One of the things I like best about the Olympics — other than Visa commercials, of course — is how sports that nobody pays attention to normally are suddenly thrust into the spotlight. You know, like gymnastics, women’s basketball or soccer. (I swear, if anybody posts a complaint about that last sentence, humor is dead. It’s a damn joke. I shouldn’t have to put things in parenthesis like this. It’s making me all defensive and twitchy and stuff.)
Anyway … where were we? Ah, yes — obscure sports rising to the forefront, if only for a day. The example above is from team handball, which is kind of like soccer, except the ball is smaller and you can pick it up and run with it. And that’s someone from Angola telling someone from France where she can put her croissants and jam. Next up, the dressage portion of the equestrian competition. — Bryan
Oh — Paul’s out of town today. Rumor has it he’s heading to Minneapolis to get a haircut like this.
#1 by Ricko on 08.09.08 7:34 am |
In the late 60s-early 70s, under a program created by General Westmoreland, the US Army tried to drum up interest in team handball. Played it a couple times. Sort of a combination of soccer, basketball and football. Fun game. Too bad Americans aren’t into it.
#2 by BigBootyLover58 on 08.09.08 8:55 am |
While watching the Little League World Series last night, I was amazed at how many of these kids had that stupid “clown” makeup on. I’m starting to have a change of heart on the matter – I think they should be called out!
#3 by JeffB on 08.09.08 9:01 am |
A trip to Minneapolis without a UniWatch gathering at Nye’s? I call shenanigans.
Hell of a haircut though.
#4 by scott on 08.09.08 9:10 am |
I see Anthony Reyes is still wearing high socks/ stirrups for the Indians, but they don’t seem as nice as the ones he sported for the Cardinals.
#5 by Sam Mc on 08.09.08 9:28 am |
I am going to be a senior in high school this year and our school has what we call the “Super Bowl”. The top teams from first and second semesters go against each other in handball with most of the school watching in the gym. Being all seniors and guys, it gets pretty crazy. Handball can get physical if you know how to play.
#6 by Dan from PC on 08.09.08 9:30 am |
Couldn’t enjoy your sarcasm more on this lovely Saturday morning in Hoboken. Kudos, Bryan.
#7 by Todd on 08.09.08 9:40 am |
Uni related Olympic stuff…The nike horse boots look like a bad sci-fi movie.
#8 by Todd on 08.09.08 9:41 am |
http://dvice.com/arc...
Link
#9 by Elbridge on 08.09.08 10:02 am |
Angola’s women’s handball team has their first names only on the back!
#10 by Jamie on 08.09.08 10:13 am |
HOW DARE YOU INSULT SOCCER AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL. DIE BRYAN DIE. Oh, wait, there’s another sentence here. Ah, I see. It was a joke. Never mind. Live, Bryan, live.
#11 by sepncer on 08.09.08 10:31 am |
you forgot about badminton and fencing.
#12 by Dustin on 08.09.08 10:31 am |
So, watching Women’s Volleyball this morning, nd looks like Mizuno didn’t know how to handle the Americans’ NOBs. Some look like different font, some are drastically radially arched and some are straight across.
I guess it could be worse. It’s not like what Nike would have done, remove names numbers and country flags with swooshes, right?
#13 by douglas on 08.09.08 10:42 am |
Elbridge said:
In portuguese, speaking countries players, as most people, are known by their first names, or even their nicknames since there are not enough exclusive firstnames for everyone : Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, etc…
What’s with the title? France actually won the game 32-21
Why not an article about yesterdays opening outfits? Or maybe you kept it for monday.
#14 by Bob Andrews on 08.09.08 10:42 am |
I played some recreational Team Handball in college. Lots of fun if you don’t mind guys throwing a rock-like projectile at your face. Hakeem Olajuwon played Team Handball before he played basketball. Scary thought.
#15 by Smail on 08.09.08 10:43 am |
The US Women’s Volleyball team has some serious NOB issues. #15 Tom’s name has about two empty spaces between each letter, while everyone else’s names are run together. Some players have horizontal nameplates, other’s have arched names. Different sized letters on different players as well.
#16 by Taha on 08.09.08 10:44 am |
That’s a poser haircut. a REAL fan would have dyed the Mowawk Purple and the horn thingy white. What the heck is that dad teaching his kid? That it’s ok to do things half-ass?
#17 by Johnny O on 08.09.08 11:37 am |
As I am reading this, I am watching Olympic Men’s Singles Badminton… and it’s amazing! Go World!
P.S. I wonder what kind of shoes they wear for badminton… do they have badminton shoes? I’m sure they do.
#18 by Mike on 08.09.08 11:57 am |
Taha said:
Well it’s halfway there. It does look as though the mohawk is purple.
#19 by Lauren on 08.09.08 12:01 pm |
#20 by ChrisS on 08.09.08 12:17 pm |
JeffB said:
Hey, UniWatch gatherings in Minneapolis, that’s the kind of thing I’d like to see.
#21 by Kek on 08.09.08 12:22 pm |
There was an outstanding article in the Wall Street Journal about Handball, I think back in 2004. I recall the tone of the piece being “why isn’t this more popular in America because it’s a really exciting game?”
I’ve always enjoyed watching it every four years. I’ll try to dig up that article.
We played it in gym back in junior high but it was an experiment and never really caught on in the curriculum. I think there are some rec leagues in Pittsburgh that play it though.
#22 by Kek on 08.09.08 12:25 pm |
Bryan, you forgot to mention cycling in your discussion of sports people only care about… well, not fair, the Tour de France is EVERY year so people only care about it once a year, not once every four!!!!
(I’m ONLY KIDDING! Truth be told, I’m a big cycling fan.)
#23 by Tom on 08.09.08 12:32 pm |
Testosterone overload, eh Sam Mc? Sounds like a blast.
I remember a gym class where we were playing a game called pickle ball — wooden paddles, plastic ball, badminton net — and it was for the doubles title of the class, or something. Two evenly matched teams, a real battle. For some reason, the gym teacher let us keep playing even after the next period had begun, then gave us excused absences. It was great.
#24 by Mr. Met on 08.09.08 1:06 pm |
Never understood that whole faux-hawk thing. Can someone explain to me why someone would willingly walk around looking like a moron?
#25 by johnny mac on 08.09.08 1:21 pm |
tom,
grew up in western pa and played “pickle ball” religiously in p.e. we need to start a movement to get it into the 2012 games.
#26 by Shane on 08.09.08 1:26 pm |
It takes less effort to look like a moron than it does to grow out the mohawk and glue/hairspray it up, I suppose.
I dunno. My curly hair doesn’t let me rock a mohawk.
#27 by Paul F. on 08.09.08 2:27 pm |
is the russian handball team’s numbers really necessary??http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=186960.html
#28 by Zach on 08.09.08 3:45 pm |
this has nothing to do with uniforms but…
has anyone seen the new “Nike Courage” commercial.. has clips of Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Sharapova, C. Ronaldo, Rooney, a few other olympic athletes I cant name, and its set to the song “All these things that ive done by the Killers”
if you have not seen it, check it out here… its nothing short of brilliant.
http://www.youtube.c...
#29 by Rob C. on 08.09.08 4:16 pm |
I don’t have a screen shot, but it looks like one of the two American beach volleyball players (don’t know which one) took the lenses out of his Oakleys since it’s night, but is still wearing the frames. He’s had ample opportunities to take the frames off, not to mention it’s easier to just take the glasses off altogether than remove those lenses. The only thing I can guess is that it’s a sponsorship requirement by Oakley that he keeps wearing them, regardless of conditions. Oy.
#30 by Jeremiah on 08.09.08 4:21 pm |
Currently watching the Mens Beach Volleyball game between the US and Latvia. US volleyballer Phillip Dalhausser appears to have taken the lenses out of his sunglasses. The announcers came up with a lame excuse that they fell out, but also mentioned that it might be a sponsorship issue and that’s why he’s still wearing the frames.
Here’s the picture of Dalhausser sans lenses. He did remove them later on in the match.
Also earlier on in the US womens match against the Dutch, one of the Dutch’s names was way off centered nothing like the other 3 players on the beach. I didn’t catch a shot of it, if anyone else did I’m sure everyone would like to see it.
#31 by Jordan Sogn on 08.09.08 4:40 pm |
Oklahoma is applying the graphic to the back of the new video scoreboard…love the jersey mesh look they have decided to use!
http://www.soonerspo...
#32 by James Craven on 08.09.08 5:12 pm |
How many Aflac ducks can you find on the jerseys worn in the All-American baseball game in LaLaLand?
Just Manny being Manny my @$$.
#33 by Beardface on 08.09.08 5:40 pm |
Photo gallery of the new VT uniforms with pads underneath from this afternoon’s media day in Blacksburg…
http://beamerball.co...
RIP Bernie Mac
#34 by Johnny F. on 08.09.08 6:04 pm |
Hey all… I’m watching a USA-Argentina boxing match, and the Argentinian’s shorts have a big, gold, shiny star sewn on his crotch. Weird.
#35 by Stevo on 08.09.08 6:30 pm |
Todd said:
I didn’t know about the sprinter’s shoes Adidas developed with Wariner, I’m amazed no one thought of that before. Maybe the next progression will be developing shoes with different “stagger” based on what lane the runner is in. Never ceases to amaze me just how far running shoe technology has come since Bill Bowerman started playing with the waffle iron.
#36 by Stevo on 08.09.08 6:33 pm |
johnny mac said:
I’m all for that, but you’ll probably have to wait till 2016, and we have to find out if the rest of the world has even heard of it.
#37 by Brian on 08.09.08 6:50 pm |
Zach said:
That is a pretty good commercial.
#38 by Stuby on 08.09.08 7:15 pm |
Throwbacks in a preaseason game? Buffalo wearing their white helmet classic against the ‘Skins tonight
#39 by Ricko on 08.09.08 7:27 pm |
ChrisS said:
Say when.
#40 by Jordan Pope on 08.09.08 7:45 pm |
Beardface said:
what is with part of the team wearing white jerseys
#41 by Michael on 08.09.08 8:12 pm |
Wow, I think the new VT jerseys look worse than the old ones! The pants seem to be an improvement.
Not sure if this has already been it has been mentioned in one of Paul’s previous entries or in past comments. Has anything official announced about the Jacksonville Jaguars changing the stripe on there white pants? The Falcons are playing them & it’s on TV here in Atlanta. The stripe on is mostly black with two gold piping strips not the varsity style striping with white between each different color. I don’t have screen grab capability or else I’d post a pic.
#42 by Stevo on 08.09.08 8:21 pm |
Stevo said:
Not enough maroons?
#43 by Jordan Sogn on 08.09.08 8:24 pm |
Brian said:
Wish they would have ended it with “with all things things that I have done” as said song does.
#44 by Jeff P on 08.09.08 8:28 pm |
Panthers in white at home against the colts tonight, And I can only presume it has to do with the heat.
#45 by Beardface on 08.09.08 8:47 pm |
Jordan Pope said:
For the team picture…
Seniors are on the front row, assembled by number… R-Fr through R-Jr are in maroon assembled by number
true freshmen are in white
#46 by Beardface on 08.09.08 8:48 pm |
Jeff P said:
Panthers actually wear white at home a lot, more than you’d think, especially early in the season and even at times in the playoffs…
#47 by James Craven on 08.09.08 8:54 pm |
Stuby said:
Speaking of throwbacks, bring back Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann (and hell, Paul Maguire) to ESPN Monday Night Football. I always believed in the theory of “If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.”
JeffB said:
I’ll call their brothers Blarney and Mullarkey for shiggles as well.
#48 by Stevo on 08.09.08 8:58 pm |
JeffB said:
Shenanigan’s, isn’t that the place with the goofy stuff on the walls and the Mozzarella sticks?
#49 by Jason on 08.09.08 8:59 pm |
The Bills in throwbacks. Also, WR Steve Johnson has his FNOB of his jersey…
#50 by Johnny F. on 08.09.08 9:22 pm |
Hey all… I’m watching the Mets-Marlins game, and Hanley Ramirez just hit a double. As he settled on second base, the camera angle switched and showed him from behind. I noticed (sorry no screen grab) that Hanley still has the 2008 All-Star logo on the back of his helmet.
I figured y’all would find this a bit interesting.
#51 by Beardface on 08.09.08 9:44 pm |
Looks like all the Panthers’ WRs, DBs, and RBs have the Reebok logo behind the Panther head on the sleeves because of the cut instead of above it…
#52 by Kek on 08.09.08 9:59 pm |
Misti May Treanor wearing a headband with “NAUTICA” on it. Where’s the outrage?
#53 by BS on 08.09.08 10:22 pm |
Kek said:
Where are the viewers? Watching baseballand preseason football and not relatively unattractive chics playing volleyball. America’s two favorite past-times outweigh chics in bikinis.
#54 by Beardface on 08.09.08 10:27 pm |
No screen capture, but in swimming, Zhang Lin of China was wearing a LZR, but had the Speedo logo duct taped over…
wouldn’t you think that would negate the benefit of wearing it?
#55 by Aram on 08.09.08 10:28 pm |
We used to play Team Handball in middle school gym class. They’d always introduce the unit with a VHS tape of some Olympic game between West Germany and Yugoslavia in like 1984. Nothing like a bunch of European dudes with porno mustaches and short shorts playing a game you’ve never seen before.
And, yeah, it was ridiculously fun.
#56 by Beardface on 08.09.08 10:33 pm |
huh… and Zhang Lin wins silver even with the tape…
#57 by Stevo on 08.09.08 10:34 pm |
Beardface said:
It might cause a hint of drag, but the LZR provides enough of an advantage to overcome a tape edge.
#58 by Stevo on 08.09.08 10:41 pm |
The Medal Podium at the Watercube looks like some virtual studio.
#59 by Beardface on 08.09.08 10:54 pm |
Looks like all the Chinese who are wearing LZR’s have the Speedo logo duct taped over…
#60 by Michael on 08.09.08 10:57 pm |
http://projects.ajc....
Photo 7 shows a good shot of the stripe on the Jaguars white pants
#61 by =bg= on 08.09.08 11:48 pm |
James Craven said:
Saw an article today where MR wants to join the Yanks next year. That story oughta play well in Boston.
#62 by Frank on 08.10.08 12:14 am |
Stevo said:
Alright, I’m gonna pistol whip the next guy who says Shenanigan’s!
#63 by Kek on 08.10.08 12:22 am |
BS said:
Nonsense. Summer games come every four years. That’s more interesting to me than regular season baseball that you can watch ANY time.
As far as preseason football goes, you go right ahead and keep watch those meaningless games…it gives the NFL owners the right to continue to rip off fan bases by charging regular season ticket prices for what are nothing but glorified scrimmages.
…and you totally missed my sarcastic point in the first place. Everytime a swoosh ends up on a piece of clothing there are a flock of folks in here ready scream bloody murder (I believe the owner of this fine blog once referred to the swoosh as the “mark of the beast”). It was just an ill attempt at humor, which I guess wasn’t that good since I had to explain it!!
Don’t take everything so literal!!!!
#64 by Shane on 08.10.08 12:25 am |
Brazil’s men and women soccer teams will stop wearing Nike kits for the rest of the Olympics.
Also, why there’s no country logo/emblem on soccer jerseys…
http://www.nbcolympi...
#65 by Shane on 08.10.08 12:28 am |
It’s not unusual for Carolina to sport the white jerseys for home games. It was only in the mid 80s today, plus the game started after 7:30.
#66 by Curtis on 08.10.08 2:13 am |
Jarrod Washburn pinch ran again tonight for the mariners, and he needed time to put his belt on again
#67 by Chad T on 08.10.08 2:37 am |
It seems as if the men’s v-ball team has the same NOB issues as the women. Also, the Venezuelan team has only first names on the back of their jerseys.
#68 by Samuel Lam on 08.10.08 4:29 am |
The Jaguars did change the piping of their pants.
In previous years, the white pants looked like this.
Last night, their white pants looked like this.
I actually DO NOT like this change. I had grown so used to the other one and it looked so much better. This change wasn’t even necessary.
#69 by Dixie Man 1957 on 08.10.08 9:55 am |
Samuel Lam said:
The image from last evenings game shows so many “wrongs” in today’s NFL, in regard to uniforms!!! These modern uniforms are nothing more than a “cash grab” for a league that is already flowing with green-backs!!!
Bring back the grey facemasks…longer sleeves…primary colors…simple logos!!!
OK…I feel better!
#70 by Smarty Pants on 08.10.08 11:31 am |
Dixie Man,
You hit a home run with your statement…the NFL is nothing more than an extension of the Hip-Hop culture…and eventually, it will turn off the fans who “pay” for the league’s extravagance…and perhaps then, it will return to its glory of the 1950’s and 60’s…when intelligent men played a brutal game…ahhh, memories!!!
#71 by Dixie Man 1957 on 08.10.08 11:39 am |
Smarty Pants said:
Smarty:
Good to see the comments from another NFL fan of the bygone era. One of my favorite sayings from Saint Vince Lombardi, was, in replying to football being a “contact sport”, he replied, “Dancing is a ‘contact sport’…football is a ‘violent sport!’”
Unfortunately, there are no Lombardi’s today…or Hornungs, or Butkus’…or Marchettis…or Baughs…or Grahams…I better quit, before I spend all day typing those great icons from the past…who would run circles around today’s crop of “athletes”…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#72 by Brian on 08.10.08 3:37 pm |
Smarty Pants said:
Oh please.
#73 by BS on 08.10.08 9:56 pm |
Kek said:
I was using double sarcasm… Check the ratings, MLB and NFL preseason will outrank almost all of of the Olympics(other than basketball, gymnastics, and swimming).