The Yankees played an exhibition game up at Virginia Tech yesterday, and there were lots of uni-related oddities. Dig:
• Both teams wore their home pinstripes. This reminds me of when the Yankees and Devil Rays opened the 2004 season in Japan and the Yanks wore their home uni for both games even though Tampa was technically the home team, as if the foreign fans somehow “deserved” to see the famous pinstripes. Fuck that — if you’re the road team, even against a college team, show some respect and wear your road uni.
• The Yankees wore “VT”-emblazoned caps, similar to the ones they wore for one game last year after the shootings on the Tech campus.
• In a rather confusing development, Tech returned the favor by wearing “NY” caps rendered in Hokies colors (the Yankees themselves wore them in a pregame press conference; here’s a closer view). Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd? I mean, the home team wearing the opponent’s logo front and center, with their own logo bumped to the side? That’s nuts. It’s so nuts, in fact, that I started wondering if the Hokies normally wear pinstripes, or if that was just another way of honoring the Yankees. And after a quick check, sure enough, it appears that Tech’s normal home uni looks like this, although I suppose it’s possible that they might also have a pinstriped alternate. Anyone know if the pinstripes are one of their regular wardrobe options, or just a one-time thing? (Bizarre aside: While most of the Yankees were in Virginia, Mike Mussina was pitching a minor league game back in Tampa, and his kid — who really needs to ditch the mandals — was carrying one of the Hokie “NY” caps afterward.)
• Was Bobby Abreu was wearing Mariano Rivera’s cleats, or did his cleats just happen to be “42″-imprinted? As Matt Powers noted in last night’s comments, Abreu was wearing a different pair the day before.
• The batboys had special uniforms for the occasion.
And now a word from Intern Emeritus Vince Grzegorek: It’s time for the 2nd Annual Uni Watch March Madness Pool. It’s time for the 2nd Annual Uni Watch March Madness Pool. The pool will work the same way it did last year: Pick any six of the 64 teams in the NCAA tournament. You will receive points correlating to each team’s seed for each game that team wins. For example, a Number 1 seed will receive 1 point for each game it wins, a Number 5 seed will receive 5 points for each game it wins, a Number 12 seed will receive 12 points for each game it wins, and so on. Highest score wins. Please include a total score for the final game as a tiebreaker.
Paul says he’s got a backlog of stuff to give away [I’ll announce what the stuff is tomorrow — need to photograph some of it first. — PL], so we’ll have five winners. First place will get first choice of the prizes, second place will get to choose from the four remaining prizes, and so on.
To enter, e-mail your six teams and your name here (NOT to the usual Uni Watch address) by noon eastern time on Thursday. Only one entry per person, and don’t bother trying to cheat because you know we’ll figure it out. Also, note that this is a contest of skill, not a raffle, so no extra entries for membership program enrollees.
Good luck to all, and to all a happy sick day tomorrow. Here’s Paul again with today’s Ticker.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Classic NOB typo last night in Detroit — check it out. He switched to a proper jersey midway through the first quarter. … This is about the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on eBay. I bid on it but didn’t win — dang (great find by Thomas Langan). … An eBay counterfeiter is amusingly brought to task via some ace typeface detective work here (with thanks to Bill Walsh). … “The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks will be wearing two throwback uniforms this year,” reports Jeremy Brahm. “This one is from the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 2003 season (even though the uniform was used from 1993-2004), when the Hawks won the Japanese title, and this one is from 1964, when the Nankai Hawks were based in Osaka before moving to Fukuoka in 1988.” … Last week I ran some pics of soccer players with unusual tape jobs. As many of you informed me, this is kinesio taping, and now Frank Mercogliano has found an excellent article about the technique. … Gorgeous number typography here. The team is the Staten Island Stapletons, a pro team from the late 1920s and early ’30s (nice find by Marc Rabinowitz). … Remember our recent discussion of hearing-impaired athletes? Good article here on the NBA’s first deaf player, Lance Allred (thanks, Vince). … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: One other team wore green jerseys on Monday — the Cardinals. … Ronnie Poore has a friend who was an extra in the upcoming Leatherheads flick and sent along two awesome pics — check ’em out here and here. … Awesome old girls baseball uni here — who knew uni numbers were appearing on pant legs way back when? … About two years ago, my pal Rob Walker wrote this column about a guy who’d created a Nike tribute brand, called Mike — read that column. And then read this follow-up from Rob’s blog. Todd Krevanchi, the follow-up item mentions your web site — care to weigh in on this? … Not uni-related, but there’s a great video clip here showing my Page 2 colleague Jim Caple discussing knuckleballs with Mariners pitcher R.A. Dickey. … Cool old Notre Dame patch here (with thanks to Michael Kimmins). … Good story here about Canadiens goalie Carey Price’s pads. Additional photos here, and there’s a great gallery of Habs netminders through the decades here (courtesy of Casey Barcomb). … Chris Mycoskie reports that LSU will wear these throwback uniforms for today’s game against Tulane. Video clip available here. … Ryan Raburn on Monday; Jacque Jones yesterday. I’d pay money to see Dontrelle Willis do it next. … I didn’t know this, but according to this page, last year the Devil Rays “made professional sports history, becoming the first team to wear less green on St. Patrick’s Day” (note the white cap). Now that’s a great factoid! … The Bucks retired Brian Winters’s number way back in 1983. But for reasons that only the team’s marketing department knows, they “rededicated” his number last night, whatever that means, complete with the whole framed jersey routine. “Problem is, that’s the current jersey and this guy never wore it,” notes Nicole Haase, who attended the game and took that photo. … Love the striped socks (and the height disparity), but c’mon, wear shorts that are at least slightly short (with thanks to Bryan Grupp).
#1 by Garbonzo Bean on 03.19.08 8:01 am |
Where can we get one of those cool VT Yankees Hats?
#2 by Garbonzo Bean on 03.19.08 8:01 am |
Where can we get one of those cool VT Yankees Hats?
#3 by CoreyNYC on 03.19.08 8:03 am |
There was also a Yankees “NY” pained on the field.
Only the Yankees can turn a really nice charitable event into a self congratulatory festival.
#4 by Adam on 03.19.08 8:08 am |
I’m no Yankees fan, but I don’t think it’s really fair to blame them for some of the weird stuff, it’s quite possible that it was requested by VT.
#5 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 8:09 am |
Yeah, but it’s way more fun to blame the Yankees.
#6 by Joe H on 03.19.08 8:11 am |
All you need to do is sign up for a free CBS Sportsline registration. The password for the tournament is “stirrups” (all lowercase).
Paul, It’s not working with existng Sportsline accounts. I have one already and I get this error:
“Error
This is a private fantasy league. You are logged in with userid ‘XXXXXX’, which does not have access to this league. If you think this is wrong, please contact the league commissioner and ask for an invite.
To log in as another user, click here.”
So can you send me an invite to see if that works?
#7 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 8:14 am |
Hang in there — we’re working to fix this (read: Vince is working to fix this). Solution coming soon.
#8 by Caknuck on 03.19.08 8:18 am |
I kinda dig the faux sepia tones on the LSU pic. (Shouldn’t all baseball teams that roll out the throwbacks take a team pic like this?) I counted three players rocking the stirrups, which is a good thing.
#9 by Robert on 03.19.08 8:19 am |
Damn you, Vince. I do not like March Madness and always enjoy thumbing my nose at the masses who complete brackets. However, as I am tantalized by the prospects of a Uni Prize, I am compelled to join the herd. Damn you again, I say.
#10 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 8:21 am |
paul lukas just shit himself with glee, Punter
#11 by Vince on 03.19.08 8:24 am |
Working on making public right now… hold tight.
#12 by Matt B on 03.19.08 8:34 am |
Is Mike Mussina’s kid wearing a confederate battle flag t-shirt?
#13 by Miguel on 03.19.08 8:35 am |
During the five minutes I saw of the play-in game yesterday, the beautiful Erin Andrews stated that one of the players couldn’t wear his usual jersey because it didn’t have an NCAA patch (or something like that).
Anyone know if all teams are required to wear this patch for this year’s dance?
#14 by Vince Grzegorek on 03.19.08 8:37 am |
Ok, well, simultaneously I fixed the link and Paul changed the tournament to the style we did last year. I defer to Paul in this situation. Revisit the above paragraphs explaining the pool and email me your selections by noon tomorrow. Thanks.
#15 by Garbonzo Bean on 03.19.08 8:44 am |
maybe so it is it fun (if you are that way) to blame us Yankees, but I didnt see Fred Wil-puss scratch out a check to VT. Hmm…
#16 by Taha on 03.19.08 8:49 am |
The giant playing against Ohio State is Kenny George from UNC-Ashville. he is listed at a whopping 7′7″!!!
#17 by Tim on 03.19.08 8:57 am |
They aren’t mass producing the VT colors hats they are going to be auctioned off for the charity. But you can buy the normal Yankees cap with the VT logo from mlbshop.com. Personally I hate the Yankees(right behind the Mets) but i love the VT Color combo and would buy one of those hats if i could.
#18 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 9:03 am |
OK, as you can see, we changed the parameters of the contest — no web bracket, just email your six picks to Vince. Details now in the text.
#19 by Juan Grande on 03.19.08 9:07 am |
Okay, the VT-themed hats and Yankee/VT lovefest now outranks the Sean Taylor #21 tribute for overkill (ok, maybe not the best word but you know what I mean). Why are we still memorializing VT almost a year later? What’s next? The Nationals hosting a Sean Taylor night wear everyone wears #21 on their jerseys? Will the Braves travel to Chapel Hill to honor the class president that was murdered two weeks ago? The SF Giants hosting a “a legit record was killed by Barry Bonds night” and invite Hank Aaron? Personally I think this was all drawn up by Hank Steinbrenner to show “we care” about the community. Is there any connection between the Yankees and VT? You would think a geographically closer team like the Orioles would be a more logicial choice. I guess I wouldn’t feel so strongly about this if VT and the Yankees didn’t go out and develop new merchandise to “honor” the event. $20 for a new hat? $39.99 for a replica T-shirt? Sure, let’s do it!
#20 by Kenny on 03.19.08 9:08 am |
Those VT unis are pretty…wait for it…hokey
Thank you, I’ll be here all day, try the veal!!
#21 by Robert on 03.19.08 9:08 am |
More importantly, what is a mandal?
#22 by Walaitis on 03.19.08 9:10 am |
And this is where the dilemma comes in … do you choose teams based on basketball skills and ability, or by the ability of their uniforms to be aesthetically pleasing?
#23 by Walaitis on 03.19.08 9:11 am |
Something that someone who would otherwise be a “man” would wear if he weren’t a man.
#24 by Kenny on 03.19.08 9:17 am |
What’s with the two guys in the front in the LSU picture with their tongues hangin out
#25 by My Name is not Earl on 03.19.08 9:24 am |
Probably. The NCAA always seems to have some sort of “patch for the post-season” rule. Although sometimes teams manage to sneak past the rule (back in the days when the NCAA only gave teams in the College World Series two patches per player, LSU, which always seems to have 18 different jerseys, wore a third jersey that wasn’t patched).
#26 by Tim on 03.19.08 9:38 am |
Normally i’d agree that this is a bit much a year later. But since the season had already started when the tragedy occurred last year. George when he was still in charge stated the Yankees would come in Spring Training this year to play a charity game. It was the best they could do. and the money from the shirts goes to the charity, all products with proceeds going to charity get marked up.
#27 by KW on 03.19.08 9:38 am |
This was something that was planned last year…after the tragedy the Steinbrenner’s said they wanted to do what they could…donated $1 million right away and said they would play an exhibition game in the Spring as the tragedy happened DURING the season.
I get your Sean Taylor references but you are way off base here…what they did was a good thing.
I disagree with Paul and think its great they wore the pinstripes as well…
#28 by Tony in Erie on 03.19.08 9:46 am |
Why is it that goalies are going back to minimalistic colors on their pads? I am still trying to figure that one out.
Oh, and as a connection to the last UniWatch profile, I’m apparently the fourth Erie, PA resident checking this site. We should have a party here haha
#29 by todd krevanchi on 03.19.08 9:58 am |
Its actually not an idea thats too far off base. The NIKETALK website that i helped start has regional summits all the time organized by the members. they are heavily photographed and reported on.
So if you’d like to get together with your ERIE faithful for the opportunity to meet those who have the same general interest as you, some adult beverages, and some unicentric conversation, i’d say put out a feeler and try to do so!
im sure PL would love to see pics and a run down of the days/nights events.
#30 by Kyle at IU on 03.19.08 9:59 am |
I would hate beyond hate to be the uni-tailor for UNC Asheville. The shorts that Kenny George wears are longer than most people are tall.
Side note: the kid can’t play a lick of basketball. Just chills out by the basket and throws it in.
#31 by dm00n [Doug] on 03.19.08 10:09 am |
Man, it can only be a matter of time before Geoge Blaha starts calling him “Hamil[i]tion”
#32 by KJ on 03.19.08 10:16 am |
I’m a huge MIKE fan and a big “streetwear” enthusaist. Honestly, I kinda figured this was coming. But in my area (Charleston, SC) many people have been busted (read: arrested) by the police for selling fake Jordans and Air Force Ones (Hint: don’t buy anything with SpongeBob’s face on it) if figured that a company this prominent would have already been sniffed out by Nike and handled. But nothing happend, so I assumed all was well.
I “got” what MIKE was about but after a couple years, I figured Nike “got” it too and left MIKE alone. So to hear that Nike sent MIKE a C&D letter is kind of confusing and should serve as a warning to other companies.
If you thought MIKE was bad, check out THESE GUYS —-> Gourmet Shoes.
http://www.slamxhype...
A BLATANT Jordan rip off that seems to have escaped Nike’s wrath so far! Most streetwear companies bite the BIG boys so it’s interesting to see if other people move away from doing stuff like that. Hopefully, they let MIKE slide. Peace!
#33 by PeterT on 03.19.08 10:19 am |
Looks like MLB didn’t like those baseball themed Obama t-shirts.
#34 by Ray on 03.19.08 10:26 am |
Here’s a couple to add to Paul’s Uni Watch News Ticker
The New York Times has a decent article on Paul’s new favorite movie Leatherheads link here http://www.nytimes.c...
And an interesting article in The Baltimore Sun about Meade HS’s new track unis. I never heard of teh manufacturer, Cisco. there’s an interesting discussion about rules on logoes that can be seen thru a uni. The photo reminds me of when Michael Phelps modeled the new USA swimmers unitards http://www.baltimore...
#35 by Zeke on 03.19.08 10:33 am |
And the award for bravest on-court prostate exam goes to this guy
#36 by John T on 03.19.08 10:37 am |
Interesting piece here on Francona’s pullover status for the upcoming season, also explains his reason for it.
#37 by Bob on 03.19.08 10:45 am |
I’m totally fine with the melding of VT and Yankee aesthetics, wearing each others logos, colors, stripes etc. It’s fun, and the fans and players on both sides seem to like it.
However, check out the logo creep in this picture .
They actually put the Nike logo over the memorial ribbon on the VT uniform. That’s terrible.
#38 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 10:54 am |
until now
#39 by Chad G on 03.19.08 11:16 am |
Just a thought on why the Yanks wore the home pinstripes at Virginia Tech…
I have done absolutely no reasearch on this but the Yankees didn’t just bring major league roster players to VT only right? I believe the Yanks don’t use their road tops at all during spring training (at least this year, please correct me if I’m wrong) and they probably didn’t want to make up extra jerseys for the non roster players. Therefore the choice was home unis or road pants with the lame BP jersey. I think they choice the better option. Thoughts?…
#40 by Steve on 03.19.08 11:19 am |
It’ll be on the Smoking Gun, just like Obama Of Dreams……..within 48 hours…….
#41 by Bob on 03.19.08 11:25 am |
Seems plausible. I certainly haven’t seen the road greys at all so far.
#42 by Kevin Z. on 03.19.08 11:30 am |
Tech tribute is nice, I would have preferred the Red Sox if I was there, but some friends said it was cool.
Also, if you are looking for additional amateur uni-watching please check this out. It’s for a student run magazine and we could really use the hits. Thanks.
#43 by War Damn Eagle on 03.19.08 11:33 am |
SI.com has a front page story about MLB putting a stop to the Obama-themed t-shirts.
http://sportsillustr...
#44 by sbergus on 03.19.08 11:43 am |
Why would you want an old crotch hook, when you could buy a brand new one? (for less money as well)
http://www.leisterga...
#45 by todd krevanchi on 03.19.08 11:46 am |
how is 1 swoosh on the jersey and 1 swoosh on the back pocket logo creep? ive said before that im not a fan of the term, and i dont think there has been an official “definition” of it, but when i hear it used, i expect to see excessive use of a corporate logo on the uniform of a team. this is not excessive by any means.
and they didnt “put” the nike logo over the memorial ribbon. the memorial ribbon was affixed below the nike logo.
#46 by Stu on 03.19.08 11:49 am |
Red Sox have refused to take the Field aginst the Jays because of the dispute with MLB
#47 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 11:57 am |
Todd, that’s the very definition of logo creep. It’s adding a manufacturer’s logo to a uniform, when the TEAM’S logo is what’s important. We can agree to disagree regarding whether this is evil/insidious/etc., but as a phenomenon, this is a textbook case.
#48 by Steve on 03.19.08 12:02 pm |
Not uni-related at all, but check out this crazy 197 foot hockey goal in the NHL last night:
http://www.youtube.c...
#49 by Scott on 03.19.08 12:10 pm |
It looks like the University of Florida Football team may be adding a blue stripe down the center of their helmets. I looked on a site and saw this picture:
here. There’s a view with more players and more stripe pics right here. For reference, here’s the sight I got it from if you want to check it out.
#50 by Shane on 03.19.08 12:24 pm |
When did the Blue Jays add that little “TORONTO” over the logo? Looks terrible on the jerseys.
#51 by John T on 03.19.08 12:26 pm |
I have to agree with Paul on this, the unis that VT wore yesterday had the swoosh above the memorial ribbon, on this pic the swoosh is on the opposite side.
But as mentioned, we must agree to disagree
#52 by Paulio on 03.19.08 12:27 pm |
Should have done what any good soccer goalie would do and come out on the puck. I’m not big into hockey so I don’t know if there are rules concerning on what a goalie can do when they are out of their crease, but I’m sure that he could have done something better than what he did, i.e. just caught it in his gut or something.
#53 by ryan c #40 on 03.19.08 12:38 pm |
maybe late on this… but did anyone see this:
http://store.nba.com...
or this:
http://store.nba.com...
ugh…
#54 by Evan on 03.19.08 12:39 pm |
Yes the Yankees playing VT was a publicity stunt for Hank Steinbrenner. It was George that donated the $1 million last year not Hank so make sure you know the facts and its sad you need to complain about something that is helping people get over a tragedy. It was done for the good of VT and the Yankees were helping them this wasnt done solely for the Yankees to just go play VTech.
#55 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 12:47 pm |
gotta agree with senor nike on this one…nike made the uni, nike gets to put a swoosh on there…i see majestic logos on MLB unis (well, excepting of course the spankees, who pay extra NOT to have it), and i don’t call THAT logo creep
i’ll agree with paul that this is an example of LC, but hardly any worse than the rbk on the nfl…and the 3 stripes on NBA warmups and ASG unis
if the nhl were actually a major sport, id complain about that having so-called logo creep too
#56 by MPowers1634 on 03.19.08 12:48 pm |
I’m more concerned with the Hokies normal home unis.
I think that the tem,plate that many of the Nike schools are using, with the patch under the arm is quite unattractive and unnecesary.
However, the pinstriped whites are very nice.
If you live in the NY Metropolitanm area, the Navy Yankees 5950 with the VT logo on the side can be found at most Champs Sports for 31.99.
Since Champs, Foot Action, Foot Locker, ESPN Shop, and Eastbay all use the same inventory, check with them as well!
#57 by Nick on 03.19.08 12:59 pm |
all this argument over the yanks/vtech game is ridiculous…so what vtech wore yankee caps in their colors personally i thought it was cool and the unis were pretty interesting…all this is besides the fact though. it was not a publicity stunt for the steinbrenners or anyone it was a benefit for a good cause
#58 by LouUmp on 03.19.08 1:13 pm |
Wheres the UniWatch bracket group???
#59 by Joe H on 03.19.08 1:19 pm |
Cisco is known around town as one of of those “lower end” suppliers that always has the affordable knock off of the popular designs. Not to be confused with another Baltimore Sisqo.
#60 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 1:20 pm |
Yeah, but I do. Mfr’s logos on team uniforms is what led me to coin the term “logo creep” in the first place. I know many of you feel diferently, but my very strong feeling is that the only logo that belongs on a team uni is the logo of the team. Jeez, can’t believe I have to explain this all over again.
#61 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 03.19.08 1:23 pm |
i will agree partially with this given definition of “adding a manufacturer’s logo to a uniform, when the TEAM’S logo is what’s important”, but only when it is done in excess.
we, of course, could debate all day our definitions of what “excess” is, as this would make both of our points.
but while in the era of significant corporate branding in athletics, an era that wont change any time soon, i think it might be prudent to have a certain level of acceptance of this phenomenon, whether we support it or not.
this is why i tend to notice what is referred to as logo creep here only when it is overdone. there have been many photos here of logo creep in excess over the years (one i remember recently is a picture of the prudential center in nj which someone showed had dozens of prudential logos on it) that this picture of the hokies with a single swoosh on the jersey, and one on the pants, i can hardly accept as significant.
#62 by Max on 03.19.08 1:27 pm |
Maybe they will make it an every day event.
#63 by derek on 03.19.08 1:27 pm |
Hopefully but i dont think we are that lucky.
#64 by Jay on 03.19.08 1:28 pm |
Which is more important, the VT patch or the Nike Swoosh?
Does one distract from the other?
#65 by GoTerriers on 03.19.08 1:33 pm |
I guess it depends on who you ask. As a thought though, my guess is that Nike does not tell prospective clients that “hey, look we’ve got VaTech in our stable of clients”, while VaTech might tell a recruit, “You should come here because you’ll get all this great Nike stuff” . . .
#66 by Joe H on 03.19.08 1:33 pm |
My problem is that the logo is a) on the front of the jersey, and b) it is waaaaay to close to the memorial patch.
Why couldn’t they just do it like this? They deserve the right to have their logo on the uni, but a little thought about proper placement is all I’m looking for.
#67 by Graham on 03.19.08 1:34 pm |
if people really want to buy either of those hats check out this
#68 by todd krevanchi on 03.19.08 1:41 pm |
its an obvious answer from a social importance point of view, however since the patches were affixed after the fact, and the decision was made to have them on the chest of the jersey and not the sleeve, there is really limited real estate to work with.
#69 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 1:52 pm |
Uh, no. This is like someone in 1950 saying, “Look, we could debate the pros and cons of integrated schools all day long, but we’re in an era of segregation in Alabama, so it might be prudent to have a certain level of acceptance of this phenomenon, whether we support it or not.”
You’re OK with it? Fine. But I’m not, and I have zero tolerance for it. I think it’s wrong, it’s evil, it’s a symptom of larger societal problems, and it’s in stark opposition to everything that led me to create Uni Watch.
Refresher course.
#70 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 1:55 pm |
imo guess the swoosh was on the uni before the patch was…maybe someone in VaTech ought to have placed the patch somewhere besides underneath the swoosh
i agree what you posted looks better (i like the swoosh on the sleeve ANYWAY), but the cart was prolly already put before the horse in this case, and the patch (unfortunately) needed to be moved to accommodate the swoosh, rather than the other way around
#71 by GoTerriers on 03.19.08 2:07 pm |
Not sure if anyone has brought this up, but Paul’s ESPN colleague and NHL writer, Terry Frei has a piece out about how it’s time the NHL go back to the white at home/color on the road uniform standard.
It’s time to end this jersey controversy
#72 by Cotton on 03.19.08 2:09 pm |
I thought Brad Davis was the most anonymous NBA player to have his jersey retired. Nice to see there are others.
#73 by Pipes on 03.19.08 2:12 pm |
My problem is that the logo is a) on the front of the jersey, and b) it is waaaaay to close to the memorial patch.
Are you really dissecting the distance between the patch and the swoosh? Are you serious?? You people just look for any reason to crap on Nike. Did you think that the patchs were probably added after the swooshs and probably not by Nike and thats just the best location they could find.
And only the readers of this blog could find a way to turn the VT memorial into a bad thing.
#74 by Rick on 03.19.08 2:12 pm |
Paul, please tell me you did not just compare logo creep to segregation? I know you are passionate about this but come on. If a company makes a product why can’t they put their logo on it? If it manufaturer wasn’t important, why wouldn’t these sports teams get their uniforms from some generic clothing company or make them in-house? BTW, don’t you have logo creep on your site by putting the web design company at the bottom of your site?
#75 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 2:15 pm |
No, I basically said there’s no reason to stop speaking out against something you think is wrong simply because “it’s the way things are.” That’s essentially what Todd was advocating, and I chose a deliberately charged example to show how off-base I think that sentiment is.
I refer you once again to this, which summarizes my thinking on the subject.
#76 by Christopher on 03.19.08 2:24 pm |
Because its the Yankees uniform. And, to some extent, the Yankees belong to their fans. Especially once you bring in the arguments of tax dollars being used to fund stadiums, etc. But even without that, one could say a team belongs to its city and/or fans for myriad reasons.
They are the New York Yankees. Not the Nike Yankees or the Nike Yankees of New York.
Secondly- taking your example to its extreme. Should the thread, fabric, button, and zipper manufacturers have their logo on the uniform? How about the company that shipped them to the Yankees?
It doesn’t matter that Nike made the uniform- it is an ad and nothing more.
#77 by Joe H on 03.19.08 2:29 pm |
I didn’t crap on Nike in the least…please read the full initial comment. I said they deserve to have it one there. I just don’t think any logo should be on the front of a team’s jersey except for the team itself. Proper placement would be to have the logo on the sleeve, or perhaps on the back of the collar…although not my fav.
My comment had NOTHING to do with Nike or turning a memorial into a bad thing, but everything to do with my opinion of the concept of having logos on the front of jerseys. And yes….I’m dissecting the distance between the patch and the swoosh….this IS the Obsessive Study of Athletics Aesthetics, so I have the right to voice an opinion to the thought that a corporate logo should not be so close to a memorial….I don’t care who put it there.
And only certain readers of this blog could find a way to turn an opinion into a bad thing.
#78 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 2:42 pm |
dude…this is UNI WATCH…are you new here?
i don’t think said poster was turning it into a bad thing…although many yankee haters will find any excuse to bash them, including equating the VaTech exhibition into a bad thing…just as some will find any excuse to bash nike
i LOVE nike, and being a tennis player and golfer (albeit, not a very good golfer), i buy nike clothing for the courts and the course…and you BET YOUR SWEET ASS i want that swoosh on my clothing, but that’s my choice
i just don’t see any majestic-bashing (and rightfully so) going on here, even though THEY have their logo on almost every MLB uni
i only hope if VaTech were a 3-stripe school, there’d be as much venom directed towards adi dassler’s company, or if VaTech were playing the nats or o’s…some would find some self-serving purpose in that
#79 by lwiedy on 03.19.08 2:44 pm |
Spring practice is no time to look for uniform changes. Equipment staffs often strip down helmets, jerseys, etc. Going by those photos, the Gators will be wear white jerseys with lame single color numbers, not likely (if your not Penn St) ;).
#80 by Marty Met on 03.19.08 2:49 pm |
The Yankees uniform is freaking ugly with or with out the manufacturer’s logo.
#81 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 2:49 pm |
I am every bit as opposed to the Majestic logo on an MLB sleeve as I am opposed to a swoosh on a sleeve (or chest, or wherever). I don’t talk about Majestic as much because they don’t employ the same carpet-bombing approach to branding that Nike does. Moreover, Majestic doesn’t market itself as a lifestyle brand like Nike does, so the effect isn’t as damaging. But your basic point — that MLB uniforms are just as compromised by logo creep as NFL and NHL uniforms — is accurate.
#82 by john on 03.19.08 2:55 pm |
Paul, your way off base, having the Yankees show up at VT in thier road greys would be showing up with half the arua. For a once in a lifetime game, I think the big picture was more important. The Yankees are pinstripes. One can only wonder what horrid combination the Mets would’ve shown up wearing !
#83 by todd krevanchi on 03.19.08 2:55 pm |
well, initially i intended to simply state that my “interpretation” of logo creep was that of excessive corporate branding on the athletic landscape. excessive meaning when multiple logos start intruding on the jersey or the pants/shorts.
that sports leagues and apparel companies are becoming even more business oriented than ever in how much they (the league) gets in cash, and how much exposure (the apparel co.) gets in brand id.
for the most part i think that pro sports teams have done a good job in preventing significant logo creep, some leagues better than others.
and to begin an intelligent discourse on a topic that although is spoken about often, is not discussed at all for varying opinions on its meaning.
but,
i can hardly equate the idea of having minimal acceptance for embroidered thread, sewn in the pattern of a corporate logo once on a jersey and once on the pants/shorts because a contract says they can do so if they outfit the entire sports league to the idea of having complete separation of white and black students because white people are good and black people are bad.
that was a bad example.
#84 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 2:59 pm |
You’re missing the point, Todd. The question was not “equating” logo creep with school segregation; the point was whether we should “accept” something, regardless of what it is, whether we “support” it or not, simply because “that’s just the way things are.” The specific examples you plug into that model don’t matter — the model itself (i.e., the basic premise of accepting things because they are the way they are) is the point. And I reject that model.
#85 by Jay on 03.19.08 2:59 pm |
My question then becomes why would Nike put the Swoosh directly opposite the VT school logo?
Which is more important, the Swoosh or the ‘VT’
Does the Swoosh distract from the ‘VT’?
#86 by Chad G on 03.19.08 3:07 pm |
I may be incorrect but I belive that in the NCAA manufacturers logos can only appear once on a uniform. It is most allways on the chest of the uniform top, except in basketball where the logo can only be on the shorts.
#87 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 03.19.08 3:34 pm |
I have a bit of a different problem with the Yankee-Va. Tech uniforms. What was supposed to be a tribute turned into a uniform disaster. The Yankees wore their home pinstripes and the Hokies broke out similar uniforms. Why? To look like the Yankees? Both teams wore Yankee caps. Why? Why didn’t Va. Tech wear their own logo on the front of their caps with an NY on the side. It looked more like a circus than a tribute to me.
#88 by LI Phil on 03.19.08 3:41 pm |
actually, i think it should be reversed…back in say, 1940, segregation was the norm in the south, not the exception, as was not having the logo of the manufacturer on the jersey
if integration (just like no logos on unis) were the norm, and we all of a sudden had people railing for segregation (or against logos on unis), the example might be more apropos
just as i don’t think paul is arguing FOR segregation (in fact, quite the contrary), one argument is FOR keeping the status quo (no logos & segregation) another is against it (logo creep and integration)…in other words, apples and oranges
but paul’s argument (that one should speak out against things on believes are wrong, such as logo creep and segregation) is well founded and astutely argued…and his point that even ONE logo is one too many (just as one segregated school is one too many) works for me…i just don’t think the segregation versus one nike logo argument is entirely apropos in this example…
btw, todd, where did you get “white people are good and black people are bad”? even segregationists didn’t argue that…they opposed the mixing of the races (at least overtly) not the superiority of one race over another (although covertly im sure this was their view)
#89 by todd krevanchi on 03.19.08 3:48 pm |
understood from a “stand up for your beliefs” perspecive.
PL, my whole thing with this term “logo creep” is that people use it so often here and so loosely, that its meaning got lost along the way and continues to get lost.
ive felt that ive always had somewhat of a grip on its meaning, and still, (because i accept that by paying to outfit a school or league, the company has been given in return, via contract, a small spot on that uni), my opinion on what your term called “logo creep” actually is, is the same as what yours is, except mine is a bit more tolerant of an opinion.
#90 by Paul Lukas on 03.19.08 3:52 pm |