Former Oregon track and field coach — and Nike co-founder — Bill Bowerman spent a good deal of his time away from the track making shoes. Until Nike existed in its infancy (and for a time afterward), many Oregon runners had custom-cobbled spikes made by Bowerman.
So when Barack Obama hits the campaign trail in Oregon and shows up at the Oregon Twilight track meet on Friday night, you’d think maybe he’d change shoes. Nah — just line up and head for the hurdles. To be completely fair, he did hit a taco place for lunch, a software company after that, and at least one town hall meeting before heading to Hayward Field. But still … can’t find the guy some track-appropriate kicks anywhere? (Bonus points, though, for getting over a hurdle in any fashion. Even thinking about it would kill McCain, and I don’t even want to think about Clinton trying it.)
But here is where the photographic gold is mined. I would be willing to bet this is the only time Paul would be OK with the use of this particular jersey. Because it’s kinda cool.
Interesting side note: Until Bowerman started making shoes for his athletes, Adidas was the preferred brand for the team. Asics were worn perhaps more frequently — because they were cheaper — but Adidas shoes got most of the race duties. but they were expensive and hard to secure in large numbers. And so Bowerman took his wife’s waffle iron and a rubber mixture and headed to the garage … you know the rest. — Bryan
#1 by Kevin M. on 05.10.08 9:38 am |
Why in the world did Pittsburg have a “white-out” against the Flyers last night. The Pens wore their black uni’s so it looked liked all the fans were cheering the Flyers.
#2 by Teebz on 05.10.08 10:03 am |
Because blackouts in hockey don’t work. It makes the arena look empty. Ask Los Angeles Kings’ fans what happened when they tried it.
And if it steams you, wait until Philly fans show up in orange when their team wears mostly black.
#3 by Jeff Beef Bone on 05.10.08 10:26 am |
I think most people think of Orange when they think of the Flyers. Their jerseys also used to have a lot more Orange in them, and their rumored alternate jersey for next year will be orange.
Plus when the whole place wheres orange, it looks awesome.
Not sure why the Penguins don’t give out gold colored t-shirts for a game or two. I think in each series they just did one of the home games as a white out, and then rest weren’t shirt giveaways.
What size shirt do they give out for those? Is there like the option at the front door? Huge boxes of different sizes. Or do they just give like XL to everyone?
#4 by Scott Little on 05.10.08 10:39 am |
The interesting side note at bottom isn’t quite right…
#5 by Julio on 05.10.08 10:41 am |
Come on now, that McCain joked was both lame, and rather (bleeped) up. Why didn’t Obama get an all cami jersey though?
#6 by Evan on 05.10.08 10:43 am |
They did it against the Rangers too, and I thought it looked stupid
They should have gone with that off yellow color instead of white
#7 by Chad on 05.10.08 11:40 am |
story about saudi women basketball http://www.usatoday....
no idea how to work links anymore
#8 by Kevin M. on 05.10.08 11:45 am |
Agreed using the “Old Gold” color would have been better or just plain yellow since that was in their old color scheme. It just looked odd.
#9 by MPowers1634 on 05.10.08 12:01 pm |
Let the Bryan bashing begin….and hopefully end!
I chuckled when I read it.
Another interesting side note in the history of Nike was that in the beginning, according to the book “The Story of Nike” by Aaron Frisch, Phil Knight called his company Blue Ribbon Sports. There are conflicting stories as to why, ranging from Knights affinity for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer to the Blue Ribbons harkening to racing awards.
Nonetheless in 1971, after much success but soaring overhead, Knight and Bowerman soon began promoting their new line of shoes branded Nike. Unfortunately for them, their shoes were a bust because they could not handle the cold weather. The soles would crack and therefore the shoes were reduced to 7.95 per pair. They soon began doing what Todd Helton does regularly and began placing their “Swoosh”, on the Asics Tiger Cortez.
Eventually a lawsuit was filed and somehow, BRS and Nike were allowed to continue using the Cortez as their own and they became well known eventually even landing on the feet of one stocky, dim-witted, bald man who also happened to be the assistant to the traveling secretary of the New York Yankees.
http://us.movies1.yi...
By the way, I’m working on a mystery…Here is the clue:
http://img.photobuck...
#24 is Geronimo Gil, a catcher, who played for the O’s and Rockies.
Who is #20? He was not on the roster for the WBC, because #20 at the time was 6′1″. Nor was he on the roster at all, becasue the most diminutive player was 5′9″.
WHo is this guy? He has batting gloves in his pocket, a taped wrist, Nike Huarache 2k4 cleats, and dirty pajama pants!
#10 by MPowers1634 on 05.10.08 12:03 pm |
BTW, if you ever want to watch a pretty good film concerning the beginning of Nike and the tragic downfall of their first endorser, Prefontaine, check out the film “Without Limits”.
#11 by Steve on 05.10.08 12:18 pm |
Love the topic of the day because I’m currently in the middle of reading the Bowerman and the Men of Oregon right now. What a fantastic biography!
#12 by Rob on 05.10.08 12:20 pm |
McCain would have beat the hurdle into submission.
Obama is all show and no substance, so the Oregon uniform fits perfectly.
Seriously people, he is so far left he makes Clinton look like Rush Limbaugh.
#13 by Talon Lardner on 05.10.08 1:00 pm |
I’m just thankful that I have an election where I can honestly say that there are good strong reasons to vote for McCain, Obama, and Clinton. I’m still undecided myself, and if came down to McCain vs. Obama (which is what I am rooting for), I’d be hard-pressed to figure out who’d be the best.
As for sports discussion, does anyone know if the Reebok Edge jersey thing is still going to be exclusive to all the teams, or will some be choosing something else to wear?
#14 by =bg= on 05.10.08 1:05 pm |
I’ve read a few books on Nike; the best is the link shown below. Book is well worth it. When they were about to go into production, the shoes were gonna be called “Dimension 6.” One of their guys, jeff Johnson I think, woke up in the middle of the night with a dream and the word “Nike” in the dream. And that was that. Knight thought the swoosh looked like a fat checkmark- it was done by a local art student. I think at the time, Knight was selling Onitsuka Tiger (later ASICS) out of his car.
http://www.amazon.co...
#15 by Mike Engle on 05.10.08 1:26 pm |
Hillary might get a cami jersey, but until Obama decides to pay homage to Rodman, that won’t happen. (I think the term you’re looking for is “camo.”)
In other news, U of Oregon is smart. If they would have given Obama #08 instead of #1, MLB would have threatened to sue.
#16 by B. GRimm on 05.10.08 1:52 pm |
I went to a few Cavs games the last couple years where they handed out t-shirts and they just handed out XLs for everyone. Luckily that’s my size.
#17 by Kevin M. on 05.10.08 2:09 pm |
XL would be a reasonable size to hand out to everyone. I went to a Braves game and they handed out L’s for everyone (and they were on the smaller end of the spectrum at that). Needless to say not a lot of people were earing them.
#18 by Elena G on 05.10.08 2:28 pm |
I don’t see why Hillary couldn’t manage the hurdles. We women of middle age aren’t as unathletic as you young men may think. Height isn’t everything.
XL free t-shirts only fit big guys. They are useless for most women and average size young people, except as a cleaning rag or nightshirt. It’s impossible to please many people with the one size fits almost no one shirts.
#19 by kgolrick on 05.10.08 2:35 pm |
Phils hand out XLs at their givaways as well. at least small people can where XLs (although they do look rediculous), but us big people rip through smaller shirts.
#20 by kgolrick on 05.10.08 2:36 pm |
wow, i can’t spell
#21 by Julio on 05.10.08 2:36 pm |
quote]
(I think the term you’re looking for is “camo.”)
quote]
After 12 years in the military, I still call them cami’s. camo just deosn’t roll off as easy.
#22 by BurghFan on 05.10.08 2:38 pm |
Because blackouts in hockey don’t work. It makes the arena look empty. Ask Los Angeles Kings’ fans what happened when they tried it.
And if it steams you, wait until Philly fans show up in orange when their team wears mostly black.
Oddly, the orange-out looks like an empty Civic (er, Mellon) Arena.
The T-shirts that the Penguins handed out were a cheap-looking black-on-white, and it doesn’t look like anything’s scheduled for tomorrow night.
#23 by BurghFan on 05.10.08 2:42 pm |
XL free t-shirts only fit big guys. They are useless for most women and average size young people, except as a cleaning rag or nightshirt. It’s impossible to please many people with the one size fits almost no one shirts.
In these cases, where they’re looking for a TV effect rather than souvenir value, it makes sense to hand out extra large shirts that people can put over what they’re already wearing. It also saves time at the turnstiles.
#24 by Bryan Redemske on 05.10.08 3:17 pm |
I have nothing against the athletic prowess of women of middle age. I ride with a few 40-something and 50-somethings who fare well in a group of guys. But in this case, a short, unathletic, late-50-something woman doesn’t seem like a likely candidate to get over that particular hurdle.
#25 by Bryan Redemske on 05.10.08 3:20 pm |
It’s a great book. Kenny Moore — along with his personal knowledge of the era — is a great writer.
#26 by Steve on 05.10.08 4:44 pm |
Couldn’t agree more. I’d love to see it expanded to the recent era of the company.
#27 by Patrick on 05.10.08 4:54 pm |
Gotta love those Shorpy pics! Note the jackets being worn by a few of the A’s, interesting pattern goes all the way around and includes the sleeves.
http://www.shorpy.co...
#28 by Michael on 05.10.08 4:59 pm |
Speaking of Barack Obama, Neighborhoodies is selling “throwback” Obama jerseys from his days at Punahou High School:
http://www.neighborh...
#29 by cnick on 05.10.08 5:13 pm |
Here’s video of the event at the track.
http://runnerspace.c...
#30 by Dave A on 05.10.08 5:17 pm |
I believe #20 is Eduardo Gaedelez, who was the Mexican team’s secret weapon. He only batted once, walked on four pitches and was removed for a pinch runner. Unfortunately, WBC officials were so afraid of being ridiculed at allowing such a loophole that Gaedelez’ stats were expunged from the game and official records.
#31 by Marcus Hall - B-More on 05.10.08 5:32 pm |
you had me for about 1/8 of a second…..
#32 by Tony Miller on 05.10.08 6:01 pm |
So, officially, a runner “got on” by doing nothing. But he didn’t get on and he did something.
I know it’s confusing, but we’re talking about baseball statisticians here.
#33 by Benjamin Bonnet on 05.10.08 7:06 pm |
I guess they fixed Santana’s jersey…for now.
#34 by Tony Miller on 05.10.08 8:20 pm |
On a totally random note…
I went to a little league game today and the first 10 players in the game for the “visiting” team were wearing #1 thru #10…not in order, but similar to the almost 1-2-3-4-5 NBA lineups.
#35 by docious on 05.10.08 8:36 pm |
Steve #11, sounds like a knob job. Similar to the monkier on NikeTalk of “MenofOregon.” You must be a company man.
Therefore, please lurk and do not comment.
Grassyass.
#36 by Zach on 05.10.08 8:47 pm |
Repost from yesterday:
I guess the comments are back on. I found this website on NASCAR paintjobs. I know now exacly uniforms but in a sense you see them alot more than you see the uniforms. Ill try to repost tomorrow if I get a chance.
Nascar “Uniforms”
#37 by Mike Engle on 05.10.08 9:39 pm |
Screen grab request.
Cincinnati at New York (NL), this evening, 10 May. (Game 2 of 2 in the double-header.)
Arroyo clearly has an old 5950 on his head. (See gray under-bill.) Doesn’t Mr. Lukas collect that sort of picture now that the current under-bills are black?
#38 by Steve on 05.10.08 10:31 pm |
…I don’t know if you’re joking or just an ass. Is Bryan on the inside of the company too for his praise of the book?
#39 by Matt on 05.10.08 10:35 pm |
The details on the Penguins whiteout. The jerseys were size XL and the ones from last night were different than Game 1 of the Rangers series. The jerseys from last night had writing outside the Penguins logo that noted it was the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Penguins looked into a “gold out” but decided that the aesthetic of that would not look good. Its really hard to duplicate that color and it would probably look more like a “khaki out” than a “gold out”.
#40 by odessasteps magazine on 05.10.08 11:11 pm |
Maybe they could have a “baby blue out,” in honor of their throwback/Outdoor Game sweaters.
#41 by bengals55 on 05.10.08 11:24 pm |
The Flyers are wearing orange next year. I have a picture of the third jersey. They showed them to the STH in a town hall meeting a while back. I sent them to Paul and I’m not sure he ever posted it.
http://i45.photobuck...
http://i45.photobuck...
#42 by Greg on 05.11.08 12:12 am |
Watching White Sox @ Mariners. Kenji Johjima has the Seattle S on the brim of his backward turned helmet when catching, as the strap would cover the S otherwise.
#43 by Luke Wellman on 05.11.08 12:18 am |
In keeping with the theme of hangding out colored shirts for playoff games, the Cavs gave out two colors (Navy and Wine) and alternated them by sections. This was the best picture that I could find, note the section with Wine shirts on and then the darker section wearing Navy just to its left.
http://www.nba.com/c...
#44 by Luke Wellman on 05.11.08 12:21 am |
Ok so this picture is a little bit better and you can see the lower level.
http://www.nba.com/c...
#45 by Jeff P on 05.11.08 12:43 am |
I like…
Is that a reverse color nameplate? White background with Orange lettering?
If so, nice touch. They can’t do the NNOB that the jerseys they’re trying to duplicate had, so that’s a good choice.
#46 by Ben on 05.11.08 12:44 am |
That’s a good one…
#47 by Joe 3 on 05.11.08 4:15 am |
The really weird part of Obama showing off a Oregon jersey is his brother in law, Craig Robinson, is the new basketball at arch-rival Oregon State.
Several people tried to get Sen. Obama to wear a Oregon cap during his visit. He politely declined.
http://www.kansascit...
Go Beavs!
#48 by Mark Graban on 05.11.08 12:53 pm |
The Dallas Stars have insisted on the “black out” business for the playoffs. Before the first series, goalie Marty Turco bitched about how it might be hard to pick up the puck (obviously) black at times (similar to having a white batters eye at a baseball stadium). Stupid.
I’ve been to a few games and either the fans don’t get the memo or it’s just not that impressive looking. Nothing like the Winnipeg Jets (or even the Phoenix Coyotes… yes, they’ve been in the playoffs) and their whiteout.
#49 by JP on 05.11.08 6:55 pm |
Jose Reyes rocked the high socks as the Mets wore their OFFICIAL HOME UNIFORM for a once.
It was gorgeous.