So Much for that ‘Sun Devils’ Moniker

I don’t get it… the place has a roof. How does it get “rained out.”

…unless having the “second outdoor women’s college basketball game” (or its first rainout) was more important to ASU then actually completing the game. This falls under the “stupid” category on a couple of levels. Close the roof!

Michigan and Michigan State played outdoors at Spartan Stadium in 2001. link This was before the Montreal-Edmonton game.

I attended Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine for my senior year of high school and played on the hockey team. The rink was not covered and the boards were enclosed by chain-link fence instead of plexiglass. When the winds came across the athletic fields, up the hill and through the rink it made for some damn cold games and practices. It wasn’t until 1993 that the rink was enclosed with the current Robinson Arena.

[quote comment=”31216″]Michigan and Michigan State played outdoors at Spartan Stadium in 2001. link This was before the Montreal-Edmonton game.[/quote]

Sports Illustrated had a picture of that game while it was being played, it was really amazing, the stadium was completely sold out.

Here are more pictures. You will notice that both teams are wearing a special patch: MSU on the left shoulder and MU on the right shoulder.
link

Ohio State and Wisconsin also played outdoors — on the (really) frozen tundra at Lambeau Field — a few years ago. I’ll try to find some pictures.

While looking for Frozen Tundra game pictures, I came across this amazing photo of early Wisconsin hockey. Check out the stripes and the helmets!
link

[quote comment=”31218″]I attended Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine for my senior year of high school and played on the hockey team. The rink was not covered and the boards were enclosed by chain-link fence instead of plexiglass. When the winds came across the athletic fields, up the hill and through the rink it made for some damn cold games and practices. It wasn’t until 1993 that the rink was enclosed with the current Robinson Arena.[/quote]

I played at (and then coached at) Northfield Mount Hermon in Mass. The rink is still considered outdoors with nothing but a chain link fence on both sides loosely covered by a tarp. Not only have they not enclosed it, they still used chain link fence for glass up until 1996. There were days when we played there that we had to wear togues under our helmets, and keep those warming hand packs in our gloves.

[quote comment=”31223″]Chad Johnson’s shoes were taped up after he had a talk with link, the NFL official on site for the game. Chad taped the shoes up so he would not get fined or told to sit out the game.[/quote]

Actually, he wore a completely different pair of shoes altogether. The shoes he wore were taped up (or “spatted”), but they were definately black shoes–whereas the customized shoes in question were orange and black tiger-striped.

During the game one of the sideline reporters actually had the offending shoes and was showing them off to the camera, so obviously chad wasn’t wearing them at the time.

According to sources during the game, he was in fact fined for even bring them out onto the field, but faced ejection if he would have worn them during the game.

chad johnson started in those tiger striped shoes until the human bobble head (hanks) made him take them off. he then was wearing reeboks with black tape… and then it looks like he just took all of the tape off (nfl mandate?).

[quote comment=”31221″]Playing basketball outside is a bad idea. Hockey, fine, Don’t have much issue with that because you play on ICE. If that basketball floor got wet from the rain it is ruined now. Good move Arizona.[/quote]
HEY!! That’s Arizona State that pulled this stunt. NOT U of Arizona. Big difference for us out here, sort of like Michigan v. MSU or Florida v. FSU. etc.
Thanks, just wanted to clear that up.

Nike’s apparently selling link now.

The No Fun League at its finest. If CJ wants to wear repulsively ugly shoes, why cant he? They were Reeboks, and they were kind of black (blackish, I guess…OK, not so much) They dont threaten to fine Reggie Bush for wearing his gold Adidas.

sorry, it wassupposed to be threaten to suspend Reggie Bush, we all know they are fining him for the “offesnive” shoes (ie- they arent Reeboks)

Wasn’t there talk about a second MSU/UM outdoor hockey game, in Ann Arbor?

Maybe someone else can confirm this…I heard that all the pictures that were on Ocho Cinco’s shoes before the game were of him scoring against the Colts. So not only were the shoes picture books, but the pictures themselves were specific to the opponent (the Colts).

I can verify that Gandy, Simmons and Anderson wearing Kra-lite helmets has nothing to do with them going to Auburn. None of those 3 players wore Kra-lites when they played at Auburn. Gandy finished up in 92 or 93, Anderson in 95, and Simmons in 97 or 98. No one on Auburn’s team wears Kra-lite helmets, either back then, or now. It’s probably that Willie started wearing one when he joined the Bengals. He’s a mentor to a lot of Auburn linemen who enter the league, and he may have recommended the helmet to them. I don’t have the photo evidence, but I’ve been to enough Auburn games in my life to know that the Kra-lite has never been wore by an Auburn Tiger.

Our local paper has a story about a former basketball player at Kansas, now in his 80’s, who was the 1st equipment manager for the Dallas Cowboys (see it online at link; may require a free registration). The story claims that the gentleman “…devised three innovations in the football players’ gear: He said he had sweatshirt fabric sewn onto the front of the uniforms to create hand warmers for the receivers and other players and placed sponge rubber inside the front of the helmet to better protect players’ noses.”

After playing at Kansas he played in the NBA (for the Chicago Stags and the Indianapolis Jets) and was an assistant coach under Phog Allen. He helped recruit Wilt Chamberlain to play at Kansas.

Scott

Back to the Kra-lites, is it a coincidence that Gandy, Simmons, and Lloyd are or were Pittsburgh Steelers?

Cinncinati has been known for there frugal tactics in regards to facemasks. (They use Riddell helmets, predominately, which come with Riddell facemasks,obviously. Most teams/players prefer to use Schutt but they are an additional cost.) Refer to the HelmetHut.com under the Bengals in the NFL section for details.

I’ve been hearing rumors of a proposed Rangers/Islanders or Rangers/Devils game to be played at one of the baseball stadiums – probably Yankee Stadium. Nice idea, just rumors though. I’d go if it happened.

Re: indoor/outdoor games–The Beanpot Tournament in Boston which is held annually between 4 Boston schools (Harvard, BU, BC, and Northeastern) has been in talks to hold the tournament at Fenway park in the future.

There may be hockey at Fenway, but it won’t be the Beanpot. BC has been talking about playing a game there for a few years. The Red Sox have stated that any hockey game will not involve the Beanpot.

There is a Beanpot tournament at Fenway, however: The same four schools have played a baseball beanpot since about 1990. It has been at Fenway every year except 2004.

More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link

[quote comment=”31263″]More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link
Since when did New Mexico and Navy play in the Emerald Bowl?

[quote comment=”31214″]…unless having the “second outdoor women’s college basketball game” (or its first rainout) was more important to ASU then actually completing the game. This falls under the “stupid” category on a couple of levels. Close the roof![/quote]

When then it wouldn’t be outdoors then would it?

[quote comment=”31266″][quote comment=”31263″]More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link
Since when did New Mexico and Navy play in the Emerald Bowl?[/quote]

In 2004. Notice all the Midshipmen? The Academy actually reimburses them for flying to bowl games sometimes. Not sure if this was one of those years. I know they did in 2003 with the EV1.Net bowl.

[quote comment=”31248″]Maybe someone else can confirm this…I heard that all the pictures that were on Ocho Cinco’s shoes before the game were of him scoring against the Colts. So not only were the shoes picture books, but the pictures themselves were specific to the opponent (the Colts).[/quote]

I saw at least one pick of him scoring against Baltimore.

[quote comment=”31275″][quote comment=”31248″]Maybe someone else can confirm this…I heard that all the pictures that were on Ocho Cinco’s shoes before the game were of him scoring against the Colts. So not only were the shoes picture books, but the pictures themselves were specific to the opponent (the Colts).[/quote]

I saw at least one pick of him scoring against Baltimore.[/quote]

sorry, that’s “pic”, as in short for “picture”.

With all the hassle you gave Mount Union, I figured you’d be giving my old alma mater a verbal whooping too after link.

Go Rowan! Buffalo Bills of D-III!

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the first in which basketball was a medal sport, the games were played outdoors on a clay court.

[quote comment=”31276″][quote comment=”31272″][quote comment=”31266″][quote comment=”31263″]More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link
Since when did New Mexico and Navy play in the Emerald Bowl?[/quote]

In 2004. Notice all the Midshipmen? The Academy actually reimburses them for flying to bowl games sometimes. Not sure if this was one of those years. I know they did in 2003 with the EV1.Net bowl.[/quote]

I remember watching this game and Navy had the ball for like 16 minutes during 1 drive in this game[/quote]

Yup, that was the game. 14 and a half minutes and in resulted in a field goal!

The Kings and Rangers played an exhibition game at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. I think it was in 1990 or 1991. I seem to remember a huge insect problem.

[quote comment=”31266″][quote comment=”31263″]More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link
Since when did New Mexico and Navy play in the Emerald Bowl?[/quote]

2004.

Are both teams benches on the same sideline? What a strange configuration.

[quote comment=”31273″][quote comment=”31263″]More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.

link
The Insight Bowl is played at link in Phoenix or at least it was until this year. The same place as the Scum Devils b’ball game last night.[/quote]

I remember Chase Field/BOB was designed with events other than baseball in mind. It was a publicly-financed stadium for the most part, and the fact that sticks in my head is that “85% of seats are located between the foul poles” (from link. It commonly holds concerts and other events (monster truck rallies?)

But the news that Pac Bell hosts the Emerald Bowl was news to me…I always assumed it was at Candlestick.

Does anyone know if they replace the turf at Chase Field annually? I know they’ve had trouble growing grass there, and it looks terrible in that picture, like half of it is dead.

[quote comment=”31275″][quote comment=”31248″]Maybe someone else can confirm this…I heard that all the pictures that were on Ocho Cinco’s shoes before the game were of him scoring against the Colts. So not only were the shoes picture books, but the pictures themselves were specific to the opponent (the Colts).[/quote]

I saw at least one pick of him scoring against Baltimore.[/quote]

Yeah, Baltimore’s on outside of the right shoe, and it looks like the Tintans and Raiders are on there too. Can’t see the left shoe well enough from the pictures posted.

[quote comment=”31298″]The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.[/quote]

I don’t see that as a viable option…although the proliferation of “streetball” style and antics might warrant it. I just laughed when Nate Robinson said they were getting their noses rubbed in it, yet when he showboated on a dunk, got called for a walk, and was told not to do it again, he said “I may do it again…if we’re up by 20.” I will say – I watched a little of the Knicks/Jazz game last night…didn’t mind the Jazz powder blue unis.

[quote comment=”31222″]Here are more pictures. You will notice that both teams are wearing a special patch: MSU on the left shoulder and MU on the right shoulder.
link

Ohio State and Wisconsin also played outdoors — on the (really) frozen tundra at Lambeau Field — a few years ago. I’ll try to find some pictures.[/quote]

Look at the first picture with the three goalies. The first goalie, who if i’m not mistaken is Buffalo Hairpiece goalie Ryan Miller, has eye black on.

Boths teams are on one sideline during the Emerald Bowl.

That Navy drive by the way was the longest drive in terms of time in NCAA History. I believe they started at their own 1yd line at the start of the fourth quarter and then kicked a field goal with 30secs left in the game. 14:30. Gotta love the Flex Bone.

I believe both teams were also on the same sideline during the now defunct Seattle Bowl which was played at the Mariners ballpark.

link

link

More on that Navy drive,

From its 1-yard line with 1:41 left in the third quarter following a rousing goal-line stand, to the New Mexico 5-yard line with 2:15 left in the fourth, Navy took 26 plays to go 94 yards and used up a staggering 14 minutes, 26 seconds — all for a lousy 22-yard field goal.

[quote comment=”31238″]Nike’s apparently selling link now.[/quote]

Looks like they’re in the wrong color – Ohio State is wearing their white jerseys in the championship game, though I’m sure Nike doesn’t care.

According to a report on NFL.com, the Bengals are considering a uniform redesign. They showed some preliminary skecthes, check them out.

link

[quote comment=”31298″]The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.[/quote]

Gee, have a little racism on your mind? NBA players are no more wrong with their actions than MLB players, NHL players and NFL players yet everybody thinks that NBA players are punks. Is it because they are flashy off the court (which is not illegal by the way). Is it because they are cocky and showboat (what the heck are NFL players then). MLB players have been cheating and taking steroids for years. NBA players fight about once a season and everybody throws a hissy fit. How many times do pitchers purposely throw at players and incite brawls? How many times do NHL players fight for no good reason. It seems to me that the NBA has the least amount of confrontations out of any of the major sports yet they take the most grief for it.

I am the biggest Celtics fan you will ever meet but even I know that Larry Bird was an asshole. He wasn’t close to respectful on the court. NBA games were much more violent in the 80s. The Hawks and Celtics got into a scuffle and Danny Ainge (supposedly) bit Tree Rollins. Kevin Mchale clotheslined Kurt Rambis and wasn’t even kicked out of the game, it actually inspired his team to come back and win the series. Larry Bird and Dr. J had eachother by the necks and Bird threw a punch at him. But today the players are punks because one isolated incident which was blown WAY out of proportion by ESPN and every other news channel that called it a “brawl.” One really wimpy punch was thrown and then the puncher ran away in the other direction like a wuss. But most of the players on the floor were young, cocky, flashy, rich black athletes so they are immediately labeled punks while Larry Bird is “respectable.” Does that make any sense to you?

[quote comment=”31231″]This picture from the Frozen Tundra game shows a goalie wearing a toque. But my guess is that this is the backup and he wore the cap on the bench to keep warm.
link

That is correct. He is walk-on goaltender Jeff Hendrickson

[quote]I really can’t see athletes like Wayne Gretzky or Brett Favre or Derek Jeter pull off something dirty/cheap like this.[/quote]

I’m sure Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Belle, and Bill Romanowski are all upstanding citizens in your mind too right? It’s only NBA players that do wrong in this glorious sports world, right?

[quote comment=”31317″][quote comment=”31298″]The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.[/quote]

Gee, have a little racism on your mind? NBA players are no more wrong with their actions than MLB players, NHL players and NFL players yet everybody thinks that NBA players are punks. Is it because they are flashy off the court (which is not illegal by the way). Is it because they are cocky and showboat (what the heck are NFL players then). MLB players have been cheating and taking steroids for years. NBA players fight about once a season and everybody throws a hissy fit. How many times do pitchers purposely throw at players and incite brawls? How many times do NHL players fight for no good reason. It seems to me that the NBA has the least amount of confrontations out of any of the major sports yet they take the most grief for it.

I am the biggest Celtics fan you will ever meet but even I know that Larry Bird was an asshole. He wasn’t close to respectful on the court. NBA games were much more violent in the 80s. The Hawks and Celtics got into a scuffle and Danny Ainge (supposedly) bit Tree Rollins. Kevin Mchale clotheslined Kurt Rambis and wasn’t even kicked out of the game, it actually inspired his team to come back and win the series. Larry Bird and Dr. J had eachother by the necks and Bird threw a punch at him. But today the players are punks because one isolated incident which was blown WAY out of proportion by ESPN and every other news channel that called it a “brawl.” One really wimpy punch was thrown and then the puncher ran away in the other direction like a wuss. But most of the players on the floor were young, cocky, flashy, rich black athletes so they are immediately labeled punks while Larry Bird is “respectable.” Does that make any sense to you?[/quote]
Your first line said it all:”have a little racism on your mind?” I stopped reading after that, let’s get serious.

[quote comment=”31323″][quote]I really can’t see athletes like Wayne Gretzky or Brett Favre or Derek Jeter pull off something dirty/cheap like this.[/quote]

I’m sure Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Belle, and Bill Romanowski are all upstanding citizens in your mind too right? It’s only NBA players that do wrong in this glorious sports world, right?[/quote]

The biggest prroblem that the NBA faces with trouble either on the court or off is that they have the fewest amount of players in the league than the NHL, MLB, or NFL. So their percentages of problems is worse. Like this summer when Stephen Jackson and 3 teammates were in a bar fight and he pulled out a gun in the parking lot because he was almost ran over by a car. The problem here is that it’s magnified because this happened to atleast 25% of the team. The NBA only allows 15 roster spots and only 12 dress every game. The NFL has 55 roster spots plus a practice squad, MLB has 25 plus the minor leagues and I’m not sure how many roster spots the NHL has but I know that every night they dress 18 plus 2 goalies and most teams carry well more than that on their rosters.

AND NOW BACK TO UNIFORMS…

Everyone’s making such a big stink about Ocenta y Cinco’s shoes, but what about his French soccer jersey and shiny red soccer ball that he was messing around with on the field instead of practicing how to not drop an American football?

[quote comment=”31323″]
I’m sure Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Belle, and Bill Romanowski are all upstanding citizens in your mind too right? It’s only NBA players that do wrong in this glorious sports world, right?[/quote]

In no way am I defending any of the men listed in the quote above, but, Pat, have you seen link? It is far different than the Nuggets-Knicks brawl. Stop with the comparisons of completely different sports and situations. Each are isolated incidents with no correlation to each other.

I think “N.” (#6) is correct — Jammer’s Reebok logo has a grass stain. Either that or it’s an effect of the lighting/photo. Evidence: link from before the game (which I got from link) shows the Reebok logo on Jammer’s shoulder pristine and white.

[quote comment=”31335″][quote comment=”31323″]
I’m sure Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Belle, and Bill Romanowski are all upstanding citizens in your mind too right? It’s only NBA players that do wrong in this glorious sports world, right?[/quote]

In no way am I defending any of the men listed in the quote above, but, Pat, have you seen link? It is far different than the Nuggets-Knicks brawl. Stop with the comparisons of completely different sports and situations. Each are isolated incidents with no correlation to each other.[/quote]

I wasn’t comparing incidents. I was comparing character. I don’t know anything about Bertuzzi outside of this one incident, though, so if he is a great humanitarian consider this my apology to him. The others are not. My point was questionable characters exist in all sports not just the NBA, yet one isolated situation occurs in the NBA and people throw a fit and ESPN has 24-7 coverage. People seem too quick to judge NBA players and hesitant to judge other sports stars (with, obviously, a few exceptions).

[quote comment=”31317″][quote comment=”31298″]The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.[/quote]

Gee, have a little racism on your mind? NBA players are no more wrong with their actions than MLB players, NHL players and NFL players yet everybody thinks that NBA players are punks. Is it because they are flashy off the court (which is not illegal by the way). Is it because they are cocky and showboat (what the heck are NFL players then). MLB players have been cheating and taking steroids for years. NBA players fight about once a season and everybody throws a hissy fit. How many times do pitchers purposely throw at players and incite brawls? How many times do NHL players fight for no good reason. It seems to me that the NBA has the least amount of confrontations out of any of the major sports yet they take the most grief for it.

I am the biggest Celtics fan you will ever meet but even I know that Larry Bird was an asshole. He wasn’t close to respectful on the court. NBA games were much more violent in the 80s. The Hawks and Celtics got into a scuffle and Danny Ainge (supposedly) bit Tree Rollins. Kevin Mchale clotheslined Kurt Rambis and wasn’t even kicked out of the game, it actually inspired his team to come back and win the series. Larry Bird and Dr. J had eachother by the necks and Bird threw a punch at him. But today the players are punks because one isolated incident which was blown WAY out of proportion by ESPN and every other news channel that called it a “brawl.” One really wimpy punch was thrown and then the puncher ran away in the other direction like a wuss. But most of the players on the floor were young, cocky, flashy, rich black athletes so they are immediately labeled punks while Larry Bird is “respectable.” Does that make any sense to you?[/quote]

The NBA athletes seem to thrive on the “tough guy” image and as far as hockey goes, when 2 guys start fighting, 99% of the time, everybody backs off and lets them go as opposed to jumping in and making it worse.

Did the comment hint at racism? Perhaps. Unfortunately, perception is reality to a lot of people. It’s like I tell my 10 year old who likes baggy skateboarder clothes “I know you’re not a punk and you know you’re not a punk, but if you choose to LOOK like one, people will assume you ARE one. The NBA is a showboat league – has been for a long time. The players seem to forget that it is a “team” game and care about “What am I getting paid?” and “How many shots am I getting?” to market the name on the back instead of the name on the front. And don’t tell me it’s about “sticking up for your teammates” – the only person in that whole thing who was sticking up for a teammate was Jared Jeffries, who only went after ‘Melo after ‘Melo threw the bitch-slap at Collins. If ‘Melo had any smarts at all, he’d realize “Why did I just waste almost 20% of my season on Mardy Collins?” I think the whole thing was ridiculous – and let’s not call it a riot either – it was a fight. A riot is what happens at soccer games in the fans when people go crazy. This was a fight.

Either way – the NBA got it all wrong and Stern needs to back up his words – if this crap keeps up, ban the players for life.

the whole knicks thing goes way beyond the fight. that whole organization and its management (to be read isiah thomas) is circus and an embarrassment to the league. the knicks are one of the most storied organizations in all of american organized sport. they were competing for the nba title as recently as 7 years ago, and now this organization is the laughing stock of its city and league. then this fight happens! if im on that team, a veteran and maybe have had a quiet, yoemans career in the nba, i would have walked off the court and made a public statement about the organization and how out of control it is. yeah, it might be career suicide, but heck, who wants to be associated with something like what is going on at msg.

Ah, I always wondered what made Sonny Jurgenson so ridiculous (for the uninitiated, listen to a Redskis radio broadcast sometime. This guy was Terry Bradshaw before Fox NFL Sunday ever existed). I guess having your helmet knocked off every time you’re hit will make you lose a few brain cells.

Also, now that I’ve looked at it several times, the nike-hijab isn’t all that bad. Kinda makes her look like a football player with the whole side logo thing.

Anyone else notice in the ESPN article that John Hall is wearing a belt buckle cover similar to what the Titans have been wearing this season?

link

[quote comment=”31357″]Today’s Uniwatch column reminds me of these:

link

link[/quote]

Hey, Seattle Matt, where did you find those, and is it possible to purchase one? I have a Jewish friend who is a Mac IT consultant, and I got a real kick out of that last one.

[quote comment=”31359″][quote comment=”31357″]Today’s Uniwatch column reminds me of these:

link

link[/quote]

Hey, Seattle Matt, where did you find those, and is it possible to purchase one? I have a Jewish friend who is a Mac IT consultant, and I got a real kick out of that last one.[/quote]

ah, n/m. I went to the site and, sadly, no purchasing.

[quote comment=”31340″]
My point was questionable characters exist in all sports not just the NBA, yet one isolated situation occurs in the NBA and people throw a fit and ESPN has 24-7 coverage.[/quote]

I agree, but is the problem the media scrutiny or the public who gets their news from the media who have obvious right-wing and left-wing tendancies? ESPN is a highly-watched sporting news source on TV, and operates a pretty well-read website, so the fact that it was plastered all over ESPN’s various media outlets only results in millions of people having a reaction.

I don’t think this issue has anything to do with race, and I will never blame race as a cause for an all-out brawl on the court unless someone on the court makes it about race (this should NEVER happen in today’s society).

The problem with the NBA, unlike hockey and football and baseball, is that the fans are right there at courtside. If anyone wanted to have joined in the brawl, they could have. The NBA prides itself on the interactive “fan experience” by bringing the action right to your seat, but in not having boards or walls to hold the fans back, the MSG brawl could have become another Palace of Auburn Hills when the brawl spilled into the first few rows of seats.

Back the original question… who is to blame? Those that are involved in the fight are to blame, regardless of creed or colour. David Stern made that clear in his conference call yesterday. I know Charles Barkley said that he is “not a role model”, but he is a role model and he knew it. That’s why it caused such outrage in 1993 because Barkley was a role model at the time, much the same way that the league is pushing ‘Melo as the new breed in the same breath as LeBron. Carmelo Anthony is a role model… and, as such, he needs to set a better example for the generations of tomorrow who look up to him.

[quote comment=”31356″]Anyone else notice in the ESPN article that John Hall is wearing a belt buckle cover similar to what the Titans have been wearing this season?

link[/quote]

All the jets have those belt buckles im not sure how many actually wear them

Paul,

Something interesting I saw in your article, which was very good. The link not only has a four point chinstrap but also has Air brand helmet and Air brand chinstrap, but the biggest thing is Favre’s choice of facemask. He has predominatel worn this link during his career and the facemask with the Falcons is one normally found on link link, link link, and link link. I can’t think of another quaterback who wore this type of facemask in the NFL or NCAA.

Michigan State played Kentucky at Ford Field a couple of years ago…but it wasn’t outdoors
link
link

[quote comment=”31378″]Michigan State played Kentucky at Ford Field a couple of years ago…but it wasn’t outdoors
link
link[/quote]

Can’t wait until the Final Four makes its way into here (scroll down for the basketball setup)

ok first off..most auburn players wear schutt helmets that is a riddell mask.
and jammers reebok logo is not gold..he fell..
so the dirt dirtied up the logo…
wht would one guy have a gold logo..esp. a gold that is not used on the uniform????

[quote comment=”31311″][quote comment=”31297″]Does anyone know if they replace the turf at Chase Field annually? I know they’ve had trouble growing grass there, and it looks terrible in that picture, like half of it is dead.[/quote]
I assume so, they killed it once when N’Sync? played multiple nights on a stage set up in centerfield.[/quote]

I know that a lack of sunlight or water can kill grass, but bad music?

[quote comment=”31351″]Racism is not an off-limits topic here per se, as long as it’s uni-related (see: Nigger Island baseball uniforms). But if you want to get into the “character issue” and who belongs behind bars and which league has more of a problem, please just call your local sports talk radio station and keep this web site uni-related. Thanks.[/quote]
deal :-)

[quote comment=”31375″]Paul,

Something interesting I saw in your article, which was very good. The link not only has a four point chinstrap but also has Air brand helmet and Air brand chinstrap, but the biggest thing is Favre’s choice of facemask. He has predominatel worn this link during his career and the facemask with the Falcons is one normally found on link link, link link, and link link. I can’t think of another quaterback who wore this type of facemask in the NFL or NCAA.[/quote]
Beat me to it. I know he wore this facemask in college, and I am just assuming in high school he wore this type of mask because his team ran the option. Maybe for added protection in H.S. running the option and just got use to it. There is old NFL film on him when Holmgren (SP)(and Marriucci QB coach) was coaching him early on in his career, where he had one play where he was not even straped his normal chinstrap, and they blamed him for constanly taking it off to call plays and forgeting to rebuckle it, leading to what they felt was extra nervousness and a ball delievered to early.

[quote comment=”31382″]From today’s edition of TMQ towards the end, Easterbrook writes, “Sominex Bids to Sponsor Upcoming Jets-Raiders Game: The Jets are quietly 8-6 and stand a decent chance at the playoffs in the first season of Eric “I Was a Teenaged Coach” Mangini. Why aren’t they generating excitement? I think the reason is their look. Jersey/B explicably continues to play in 1847 throwback uniforms plus black shoes — the antiquated unis and black shoes make the Jets appear to be the slowest-looking team in the NFL. The Jets’ appearance projects monotony; maybe this is what Mangini wants. Their game plan projects monotony — underneath, underneath, underneath. Maybe that’s what Mangini wants, too. How could an opponent get psyched up for playing the Jets? Maybe that’s what Mangini wants.”

(Bold added by me)

Thoughts?[/quote]

Easterbrook was a Bills fan growing up, consequently he’s never liked the Jets.

[quote comment=”31398″]Damn it! I knew I’d be too late to throw in my three cents’ worth. That’s ok. I feel more like discussing unis today for some strange reason.

I do not think the Jets unis are very exciting. They are not horrible, either, but I just think, ‘blah’ when I see them. They are guilty of inducing ennui.[/quote]

Ennui – the Minna vocabulary builder of the day.

I kind of like the simplicity of the Jets unis – and as far as black shoes, I’ve heard teams wear them to appear slower so that they can get a jump on people. Much prefer the Jets over the “Bungles” anyday. My wife saw the “Bungles” unis last night and said “Looks like an old episode of the Thundercats.”

[quote comment=”31317″][quote comment=”31298″]The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.[/quote]

Gee, have a little racism on your mind? NBA players are no more wrong with their actions than MLB players, NHL players and NFL players yet everybody thinks that NBA players are punks. Is it because they are flashy off the court (which is not illegal by the way). Is it because they are cocky and showboat (what the heck are NFL players then). MLB players have been cheating and taking steroids for years. NBA players fight about once a season and everybody throws a hissy fit. How many times do pitchers purposely throw at players and incite brawls? How many times do NHL players fight for no good reason. It seems to me that the NBA has the least amount of confrontations out of any of the major sports yet they take the most grief for it.

I am the biggest Celtics fan you will ever meet but even I know that Larry Bird was an asshole. He wasn’t close to respectful on the court. NBA games were much more violent in the 80s. The Hawks and Celtics got into a scuffle and Danny Ainge (supposedly) bit Tree Rollins. Kevin Mchale clotheslined Kurt Rambis and wasn’t even kicked out of the game, it actually inspired his team to come back and win the series. Larry Bird and Dr. J had eachother by the necks and Bird threw a punch at him. But today the players are punks because one isolated incident which was blown WAY out of proportion by ESPN and every other news channel that called it a “brawl.” One really wimpy punch was thrown and then the puncher ran away in the other direction like a wuss. But most of the players on the floor were young, cocky, flashy, rich black athletes so they are immediately labeled punks while Larry Bird is “respectable.” Does that make any sense to you?[/quote]

I think it was the other way around:

Tree Rollins elbows Danny Ainge, who tackles him to the floor. Pinned, Tree resorts to biting Ainge’s finger. This was the first sports fight I ever saw where the white guy won. Ainge was later pimp-slapped by Darrell Walker.

link

[quote comment=”31381″][quote comment=”31378″]Michigan State played Kentucky at Ford Field a couple of years ago…but it wasn’t outdoors
link
link[/quote]

Can’t wait until the Final Four makes its way into here (scroll down for the basketball setup)[/quote]

That Looks amazing! These facilies are getting rediculous

didn’t two men’s college bball teams play on an aircraft carrier a few years back?

[quote comment=”31375″]Paul,

Something interesting I saw in your article, which was very good. The link not only has a four point chinstrap but also has Air brand helmet and Air brand chinstrap, but the biggest thing is Favre’s choice of facemask. He has predominatel worn this link during his career and the facemask with the Falcons is one normally found on link link, link link, and link link. I can’t think of another quaterback who wore this type of facemask in the NFL or NCAA.[/quote]

Favre also appears to be wearing the upper straps over the outside of his facemask link.

I complained before about Flutie doing the same thing link.

In my eyes, this is a pretty big faux pas for chinstrap wearing. They should’ve worn them like a normal person, or even link.

[quote comment=”31425″][quote comment=”31418″]
Thundercats! That’s a hoot. Someone (can’t remember who, sorry) mentioned wanting the Bengals to have different-length stripes on the helmet, like real cats. I think they should take it a step further and make all the stripes varying lengths; I would dig that.[/quote]

For both Banker Bill and Minna, here is the Bengals’ new duds for next season:

link.
link.
link.
link.

Honestly, linkaren’t that far off. And linkmight already be a Thundercat.[/quote]

Snort. Teebz, that’s hilarious! You are a jocose man, indeed. The Cincinnati Thundercats will now be my nomenclature for the Bengals.

[quote comment=”31441″]Paul, I was wondering, who came up with the link?

Do you approve of it? Did you ever have a say of how it looks? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a critique of it from you.

A couple CONS right off the bat:
1) the side paneling
2) the right armpit seems to have white piping, while the left has black and neckline is black also
3) the 2 (presumably for Page 2, I’d bet my house on it) looks like it’s slightly italicized, and in totality, it looks like there’s three different fonts on that jersey
4) are the words crooked?

PRO
1) the word “WATCH” below the number. Golden State-esque.
2) athletic company logo-free
3) simple, red, black, and white classical color scheme that pleases the eye

I’d like to see what the front of this jersey looks like, too…

What would be changed if anything? Are these considered the “throw back” Uni Watch jerseys, only to be worn a maximum of twice during an NFL season, 15 during an NHL season, and unknown to me for NBA or MLB?[/quote]

LOL
I asked the exact same question like 2 weeks ago

the ESPN logo also contains a pinstriped basketball jersey. Am I the only one who sees a serious flaw in this?

o and see comment #103, btw.

[quote comment=”31449″]
LOL
I asked the exact same question like 2 weeks ago[/quote]

Sorry about that. I admittedly, and obviously, don’t read all of the comments every day since I don’t get to read the blog until after work. The 150 comments by 5-6pm are a beast to go through to say the least.

Would be interested in what day that Q was asked if there was any feedback on it.

[quote comment=”31458″]Doesn’t Vanderbilt have the benches at the baselines and/or down a step?[/quote]

I’m pretty sure a Big Ten school has the benches a step or two below the court. It might be Minnesota. Not sure on that. I just remember noticing it once and thinking huh, that’s different.

Looks like Brand Jordan has link … (I know it’s not a great pic, but it’s the shoes)

:)

The Vanderbilt benches are behind the baseline, but are above the court.

Anyone think Notre Dame will wear the green shirts against LSU? Last time the Irish were in the Sugar Bowl, they wore the white shirts with the green numbers (and actually won the game! Seems like that was the last time they won a bowl game, but they did win two straight Cotton Bowls against A&M. ND has lost eight straight bowl games, in case you’re keeping count.).

Link for the NHL exhibiton with locust problems?

TCU has a person on their sidelines to restitch their jersey numbers back on. Can anyone get a pic? I don’t have TV screenshot technology.

Paul: re your ESPN column mention of Ben Hawkins. Found link of him with his loose strap. Hawk was just ahead of me at Nutley High in NJ in the mid 60s.

[quote comment=”31507″][quote comment=”31497″]Yeh.. it ‘s Minnesota.[/quote]

IIRC, their hockey team also skates on Olympic sized ice?[/quote]

Give it up for Minnesota!

p.s. I’m not positive this is true though I think it is, but I wanted to give a shout-out to MN.

I don’t understand why he would be ejected from the game, just because he had his pictures on his shoes? Usually if a player has the wrong color or brand, they just tape them up with the correct color or get fined, but never ejected. What’s the big deal about Johnson’s shoes?

[quote comment=”31516″]Paul: re your ESPN column mention of Ben Hawkins. Found link of him with his loose strap. Hawk was just ahead of me at Nutley High in NJ in the mid 60s.[/quote]

aaaah rats… that was the pic YOU had. My bad. I’ll go back now and find the other one.