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In Which Your Humble Narrator Misses the Biggest Story of the Year

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Yesterday afternoon at about 5:30 I got on an airplane. After I landed (never mind where), I went straight to a live theater performance thingie. After that I mingled with friends for a bit. It wasn’t until about 1:30 a.m. that I got to my host’s house. I was reeeaaaaaally tired (for reasons not worth getting into, I hadn’t slept the night before, plus I’m fighting a respiratory infection), and my plan was to crash without even bothering to check my e-mail. But then I thought, “Oh, what the hell,” and I broke out my laptop.

And that’s when I discovered what I’d missed.

In case you were even further off the grid than I was: Four Virginia Tech jerseys were missing prior to the start of last night’s game against Georgia Tech. Since the Hokies were wearing white, the host Yellow Jackets provided some of their white jerseys for the Va.Tech players to wear. The replacement jerseys were “customized” with handwritten nameplates (all rendered in cap-lowercase, which gave an eighth grade arts and crafts feel to the proceedings), plus the Yellow Jackets wordmark and Russell Athletic logo were blacked out and little Nike swooshes were drawn in (backwards, for some reason). Virginia Tech won handily, which means Georgia Tech lost to their own uniforms.

The incident apparently got big play on SportsCenter, where they did a little mini-feature on other jersey snafus, including “Angees” and “Gretkzy” (not really the best comparisons) and the time MJ wore No. 12 because his jersey had been stolen (better). Although I haven’t yet seen the report, they apparently didn’t mention anything about umpires whose uniforms get lost in transit, which might be the most apt comparison of all.

Anyway: I had nearly 100 e-mails waiting for me when I opened up the laptop. About 20% were of the “What the fuck is going on in that game?” variety, another 60% began with some variation on “I’m sure you already know this, but”¦,” and most of the rest were eager to inform me of a “hot scoop” (a few of these are still trickling in, which is pretty amusing). Plus two people were very angry about SportsCenter “totally ripping you off,” and two more wondered why I wasn’t appearing on SportsCenter myself at that very moment.

The bad news is that I have a lot of social obligations today and don’t have time to give this topic the full treatment it deserves. The good news is that there’s loads of other coverage out there. Here’s where to look:

• Last night’s comments provided a running stream of info on the situation, as Uni Watch readers kept passing along updates and reactions. If you pick up the discussion here, you’ll get a good sense of how things unfolded.

• If you’d rather have mainstream media coverage, there’s a good boilerplate treatment of the situation in this article.

• There’s a decent video recap of the incident here.

• Reader John Okray took lots of screen shots, which you can view in this fine slide show.

As for me, I have two major thoughts here, the first of which is that the whole thing is wonderful — and not just because it’s such good Uni Watch fodder. As many of you know, one of my biggest gripes about contemporary sports is that everything seems hyper-calculated and pre-scripted. But there was nothing in the script about this, and that’s what makes it so much fun. And I love that the handwritten nameplates were done in cap-lowercase, instead of all-caps, which perfectly captured the spontaneity and playfulness of the situation.

Unfortunately, there was one major turd in the punchbowl: those handwritten swooshes. I wasn’t watching the game, but according to several readers’ accounts of the game broadcast, Nike’s people specifically insisted that the Russell logo be blocked out (which I can sort of understand) and that the little swooshes be drawn in. If that’s true, it’s beyond pathetic, and goes a long way toward canceling out the playfulness. Nike didn’t manufacture those repurposed jerseys, so what exactly was the point of adding the swoosh? If your answer (or Nike’s) is, “Because Virginia Tech is a Nike school,” then you’re pretty much affirming what I’ve been saying all along — i.e., that the brand has become more important than the school or the uniforms. And that gives this fun story a bittersweet aftertaste.

One last thing, for now: Lots of readers have asked if anything like this has ever happened before. I’m honestly unsure — there are plenty of examples of players wearing someone else’s number, like the MJ example cited above, but I’m not sure about players wearing their opponents’ jerseys — that might be a first. If anyone knows more, this is definitely a topic for further research.

(Extra-special thanks to readers who provided screen grabs and other crucial info, especially John Okray, Miguel Rodriguez, and Bryan Redemske.)

Uni Watch News Ticker: The single-A Casper Rockies have renamed themselves the Casper Ghosts — and will wear a glow-in-the-dark cap. Details here and here. ”¦ The Gamecocks’ memorial decal referred to in yesterday’s Ticker will look like this. Further details here (with thanks to Andy Shain). ”¦ Speaking of decals, Chris Willis, who runs Athletic Decals (the company that provides most NFL and NCAA helmet decals), checked in yesterday with this tidbit: “We produced some decals honoring the San Diego firefighters. These will probably be worn by SD State for this weekend’s game with Wyoming, and SDSU equipment manager Nick Pettit got enough so Wyoming could wear them too. Now, don’t bet on them being there, though — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve busted it getting a decal out and someone ends up ‘kiboshing’ it at the last minute.” ”¦ Yesterday I mentioned that the Lakewood Blue Claws have a new secondary logo. Now Dan Cichalski tells me they’ll be using it on a Friday-night vest, which looks really cool. ”¦ Joe Girardi will wear No. 27 with the Yankees, to symbolize the team’s quest for a 27th championship. ”¦ Bob Sherron notes that Amare Stoudemire’s NOB has some letter-spacing issues. ”¦ Eric Stangel found something interesting on eBay: a game-used Astros St. Patty’s Day jersey. And check out the NOB! Anyone ever seen any game photos of this jersey?

 
  
 
Comments (193)

    We were worried you might not be able to check in on this, glad to see you made it. However, I’m sorry you didn’t get to see it live…probably the most mainstream attention uniforms have gotten in years!

    Keep up the good work, Paul.

    Two quick items unrelated to each other:

    1. VT has played 19 Thursday night games and is 15-4 in those games. They have played at least two weekday games a year (not counting bowls) for the last 6 years. Are there any other teams with that many?

    2. Here is a vid clip of Dic-K’s HS link. What’s up with the numbers on the back? They are on white patches. Are the changeable? Paging J. Brahm. Paging J. Brahm.

    Paul,
    I can’t thing of anything like the VTech incident in a regulation game, but weren’t there a few MLB All-Star games where players either wore replicas or other teams uni’s/helmets/caps? I can’t remember specifics but maybe some others can help me out with those.

    [quote comment=”164819″]Paul,
    I can’t thing of anything like the VTech incident in a regulation game, but weren’t there a few MLB All-Star games where players either wore replicas or other teams uni’s/helmets/caps? I can’t remember specifics but maybe some others can help me out with those.[/quote]

    sorry, it’s supposed to read “I can’t think

    The practice of wearing another team’s jerseys is not completely foreign to the world of soccer. Aside from Auxerre wearing Marseille’s jerseys, I believe that either last year or the year before, Wycombe Wanderers had to wear Bristol Rovers’ away jerseys because both their home and away kits clashed with Wycombe’s home kit. Also, I believe there was a snafu in one of the World Cups in the 80’s in which France was forced to take the field against Hungary in green and white striped shirts that belonged to a local team because France’s white kits clashed with Hungary’s white kits. I might be off on this little fact, but I know I’m close. Imagine something like that happening on the world stage that is the World Cup.

    Also, don’t forget that one of the odd Florida schools (International or Atlantic) was playing Wisconsin last season, and their unis didn’t make the trip. Wisconsin officials had blank black uniforms printed up, and mystery Florida school played in them instead.

    I can recall an incident of a player wearing a fan’s jersey. This happened back in 1985/86, when I was following an amateur football team called the Birmingham Bulls, based in Birmingham, England. A bunch of fans, myself included, made the long trek to Frankfurt, Germany to watch the Bulls play the Hanau Hawks. Bulls QB Dave Stanton lost his jersey along the way, so one of the coaches came into the stands and borrowed a replica jersey that one of our fan group was wearing. Stanton took the field wearing this black jersey, with a white tape nameplate and his surname handwritten in black marker. It made for a great souvenir after the game …

    I missed DIY football jerseys to watch the Bruins and another shoddy episode of Scrubs?

    At least the Broons look great (and they beat the Buffaslugs).

    Lou Whitaker wore a replica Tigers jersey for an All-Star game once. They hand-stenciled the No. 1 on it and if I remember right, the announcers said they had purchased it from a souvenir stand at the ballpark. Sorry no pic.

    Here’s a link to the story about the soccer match in question. It was in 1978, not in the 80’s.

    I recall stories of the classic “player takes a fan’s jersey out of the stands to wear” but can’t think of any examples right now. I think it was hockey-related, but can’t be sure.

    [quote comment=”164821″]Great picture link I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s![/quote]

    What’s with dude wearing gold grills?

    The thing I couldn’t understand is how they didn’t notice these uniforms missing earlier. I would think they would be there several hours before kickoff and that they probably could have found somewhere in town to have something a little better printed up. That said, also kinda suprised they weren’t traveling with back-up unis.

    [quote comment=”164822″]Paul,
    The Spurs vs. Bullets in 1978.
    Here’s a link inside out.[/quote]

    Right! Forgot about that one.

    [quote comment=”164827″]Lou Whitaker wore a replica Tigers jersey for an All-Star game once. They hand-stenciled the No. 1 on it and if I remember right, the announcers said they had purchased it from a souvenir stand at the ballpark. Sorry no pic.[/quote]

    link.

    Few thoughts;

    First, the thing that bugged me on ESPN last night is when one announcer mentioned the players even made little Nike swooshes, another said, “gotta love the little shoowshes.” Think about that and discuss.

    Second, when i was in college, I was on the JV hockey team my freshman year and we were playing a home game. The visiting team’s bus arrived and their coach soon realized he’d forgotten to pack the team’s jerseys. Our coach, being all too nice and accomodating, offered to let them borrow some of our jerseys. No problem us players thought. The problem is, our coach offered up our brand new home jerseys (not a new design, simply a new set as the old ones we’re getting pretty torn up)leaving us to wear an old bunch of away jerseys. The problem with the away jerseys is there were two different styles, one similar to the Habs, the other similar to the Rangers. We had to look like the Bad News Bears on our home ice. It pissed us off enough to go out there and beat the snot out of this team that was no push over. Then again we went 16-3 that season so we weren’t that bad either.

    Love the quote in the Casper Ghosts article, from their CEO Kevin Haughian: “I originally wanted to be the Casper Weinbergers, but we figured no one would get it.” I would.

    I know Paul linked my slide show in the article this morning, but here is a link to my photo album of all the VT photos so you can click on whichever one you like. Enjoy!

    link

    [quote comment=”164821″]Great picture link I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s![/quote]
    I’m a steelers fan but these the bucs orange unis were the best in the nfl at the time. On another note i was watching sportscenter last night and saw the VT uni debacle i felt like a little kid at christmas waiting to see uni watch this morning becuase of it.

    [quote comment=”164833″][quote comment=”164821″]Great picture link I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s![/quote]

    What’s with dude wearing gold grills?[/quote]
    Not sure, maybe he’s a closet Ocho Cinko fan too?
    Regarding the VT thing. It’s just hard for me to believe that in this day and age of major college football that these teams don’t travel with at least 2 jersies per player.

    [quote comment=”164834″]The thing I couldn’t understand is how they didn’t notice these uniforms missing earlier. I would think they would be there several hours before kickoff and that they probably could have found somewhere in town to have something a little better printed up. That said, also kinda suprised they weren’t traveling with back-up unis.[/quote]

    I also find that to be the most interesting aspect of the issue that occurred. Don’t equipment managers carry extra jerseys in case one is ripped or torn up. I know when I played college baeball we always carried extra jerseys “just in case” (I know because as a freshman we always had to carry the extra stuff – balls, equipment, etc). Is this because these players refused to wear any number but their own and therefore would not wear just any back up, random jersey? Or were there no back up jerseys because the equipment managers didn’t carry any? Is this normal or is this a VT thing? Interesting questions to pursue in my mind.

    [quote comment=”164834″]The thing I couldn’t understand is how they didn’t notice these uniforms missing earlier. I would think they would be there several hours before kickoff and that they probably could have found somewhere in town to have something a little better printed up. That said, also kinda suprised they weren’t traveling with back-up unis.[/quote]

    That’s what myself and the other managers I work with were wondering while we were watching this game in our Eq Room last night…

    We ALWAYS travel with two full sets of away uniforms, mainly in case someone gets a major rip in their uniform or personnel changes are made and two players who normally wear the same number (one on off, one on def)–happens in kick coverages a lot–and one has to change to a new number mid-game.

    This is also why we don’t take the uniforms off the semi until Saturday morning when we get to the stadium (at least 5 hours before kickoff), because you can never really be sure about the host team’s security for the visiting locker room.

    Ty Cobb once had to wear a Cleveland Indians jersey for the Adie Joss All Star game, as his luggage had been lost.

    [quote comment=”164838″]Love the quote in the Casper Ghosts article, from their CEO Kevin Haughian: “I originally wanted to be the Casper Weinbergers, but we figured no one would get it.” I would.[/quote]

    i would have gotten that too, but he spelled it caspar…

    I’d forgot to mention in my earlier post, but Boston’s Milan Lucic is wearing #17 now. He started the season with #62.

    I wish I could find pictures, but I remember when I was in college the football team (Lamar University) in 1988 went to Arizona State for a game. They forgot to bring their pants, so the red and white Cardinals played with ASU’s maroon pants.

    And the next year, the school cancelled the football program. Go figure.

    [quote comment=”164822″]Paul,
    The Spurs vs. Bullets in 1978.
    Here’s a link inside out.[/quote]

    Nice memory Marty Met. I totally remembered the picture, but I would’ve had to search for it.

    Paul, I’m disappointed, since you mentioned this picture in your blog a few times!

    [quote comment=”164836″][quote comment=”164822″]Paul,
    The Spurs vs. Bullets in 1978.
    Here’s a link inside out.[/quote]

    Right! Forgot about that one.

    [quote comment=”164827″]Lou Whitaker wore a replica Tigers jersey for an All-Star game once. They hand-stenciled the No. 1 on it and if I remember right, the announcers said they had purchased it from a souvenir stand at the ballpark. Sorry no pic.[/quote]

    link.[/quote]
    I was at that game in 78. Mike Gale is the player shown in the Bullets road uniform. If I rember correctly some a couple of the other Spurs had their jerseys but had to wear Bullet shorts. Here is a larger photo.

    Once ca. 1970 Michigan State’s basketball team was scheduled to play at Ohio State, and their jerseys were stolen. They wore OSU’s road (scarlet) jerseys during the game, making it look like an intrasquad scrimmage. They won, too, dammit.

    Is VT (or any other school) contractually obligated to wear their sponsor’s logo? I imagine they are, which would necessitate the little swooshes. Either way, the fact that they were drawn backwards is a sign that there is justice in the world.

    Virginia Tech’s Nike swooshes were drawn on by trainer Mike Goforth (as explained by Sean Glennon and Frank Beamer during their postgame radio interviews). Beamer said Goforth was their main Nike contact and just wanted to make sure there was no contract violation or anything. Glennon also mentioned that had his replacement jersey arrived at halftime he would not have made the switch because he was playing well. Beamer noted that Taylor didn’t switch “as a sign of solidarity with his fellow quarterback”. Also, during the game a few GT fans attempted to steal the Hokies’ link (the symbol of the defense). They made it back to the stands, only to be tackled by the police. They’re just lucky it wasn’t Vince Hall

    Phil’s got to do something about this. Second time I’ve seen way too much of his legs this year in a photo.

    link

    Theoren Fleury briefly wore a fan’s jersey on the bench of a game. He had bled all over his game jersey, and was standing on the bench without one. A fan took off his jersey, threw it over the glass, and Fleury put it on.

    I have read a longer version of the article where he says he didn’t actually wear it in the game, but it did happen briefly.

    link

    [quote comment=”164817″]Earlier this year Auxerre wore OM’s jerseys, as reported on this site…

    link[/quote]

    yes it did happen between Marseille and Auxerre last month. Both teams color is white but Marseille forgot to bring their away kits. Fair play should be the hosts to change their color but instead they handed the opponent their brown away kit. It was funny how peope first thought Djibril Cissé was back with his former team, link.

    [quote comment=”164816″]2. Here is a vid clip of Dic-K’s HS link. What’s up with the numbers on the back? They are on white patches. Are the changeable? Paging J. Brahm. Paging J. Brahm.[/quote]
    I remember, back in the old days of ESPN when they used to show Canadian Football League games, players would wear these temporary vest-like number plates over their regular jerseys to denote that they were lining up as eligible for a given play. Darned if I can find any pictures of ’em, but they must be out there somewhere.

    I was at the game last night and was sitting in the upper deck and it took me a while to figure out they were actually wearing GT away jerseys. From a distance they just looked like VT jerseys that had been altered.

    [quote comment=”164869″]God forbid those jerseys go without Nike swooshes! Quick, draw ’em in![/quote]

    When you’re facing a fee of a few thousand dollars for NOT showing the Swoosh, you’ll draw them on.

    Not sure what VT’s contract with Nike is, but ours is pretty strict. I’m just a student manager so I don’t know the details, but we could have a Nike rep drop in at any time and if anyone is wearing Adidas or Reebok or Russell or another big brand out at practice or on the sidelines, Nike can pull all their products from us immediately. And tack on fees for covering up swooshes, including shoe swooshes covered by spat jobs.

    [quote comment=”164871″]Theoren Fleury briefly wore a fan’s jersey on the bench of a game. He had bled all over his game jersey, and was standing on the bench without one. A fan took off his jersey, threw it over the glass, and Fleury put it on.

    I have read a longer version of the article where he says he didn’t actually wear it in the game, but it did happen briefly.

    link[/quote]

    Must have been a 7 or 8 year old kid that gave the sweater to Theo

    Great picture here I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s!

    I’m a steelers fan but these the bucs orange unis were the best in the nfl at the time.

    Nothing says 0-28 quite like “Bruce the Pirate”.

    [quote comment=”164821″]Great picture link I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s![/quote]
    That’s the best idea I’ve heard in years, regarding the Bucs. I bet Chucky loves’em too.

    John Buccingros from espn.com got the following e-mail from reebok regarding the jersey issue in the NHL:

    “After working with NHL players, teams and equipment managers to gather feedback on the Rbk Edge uniform system, Reebok has decided to provide an alternative jersey to the players who request it.

    “Many NHL players are satisfied with the current Rbk Edge jersey, but since the start of the season, we have received player feedback about the jersey’s moisture management and durability. Based on this feedback, Reebok will provide players with the option to wear a version with slight sizing and fabrication adjustments.

    AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

    Since Marty Turco, left, and Sidney Crosby unveiled the NHL’s new unis at last season’s All-Star weekend, there have been mixed reviews.
    “In the alternate version, one fabric has been replaced with an air-knit fabric and the bead-away water repellency technology has been removed. Both jerseys will continue to offer up to four performance materials, including Reebok’s PlayDry moisture-wicking technology and a stretch mesh for increased range of motion and ventilation.

    “There will be no visual difference between the jerseys. The newly designed comfort necklines, jersey cut lines, anatomical fit and team designs will remain identical. Retail versions of the jersey also will remain unchanged.

    “Reebok has taken this customized approach with other sports, providing multiple cuts of jerseys to professional athletes based on their individual preferences and performance needs.

    “The performance benefits of the Rbk Edge uniform system were proven during testing last season with 28 of 30 NHL teams. We are pleased that overall player feedback has been very positive. We will continue to work with NHL players to ensure they have the best hockey uniform possible.”

    David Baxter
    President, Sports Licensed Division

    [quote comment=”164822″]Paul,
    The Spurs vs. Bullets in 1978.
    Here’s a link inside out.[/quote]
    Met Marty, (I ‘m assuming you might be from Long Island as a good met fan might be) Shame on your for not recognizing ex’Net Rich ‘House’ Jones. and he appears to be wearing a Bullet’s Road uniform, not an inside out uniform.

    [quote comment=”164824″]The practice of wearing another team’s jerseys is not completely foreign to the world of soccer. Aside from Auxerre wearing Marseille’s jerseys, I believe that either last year or the year before, Wycombe Wanderers had to wear Bristol Rovers’ away jerseys because both their home and away kits clashed with Wycombe’s home kit. Also, I believe there was a snafu in one of the World Cups in the 80’s in which France was forced to take the field against Hungary in green and white striped shirts that belonged to a local team because France’s white kits clashed with Hungary’s white kits. I might be off on this little fact, but I know I’m close. Imagine something like that happening on the world stage that is the World Cup.

    Also, don’t forget that one of the odd Florida schools (International or Atlantic) was playing Wisconsin last season, and their unis didn’t make the trip. Wisconsin officials had blank black uniforms printed up, and mystery Florida school played in them instead.[/quote]
    Said WC uniform snafu occured in the 1978 tornament held in my native Argentina. The venue was Mar Del Plata. France didn’t have their alt kit (or whatever) and had to borrow the kit of local Club Kimberley (green/white stripes), shades of the 1934 Sneaker Game.

    Is anybody else disappointed that the Casper Ghosts didn’t actually use Casper the Friendly Ghost as their logo?

    [quote comment=”164868″]Phil’s got to do something about this. Second time I’ve seen way too much of his legs this year in a photo.

    link
    What he needs to do is zip up his breezer pant leg. Here in MN it’s a high school rule that any player wearing their brezzers like that gets a penalty and could be ejected from the game for wearing inproper equipment.

    I’m glad I missed the VT incident from last night, too disturbing and I wouldn’t have slept. Those pranksters were two days late, after all Devils Night is October 30th.

    Said WC uniform snafu occured in the 1978 tornament held in my native Argentina. The venue was Mar Del Plata. France didn’t have their alt kit (or whatever) and had to borrow the kit of local Club Kimberley (green/white stripes), shades of the 1934 Sneaker Game.

    FIFA required one team to wear a dark-colored jersey and the other to wear a light-colored one (because of black-and-white TV) as recently as the 2002 World Cup. There, when Brazil and Germany reached the Final, they figured that color TV was prevalent enough so that both teams could wear their primary jerseys (Brazil in yellow, Germany in white).

    ugh… i was so proud of myself for ‘admonishing Marty for the unnamed Spur and then three posts later I come to find out that the nameless Spur was in fact Mike Gale… i’m gutted.

    While Jones’ and Gale’s ‘Fros are quite similar.. the lession here is old, tried & true Read all posts first before writing…. sorry .

    [quote comment=”164879″][quote comment=”164821″]Great picture link I would love to see them wear these as throwbacks. I loved these uni’s![/quote]
    That’s the best idea I’ve heard in years, regarding the Bucs. I bet Chucky loves’em too.[/quote]

    It’ll never happen, link but was voted down.

    Speaking of Bucco Bruce, hey Paul, where’s the interview with Frankie Pupello?

    Speaking of manufacturer and contract, there was a Story about Fulham FC and other clubs wearing Airness uniforms. As the supplier was late, and with the ne season starting, they had to practice in their former uniforms, and cover up the logo. However, by mid season, you could still see the staff wearing Nike training tops, and guess who’s outfitting Fulham this year… I’ll try to find the article but in some cases, Airness was so late that the teams went to their former supplier so they could manufacture the new kits and later on add the airness logo. Crazy!

    [quote comment=”164816″]

    Here is a vid clip of Dic-K’s HS link. What’s up with the numbers on the back? They are on white patches. Are the changeable? Paging J. Brahm. Paging J. Brahm.[/quote]

    My High School baseball team had velcro nameplates like that, which allowed the jerseys to be reused over and over.

    [quote comment=”164884″]Is anybody else disappointed that the Casper Ghosts didn’t actually use Casper the Friendly Ghost as their logo?[/quote]

    According to the Chris Creamer boards, they do have alt logos with Casper the Friendly Ghost, just not yet unveiled.

    One last thing, for now: Lots of readers have asked if anything like this has ever happened before. I’m honestly unsure – there are plenty of examples of players wearing someone else’s number, like the MJ example cited above, but I’m not sure about players wearing their opponents’ jerseys – that might be a first. If anyone knows more, this is definitely a topic for further research.

    I thought I remembered a Uniwatch entry a year ago or so about a college basketball team somewhere in the midwest (Kansas, Kentucky, ???) where they forgot their jerseys or brought only one color set and the home team had the same color so the home team loaned the visitors practice or away jerseys.

    Or am I making that up?

    Going back to wiffle ball:

    I think they should do an Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. They would be the parking lot next to the field.

    [quote comment=”164894″]Speaking of manufacturer and contract, there was a Story about Fulham FC and other clubs wearing Airness uniforms. As the supplier was late, and with the ne season starting, they had to practice in their former uniforms, and cover up the logo. However, by mid season, you could still see the staff wearing Nike training tops, and guess who’s outfitting Fulham this year… I’ll try to find the article but in some cases, Airness was so late that the teams went to their former supplier so they could manufacture the new kits and later on add the airness logo. Crazy![/quote]

    I was always confused as to why Chris Coleman was wearing Nike gear in interviews. Thanks for that post.

    I can’t find the story now, but in the mid 1910’s the Cincinnati Reds trainer forgot to load the teams uniforms for a trip to Chicago. The Cubs offered to loan the Reds their away uniforms, but the Reds instead were able to borrow uniforms and shoes from the Chicago White Sox.

    [quote comment=”164882″][quote comment=”164822″]Paul,
    The Spurs vs. Bullets in 1978.
    Here’s a link inside out.[/quote]
    Met Marty, (I ‘m assuming you might be from Long Island as a good met fan might be) Shame on your for not recognizing ex’Net Rich ‘House’ Jones. and he appears to be wearing a Bullet’s Road uniform, not an inside out uniform.[/quote]

    Nope. New Jersey. Originally from Toronto.

    Haven’t had any luck finding a pic of Michigan State wearing Ohio State’s road jerseys, but I think I have an exact date — Jan. 30, 1971. I remembered it was a year that OSU went unbeaten on the road in the Big 10, making their road JERSEYS undefeated in all road games plus one home game! Anyway I checked the game-by-game records on OSU’s website and 1970-71 was the season, and Jan. 30 the night they played MSU at home. I didn’t remember this, but it was their only conference loss, period, that season. Anyway, maybe having the date will help someone find a pic.

    At the 1992 All-Star game warmups (home run hitting contest, maybe?), John Kruk had to wear Leo Mazzone’s Braves uniform because Kruk and Darren Daulton’s Phillies uniforms had been shipped back:

    link

    [quote comment=”164834″]The thing I couldn’t understand is how they didn’t notice these uniforms missing earlier. I would think they would be there several hours before kickoff and that they probably could have found somewhere in town to have something a little better printed up. That said, also kinda suprised they weren’t traveling with back-up unis.[/quote]

    That is because they go to VPI&SU. More intelligent people go to other schools.

    Wahoo-wa

    There is always a lot of Orange and Bucco Bruce at Bucs home games. It is always nice to see. Problem is the Glaziers hate the old unis and refuse to let us break them out. They would not even let the old colors be used on licensed merchandise until 2 or 3 years ago. I guess they finally saw the dollar signs…

    [quote comment=”164911″]Problem is the Glaziers hate the old unis and refuse to let us break them out.[/quote]

    And yet the first new Man United jersey under their ownership was a throwback to 1957…heh.

    [quote comment=”164905″]Haven’t had any luck finding a pic of Michigan State wearing Ohio State’s road jerseys, but I think I have an exact date — Jan. 30, 1971. I remembered it was a year that OSU went unbeaten on the road in the Big 10, making their road JERSEYS undefeated in all road games plus one home game! Anyway I checked the game-by-game records on OSU’s website and 1970-71 was the season, and Jan. 30 the night they played MSU at home. I didn’t remember this, but it was their only conference loss, period, that season. Anyway, maybe having the date will help someone find a pic.[/quote]

    Here’s a link to a news account, at least:

    link

    [quote comment=”164882″]
    Met Marty, (I ‘m assuming you might be from Long Island as a good met fan might be) Shame on your for not recognizing ex’Net Rich ‘House’ Jones. and he appears to be wearing a Bullet’s Road uniform, not an inside out uniform.[/quote]

    It is a roadie, but it’s also inside out–no bullets and no number visible

    link

    When I was a freshman at ND (1988), the ND hoops team was playing Univ of Houston. The Univ of Houston uniforms arrived late, and they played the first half in a different color ND uniform, making for an “intersquad game” kind of look.

    I guess the jerseys made it by halftime, because in the 2nd half, they wore their correct uniforms.

    You would think that if Goforth was the Nike contract man at VT he would know which way to draw the stupid swoosh.

    And speaking of stupid corporate branding, I have a question for the hockey fans. I saw a Dick’s commercial for the Reebok Edge uniforms on TV and they are repeatedly referred to as RBK Edge. The tags say RBK too. Is there any significance to “RBK” vs. “Reebok”?

    [quote comment=”164897″][quote comment=”164884″]Is anybody else disappointed that the Casper Ghosts didn’t actually use Casper the Friendly Ghost as their logo?[/quote]

    According to the Chris Creamer boards, they do have alt logos with Casper the Friendly Ghost, just not yet unveiled.[/quote]

    The details:

    Casper the Friendly Ghost is incorporated into two of the logos. The Ghosts teamed up with Classic Media, the image and name rights owner of the cartoon, to created a family- and child-friendly separate souvenir line. In one of the logos the cartoon ghost has a cowboy hat and is holding two pistols high in the air. In the other, Casper is riding a horse with one hand on the saddle and the other waving his hat in the air.

    From link.

    Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

    A Nike representative was at the game and gave the players orange Nike swoosh logos to stick on the jerseys.

    According to a Virginia Tech spokesman, the jerseys were laid out in the visiting locker room Wednesday night by the equipment managers. After they discovered the jerseys were missing Thursday, they called back to Blacksburg, Va., to have a Virginia Tech representative fly to Atlanta with replacements.

    That person got to the stadium just before game time but only had Nos. 5, 17 and 18. Chancellor and Flowers changed into their real jerseys during the first half. Taylor, for reasons unknown, decided not to change. Glennon had to go the distance with the Georgia Tech jersey.

    (emphasis added)

    Paul,
    Regarding Amare’s NOB, either you or the jersey spelled his last name wrong. You have it Stoudamire, they have it Stoudemire. I hope you are correct and the jersey is wrong….

    Apparently there is a hockey off-shoot called link. Canada has a women’s national team and link. The article didn’t make it sound like it was a special occasion thing.

    A couple of reasons for posting link
    1) the red 37 on McAmmond’s glove looks sharp.
    2) read the passage and spot the spelling mistake from espn..”Atlanta Thrashers Jim Slater comes from behind during first period HNL hockey action at….”

    [quote comment=”164816″]Two quick items unrelated to each other:

    1. VT has played 19 Thursday night games and is 15-4 in those games. They have played at least two weekday games a year (not counting bowls) for the last 6 years. Are there any other teams with that many?
    [/quote]

    Oh Alan, you have struck a chord with me here!

    To answer, yes, absolutely. There is no bigger TV whore than my alma mater, TCU. We have played a game on every day of the week at some point in the last 7 years. TCU is 9-9 overall in non-Saturday games since 2001, 8 at home, 10 on the road. This comes partly from playing in mid-major conferences like CUSA and Mountain West, but mainly because TCU will play anytime to get on national TV, like a 5pm kick on a Thursday. Who can go to that??
    I don’t know how boosters put up with that, especially those that pay thousands of dollars to tailgate 8 Saturdays a year, but then lose a day when their school decides a Tuesday night game vs. East Carolina on ESPN2 is better for the program. Gag me. I understand that TCU will never be Texas, will never be A&M, and we’ll never replace Baylor in the Big 12. I’ve come to terms with it. Now just play on Saturday to make everyone happy. Ok I’m done now.

    Did my best to find a photo, but no dice.

    I distinctly remember an NBA all-star game (I think in Orlando), where David Robinson’s warm up jacket did not arrive, and he and another player wore Orlando Magic warm-ups for the introduction.

    Anyone else remember that?

    Not the greatest example in athletes in opponents’ jerseys, since it is NASCAR, but Richard Petty buying into the World 600 (now the Coca-Cola 600) in 1985 since he missed the race, driving a #6 car owned by D.K. Ulrich, instead of the famous STP #43 owned by himself and Mike Curb.

    The #6 car he ran that day:
    link

    link

    [quote comment=”164938″]It is link in Troy, NY and link in Indianapolis.[/quote]

    Apparently DC United was doing the whole “blackout” thing last night, too.

    1) Why didn’t the Blue Claws reverse image their new secondary logo so that the claw would actually form the letter “C”? Would that be so hard?

    2) I scrolled through the comments quickly, so I didn’t see it (though it may be there):
    Remember Lou Whitaker’s missing jersey at the MLB All-Star game in Mpls (1985?) — he bought a souvenir jersey and sharpie-d his number on the back.

    [quote comment=”164947″]I scrolled through the comments quickly, so I didn’t see it (though it may be there):
    Remember Lou Whitaker’s missing jersey at the MLB All-Star game in Mpls (1985?) — he bought a souvenir jersey and sharpie-d his number on the back.[/quote]

    There’s a photo of it linked up there someplace.

    [quote comment=”164911″]There is always a lot of Orange and Bucco Bruce at Bucs home games. It is always nice to see. Problem is the Glaziers hate the old unis and refuse to let us break them out. They would not even let the old colors be used on licensed merchandise until 2 or 3 years ago. I guess they finally saw the dollar signs…[/quote]

    I’m not a Bucs fan, but I do own a creamsicle-orange t-shirt with an ENORMOUS “Bucco Bruce” logo on the front. It’s hellaciously ugly. I love it.

    [quote comment=”164935″]Did my best to find a photo, but no dice.

    I distinctly remember an NBA all-star game (I think in Orlando), where David Robinson’s warm up jacket did not arrive, and he and another player wore Orlando Magic warm-ups for the introduction.

    Anyone else remember that?[/quote]

    The introductions for the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando are on youtube (link and link).

    Everyone wears the correct team warm-ups except Clyde Drexler, Reggie Lewis, and David Robinson. They just get introduced in the All Star uniform. Dominique Wilkins is introduced in some sort of non-team looking Reebok tracksuit, but he is behind the bench and it doesn’t appear he is dressed for the game.

    It does look like some players might have been wearing Magic gear in link, but they focus mainly on following around Jordan and Magic Johnson.

    [quote comment=”164947″]1) Why didn’t the Blue Claws reverse image their new secondary logo so that the claw would actually form the letter “C”? Would that be so hard?
    [/quote]

    The Blue Claws probably thought it would be too similar to the link cap logo and since they both play in the SAL that would be bad.

    I’ve been doing some resaerch on that link.
    J.R.Richards played for the Astros from 1971-1980, and the team only wore that font during his career from link. So far I haven’t found a record of these uniforms in that time. So far all I can find is this link Obviously different from the e-bay jersey.

    Man…in meetings all morning and I miss all of this great stuff!

    Last night’s VT jersey situation is a prime example of why EVERY team should have a heat press and a set of standard vinyl letters for emergencies. There is no excuse for hand drawn letters.

    [quote comment=”164956″]Man…in meetings all morning and I miss all of this great stuff!

    Last night’s VT jersey situation is a prime example of why EVERY team should have a heat press and a set of standard vinyl letters for emergencies. There is no excuse for hand drawn letters.[/quote]
    I wonder what the outcome would’ve been if this were to happen in the stingy NFL.

    [quote comment=”164876″][quote comment=”164871″]Theoren Fleury briefly wore a fan’s jersey on the bench of a game. He had bled all over his game jersey, and was standing on the bench without one. A fan took off his jersey, threw it over the glass, and Fleury put it on.

    I have read a longer version of the article where he says he didn’t actually wear it in the game, but it did happen briefly.

    link[/quote]

    Must have been a 7 or 8 year old kid that gave the sweater to Theo[/quote]

    Believe it or not, I’m pretty sure it was a woman who handed her jersey over the glass.

    Paging through SI this week and saw an article on Alberto Salazar. “Cool”, I thought, “wonder what he’s doing now.” That was as far as I got – the 2nd page of the article had a huge side portrait of him and prominently tattooed on his upper left arm is the link. Ugh.

    One additional comment, while being recruited, Sean Glennon’s top two choices: Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, how many guys can say they’ve worn the jersey’s of their top two choices in actual game action?

    I don’t think this has been asked yet…

    How did their jerseys not arrive, but their helmets, and especially pants, get there on time?

    Wouldn’t the pants and jerseys always pretty much be in the same place?

    link

    Look at the links at the right for vintage replicas. I was looking for a new mask for myslef (a Mage, a la Tim Thomas) and I thought you all might like to look at some of the old mask designs. There is also a funny video of a mask being tested using on of the links on the left.

    Last night i was watching the game at work and noticed the jerseys. it took me a few minutes to realize the scope of the events and point it out to my co-workers. somebody immediately said “Thats gonna be on Uni-Watch tomorrow!”
    anybody else need proof of God’s existence?

    [quote comment=”164816″]
    2. Here is a vid clip of Dic-K’s HS link. What’s up with the numbers on the back? They are on white patches. Are the changeable? Paging J. Brahm. Paging J. Brahm.[/quote]

    Alan, I can explain this one to you.

    Japanese high school teams don’t have numbers sewn on to them, in part because schools usually don’t cut guys and so you’d have some very high numbers (link).

    What happens is that only the people actually eligible to participate in a given game get numbers. In the national tournament, the roster is only 15 or 16 players, so fabric squares printed with 1 through 16 are issued to those players.

    In principle, the nine starters wear their position numbers on their backs, with the second pitcher getting 10 or 11, and the backup catcher getting 12. Not much room for individuality, and now you know why Dice-K had #1. (In the Japanese majors, #18 is traditionally given to the ace pitcher.)

    In general, the coach doesn’t get a number.

    Often schools will line up the link with their own jersey, but in the national tournament, the patch is white and the number is dark blue-black, in a specific semi-block font. link, but since the rules apply link, so you might get a link.

    I think this system is a litle silly and is unfair to players who want to choose their own numbers, but a lot of Japanese people like it and think that the fact that many high school kids can devote themselves to the baseball squad for three years without ever getting to have a number creates a kind of mystique.

    I say just make a JV squad, limit the main team to 25 guys, and sew the numbers on, but I’m not in charge!

    Here’s how I imagine the conversation going:

    “Good news, coach! We were able to get some jerseys and put our players’ names on them. We’re good to go!”

    “Nice job, kid. Now black out those logos and put the swoosh on.”

    “Yeah, that’d be funny.”

    “No, seriously, we HAVE to put the swoosh on or we’ll get fined.”

    “How do you want it to look?”

    “I don’t care what it looks like, as long is the swoosh is identical to what you see on your shoes!”

    (and the swoosh on those jerseys does, if you look at the right side of your Nikes, look JUST like the swoosh on your shoes)

    I thought the Ghosts logo was pretty lame at first but seeing it with the glow in the dark thread makes it look really good. Im impressed and can’t wait to get one.

    [quote comment=”164934″][quote comment=”164816″]Two quick items unrelated to each other:

    1. VT has played 19 Thursday night games and is 15-4 in those games. They have played at least two weekday games a year (not counting bowls) for the last 6 years. Are there any other teams with that many?
    [/quote]

    Oh Alan, you have struck a chord with me here!

    To answer, yes, absolutely. There is no bigger TV whore than my alma mater, TCU. We have played a game on every day of the week at some point in the last 7 years. TCU is 9-9 overall in non-Saturday games since 2001, 8 at home, 10 on the road. This comes partly from playing in mid-major conferences like CUSA and Mountain West, but mainly because TCU will play anytime to get on national TV, like a 5pm kick on a Thursday. Who can go to that??
    I don’t know how boosters put up with that, especially those that pay thousands of dollars to tailgate 8 Saturdays a year, but then lose a day when their school decides a Tuesday night game vs. East Carolina on ESPN2 is better for the program. Gag me. I understand that TCU will never be Texas, will never be A&M, and we’ll never replace Baylor in the Big 12. I’ve come to terms with it. Now just play on Saturday to make everyone happy. Ok I’m done now.[/quote]

    I knew someone would have answers. Thanks! The best was the year VT played TWO Thursday night games AND a Wednesday night game. Good lord, talk about ESPN/TV rights slurpage.

    [quote comment=”164956″]Man…in meetings all morning and I miss all of this great stuff!

    Last night’s VT jersey situation is a prime example of why EVERY team should have a heat press and a set of standard vinyl letters for emergencies. There is no excuse for hand drawn letters.[/quote]

    Here’s a novel idea – how bout no names on the back?!? is it that frickin’ important to have your name on the back?

    [quote comment=”164968″]Last night i was watching the game at work and noticed the jerseys. it took me a few minutes to realize the scope of the events and point it out to my co-workers. somebody immediately said “Thats gonna be on Uni-Watch tomorrow!”
    anybody else need proof of God’s existence?[/quote]
    As I watched the events unfold last night on my TV, I quickly ran to get my camera from the bedroom. My g/f, sensing my urgency, asked me what the hell I was doing. I responded, “Do you really want to know?” She excitedly said, “Yes!” I started saying, “Well, this is Uni Watch gold! Four of the Virginia Tech players had to wear Georgia Tech uni’s in tonights game because they lost theirs, and then they blacked out the logos and put in a swoosh, an–…” She then cut me off and said, “Never mind, I guess I didn’t want to know.” She went back to bed, and I went on in the dark snapping pictures of the game on my TV with my digital camera.

    I LOVE UNI WATCH!

    Been searching online during my lunch for this pic but can’t find it…
    In the Toronto Star Sports section today there’s a picture of the Japanese Baseball champs celebrating (Cunichi Dragons?) and in the foreground there’s a dude wearing what looks like jersey #110… Can anybody help?

    Tommy, It’s already been posted! I don’t have the link but I saved the picture to my hard drive…the guy’s name was Nagata in the lower left hand corner.

    As for the Tech’s fiasco…When I was in college, I played lacrosse for the first two years then decided to focus solely on football. One day, in my junior year we played Wester Connecticutt who didn’t bring any subs. The WestConn goalie caught a wicked shot in his junk and had to leave the game. One of the defenders took over in goal so they needed a replacement. They asked the Wagner coach and team if anyoone would help out. Everyone declined. I happened to be at the game that day, helping out with the scoreboard so I jumped at it. It was pretty funny, since alot of my former teammates and buddies were a bit pissed since I didn’t return that season. The most ironic thing was that I damn near scored two goals that day, when I hadn’t come close when playing for my ownschool!

    1) Why didn’t the Blue Claws reverse image their new secondary logo so that the claw would actually form the letter “C”? Would that be so hard?

    ^^ I was thinking the same exact thing

    Another sports equipment malfunction anecdote from my college days. As a freshman, in my varsity road game at St. Peter’s, the “moorings” from our fullback’s facemask came apart, so in the chaos that ensued, instead of calmly alerting the official and receiving an equipment time-out, I threw my “yet unused” helmet into him. Needless to say that was the closest I came to playing that night.

    [quote comment=”164965″]I don’t think this has been asked yet…

    How did their jerseys not arrive, but their helmets, and especially pants, get there on time?

    Wouldn’t the pants and jerseys always pretty much be in the same place?[/quote]

    Was wondering the same thing. In our Eq Room, we hang the pants on the same hanger as the jersey to ensure that the right pants are with the right jersey at all times. When we travel, the hangers are hung inside a trunk to keep them neat and with the pants.

    Our helmets are packed separate, however. After the Thursday practice, the players pack their shoulder pads, helmet, and insert pads for their pants into a bag that we give them. Managers double check every bag for helmet, shoulder pads, and insert pads.

    Game shoes and gloves are kept in a completely separate trunk and collected after every game. After they’ve been cleaned the next day, they’re put back into the trunk and sit there for the week and are not redistributed until Saturday morning during locker room setup.

    link is an idea of what a college program does to go on the road:

    The equipment staff uses an array of blue trunks to categorize and haul the equipment. Nine trunks are used to load the 70 players’ uniforms and personal equipment and an additional trunk is used to haul the coaching staff’s game shirts, pants and shoes. These are the last of the trunks loaded into the truck that departs Thursday evenings following practice.

    Once at the stadium on game day, the equipment staff sets up the phone system used by coaches on the field to communicate with other coaches in the box upstairs.

    “We take the phone system which is crucial for any college,” Chestnut said. “That’s got to be set up early on game day because everyone is fighting for radio frequencies now because everything is wireless. You get there early and get your stuff set up so you can get better frequencies than radio and TV.”

    Players and coaches remain in Champaign until after a Friday workout at Memorial Stadium. Under former coach Ron Turner the team left earlier in the day and went though a practice and light workout in the road stadium. With Ron Zook at the helm, the players head to the road stadium to get their bearings and see the locker rooms.

    The Illini locker rooms are prepared in time for the Friday walkthrough. Road lockers are arranged numerically by position.

    So assuming that VT is anything like the Illini, they should have had everything unpacked and set to go pretty early on. But one of the commenters last night said that they have worked road games and they leave everything on the buses as long as possible because they don’t trust security on the road.

    [quote comment=”164982″][quote comment=”164956″]Man…in meetings all morning and I miss all of this great stuff!

    Last night’s VT jersey situation is a prime example of why EVERY team should have a heat press and a set of standard vinyl letters for emergencies. There is no excuse for hand drawn letters.[/quote]

    Here’s a novel idea – how bout no names on the back?!? is it that frickin’ important to have your name on the back?[/quote]

    Kenny,
    Glennan mentioned in his postgame interview on TV that 1) Glennan wrote his name on himself, and they all wanted to put their numbers for continuity/conformity

    [quote comment=”164985″]Been searching online during my lunch for this pic but can’t find it…
    In the Toronto Star Sports section today there’s a picture of the Japanese Baseball champs celebrating (Cunichi Dragons?) and in the foreground there’s a dude wearing what looks like jersey #110… Can anybody help?[/quote]

    Tommy, number 110 on the Chunichi Dragons is Kazutaka Sakata, a batting practice pitcher. One of the pleasures of the series-ending pile-on is seeing those three-digit guys finally get to step on the field.

    Two or three days ago I posted a picture of the same celebration, featuring #118 Nagata.

    And Kenny, I also like jerseys with no names on the backs, but with VT the numbers are positioned so far down the guys’ backs that it would look seriously off-balance without a name. Some teams (such as Houston with their red jerseys) are particularly egregious about this.

    [quote comment=”164988″]Tommy, It’s already been posted! I don’t have the link but I saved the picture to my hard drive…the guy’s name was Nagata in the lower left hand corner.

    As for the Tech’s fiasco…When I was in college, I played lacrosse for the first two years then decided to focus solely on football. One day, in my junior year we played Wester Connecticutt who didn’t bring any subs. The WestConn goalie caught a wicked shot in his junk and had to leave the game. One of the defenders took over in goal so they needed a replacement. They asked the Wagner coach and team if anyoone would help out. Everyone declined. I happened to be at the game that day, helping out with the scoreboard so I jumped at it. It was pretty funny, since alot of my former teammates and buddies were a bit pissed since I didn’t return that season. The most ironic thing was that I damn near scored two goals that day, when I hadn’t come close when playing for my ownschool![/quote]

    Matt, where’d you go to school?

    [quote comment=”165006″]I went to Wagner College on Staten Island from the fall of 1995 to the Spring of 98.[/quote

    Nice football uniforms…reminiscent of Michigan State in the George perles era…Here’s a link to some present day pics:
    link

    UGA is allowing scout team and walk-ons to dress this weekend. Some players will be wearing duplicate numbers.

    link

    Back in 1986 when I was an undergraduate at University of Maryland, I attended Len Bias’ final home game at Cole Field House. The Terps were playing Univ of Virginia. In the 1st half, the Virginia was wearing their blue road uniforms. In the 2nd half, they wore their orange uniforms. Very strange. Anybody else watched or attended that game? I’ve searched the net looking for an explaination and found nothing.

    [quote comment=”164961″][quote comment=”164876″][quote comment=”164871″]Theoren Fleury briefly wore a fan’s jersey on the bench of a game. He had bled all over his game jersey, and was standing on the bench without one. A fan took off his jersey, threw it over the glass, and Fleury put it on.

    I have read a longer version of the article where he says he didn’t actually wear it in the game, but it did happen briefly.

    link[/quote]

    Must have been a 7 or 8 year old kid that gave the sweater to Theo[/quote]

    Believe it or not, I’m pretty sure it was a woman who handed her jersey over the glass.[/quote]

    Ladies XS probably was too big for him.
    BTW I heard the reason Theo used to do coke was that it made him feel 5 ft. tall.

    However, we alumni were highly disappointed when after spending millions to remake the football field into field turf, they also decided to redesign the logo. Don”t let anybody from Barry Alvarez find out.

    I meant to say anyone from Wisconsin, like Barry Alvarez! Sorry…I get so excited when attempting to send something to Uni-Watch, I become typing challenged!

    [quote comment=”164980″]
    I knew someone would have answers. Thanks! The best was the year VT played TWO Thursday night games AND a Wednesday night game. Good lord, talk about ESPN/TV rights slurpage.[/quote]

    In 2003, TCU played 4 midweek games – a Monday (Labor Day), Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Lately they’ve gone to just Thursdays, as have ESPN broadcasts I think. I’m surprised that BCS conferences like the SEC and ACC agreed to a contract to air Thursday games though.

    [quote comment=”164997″][quote comment=”164985″]Been searching online during my lunch for this pic but can’t find it…
    In the Toronto Star Sports section today there’s a picture of the Japanese Baseball champs celebrating (Cunichi Dragons?) and in the foreground there’s a dude wearing what looks like jersey #110… Can anybody help?[/quote]

    Tommy, number 110 on the Chunichi Dragons is Kazutaka Sakata, a batting practice pitcher. One of the pleasures of the series-ending pile-on is seeing those three-digit guys finally get to step on the field.

    Two or three days ago I posted a picture of the same celebration, featuring #118 Nagata.

    And Kenny, I also like jerseys with no names on the backs, but with VT the numbers are positioned so far down the guys’ backs that it would look seriously off-balance without a name. Some teams (such as Houston with their red jerseys) are particularly egregious about this.[/quote]

    Yeah i get that some jersey’s are designed to have names on the back – but would you rather have it look completely ridiculous or have no name on the back of the used GT jersey – that’s what i was trying to point out – don’t put names on the back the “borrowed” jerseys

    Pretty cool that Tyrod Taylor kept his jersey to confirm with what Glennon wore… the million dollar question is whether any of these hybrids will show up on eBay :)

    [quote comment=”164871″]Theoren Fleury briefly wore a fan’s jersey on the bench of a game. He had bled all over his game jersey, and was standing on the bench without one. A fan took off his jersey, threw it over the glass, and Fleury put it on.

    I have read a longer version of the article where he says he didn’t actually wear it in the game, but it did happen briefly.

    link[/quote]

    Yup, I remember reading about this… I’m pretty sure the fan was a man, not a woman, and I think the jersey was crested with Fleury’s name and number and even had autographs on it (including Fleury’s). He may have played one shift (although I don’t recall the he did; the equipment manager ended up getting him a replacment — sorry, no link).

    [quote comment=”165028″][quote comment=”164997″][quote comment=”164985″]Been searching online during my lunch for this pic but can’t find it…
    In the Toronto Star Sports section today there’s a picture of the Japanese Baseball champs celebrating (Cunichi Dragons?) and in the foreground there’s a dude wearing what looks like jersey #110… Can anybody help?[/quote]

    Tommy, number 110 on the Chunichi Dragons is Kazutaka Sakata, a batting practice pitcher. One of the pleasures of the series-ending pile-on is seeing those three-digit guys finally get to step on the field.

    Two or three days ago I posted a picture of the same celebration, featuring #118 Nagata.

    And Kenny, I also like jerseys with no names on the backs, but with VT the numbers are positioned so far down the guys’ backs that it would look seriously off-balance without a name. Some teams (such as Houston with their red jerseys) are particularly egregious about this.[/quote]

    Yeah i get that some jersey’s are designed to have names on the back – but would you rather have it look completely ridiculous or have no name on the back of the used GT jersey – that’s what i was trying to point out – don’t put names on the back the “borrowed” jerseys[/quote]

    I liked the look, personally. Why have players with no names on the back if the rest of the players have names? Doesn’t seem too fair…

    As for names in general, I don’t really mind either way, seeing how high-school clubs don’t put names on them for financial reasons (Though at my school, seniors have to buy their jerseys in order to keep them), but in college ball, sometimes I don’t really buy the “team first” attitude that NNOB teams adopt.

    [quote comment=”164955″]Don’t like the NBA or the Wizards but you can’t complain about this treatment of a uni…

    link

    the best thing on that page is the Tecmo Bowl Brett Favre vid on the bottom. hilarious

    [quote comment=”165009″]UGA is allowing scout team and walk-ons to dress this weekend. Some players will be wearing duplicate numbers.

    link[/quote]

    Duplicate numbers is completely common in Div. I football, even with players who are significant contributors on defense and offense–not just walk-on scrubs. (Nathan Vasher and Selvin Young at Texas, for example)

    [quote comment=”164954″]I’ve been doing some resaerch on that link.
    J.R.Richards played for the Astros from 1971-1980, and the team only wore that font during his career from link. So far I haven’t found a record of these uniforms in that time. So far all I can find is this link Obviously different from the e-bay jersey.[/quote]

    BCrisp, I did a little research too and found mention of the fact that JR Richard did pitch in 1 spring training game in 1982 (which year the seller claims this jersey is from) and we all know that the annual St. Patrick’s Day games around the MLB take place during the latter part of Spring Training games by virtue of when St. Patty’s day takes place on the calendar each year. So it’s possible that his is legit. The tagging looks good too.

    If I had the money right now, I’d absolutely bid on it.

    [quote comment=”164901″][quote comment=”164891″]And speaking of “inked in” link..[/quote]

    as a right of passage, most ekins get swoosh tattoos on their person somewhere.[/quote]

    Todd,

    You know nobody is gonna know what an “EKIN” is; lol. I gotcha though; that is one of my goals actually, to become one.

    [quote comment=”165043″][quote comment=”164955″]Don’t like the NBA or the Wizards but you can’t complain about this treatment of a uni…

    link

    the best thing on that page is the Tecmo Bowl Brett Favre vid on the bottom. hilarious[/quote]

    super tecmo… ahh the memories, the fist fights it brought on, the all nighters to play seasons, the 2.2 it afforded me 2nd semester freshman year. arguably the greatest video game ever.

    [quote comment=”165051″][quote comment=”164901″][quote comment=”164891″]And speaking of “inked in” link..[/quote]

    as a right of passage, most ekins get swoosh tattoos on their person somewhere.[/quote]

    Todd,

    You know nobody is gonna know what an “EKIN” is; lol. I gotcha though; that is one of my goals actually, to become one.[/quote]

    wish you the best with that one! you get your nketlk shirt yet?

    In the ’94 Pro Bowl Daryl Johnston’s Cowboys helmet was lost/stolen and he had to borrow a Packers one from Reggie White….can’t find a picture.

    [quote comment=”165051″][quote comment=”164901″][quote comment=”164891″]And speaking of “inked in” link..[/quote]

    as a right of passage, most ekins get swoosh tattoos on their person somewhere.[/quote]

    Todd,

    You know nobody is gonna know what an “EKIN” is; lol. I gotcha though; that is one of my goals actually, to become one.[/quote]

    rofl…g’luck with that

    i suppose tiger would qualify as an EKIN…does he get a swoosh or the TW thingy?

    The Ottawa Citizen had a brief clipping about the Senators-Thrashers game. “The Sens wore ‘modified’ versions of the new jerseys and are the first to do so. They look the same, but they did look baggier”.

    There is a small but vocal group in Ottawa that HATES the red Sens sweater. There rallying cry is “Bring Back The Black”

    To expand on the previous super-vague comment, (#143) Woody is wearing a CU jersey, with duct tape over the ‘Colorado’, and Paige written on it (in the same style as the GT jerseys, uppercase start, then lower case), and a backwards swoosh in duct tape as well. Nicely done.

    It also was discussed in the last part of the show, and I should think PTI will tackle it. It also looks like Woody may have been wearing a CU T-Shirt Jersey, and it was #44. Not sure why.

    I’m not liking the Niketalk shirts minus the A. Ekin07,in my mind, was the greatest contributor in Niketalk history. By the way, if it weren’t for Niketalk and the thread on Todd Helton’s cleats, I would have never founf Uni-Watch, which in all honesty has changed my life!

    [quote comment=”165010″]Back in 1986 when I was an undergraduate at University of Maryland, I attended Len Bias’ final home game at Cole Field House. The Terps were playing Univ of Virginia. In the 1st half, the Virginia was wearing their blue road uniforms. In the 2nd half, they wore their orange uniforms. Very strange. Anybody else watched or attended that game? I’ve searched the net looking for an explaination and found nothing.[/quote]
    [quote comment=”165010″]Back in 1986 when I was an undergraduate at University of Maryland, I attended Len Bias’ final home game at Cole Field House. The Terps were playing Univ of Virginia. In the 1st half, the Virginia was wearing their blue road uniforms. In the 2nd half, they wore their orange uniforms. Very strange. Anybody else watched or attended that game? I’ve searched the net looking for an explaination and found nothing.[/quote]

    Sally Jenkins wrote in the Washington Post on March 2, 1986:

    It was an afternoon of mind games and physical play as the Terrapins came in seeking to erase what had been their most embarrassing loss all season. Maryland started its seniors in the final home game of their careers, and Virginia started its “Blue” team, a squad that included four second-stringers, as a reward for their hard work all season. The Cavaliers came out in their blue uniforms, but then changed to the orange at halftime for a psychological lift.
    “I was hoping they’d forget who we were,” Virginia Coach Terry Holland said.
    It didn’t help, the Terrapins led, 44-34, at intermission and never trailed in the second half in taking as much as a 16-point lead. The Cavaliers never came closer than six with 11:04 to go, and Maryland responded by going on a 16-6 run over the 6:07 to break it open.

    Final score: Maryland 87 — Virginia 72 (Len Bias scored 22 points in his last game at Cole Field House.)

    The SportsCenter that followed the VT-GT game poked a little fun at the uniform blunder as well: At the end of the segment the two anchors said that they sometimes misplace their jackets, and that it has gotten so out of hand that they started having nameplates attached to them, and they change to the camera behind them and sure enough they have homemade nameplates on them. It was pretty fun, and one of the anchors happened to be John Buccicgoss (sp?) and made a joke that “It took me four sharpies to color in my name!” Was good a laugh before bed.

    [quote comment=”165074″]I’m not liking the Niketalk shirts minus the A. Ekin07,in my mind, was the greatest contributor in Niketalk history. By the way, if it weren’t for Niketalk and the thread on Todd Helton’s cleats, I would have never founf Uni-Watch, which in all honesty has changed my life![/quote]

    matt,
    member since when?

    len bias? one of the greatest college players of all time.

    I just love the fact that the Nike swooshes were drawn in backwards on the front of the jersey. I’m sure this wasn’t the reason, but it’s almost as if that guy who drew them on was doing it wrong as a way to screw with Nike.

    [quote comment=”165080″][quote comment=”165074″]I’m not liking the Niketalk shirts minus the A. Ekin07,in my mind, was the greatest contributor in Niketalk history. By the way, if it weren’t for Niketalk and the thread on Todd Helton’s cleats, I would have never founf Uni-Watch, which in all honesty has changed my life![/quote]

    matt,
    member since when?

    I became a member of Niketalk back in 2001, but somehow it lapsed…my screenname was Magoo1634. I still check the threads in the Nike, Jordan, and Retro forums twicce a day.

    len bias? one of the greatest college players of all time.[/quote]

    [quote comment=”165080″][quote comment=”165074″]I’m not liking the Niketalk shirts minus the A. Ekin07,in my mind, was the greatest contributor in Niketalk history. By the way, if it weren’t for Niketalk and the thread on Todd Helton’s cleats, I would have never founf Uni-Watch, which in all honesty has changed my life![/quote]

    matt,
    member since when?

    len bias? one of the greatest college players of all time.[/quote]

    Sorry Todd… I’m trying to figure out how to simply add my reply on to a previous post.

    [quote]
    Yup, I remember reading about this… I’m pretty sure the fan was a man, not a woman, and I think the jersey was crested with Fleury’s name and number and even had autographs on it (including Fleury’s). He may have played one shift (although I don’t recall the he did; the equipment manager ended up getting him a replacment — sorry, no link).[/quote]

    Fleury never wore the replica jersey with autographs in play. He just put it on to a big cheer from the crowd. Then the trainer gave him a Flames game jersey with no name and #76, which he wore the last few shifts. Hard to believe they didn’t have another game jersey!!

    Yup, I remember reading about this… I’m pretty sure the fan was a man, not a woman, and I think the jersey was crested with Fleury’s name and number and even had autographs on it (including Fleury’s). He may have played one shift (although I don’t recall the he did; the equipment manager ended up getting him a replacment – sorry, no link).

    Fleury never wore the replica jersey with autographs in play. He just put it on to a big cheer from the crowd. Then the trainer gave him a Flames game jersey with no name and #76, which he wore the last few shifts. Hard to believe they didn’t have another game jersey!!

    That is beyond cool…It is like the opposite of the mean Joe Greene commercial from the 70’s.

    I’m cursing myself for not remember the whole story, but I recall reading years ago a story about how there was a player (On the Detroit Tigers I think) who had his uniform and all of his equipment left at home for a game, and he ended up having to buy a replica jersey at a stand at the game, and he had to borrow Cal Ripken’s glove, but while he was in the field he had to put tape over the logo because he had contract with a different glove provider… I’ll try to find out more details, but today’s blog article reminds me of this story.

    [quote comment=”165105″]I’m cursing myself for not remember the whole story, but I recall reading years ago a story about how there was a player (On the Detroit Tigers I think) who had his uniform and all of his equipment left at home for a game, and he ended up having to buy a replica jersey at a stand at the game, and he had to borrow Cal Ripken’s glove, but while he was in the field he had to put tape over the logo because he had contract with a different glove provider… I’ll try to find out more details, but today’s blog article reminds me of this story.[/quote]

    Found it really fast, it was Lou Whitaker and it was at the 1985 All-Star game.

    More info here

    [quote comment=”165106″][quote comment=”165105″]I’m cursing myself for not remember the whole story, but I recall reading years ago a story about how there was a player (On the Detroit Tigers I think) who had his uniform and all of his equipment left at home for a game, and he ended up having to buy a replica jersey at a stand at the game, and he had to borrow Cal Ripken’s glove, but while he was in the field he had to put tape over the logo because he had contract with a different glove provider… I’ll try to find out more details, but today’s blog article reminds me of this story.[/quote]

    Found it really fast, it was Lou Whitaker and it was at the 1985 All-Star game.

    More info here [/quote]

    I found some more info link.

    Apols if this has been mentioned, but there was an International Soccer game between England and Scotland in the early 1990s that saw the Scotland team misplaced their goalkeepers jersey, so were forced to borrow England’s alternate keeper jersey. No moderations were made so far I recall…

    The ESPNU homepage has two great pics right now next to each other. Dennis Dixon and Rudy Carpenter really show off just how different Oregon’s uniforms are (I especially noticed the number font)

    Found two pics of Fleury from that #76 game. One on left is him wearing 76 and the on the right is from earlier in the game:

    link

    What’s up with those basket supports in Boston? Are all NBA arenas going to that style of basket?

    Oh, wait a minute. Those are the normal supports. I was just confused . . . the camera angle made it look like there was some sort of frame running from the base of the support to the base of the backboard. Turns out that this was just some sort of table or billboard running along the base line.

    Todd,

    Naw, I didn’t even know they where some up for sale; where do I get one? And thanks for the wishes; you got an e-mail address I can hit you up on?

    And LI Phil,

    Didn’t mean to make it a joke for you, but I guess you can take that anyway you want. Tiger doesn’t “qualify” as an EKIN, it’s just a term for a Nike rep, as if you care and I know you don’t.

    [quote comment=”165049″][quote comment=”164954″]I’ve been doing some resaerch on that link.
    J.R.Richards played for the Astros from 1971-1980, and the team only wore that font during his career from link. So far I haven’t found a record of these uniforms in that time. So far all I can find is this link Obviously different from the e-bay jersey.[/quote]

    BCrisp, I did a little research too and found mention of the fact that JR Richard did pitch in 1 spring training game in 1982 (which year the seller claims this jersey is from) and we all know that the annual St. Patrick’s Day games around the MLB take place during the latter part of Spring Training games by virtue of when St. Patty’s day takes place on the calendar each year. So it’s possible that his is legit. The tagging looks good too.

    If I had the money right now, I’d absolutely bid on it.[/quote]

    Actually, in the item description, the seller claims it is 1980-82 vintage, so it could date to Richard’s last season spring training.

    [quote comment=”165124″]And LI Phil,

    Didn’t mean to make it a joke for you, but I guess you can take that anyway you want. Tiger doesn’t “qualify” as an EKIN, it’s just a term for a Nike rep, as if you care and I know you don’t.[/quote]

    actually…thanks for the clarification, but i knew it was a nike rep…(google confirmed my suspicions…even found a freakin treatise on it from a nike rep)…i was just thinkin if there was EVER a true ‘nike rep’ it would be le tigre

    cheers

    btw…some interesting factoids on paul’s favorite brand

    link

    Add another to the pile of misplaced jerseys stories: In 1974, the UT-Arlington Mavericks football team’s road jerseys didn’t arrive in Hattiesburg for a game with Southern Miss. The Mavs wore the Eagles’ road black jerseys.

    It was 33 years ago, but a true UniWatcher never forgets.

    [quote comment=”165145″]Lakers wearing yellow on the road against Phoenix’s orange alts.

    This is really weird.[/quote]

    just thinking the same thing. Definitely a weird combo, and definitely a night for phoenix to go white at home. lakers must make some crazy uni combos in most situations.

    are the other teams that don’t wear white unis in regular games (lakers white are sunday home only, and i dont think of them as real lakers unis, just seems wrong) any ideas?

    did/do the pacers wear the yellow pinstripes as a home uni?

    also…not a big fan of the phx orange when it’s paired with the gray piping…i DO like the “PHX” and the orange…just not with the gray

    as long as we’re recalling uni switch stories:

    In high shcool, my team was set to play against a conference opponent, and to give you some background, our coach had played under the opposign teams coach in college, and the two didnt get along well, and had to say the least, a shaky relationship. anyway, we were the home team, and before the game the opposing coach informed our coach that the varsity team’s managers had packed the wrong jerseys (brought white when they were to wear red) and so he asked our coach if we would mind wearing our away black jerseys and letting them wear their whites. our coach politely declined, informing him that our squad always wears white at home. he then offered to let them either wear our black unifroms, or forfeit the game. so they played in our away jerseys when we dealt them a decisive loss. really fun times, lots of confused fans, great local sports highlights, and of course, an awesome uniform story to boot.

    link

    you can choose your team name, but more importantly, you can pick the colors for your shoes, pants, cap (batting helmet?), and jersey.

    i’m having a hard time coming up with a good color combo! honestly, the best i’ve come up with so far has been a green/yellow/white system, a la Oakland, or a blue/white duo. for me, the hat (helmet??) MUST be dark blue or even black at a stretch.

    fun game (i’m addicted) but i wish it had better uni options!

    Virginia Tech QB writes his name on the back of his GT jersey. Hey! The rest of the Hokies in their normal jerseys…they didn’t have names on their jerseys! How bout that!

    My YellowJackets are embarrassed again. At least everyone didn’t talk about all the patches they wear…4 or 5. Almost NASCAR range.

    [quote comment=”164930″]Apparently there is a hockey off-shoot called link. Canada has a women’s national team and link. The article didn’t make it sound like it was a special occasion thing.[/quote]

    Ah, yes, Ringuette. I saw a ringuette game when I was in Quebec. . . 15 years ago or so. My friend, Stephanie, got a penalty for checking. Whoops.

    LI Phil,

    You alright with me man, thanks for that link and sorry I read more into your initial comment than was necessary. My bad.

    [quote comment=”164859″]I’d forgot to mention in my earlier post, but Boston’s Milan Lucic is wearing #17 now. He started the season with #62.[/quote]

    Lucic was supposed to be returned to his junior team, but the Bruins decided to keep him for the season. His #62 was just a temporary number until the Bruins decided on keeping him or sending him back. According to the CBA, NHL teams have 12 games before they can send rookies back to their junior teams. He will be #17 for the rest of the season now that he is officially a full-time Bruin.

    [quote comment=”164930″]Apparently there is a hockey off-shoot called link. Canada has a women’s national team and link. The article didn’t make it sound like it was a special occasion thing.[/quote]

    Ringette is not an offshoot of hockey whatsoever. That’s like saying tennis and badminton are related. They are completely different in the way they are played.

    I really like what’s been done with the Casper Ghost’s. Looking at Plan B. Branding’s website however, shows them as the responsible party for the Fresno Grizzlies overhaul. They must have visited Fresno because brown and green ARE the dominant colors here. But that doesn’t mean I want my team represented by such bland crap. The logo they designed was garbage too.
    I don’t know who the Grizz have hired for their new makeover (after only two years), but if it’s Plan B. again…C’mon guys…I’ve now seen your work. You can (and HAVE) done better. I’m not saying you have to go back to purple (although I’d personally like that), but anything has to be better than what you came up with last time.

    [quote comment=”165003″]man…vt was on fire last night!

    not even seung-hui cho could have stopped them![/quote]

    Get some class, seriously.

    [quote comment=”164825″]I can recall an incident of a player wearing a fan’s jersey. This happened back in 1985/86, when I was following an amateur football team called the Birmingham Bulls, based in Birmingham, England. A bunch of fans, myself included, made the long trek to Frankfurt, Germany to watch the Bulls play the Hanau Hawks. Bulls QB Dave Stanton lost his jersey along the way, so one of the coaches came into the stands and borrowed a replica jersey that one of our fan group was wearing. Stanton took the field wearing this black jersey, with a white tape nameplate and his surname handwritten in black marker. It made for a great souvenir after the game …[/quote]

    I’d guess that there aren’t too many replica away jerseys to be found in Atlanta for VT, so that probably wasn’t an option. Maybe if GT was still wearing white at home (gold is a recent change) and VT needed maroon jerseys..

    [quote comment=”165003″]man…vt was on fire last night!

    not even seung-hui cho could have stopped them![/quote]

    as a vt alum, that’s not funny. at all. not even a little bit.

    [quote comment=”165273″][quote comment=”165003″]man…vt was on fire last night!

    not even seung-hui cho could have stopped them![/quote]

    as a vt alum, that’s not funny. at all. not even a little bit.[/quote]

    I was just about to say something about this and your comment popped up…I’m very upset (maybe it was just a miss by the staff) but this is not a joke by any stretch…how they could allow something like that to be posted is beyond me…i think that whoever posted should be banned from making further posts on this site…the post wasnt even uni related in the 1st place…juts some jerkoff trying to be funny…did anyone find this funny?…i would love to get some response on this

    [quote comment=”165273″][quote comment=”165003″]man…vt was on fire last night!

    not even seung-hui cho could have stopped them![/quote]

    as a vt alum, that’s not funny. at all. not even a little bit.[/quote]

    As a current VT student, All I got say is Alex Smith, What The Hell is wrong with you?

    Same thing happened to Ole Miss one year when Archie Manning was QB. Ole Miss’s uniforms got lost in transit and Ole Miss had to wear opponent’s (auburn I think) road uniforms.

    I like the article but I must admit when my son and I read it, we where shocked to see the word
    “fuck” in the article. Since when is that word used commonly on a espn website. If that is the future of your reporting, then I will now read SI.com for now on.

    Jim Stodart

    Not that anyone cares, but when I played high school frosh basketball we played a home game against a team that wore road yellows. Unfortunately, our home jerseys were yellows too. If I remember correctly, we went back into the locker room and put on our maroon tops (it was either that or the whites from the JV team) and kept wearing the yellow shorts.

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