cars. There is a far greater chance of getting into a serious auto accident where an air bag and seatbelt would prevent serious injury than there is in getting hit in the head with a baseball while coaching 1st base. Prior to the Coolbaugh incident, I cannot recall any coach in the field being struck by a batted ball causing this type of injury and death.
#154 by muddlehead on 11.09.07 3:30 pm |
there aren’t many of us out there. repping the a’s nation, glad to be the only green team once again in mlb. absolutely positively annoyed me immensely when TB interloped on our color a few years back.
#155 by bmarlowe on 11.09.07 3:35 pm |
Chance said:
—-
Your “logic” still ammazes me as you still don’t make any sense. Restricting speed limits to 20mph has a high cost, in many ways. Coaches wearing helmets has virtually no cost.
#156 by Jerico on 11.09.07 3:42 pm |
Johnny O said:
Back in the day, baseball players were assigned their numbers according to where they batted in the batting order. Can’t speak for pitchers or subs, but that explains why Babe Ruth wore #3 and Lou Gehrig wore #4.
#157 by tedkerwin on 11.09.07 3:44 pm |
Don Mattingly just said on Mike and the Mad Dog he will be wearing 8 in LA in honor of Yogi Berra
#158 by Ian on 11.09.07 3:47 pm |
u2horn said:
Lake Highlands does indeed suck now. But in my days we didn’t. Speaking of which, how many state titles does Berkner have? And where did Jim Ledford come from? Sorry you made me do it. But congrats on your recent and current successes, and good luck in the future.
And to those PA fans who think y’all have the best football, come watch a Texas HS game… Varsity Blues said it best… its not a game, its a way of life. When’s the last time a PA school was ranked #1 in the country? I think Southlake has been at the top or near there for the past 6 years.
I’m just sayin’….
#159 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 3:48 pm |
Hank said:
You eliminate metal bats like the NYSHSAA has done.
Hank said:
Um, already done . . .or have you not noticed the railing in front of every dugout in every major and minor league ballpark (to say nothing for Little League fields).
Hank said:
Read the waiver on the back of your ticket stub and listen tot he PA Announcement reminding fans to be alert next time you go to a game.
Hank said:
FINALLY a statement I agree with!
Again, we can debate the merits of this until we are all blue in the fingertips, but I fail to understand the outrage, hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing over this. MLB is taking a step to protect the people that come under its direct supervision (as opposed to fans). I’m not going to fashion any more ridiculous hypotheticals. You can’t “baby-proof the world” but you can however legislate safety. I reiterate from my earlier point that dictating that the base coaches wear protective headgear doesn’t change the game at all. Still 9 players on a side, three outs, three strikes, four balls, etc. It’s a safety precaution and anyone who doesn’t believe it’s necessary should fire off a letter to Larry Bowa or Gene Lamont and ask them why they practically stand in the first row of the stands when they were coaching third base and Gary Sheffield came up to bat
#160 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 3:50 pm |
bmarlowe said:
where was it ever mentioned coaches SHOULDN’T wear helmets? we’re talking about their MANDATED use…HUGE difference
just because my car HAS seatbelts, doesn’t mean i HAVE to wear them…but i have the option…which coaches have ALWAYS had (in terms of protective gear)…
(another argument for another time…should baroid and his ilk be permitted to wear body armor in the batter’s box, effectively taking away the pitchers ability to play chin music???)
back to the coaches on helmets…like one of the posters (chance?) said above…it’s a question of treating adults like children…as long as they are not forbidden from so doing, i don’t believe mandating their use solves any problems…let them wear whatever they feel they need to be protected…just don’t FORCE a non-solution to a non-problem
/off-rant
#161 by Mark on 11.09.07 3:50 pm |
But is it not a logical statement that this is highly possible? There seems to be no rationale against the move other than “Nobody has ever died of this before.” Which makes no sense. If you can reasonably prevent something then from happening then why not do it? And, I don’t see the point in moving to wooden bats in the NY high school leagues before, so I am not someone who is up for knee jerk reactions. I just simply do not understand a single argument against it, other than the one stated above. But, maybe I am just not reading them close enough.
#162 by Teebz on 11.09.07 3:51 pm |
Just thought I’d drop this note in the water beside the Rays/helmet talk:
Apparently, several groups have stepped forward about purchasing Nike’s fledgling NikeBauer brand. Two of the groups boast NHL legends: one is a group involving Wayne Gretzky, and another group involves Mario Lemieux. It appears that “Bauer” may live again.
Also, why is it such a huge deal if the base coaches wear a helmet to protect themselves from the possibility of being killed? No one bitched and whined and moaned about it when a guy named John Olerud did it. And he played the game, rather than just sending in signals.
This argument against the helmets is more than stupid. If you don’t like it, buy a MLB franchise and change the rules.
#163 by Mark in Shiga on 11.09.07 3:57 pm |
Chance said:
It’s an important change, because the helmets are now *mandatory* — presumably forever. If a coach thinks that a helmet might restrict his movement or vision, he can’t refuse to wear it.
Perhaps sme day a coach will move his head out of the way of an oncoming ball a fraction of a second too late, and sustain an injury, because the mandatory helmet made him an infinitesimal bit slower.
It’s a tradeoff, and the decision shouldn’t me made by the league. Personal safety should be placed in the hands of the *person*, not a nannying organization.
If the new rule were that coaches were *allowed* to wear helmets, I’d be 100% in favor.
#164 by Jerico on 11.09.07 3:58 pm |
In Dr. Z’s column on SI.com, there is a picture of some mighty fine sockage from the late ’80’s. Mr. Lukas, and all those who appreciate the diversity of colors in hosiery, enjoy.
#165 by bmarlowe on 11.09.07 4:01 pm |
LI Phil said:
OK – let me say it this way: Mandating a 20mph speed limit everywhere has a high cost in many ways (same for the other things you listed); mandating that base coaches wear helmets has virtually no cost.
#166 by Broker75 on 11.09.07 4:02 pm |
Teebz said:
It’s only a matter of time before Wayne Gretzky will be the commissioner of the NHL. He has done nothing but good to the league. I also heard Lindros is stepping into the Players office. These guys know whats good for the game.
#167 by Perry on 11.09.07 4:04 pm |
KW said:
Gee, I guess they never heard of Steve Yeager.
#168 by Duckstyle on 11.09.07 4:10 pm |
I’m going to have to agree here with the folks for, or at least, not against the helemt change. I was in a slow pitch softball league a few years back and they started requiring helmets even though they hadn’t for years, lots of old guys gripped. Guess what, we all got helmets, we all wore em, no one complained the whole rest of the season, no one complains now. Has anyone been beaned in the head, not that I know of, but why take the risk when a fix is so easy. Sure it wouldn’t have saved him because he was hit below the helmet line, but it might save someone. Why are you sooo dead set against this. Chance, you’re seriously coming off sounding like you want them to have more risk. Why? You seriously think this hurts the integrity of the game somehow? It just doesn’t add up.
#169 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 4:11 pm |
GoTerriers said:
Mark, I respect your opinion but this strikes me as the kind of logic akin to “If I don’t wear my seatbelt I’ll get thrown out of the car and clear of the accident.”
#170 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 4:16 pm |
i’ll ask this one last time…
where has ANYONE argued AGAINST coaches wearing helmets?
#171 by GregW on 11.09.07 4:16 pm |
LI Phil said:
Right, but in most states and provinces there is a law requiring the wearing of seatbelts. You can choose not to wear your seatbelt and risk a fine (and death/serious injury). Immediately after the Coolbaugh tragedy I remember several coaches talking about being nervous in the coach’s boxes and about keeping all the body armour the batter gave them to wear while they coached. Up until now the macho culture probably kept more of them from wearing helmets. Now that it is mandated they can wear them without looking like a wimp. If they choose not to wear it then they risk a fine (and death/serious injury) just like you and your seatbelt.
#172 by bmarlowe on 11.09.07 4:17 pm |
GoTerriers said:
________
>>>Perhaps sme day a coach will move his head out of the way of an oncoming ball a fraction of a second too late, and sustain an injury….
So, helmets for batters should be optional?
>>>Personal safety should be placed in the hands of the *person*, not a nannying organization.
This isn’t the govt, it’s a private organiztion and can promulgate safety requirements on it’s employees as it wishes.
#173 by Andy on 11.09.07 4:19 pm |
Hey, lets wait until a NASCAR driver hits a wall head-on before requiring that drivers wear HANS devices…oh…wait…
Those silly racecar drivers and their HANS devices! What a bunch of pansies!
#174 by Perry on 11.09.07 4:22 pm |
Mark said:
The obvious difference is, thousands of people get in car accidents every day. Seat belts and air bags probably save dozens of lives every day. One base coach was killed in 130 years of pro ball, in a one-in-a-million freak accident. There was no problem with base coach safety, in the same sense of a problem with auto safety.
If a base coach wants to wear a helmet, I have absolutely no problem with that. Forcing everyone to do it because of one freak occurrence is an overreaction.
Baseball’s done lots of things to increase player safety that I applaud, including warning tracks, dugout fences, padded walls and railings, batter’s eyes in the OF, and batting helmets. Added together, these changes and others have prevented lots of injuries and saved careers and maybe even lives. Mandating helmets on base coaches, on the other hand, is an empty gesture. That said, I don’t really care one way or the other.
#175 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 4:22 pm |
LI Phil said:
No one (I’ll give Mark in Shiga a mulligan). But they have argued that mandating the helmets is a wrong step or a knee-jerk reaction. I just don’t buy that. (if you couldn’t tell by now)
#176 by Frank Mercogliano on 11.09.07 4:24 pm |
Paul,
Eaten post of mine needs rescued please…..it was totally on Bryan’s topic too.
Frank
#177 by Adam on 11.09.07 4:25 pm |
To all of those who say that it’s a matter of personal choice, and that people should get to choose if they wear helmets: keep in mind that, in general, people are very stupid. This is especially true for athletes, who often refuse to wear new safety equipment because it makes them look like less of a man or something. I think we’d all agree that batting helmets, face masks, etc are pretty important, but at first some people were forced to wear them. If you leave everything up to personal choice, you’ll always have some holdouts – it’s better for it to be mandated and then it’s never an issue again.
#178 by Paul Lukas on 11.09.07 4:26 pm |
Hank said:
By coincidence, Zimmer once wore a helmet while coaching third base for the Red Sox. The fans at Yankee Stadium were throwing so much crap on the field that he (and, I think, the 1st base coach) had to wear a helmet for protection.
#179 by nastykjn on 11.09.07 4:29 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
Luckily Zim had precious little brain matter to begin with.
#180 by TimInGA on 11.09.07 4:30 pm |
Kevin said:
UGA hasn’t worn red pants since the ’80’s–during Herschel’s days. They wore black in a bowl game in the late ’90’s. That photo of the red pants is a photo-shopped mock-up. I like the red pants, even though the silver britches are a classic. Looking forward to black jerseys on Saturday.
#181 by Pat on 11.09.07 4:32 pm |
Duckstyle said it nicely.
The whole “treat a man like a man, not like a child” thing is a little immature, if you ask me. Safety belts in cars are the most similar argument I have for this situation. There are instances where the belt has hurt more than it helped in an accident, the same way that someone sans-belt could survive, and that someone wearing a belt could very well perish. But at the same time you know that you have a better chance at surviving a car crash with the safety belt on. Now there are a number of states with safety belt laws that require you to wear one or be penalized a higher price. Some states have given police the right to pull someone over just for not wearing one.
Sure those laws were met with contempt when they were first established, same way this one is (although, not from the people that it actually affects, just the people on here, seemingly) but I don’t know many people that are complaining about them right now.
The same thing goes for helmets on the base coaches. We all know that McCoolbaugh would have died either way, helmet or no because of where he was hit. But, who knows what would have happened to Juan Encarnacion had he not been wearing a helmet at the time (similar situation to a base coach, although not in the same area). I’m sure there is some weird way that wearing a helmet MAY cause more damage in a hit than a cap would have. But, as with safety belts those times are rare. I’m willing to bet that wearing a helmet would prevent more injuries than cause. Preventative maintenance.
#182 by u2horn on 11.09.07 4:33 pm |
more Rays logo/branding discussion here:
http://www.undercons...
#183 by Perry on 11.09.07 4:34 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
As I recall, that’s also why Dick Allen wore one when he played 1B in Philly. I don’t know if he was ever actually hit, but he was concerned about it.
Someone mentioned Olerud — he was under doctor’s orders due to his aneurism and subsequent brain surgery.
#184 by Broker75 on 11.09.07 4:36 pm |
Has a pic been posted in regards to the helmets base coaches will be forced to wear? Are they the John Olerud type with no flaps? When will it be time for the umpires to don the helmet full time?
#185 by dm00n on 11.09.07 4:37 pm |
Chance said:
Just a quick search through Google:
dm00n said:
And
dm00n said:
Cubs Third Base coach Carlos Tosca on MLB.com after Hoffman was hit:
dm00n said:
and
dm00n said:
and
dm00n said:
Some of these are during batting practice, but what is more interesting is that base coaches seem to sustain more head injuries from throw balls than batted balls.
#186 by BS on 11.09.07 4:38 pm |
Unless you are being affected by the new rules, and by that I mean you have to wear the helmet, why are you complaining?
#187 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 4:44 pm |
Broker75 said:
If I recall correctly, no exact determination has been yet made as to the style of the helmet/cap the coaches will wear. I suppose it could be any of the following:
No Flap
Single Flap
Double Flap
A simple cap liner or even
Something we haven’t thought of yet
#188 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 4:46 pm |
jesus. can we move on from this helmet issue already! the argument of whether its good or bad has overcome its sartorial spot in sport.
because all of us on this board are very similar, we have similar interests and on occasion i like when the conversation spins away from unis, but this conversation demonstrates a perfect example why separate threads would be a nice addition here.
#189 by Owen Sindler on 11.09.07 4:50 pm |
There are a number of Philadelphia public schools that have retained rooftop caged basketball courts. Please reach for your sweats when the temperature drops.
#190 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 5:14 pm |
in order to protect batters from broken arms, should we MANDATE this?
#191 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 5:16 pm |
LI Phil said:
Mandate what? Steroid/HGH use? Tax evasion? Purgery?
#192 by GoTerriers on 11.09.07 5:17 pm |
GoTerriers said:
Just closing the link . . .
#193 by DarkAudit on 11.09.07 5:23 pm |
LI Phil said:
Does your fanhood need questioning?
#194 by Mets Fan in Chicago on 11.09.07 5:26 pm |
GoTerriers said:
Spelling practice?
Perjury
:-)
#195 by Mike Engle on 11.09.07 5:28 pm |
GoTerriers said:
“Something we haven’t thought of yet” is impossible because once you present a possibility, you thought of it.
#196 by Jaye on 11.09.07 5:41 pm |
Rays here to stay
http://www.tampabay....
#197 by Trav on 11.09.07 5:47 pm |
Zim’s helmet
#198 by Teebz on 11.09.07 5:57 pm |
Perry said:
I mentioned him, and his reason for wearing one was the same: he didn’t want to be dead if the ball hit him in the head.
#199 by Steve on 11.09.07 6:07 pm |
Gateway HS was one of those one-sided rivalries my HS had (when we were in Quad A, Franklin Regional). We were ’supposed’ to hate them, but they could care less as they wiped the floor with us every year. We beat them hands down uni-wise though. I guess there’s that…
#200 by Marty Met on 11.09.07 6:30 pm |
Bob Nolte said:
I think the same thing every time I read someone post how much he hates the Oregon Ducks uniforms.
people are no fun
#201 by Jaye on 11.09.07 6:41 pm |
I love the occasional odd-colored uni. A red alt here, a purple jersey there … here a Duck, there a Duck …..
#202 by Mike on 11.09.07 6:46 pm |
Kyle O. said:
Haha that has nothing to do with it…our hockey teams dont have the same length road trips as everyone else, its just a 4-5 hour flight instead of 4-5 hour bus ride. The UAF Nanooks only have a home and away, except for a seldom used throwback.
#203 by Brent Bollmeier on 11.09.07 7:43 pm |
Buffalo Sabres are wearing white at home against the Leafs. What gives?
#204 by patrick on 11.09.07 8:10 pm |
Moose said:
sarcasm at its finest…. i thought it was rather obvious
#205 by Mike Engle on 11.09.07 8:12 pm |
Brent Bollmeier said:
I think the NHL color-at-home protocol gets reversed for intra-divisional games.
Random trivia nugget: even though people feel passionate about how the NHL “should” go with white at home, there is precedent for colors at home. The Canadiens created their white jerseys specifically to be worn at Detroit in order to not look like the Red Wings.
#206 by Patrick on 11.09.07 8:23 pm |
Detroit Red Wings wearing white at home tonight against Cow-lumbus.
#207 by Patrick on 11.09.07 8:27 pm |
The pic of that dictionary up there reminds me of this…http://a4.vox.com/6a00c2251dd12cf21900c2251e1774604a-500pi
#208 by Mike Engle on 11.09.07 9:06 pm |
Mr. Lukas:
I’m not sure whether I’m sarcastic with this inquiry or not…
Is there a possibility that “Team Uni Watch” for the membership card (as of now, green and gold numbers on “not quite white”) will introduce a red alternate? (By red, I mean the shade of dark red in the border, in order to not stray from the color scheme.)
#209 by Doug on 11.09.07 9:36 pm |
TimInGA said:
That black replica jersey has been sold by Nike since 2005.
#210 by Doug on 11.09.07 9:40 pm |
Kevin said:
We wore red pants under Vince Dooley until 1981, when we went to the silver britches full time. We wore black pants under Jim Donnan twice- against Florida in 1998 and in the 1998 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
#211 by Kevin on 11.09.07 9:47 pm |
Doug said:
That would explain why I don’t remember the red pants as I was all of 1 year old. I do remember the black pants though.
#212 by billy on 11.09.07 10:29 pm |
#213 by Mike C on 11.09.07 10:52 pm |
Just finished watching the Celts-Hawks game. I like the color of the Hawks road unis but there’s no question that the stylized print of the nale is super-lame. No character at all. In fact, I actually got distracted by the blandness (is that a word?) of the jersey. They look great from behind…except for the reverse neckline addition. Pretty disappointing overall.
#214 by Greg on 11.09.07 11:04 pm |
Steve said:
sorry, Franklin Regional’s unis are the most boring football uniforms i’ve ever seen. throw in a monochrome jersey and pants, you guys are done. gateway can at least throw on all black and look awesome. but i cant even defend my high school (Perry) cause we got new ones this year that are HORRENDOUS. haha, oh well.
#215 by ToasterPoodle on 11.09.07 11:41 pm |
Patrick said:
People love cows.
People hate crack and murder.
#216 by al on 11.10.07 12:31 am |
Trav said:
I like Bismarck’s better ! Most dashing!
#217 by Ryan on 11.10.07 12:47 am |
New Mexico finally unveiled their road unis in their win against Colorado tonight. Here are some good pics of the front and the back. Looks like Alford removed the names this year.
#218 by Edgar on 11.10.07 3:08 am |
Mike said:
Just because your mind is in the gutter doesn’t mean that everyones is.
Athletes in this country are generally seen as tough. Happy is not a component of “tough”.
#219 by TimInGA on 11.10.07 9:18 am |
Doug said:
Actually when Vince Dooley came in during the 1964 season, he swithced the Dawgs from their silver britches (worn since introduced by Wally Butts in 1939) to white pants. They returned to the silver britches in the 1980 season. Dooley rarely broke out the red pants though.
#220 by dw438 on 11.10.07 12:38 pm |
al said:
He got that hat from General von Steingrabber!
#221 by GatorInsider on 11.13.07 4:39 pm |
Justin B said:
RE: TAX MONEY. ZERO tax dollars were spent on the uniforms. All the money was raised by the team with fundraisers etc.
#222 by prayers for blowouts » Blog Archive » Rays drop the Devil on 11.14.07 8:10 am |
[...] Along with the new moniker comes some new duds too. (pictured below). The interwebs finest uniform critic, Paul Lukas, rendered his verdict on the new uniforms on his blog (Uni Watch), saying only this: zzzzzzzzzzz. I guess he’s not a fan. [...]