New ESPN column today — here’s the link.
Meanwhile: As we all know by now, baseball has fallen out of favor with black Americans, at least as a participatory sport. And now former MLBer Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd is trying to do something about it. He and former teammate Delino DeShields recently formed the Urban Baseball League. Billed as the “Rebirth of the Negro Leagues,” the UBL is slated to begin games next year, with a focus on encouraging young black players to participate. No uniforms yet, but they’ve got team logos for the four charter teams: the Blackbirds, Black Tops, Afros, and Stacks.
Well. I think it’s fair to say that if a white-run league came up with something like those last two logos, many people would find it in poor taste at best, flat-out racist at worst. And how different are those logos from, say, this or this? Is it suddenly okay if a black-run enterprise uses this type of imagery? Is it all about intent, not content? What’s the line separating stereotype from cultural expression? Does the passing of time recontextualize things? Can these logos now be considered “cool” in the same way 1970s blaxploitation movies are? If so, isn’t it worth remembering that the arbiters of this coolness have primarily been white culture geeks doing what white culture geeks always do (i.e., cherrypicking the aspects of black culture they find most appealing)? Isn’t “blaxploitation” a clever term whose cleverness obscures its pejorative meaning?
Okay, so I’m veering off-topic there. Race is such a messed-up element in American life, and it tends to distort everything it touches, so it’s hard to pin down a discussion like this one. The fact that Uni Watch’s readership is, as far as I can tell, about 98% white doesn’t exactly help matters.
But here’s the thing: People forget that the Negro Leagues themselves should never have existed in the first place. But they did, and now we celebrate them as worthy outgrowth of an unjust time. Seems like a shaky premise for starting a new league today, though.
And here’s something else: These are all essentially throwback logos. I mean, for a venture aimed at contemporary black youth, it’s amazing how completely devoid of hip-hop influence these designs are. Shouldn’t the teams be called the Bling or something like that? Granted, I’m neither young nor black, but it seems to me that black kids are gonna view these logos as just the latest evidence that baseball is that boring old game that their grandfathers used to play.
(Special thanks to Ronnie Poore for bringing the UBL to my attention.)
Uni Watch News Ticker: A nonplussed Dominic J. Litten reports: “The Italian national soccer team has unveiled its new, hideous away strip with gold detailing on the collar, which they will debut in Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland.” ”¦ Another season-opening MLB series in Japan — does that mean another round of uniform advertisements, like in 2000 and 2004? ”¦ St. Louis University guard Tommie Liddell is now going by Tommie Lidell III, complete with the roman numeral on his jersey. Details here (with thanks to Jeff Hood). ”¦ Turns out that Eric Stangel, a semi-frequent commenter and Ticker contributor, is also the head writer/producer for David Letterman — which means he’s been out on strike for the past week and a half. “Something happened today that made me think of Uni Watch,” he writes. “Bill Scheft is a writer on the show and also the Late Show Strike Captain. What better way to designate his captainhood than by giving him a Jason Varitek-style ‘C’ on his chest.” So there you have it, people: Uni Watch, the official sports web site of the American labor movement. ”¦ “So proud of the Missouri Valley Conference,” writes bench coach Bryan Redemske. “They left last year’s patches on. ”¦ Check out this totally boss jersey I won on eBay yesterday (with extra-big thanks to Scott Turner, who brought the item to my attention). ”¦ “Last weekend I visited the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! tourist trap in Times Square,” writes Steve Flack. “They mention how Robert Ripley’s second passion, beyond the oddities featured in his newspaper strip, was baseball. They have a complete set of uniforms from a charity baseball game he put together in 1939. His team was called the Believe It Or Nots and featured such legends as Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, and Jack Dempsey. The weirdest thing was that the uniform were Turkish harem-style, complete with turbans, completely unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.” … If only this were true. … Reprinted from last night’s comments: Nice breakdown of Georgetown basketball uniform history here.
Incredible. And just last week my Onion Page-A-Day calendar had a story about making all black baseball players return to the Negro Leagues in celebration of diversity.
There’s an idea for you Paul. A Uni-Watch Page-A-Day calendar…
Paul
that UBL story strikes me as though it came straight from The Onion as i had suspected yesterdays NHL jersey-gate story did…sounds VERY fishy…if true, how long before the rev’s al and jesse start grabbing facetime to protest?
/what uni will the ducks sport tonite vs. the cats? white jersey, yellow pants, green hat?
I love the Afros logo.
OK, enough of this ‘Jr.’ or III or IV stuff on the backs of jerseys. He is the 3rd Tommie, not the 3rd Liddell. And I doubt there are other Liddells on the team to confuse him with. I know, I know, it’s a way to honor you father, grandfather, etc., but it makes no sense.
Dear Paul,
The UBL story looks authentic–even if fairly undeveloped. The “Afros” and “Stacks” concepts are upsetting, but what troubles me even more is that the response to the (accurate) perception that there are few African-Americans in baseball is more separatism. Is this really something that we need? Doesn’t MLB have a diversity program working to increase interest in baseball among African-Americans? If that’s not an effective program, why couldn’t Oil Can Boyd and Delino DeSheilds devote their energies and experience to understanding why the program’s not effective and helping to improve it?
At the same time, there are still a lot of issues among people of different ethnicities in sports and society. Daniel Snyder, as far as I know, is not exactly pushing to change the name of the Washington Redskins to something that is not a racial slur.
Well the reason that the the Afros and Stacks aren’t racist is because they’re not representing anything racist, pik’s are a common item with no racial connotations. The old ads you linked to were based on drawings/ideas that were created in a racist vain.
Although I think the league is kinda a pointless idea and will flop, and yes if white people were setting it up it could be considered racist, I see no problem with how they’re doing it.
Paul, I thought that you weren’t a jersey collector . . . .
The Georgetown uniforms of the last couple of years had a modified version of the kente cloth design as well. I liked the black uniform the best — especially with Mr. Iverson in it.
“OHHHH! AMERICA! ARE YOU SERIOUS!”
Turns out that Eric Stangel, a semi-frequent commenter and Ticker contributor, is also the head writer/producer for David Letterman – which means he’s been out on strike for the past week and a half. “Something happened today that made me think of Uni Watch,” he writes. “Bill Scheft is a writer on the show and also the Late Show Strike Captain. What better way to designate his captainhood than by giving him a Jason Varitek-style ‘C’ on his chest.” So there you have it, people: Uni Watch, the official sports web site of the American labor movement. …
anyone else read the above paragraph from the ticker and have billy bragg’s “there is power in a union” playing in their head?
I’m not going to comment on the racial issues here… but I’m just going to say that for two guys who are former major leaguers (and likely have more than their fare share of money), they could’ve at least hired a graphic designer that had half a clue of what they doing.
The UBL logo in itself is a joke, and looks more like a local adult softball league than anything remotely professional. The Black Tops and Stacks logos look like they could’ve been pieced together from ClipArt, and while the Blackbirds logo does at least have an athletic font, the baseball diamond behind it is such a cliché, and those aren’t even real blackbirds… they’re black cardinals.
If they wanted to have those team names and take that kind of approach, and still bring up the racial issues that Paul commented on, fine… that’s their decision. But the look and feel of it all is just plain pathetic.
Interesting entry today, my two cents:
1. I find the logos of the UBL the LEAST problematic issue. This quote from the homepage was more alarming: “Though our goal is to re-establish the Negro Leagues, the UBL features talent from all racial, social and economic backgrounds.” Um, does that mean when their goal of re-establishment is achieved, they will kick all the non-blacks out of the league?
2. Paul, I think you’re off a bit on the logos and comparing them to the images you chose. Those images used black figures in an offensive manner, like most Black Americana. Afro picks and afros are simply a part of black culture. Although you’re probably correct, had a white person came up with this, there might be issues (but like you elude to, race is such an issue in this country, I’m not going to even get into it). But it’s not like there are pictures of whites in blackface or pieces of chicken and watermelon.
I don’t think this is going to solve any of the issues as far as blacks not playing baseball. ESPN did a fantastic story last year on the historic black colleges offering scholarships to whites and hispanics more often now just so they can keep their programs afloat.
2. I found the Liddel photo with them holding up their fingers to be really cool. I don’t have a problem with the roman numerals on the jerseys. If that’s how you want to honor your family, that’s cool.
3. Uni-Watch is 98% white!!! Sounds like we need a Diversity Outreach. link!
Since I’m a bit of country music fan, I found this interesting:
The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame has an exhibit for the late, great country singer link who initially wanted to be a ballplayer until an injury forced him to switch careers.
Now if only I could find a pic of link during his ballplaying days.
Whatever argument might arise from the formation and strategy of the UBL, at it’s core, it’s harmless.
Baseball is important to this country and shouldn’t be forgotten. If a grass roots movement takes place, whether it’s urban or rural, it’s all good. American Baseball in it’s current state is far too structured and intimidating to be enjoyable to most youths. It’s time to take it out of the little leagues and promote play at the pick-up level.
BTW. The Stacks logo looks more “gay pride” than urban.
If I were bringing back the Negro Baseball League I would have used some of the original team names like; Black Socks, Stars, Grays, and Monarchs. But, then, I’m white so my opinion wouldn’t count as far as the UBL goes.
[quote comment=”171060″]Paul, I think you’re off a bit on the logos and comparing them to the images you chose. Those images used black figures in an offensive manner, like most Black Americana. Afro picks and afros are simply a part of black culture. Although you’re probably correct, had a white person came up with this, there might be issues (but like you elude to, race is such an issue in this country, I’m not going to even get into it).[/quote]
For the most part, I agree with your assessment. I mainly think this project raises a lot of questions, which is why I phrased my commentary as questions. The answers are a lot trickier.
link
Syracuse is dropping blue as a main color and going with a burnt orange to accent the current orange. However, link.
Paul, 98% white?? Is that a result of “Ditch the Black”?
This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.
[quote comment=”171080″]Paul, 98% white?? Is that a result of “Ditch the Black”?[/quote]
although the above comment may be interpreted as written in poor taste,
man, it sure is clever!
i guess i never realized that phil jackson was on this blog masquerading as SuperD!
[quote comment=”171069″]If I were bringing back the Negro Baseball League I would have used some of the original team names like; Black Socks, Stars, Grays, and Monarchs. But, then, I’m white so my opinion wouldn’t count as far as the UBL goes.[/quote]
That’s what I was thinking. If they want to bring back the Negro leagues, bring back the teams as well.
If your not going to do that, then you need to target todays kids better than these logos and names do. (Sort of like Paul was saying with the “Bling”.) They should have gotten some of today’s rap stars involved. I know Nelly is big into softball and he doesn’t necessarily have a thug image. Someone like that would be able put something out that a young, African-American audience would respond to. (Even though I don’t reallly like the guy.)
Not to mention the publicity the guy could generate for what you are doing. I doubt kids nowadays now who “Oil Can” Boyd and Delino Deshield are, yet you’d be hard pressed to find a kid that didn’t know who Nelly is.
Paul,
When I saw link it made me think about your past discussion and images with infinite recursions/regressions.
[quote comment=”171085″]This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.[/quote]
Jesus…to say the reason there is still racism in America is cause of only blacks is just flat out ignorant man. You proved yourself wrong just by saying that…a white docter (to be) still can say borderline racist things.
[quote comment=”171069″]If I were bringing back the Negro Baseball League I would have used some of the original team names like; Black Socks, Stars, Grays, and Monarchs. But, then, I’m white so my opinion wouldn’t count as far as the UBL goes.[/quote]
I bet someone has trademarked all the old negro league stuff. In the Black Fives story that was recently linked, they re-create an old design and legally protect it.
In addition to a uniform enthusiast I am also a birdwatcher (and obvi a smash with the ladies), and I’ll say that in addition to those UBL logos being of questionable taste there is no such bird as the “blackbird” depicted on that logo. It’s a cardinal but black instead of red.
Other bird-related logo issues:
Cardinals – excellent
Blue Jays – excellent, especially in the old logo
Orioles – super-excellent, especially since the ‘Baltimore Oriole’ is an actual species name and is pretty uncommon
Seahawks – not an actual bird. The term “seahawk” usually refers to an Osprey, but the Seattle logo is taking an artistic approach anyway.
Atlanta Hawks – Uh…there’s no actual giant red hawk like in their logo. Not in the US, at least.
B’More Ravens – excellent, but ravens (different bird than crows) are very uncommon in Maryland
Eagles – fine, boring
Anahiem Ducks – uhhh….ok fine ducks are birds
That’s all I can think of right now
[quote comment=”171094″][quote comment=”171085″]This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.[/quote]
Jesus…to say the reason there is still racism in America is cause of only blacks is just flat out ignorant man. You proved yourself wrong just by saying that…a white docter (to be) still can say borderline racist things.[/quote]
dont tell me that today is gonna be loaded with posts of social commentary on the above issue.
i know that the meat and potatoes of the blog today leaned more towards the social aspects of this league than its rather pedestrian team logos, but can we move beyond that?
just a suggestion…
[quote comment=”171085″]This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.[/quote]
I have no comment with regard to the above quote, but want to make it clear that I (the original Robert) am not the author. So as to avoid any confusion in the future, I will henceforth be known as Robert Eden.
I think if Oil Can Boyd and other ex-big leaguers really want to get more young black kids interested in playing baseball, the best thing to do is to get into the community, set up clinics and tournaments, fund fields, buy equipment, etc. I think it is great that they are interested in getting more kids into the sport, I just don’t get the concept they are going with. It would be cooler if the UBL was sort of like American Legion ball, with youth teams in urban centers and then maybe a big end of season national tournament. Maybe you could get some retired big leaguers to coach or run the local organizations.
A league featuring guys who are 18-30 makes the least sense to me, there just isn’t a need for a developmental league at that age level. If it wasn’t going to be a youth league, it should be more of an old timers or seniors exhibition league.
oh yeah, there is no falcon that looks anything like the Atlanta Falcons logo…the closest would probably be a dark-morph Gyrfalcon but even then it would have some barring…not to mention a very different body shape…not to mention again that they live nowhere near Georgia.
[quote comment=”171102″]dont tell me that today is gonna be loaded with posts of social commentary on the above issue…can we move beyond that?[/quote]
heh…i can forsee the ‘what’s wrong with not wearing the american flag decal’ crowd having a field day with this one
I wrote the comment I read the blog everyday ill post as Robert Cornell so there is no confusing with the original Robert
Sports cross-over news from the Pistons-Warriors game:
Story link. (That is a cool Canadian Press logo, I haven’t seen that before. Also odd that the story is hosted by Google, I don’t think I have seen that before).
[quote comment=”171080″]Paul, 98% white?? Is that a result of “Ditch the Black”?[/quote]
LOL
I can definitely see Ben Wallace running out and buying one of the new Afros hats!
B’More Ravens – excellent, but ravens (different bird than crows) are very uncommon in Maryland
The Ravens are named in homage to Edgar Allen Poe who lived and was buried in Baltimore.
[quote comment=”171108″]I wrote the comment I read the blog everyday ill post as Robert Cornell so there is no confusing with the original Robert[/quote]
Cool. Thanks.
As one of the 2% who post on uniwatch, I find the UBL logos to be inofensive, amusing, although somewhat dated, as you stated. I also find this discussion to be hardly the point. The point is to get black kids playing baseball again, as black kids have done for most of the last 150 years. I commend brothers Boyd and Gamble for the effort to get kids to reconnect with the game. It is no different than trying to reconnect kids to jazz and blues.
Let’s hope they succeed, and then we’ll be able to dish on the unis as we do. That Stacks logo would look pretty good on the original D-rays uni, but it’s gotta be Stax. Shut yo’ mouth.
[quote comment=”171104″]A league featuring guys who are 18-30 makes the least sense to me, there just isn’t a need for a developmental league at that age level. If it wasn’t going to be a youth league, it should be more of an old timers or seniors exhibition league.[/quote]
Hmmmm … interesting thought. Maybe just stressing Little League up through American Legion ball would help. Why does there need to be a new ‘invention’ for every percieved problem? Why not use what we already have? Why not encourage current major league players to help promote Little League in predominantly black neighborhoods? (Is it okay for me to say that? Seriously.)
Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…
Somewhat uni-related. The top 10 best dressed golfers of all time. Yes, Ian Poulter and Payne Stewart both made the list:
link
[quote comment=”171119″]As one of the 2% who post on uniwatch, I find the UBL logos to be inofensive, amusing, although somewhat dated, as you stated. I also find this discussion to be hardly the point. The point is to get black kids playing baseball again, as black kids have done for most of the last 150 years. I commend brothers Boyd and Gamble for the effort to get kids to reconnect with the game. It is no different than trying to reconnect kids to jazz and blues.
Let’s hope they succeed, and then we’ll be able to dish on the unis as we do. That Stacks logo would look pretty good on the original D-rays uni, but it’s gotta be Stax. Shut yo’ mouth.[/quote]
I agree somewhat. But I do find it strange than their big pitch (go to their site, its all over the place) is the concept of “The Rebirth of the Negro League”.
For the reason that Paul mentioned (why do we ever want to bring back Negro Leagues?).
But also- its a slight bit separatist (I don’t mean racist) rather than communal. And the whole point is supposed to be to bring black youths into a game that is mostly Hispanic and white right now. A Negro League would be just that, and runs somewhat counter to the point.
I don’t see anything racist here, but the marketing is slightly off. I applaud the effort, though… hope it does well.
98% white? Is that based on actual info or just speculation and/or humor? Does that have anything to do with “white culture geeks” being more obsessed about the nuances of athletic uniforms? Perhaps there some degree of irony that (and I’m generalizing here) many uniform quirks (especially in the NFL and NBA), aside from obvious reasons, originate from African American players and/or “style”? Just some food for thought… it’s an interesting topic to say the least.
P.S. I think the “old school” vintage logos are the way to go in terms of popularity… isn’t that why the Mitchell & Ness company makes billions of dollars a year?
Race-relations in America drive me absolutely crazy. Why should we care if blacks are choosing football and basketball over baseball? Where are the programs to get whites back into basketball?
If the answer is “blacks have the best athletes”, maybe we should discourage asians from playing baseball because they make the best scientists.
Finally, you won’t find Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton showing up anywhere near this because, simply, it was started by a black man, not a white man.
Gotta love double-standards.
RE: Paul’s comment that the logos are throwbacks, and should be something more contemporary.
I very much disagree. It would come off as fake and pandering to those who are really into hip-hop culture (the ones they’re trying to target).
Just think of your culture, and the things you’re into. Think of how you feel when you see a commercial or advertisement trying to mimic that style. Probably makes you roll your eyes, etc.
The throwback style of these logos seems more “authentic” all around. And I applaud the kitschy nature of some them, balanced by more traditional ones.
All power to these guys to start up a league like this. What I’m getting out of it is these guys are retired ex-major league ballplayers who cannot score a job with the league and do not enjoy baseball with anyone else unless they are black. What a sin it would be if it were to be an all white baseball league. Do they eat at all black restaurants too?
[quote comment=”171124″]Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…[/quote]
While you’re there, look up Bake McBride.
;)
[quote comment=”171132″]All power to these guys to start up a league like this. What I’m getting out of it is these guys are retired ex-major league ballplayers who cannot score a job with the league and do not enjoy baseball with anyone else unless they are black. What a sin it would be if it were to be an all white baseball league. Do they eat at all black restaurants too?[/quote]
You’re missing the point entirely.
There is a big difference between:
“We want a league that excludes everyone but blacks”.
And:
“We want a league that focuses entirely on black youths, because their interest in baseball is fading”.
Are you honestly saying it’s the former point not the latter?
[quote comment=”171134″][quote comment=”171132″]All power to these guys to start up a league like this. What I’m getting out of it is these guys are retired ex-major league ballplayers who cannot score a job with the league and do not enjoy baseball with anyone else unless they are black. What a sin it would be if it were to be an all white baseball league. Do they eat at all black restaurants too?[/quote]
You’re missing the point entirely.
There is a big difference between:
“We want a league that excludes everyone but blacks”.
And:
“We want a league that focuses entirely on black youths, because their interest in baseball is fading”.
Are you honestly saying it’s the former point not the latter?[/quote]
Their site goes to the trouble of pointing out that it is a league anyone can play in, it just has a specific goal.
Did anyone catch the Utah-Washington game last night? Hopefully those were practcie jerseys that Utah was wearing.
link
[quote comment=”171133″][quote comment=”171124″]Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…[/quote]
While you’re there, look up Bake McBride.
;)[/quote]
link Christopher! : )
[quote comment=”171104″]I think if Oil Can Boyd and other ex-big leaguers really want to get more young black kids interested in playing baseball, the best thing to do is to get into the community, set up clinics and tournaments, fund fields, buy equipment, etc….[/quote]
(Replying to myself)
I was a bit unfair in the earlier post, because if you read link, you’ll see that Boyd and Deshields are holding clinics all over and participating in the community. I still think the focus of the league is a little misguided, but reading what they have to say gives you a better sense of what they are trying to accomplish.
18-30 year olds already have avenues to the big leagues and opportunities to play minor league ball if they have the talent. The key is to generate interest in younger kids and get them into organized ball. I guess they see the UBL as a way to capture the imagination of those kids and to make them realize there is a rich history of blacks in baseball and to make it cool again. It just seems like the league will have to be filled with washed-up/washed-out guys and may not be that fun to watch. Although maybe they’ll uncover some fireballer nobody knew about, who knows. If they can develop a fanbase, make the games fun family events, and put on an entertaining show, it will be interesting.
Also, the decline of baseball with American youth isn’t confined to urban communities. I live in the ‘burbs, and I think just about every kid I know of plays soccer (and sometimes hockey). That is why I think the MLS will eventually be pretty successful, there are a lot of kids growing up who are familiar with the game.
Also, from the blog:
[quote comment=”171132″]All power to these guys to start up a league like this. What I’m getting out of it is these guys are retired ex-major league ballplayers who cannot score a job with the league and do not enjoy baseball with anyone else unless they are black. What a sin it would be if it were to be an all white baseball league. Do they eat at all black restaurants too?[/quote]
Don’t forget that in the “original” Negro Leagues, while the majority of players were black, there were plenty of white players.
I’m assuming that in this league white players would be allowed to play but it would be marketed towards blacks. Nothing wrong with that.
And, yes, there is a double standard when it comes to all-white/all-black and, while it’s something I wish would go away and people could just be people, there is nothing wrong with that.
Not many people exist that are completely devoid of racist thoughts or feelings in this country. That’s just a fact.
[quote]Shouldn’t the teams be called the Bling or something like that?[/quote]
I am almost 100% sure that no one says bling anymore. It’s about as outdated as Cash-Money Records itself.
It’s always good to see those 68-72 Georgetown jerseys…those would make great throwback jerseys…
Are Georgetown’s link a template design? I saw some footage of them yesterday and it looked like the back has a large white hexagon with the numbers inside in blue.
[quote comment=”171138″]Did anyone catch the Utah-Washington game last night? Hopefully those were practcie jerseys that Utah was wearing.
link
Plus they say “UTAH” link, too, where the nameplate is. Are those throwbacks?
Also, I don’t have a pic, but Justin Dentmon appeared to be wearing the long-sleeve System of Dreck shirt, but with a T-shirt AND his uniform top. Ridiculous.
Found a pretty appropriate piece of clothing dealing with bullpen cars from a pretty neat Boston themed clothing site, The Red Seat (ref. Teddy Ballgame)
Here’s a view of the link And a closer view of the bullpen car is link
link
[quote comment=”171138″]Did anyone catch the Utah-Washington game last night? Hopefully those were practcie jerseys that Utah was wearing.
link
Pretty sure those unis are the real deal. They went “throwback” style for the whole year this year. While they look a bit busy, I actually kinda like ’em.
I’m proud to be part of that 2% demographic!
[quote comment=”171100″]In addition to a uniform enthusiast I am also a birdwatcher (and obvi a smash with the ladies), and I’ll say that in addition to those UBL logos being of questionable taste there is no such bird as the “blackbird” depicted on that logo. It’s a cardinal but black instead of red.
Other bird-related logo issues:
Cardinals – excellent
Blue Jays – excellent, especially in the old logo
Orioles – super-excellent, especially since the ‘Baltimore Oriole’ is an actual species name and is pretty uncommon
Seahawks – not an actual bird. The term “seahawk” usually refers to an Osprey, but the Seattle logo is taking an artistic approach anyway.
Atlanta Hawks – Uh…there’s no actual giant red hawk like in their logo. Not in the US, at least.
B’More Ravens – excellent, but ravens (different bird than crows) are very uncommon in Maryland
Eagles – fine, boring
Anahiem Ducks – uhhh….ok fine ducks are birds
That’s all I can think of right now[/quote]
Don’t forget the Penguins. People always forget penguins are birds too.
[quote comment=”171154″][quote comment=”171138″]Did anyone catch the Utah-Washington game last night? Hopefully those were practcie jerseys that Utah was wearing.
link
Pretty sure those unis are the real deal. They went “throwback” style for the whole year this year. While they look a bit busy, I actually kinda like ’em.[/quote]
I didnt like how it just says UTAH on the back with no names but w/e
Definition of racism…
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Making a logo that picks on a racial stereotype is not racist. Is the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” racist?
A different link form the USFL.
Dennis
My problem is that link looks like black link instead of real link.
To me it looks like the logos and team names are analogous to Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish: taking a stereotype and turning it on its head.
The idea of a separatist project related to a given sport is more disconcerting.
[quote comment=”171141″][quote comment=”171133″][quote comment=”171124″]Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…[/quote]
While you’re there, look up Bake McBride.
;)[/quote]
link Christopher! : )[/quote]
We now crown our Baseball Afro champion, link!
[quote comment=”171161″]Making a logo that picks on a racial stereotype is not racist. Is the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” racist?[/quote]
Would a movie named “Black Men Can’t Swim” be racist?
[quote comment=”171112″]That is a cool Canadian Press logo, I haven’t seen that before.[/quote]
Thats an amazing logo! Creative, clever, appropriate for its use, and accurate to its muse.
[quote comment=”171128″]98% white? Is that based on actual info or just speculation and/or humor? Does that have anything to do with “white culture geeks” being more obsessed about the nuances of athletic uniforms? [/quote]
id say his data was based on a few different criteria.(and probably in this order)
a. attendees at uni watch summits around the country
b. those who are members and who have sent pics of themselves to link to on the membership page.
c. posters who start out with “im a (fill in the blank race) guy/girl and this is my opinion on…”
[quote comment=”171124″]Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…[/quote]
[quote comment=”171124″]Had to do a Google search to figure out who link was…[/quote]
using his hair and with the right costume on his body, oscar gamble could have won a ton of halloween “best costume” competitions going as a microphone…
is it really that big a deal about american blacks not going into organized baseball? look at the 2007 mets…i don’t say, “oh…lastings millege…he’s an AMERICAN black, but that moises alou…he’s an hispanic black”…the point is that all people of color were prohibited (either implicitly or directly by owners and especially master racist kenisaw landis) until ford frick became commish…whether they were “american” black or not…hence the negro leagues
if there is waning interest by americans OF ANY COLOR in baseball, that’s one thing…but it’s not like baseball is keeping blacks (of any nationality) OUT…or AMERICANS out for that matter
perhaps we (as a society) should direct our interest in getting more AMERICANS interested in our national pasttime, regardless of color
and more power to the foreign players
/as an aside, didn’t “black” players actually participate on a few teams in the early 1900’s by ‘posing’ as cubans? that’s more f—ed up than ya’d think
Does Italy still use those horrific sweatstains for the home kit??
nice little article today PL…
some points…
(All’s Well That Ends Well Dept.: Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby later bought Taft new uniforms.)
this is the same jeff ruby who ordered oj simpson out of his restaurant last kentucky derby…
and in that binghampton pic, is that marc macon on the staff?
link is up.
Youth baseball has become like golf and tennis, a sport for the rich. Kids have weekly coaching sessions with private pitching and hitting instructors. Travel teams play over 100 games, costing parents thousands annually.
Lower-income kids don’t get the repititions and don’t develop, and quickly move to basketball or football.
Nice LA Angels cap sported by Bill Scheft…a funny guy.
[quote comment=”171178″]is it really that big a deal about american blacks not going into organized baseball? look at the 2007 mets…i don’t say, “oh…lastings millege…he’s an AMERICAN black, but that moises alou…he’s an hispanic black”…the point is that all people of color were prohibited (either implicitly or directly by owners and especially master racist kenisaw landis) until ford frick became commish…whether they were “american” black or not…hence the negro leagues
if there is waning interest by americans OF ANY COLOR in baseball, that’s one thing…but it’s not like baseball is keeping blacks (of any nationality) OUT…or AMERICANS out for that matter
perhaps we (as a society) should direct our interest in getting more AMERICANS interested in our national pasttime, regardless of color
and more power to the foreign players
[/quote]
Often, it’s simply about budget that limits a scope of a project like this. Youth Culture has a HUGE range of interests, preferences, and backgrounds, and it is almost impossible to market to all of them at once. In this effort, they are simply narrowing their focus in order to get the best results.
[quote comment=”171186″]Youth baseball has become like golf and tennis, a sport for the rich. Kids have weekly coaching sessions with private pitching and hitting instructors. Travel teams play over 100 games, costing parents thousands annually.
Lower-income kids don’t get the repititions and don’t develop, and quickly move to basketball or football.
Nice LA Angels cap sported by Bill Scheft…a funny guy.[/quote]
Very true… BUT
Football might be going down this path. Did anyone see the last link that featured this QB Guru guy that charges thousands of dollars to tutor players? He even said in the story he wouldn’t pay what he charges.
And the irony that the guy is black and caters mostly to rich white clients isn’t lost on the guys doing the story as he asks him this.
Hockey is another sport, with all the equipment and need to buy it more often because kids grow, that has priced itself out of markets less fortunate.
Heck, even basketball with all the AAU teams. There are fees and such and not everyone is lucky enough to play on a team sponsored by a pro baller. Plus, pick up an eastbay. Unless you’re school/AAU team provides shoes (or you’re buying starburys) you’ll probably be spending $75-100 minimum for a pair of shoes.
I guess you gotta pay to play no matter what the sport. It’s just like anything else in life, those with the means are at an advantage.
[quote comment=”171157″][quote comment=”171100″]
That’s all I can think of right now[/quote]
Don’t forget the Penguins. People always forget penguins are birds too.[/quote]
And the Atlanta Thrashers.
[quote comment=”171190″][quote comment=”171186″]Heck, even basketball with all the AAU teams. There are fees and such and not everyone is lucky enough to play on a team sponsored by a pro baller. Plus, pick up an eastbay. Unless you’re school/AAU team provides shoes (or you’re buying starburys) you’ll probably be spending $75-100 minimum for a pair of shoes.[/quote]
Of course that should read “Unless your school/AAU team”! Sorry
Does anyone know where I could buy one of the new Florida Basketball jerseys, I cant seem to find them anywhere (or if theyre even on sale) Thanks
Today’s ESPN column link.
[quote comment=”171194″]Does anyone know where I could buy one of the new Florida Basketball jerseys, I cant seem to find them anywhere (or if theyre even on sale) Thanks[/quote]
link, Espn shop is the same as eastbay, so you can try there too.
oh nice, Penguins and Thrashers.
The penguins 92-2000 logo is something like a King or Emperor penguin (but with a black bill instead of a yellow patch on the lower bill), but the current logo is something less exciting, something like an Adelie penguin.
Thrasher is a bird, yes, but they’re very unintimidating and pretty uncommon. they are characterized by long, curved bills…which may or may not jive with the bird in the logo. I’m gonna go ahead and say that unless there’s some other explanation (like the Poe-Ravens-Bmore connection), they came up with Thrasher before they realized that it was a bird…
[quote comment=”171190″]I guess you gotta pay to play no matter what the sport. It’s just like anything else in life, those with the means are at an advantage.[/quote]
An advantage, yes. But don’t tell me that economically disadvantaged folks can’t make in MLB. Just look at the number of Dominicans at the Major League level who grew up poverty much more severe than anything seen in the U.S.
[quote comment=”171199″]oh nice, Penguins and Thrashers….Thrasher is a bird, yes, but they’re very unintimidating [/quote]
that’s it…
im putting on some charlie parker right now
[quote comment=”171184″]nice little article today PL…
some points…
(All’s Well That Ends Well Dept.: Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby later bought Taft new uniforms.)
this is the same jeff ruby who ordered oj simpson out of his restaurant last kentucky derby…
and in that binghampton pic, is that marc macon on the staff?[/quote]
It’s Binghamton, and that is Mark Macon, he’s in his first year as an assistant coach. And on that note….
GO GREAT DANES!! (Props to anyone who knows what I’m talking about)
Another bird: the link of the CFL. “Alouette” being French for “skylark”.
[quote comment=”171202″][quote comment=”171190″]I guess you gotta pay to play no matter what the sport. It’s just like anything else in life, those with the means are at an advantage.[/quote]
An advantage, yes. But don’t tell me that economically disadvantaged folks can’t make in MLB. Just look at the number of Dominicans at the Major League level who grew up poverty much more severe than anything seen in the U.S.[/quote]
I didn’t tell you that.
however, your example is a bit of apples and oranges. People are playing ball in the domincan republic and they are being scouted. Players from the DR give back by opening up clinics and academies, etc.
The thing with black americans is that they aren’t playing baseball. There would be no need for MLB scouts to go to the worst neighborhoods in America to find this untapped talent because it’s not there.
Maybe by Oil Can and Delino doing this, they can get more young blacks playing ball, but I agree with the comments that already state the age group is too late. They need to be focusing on Pony/Colt leagues (13-16) and American Legion/AAABA (anywhere from 16-20).
Independent Leagues are a dime a dozen and they are filled with has-beens and never-weres.
from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?
Regarding Tommie Lidell III. I remember the University of Houston having a Wide Receiver named James Brown III. His NOB was JB III. Anyone remember this or have pictures?
[quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
did you email paul ( link )? maybe yer IP is blocked (although then you shouldn’t be able to access the site at all)…
perhaps it’s time for a new mac
[quote comment=”171204″][quote comment=”171184″]nice little article today PL…
some points…
(All’s Well That Ends Well Dept.: Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby later bought Taft new uniforms.)
this is the same jeff ruby who ordered oj simpson out of his restaurant last kentucky derby…
and in that binghampton pic, is that marc macon on the staff?[/quote]
It’s Binghamton, and that is Mark Macon, he’s in his first year as an assistant coach. And on that note….
GO GREAT DANES!! (Props to anyone who knows what I’m talking about)[/quote]
I’m surprised that someone that likes Albany can even spell Binghamton (Schenectady raised, Bing student). 1/12, we’re gunning for you.
In the ESPN column Pual links to the old Syracuse Uniforms that were around when Melo played. Why don’t they go back to these?
Logo Creep Alert:
check out this site:link and scroll down to the entry titled ‘Running on Empty”.
I wonder if the sculpture is referring to the third world laborers who are sticking the swoosh on at the factories?
[quote comment=”171211″][quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
did you email paul ( link )? maybe yer IP is blocked (although then you shouldn’t be able to access the site at all)…
perhaps it’s time for a new mac[/quote]
yes I did contact Paul, he has no idea what it is. My internet service provider advised that it could be the site where the blog is located not receiving enough hits to update the information..also my computer is only 2 years old.
Man U and Blackburn are on FSN right now and David Bentley’s jersey is still misspelled “Betnley”.
re: ESPN column.
Didn’t the USA men’s basketball team have a uni snafu at the Athens Olympics similar to the Canada/Russia hockey example?
I can’t find anything in a quick google search.
[quote comment=”171218″][quote comment=”171211″][quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
did you email paul ( link )? maybe yer IP is blocked (although then you shouldn’t be able to access the site at all)…
perhaps it’s time for a new mac[/quote]
yes I did contact Paul, he has no idea what it is. My internet service provider advised that it could be the site where the blog is located not receiving enough hits to update the information..also my computer is only 2 years old.[/quote]
Have you tried a different web browser?
[quote comment=”171199″]oh nice, Penguins and Thrashers.
The penguins 92-2000 logo is something like a King or Emperor penguin (but with a black bill instead of a yellow patch on the lower bill), but the current logo is something less exciting, something like an Adelie penguin.
Thrasher is a bird, yes, but they’re very unintimidating and pretty uncommon. they are characterized by long, curved bills…which may or may not jive with the bird in the logo. I’m gonna go ahead and say that unless there’s some other explanation (like the Poe-Ravens-Bmore connection), they came up with Thrasher before they realized that it was a bird…[/quote]
The Thrasher is the link of Georgia. I would say there’s a connection.
quote comment=”171207″]Have you tried a different web browser?[/quote]
Make sure that your browswer is set to check for updates every time you visit a site. Make sure that you haven’t saved Uni-Watch as an offline page also.
Hope that helps, or leads you in the right direction.
so i was watching the rangers game last night and u can see the fold in the hemline were the white jersey folds. no pics
Paul,
Good column today, thanks. And as someone who’s whined in the past about “political” topics on your blog, I applaud your simply presenting an obviously sensitive issue and framing the debate with supporting examples. What I’ve previously found difficult is when your (admittedly few) “political” columns come loaded with commentary we end up debating your opinion (or right to publish it) rather than the issue. Didn’t happen this time, and I appreciate the difference.
As for the issue:
Are the logos/mascots racist? Of course, since they clearly evoke — even spoof — cultural artifacts (hair, dress) of a specific race (African-Amercian) at even a specific time (the 1970s).
Does this matter, in the sense that those involved shouldn’t be doing this or should have chosen different symbols? I doubt it, and think your comparisons with those obviously minstrelsy-inspired examples misplaced. An Afro or a Stack is clearly affiliated with African-Americans (though link might argue), but in a pretty neutral, if silly, way — and far from a demeaning or negative stereotype.
So I’ll come out and say it (without divulging which side of your 98/2 demographic I’m on): someone can be racist and not evil or even insensitive. Some racially-inspired cultural artifacts are pretty entertaining. (Ask link … OK, maybe bad example for this blog.)
That being said, I think you’re dead on that young black men will not see this effort as “retro cool” but rather old, tired, and boring. And the logos and symbols clearly don’t help.
[quote comment=”171221″][quote comment=”171218″][quote comment=”171211″][quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
did you email paul ( link )? maybe yer IP is blocked (although then you shouldn’t be able to access the site at all)…
perhaps it’s time for a new mac[/quote]
yes I did contact Paul, he has no idea what it is. My internet service provider advised that it could be the site where the blog is located not receiving enough hits to update the information..also my computer is only 2 years old.[/quote]
Have you tried a different web browser?[/quote]
hmm. no I haven’t yet..Any browser in particular?
[quote comment=”171225″]quote comment=”171207″]Have you tried a different web browser?[/quote]
Make sure that your browswer is set to check for updates every time you visit a site. Make sure that you haven’t saved Uni-Watch as an offline page also.
Hope that helps, or leads you in the right direction.[/quote]
I’ll try these suggestions out tonight [as soon as the toddler passes out]. Thanks for the help guys..
[quote comment=”171210″]Regarding Tommie Lidell III. I remember the University of Houston having a Wide Receiver named James Brown III. His NOB was JB III. Anyone remember this or have pictures?[/quote]
I think it was John Brown III. I searched the blog and the ESPN column archives and can’t come across the photo. but I’m sure it’s out there somewhere. for some reason I think I sent it in to Paul.
Turns out that Eric Stangel, a semi-frequent commenter and Ticker contributor, is also the head writer/producer for David Letterman – which means he’s been out on strike for the past week and a half. “Something happened today that made me think of Uni Watch,” he writes. “Bill Scheft is a writer on the show and also the Late Show Strike Captain. What better way to designate his captainhood than by giving him a Jason Varitek-style ‘C’ on his chest.” So there you have it, people: Uni Watch, the official sports web site of the American labor movement.
I just saw this on Steve Rushin’s blog, “Word Acre.” No pic of Bill Scheft w/his C
My former Sports Illustrated colleague, novelist and striking “Late Show with David Letterman” writer Bill Scheft has asked me to spread the word on a new website he and other Letterman writers with newfound time on their hands have started. It’s called, oddly enough, LateShowWritersOnStrike.com.
I just want to say that that Afro’s logo is awesome.
The A’s should have used that in the early 70’s, but with a nice handlebar mustache across the center of the A.
[quote comment=”171219″]Man U and Blackburn are on FSN right now and David Bentley’s jersey is still misspelled “Betnley”.[/quote]
That’s a re-broadcast of last weekend’s game.
[quote comment=”171235″][quote comment=”171219″]Man U and Blackburn are on FSN right now and David Bentley’s jersey is still misspelled “Betnley”.[/quote]
That’s a re-broadcast of last weekend’s game.[/quote]
that would explain the misspelling
My sons (who just happen to be young black men) just reported back to me that the UBL logos are indeed “lame.” And they didn’t get the “Stacks” at all. Also, they said the only people who use “BLING” are hopeless journalist who think they’re being up-to-date.
A “To Catch A Predator” spoof that is Nike related. haha
link
[quote comment=”171219″]Man U and Blackburn are on FSN right now and David Bentley’s jersey is still misspelled “Betnley”.[/quote]
hey, Greg.
You are truly on top of things !!!
That’s Sunday morning’s replay you’re watching right now
[quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
I don’t know if you have resolved this but it sounds like you bookmarked that day’s comment page instead of link. Have you tried entering that url manually into your address bar?
[quote comment=”171239″]A “To Catch A Predator” spoof that is Nike related.
haha
link
another si.com extra mustard fan? love that page…
The thing that killed baseball in the inner-city is organization. Playing baseball hasn’t always been expensive, it used to be free. Practically every public park had a backstop, and kids would just gather after school, or in the summer and play. The only thing you had to lay out some cash for was a glove. My friends and I played baseball almost every day when we were growing up, and the first game I ever played that had an actual umpire was my freshman year of high school. Over the last 20 years or so (which mirrors the decline of Blacks playing baseball), youth baseball became a completely organized endeavor. Organization made it expensive, and expense made it exclusive.
[quote comment=”171169″]To me it looks like the logos and team names are analogous to Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish: taking a stereotype and turning it on its head.
The idea of a separatist project related to a given sport is more disconcerting.[/quote]
The term Fighting Irish may originally have been derogatory (according to this: link), but I hardly think that the name offends anyone anymore. Is that a double standard? Yes. But I think it feeds into the idea of ownership of a derogatory term. In other words, the term is no longer derogatory but in fact inspires proud because those that are being insulted take ownership over the term and recontextualize it.
Something similar was done with the term ‘Yankee’: link
“1683, a name applied disparagingly by Du. settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) to English colonists in neighboring Connecticut. It may be from Du. Janke, lit. “Little John,” dim. of common personal name Jan; or it may be from Jan Kes familiar form of “John Cornelius,” or perhaps an alt. of Jan Kees, dial. variant of Jan Kaas, lit. “John Cheese,” the generic nickname the Flemings used for Dutchmen. It originally seems to have been applied insultingly to Dutch, especially freebooters, before they turned around and slapped it on the English. In Eng. a term of contempt (1750s) before its use as a general term for “native of New England” (1765); during the American Revolution it became a disparaging British word for all American native or inhabitants. Shortened form Yank in reference to “an American” first recorded 1778.”
Regarding new college basketball uni’s… does UW-Green Bay have new uniforms? I know they link their link from last year, but I haven’t had a chance to see if their uni’s were changed as well.
[quote comment=”171245″]The thing that killed baseball in the inner-city is organization. Playing baseball hasn’t always been expensive, it used to be free. [/quote]
I remember growing up in the Caribbean where Mr. Vincent’s car (a blue Lada) was first base, the post at the end of the corner was second (a goat would sometimes be tied to it) … and home plate was drawn with chalk on the street (if it was paved). If it wasn’t paved, then a rock was used to etch it in the dirt. The cost to play in the afternoon? A possible butt-whipping ’cause you were supposed to be in the house tiddying up!
Funny Nike/Logo Creep story. I was reading an old (1995) arrest report at work today, and the victim stated that she could ID the bad guy because he had a nike swoosh shaved into the back of his head. Id kill to see that mug shot, although they dont show the back of the head.
[quote comment=”171254″]Funny Nike/Logo Creep story. I was reading an old (1995) arrest report at work today, and the victim stated that she could ID the bad guy because he had a nike swoosh shaved into the back of his head. Id kill to see that mug shot, although they dont show the back of the head.[/quote]
not quite a nike swoosh mugshot, but an link example of nike mug shot creep
Phillies to unveal their new alternate the 29th of november
philadelphiaeagles.com has a poll on what is ur favorite eagles jerseys, with the options of green on white, white on white, white on green, black on white, and 75th anniversery jersey, so far the black on white is the most popular
[quote comment=”171254″]Funny Nike/Logo Creep story. I was reading an old (1995) arrest report at work today, and the victim stated that she could ID the bad guy because he had a nike swoosh shaved into the back of his head. Id kill to see that mug shot, although they dont show the back of the head.[/quote]
That would be a logoed creep.
[quote comment=”171243″][quote comment=”171207″]from yesterday’s comments: when I visit this site on my home computer the November 6, 2007 page comes up, and even if I search today’s date it still brings me to Nov.06.07. Anybody have any idea why that would happen??
did you hit refresh?
Yes I did..Last night I did a “test” comment to see if it would load to the most recent uni watch page, see for yourself the date on the last comment of 11.06.07 page. link. I posted a “test” comment and it is showing 11.14.07 date in which I posted the comment..I don’t know why it is not bringing me the most up to date page of Uni Watch. It only happens to this site too, everything else works fine..Maybe I’m mistakenly blocked from uni watch?[/quote]
I don’t know if you have resolved this but it sounds like you bookmarked that day’s comment page instead of link. Have you tried entering that url manually into your address bar?[/quote]
yes I have, but I’ll try again tonight along with the other suggestions (Have you tried a different web browser?
Make sure that your browswer is set to check for updates every time you visit a site. Make sure that you haven’t saved Uni-Watch as an offline page also.
Hope that helps, or leads you in the right direction.
Thanks for all the help..
[quote comment=”171215″][quote comment=”171204″][quote comment=”171184″]nice little article today PL…
some points…
(All’s Well That Ends Well Dept.: Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby later bought Taft new uniforms.)
this is the same jeff ruby who ordered oj simpson out of his restaurant last kentucky derby…
and in that binghampton pic, is that marc macon on the staff?[/quote]
It’s Binghamton, and that is Mark Macon, he’s in his first year as an assistant coach. And on that note….
GO GREAT DANES!! (Props to anyone who knows what I’m talking about)[/quote]
I’m surprised that someone that likes Albany can even spell Binghamton (Schenectady raised, Bing student). 1/12, we’re gunning for you.[/quote]
I’m not just a fan, I’m also a current student. Tell me, when’s the last time the Bearcats were in the NCAA tournament?
[quote comment=”171265″][quote comment=”171254″]Funny Nike/Logo Creep story. I was reading an old (1995) arrest report at work today, and the victim stated that she could ID the bad guy because he had a nike swoosh shaved into the back of his head. Id kill to see that mug shot, although they dont show the back of the head.[/quote]
That would be a logoed creep.[/quote]
correct.
not an example of logo creep but an example of a logo creep.
Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but the photo of ted williams and joe dimaggio at an all star game made the car talk link
On the back of the dustcover of David Halberstam’s book about the American League Penant Race between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees, The Summer of ’49, there’s a news photo of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio standing side-by-side leaning on their bats. Little else is visible in the photo but you can tell that the photo was taken at a ballpark. Any observant baseball fan can tell you instantly that the picture was taken at an All-Star Game.
The question is, how can you tell?
The Calgary Hitmen of the WHL (Western Hockey League) have unveiled a new alternate jersey for their annual “Teddy Bear Toss” Game, complete with Santa Hat on the “Hitman” logo and snow on the numbers:
Pic: link
Just to let people know, if you buy the System of Dress twill shorts, they’re extra long so buy one size smaller than you usually do.
what do you think Oregon will wear tonight against Arizona?
maybe the yellow hats?
[quote comment=”171220″]re: ESPN column.
Didn’t the USA men’s basketball team have a uni snafu at the Athens Olympics similar to the Canada/Russia hockey example?
I can’t find anything in a quick google search.[/quote]
The most famous example is probably France and Hungary at the 1978 World Cup. Both turned up with white jerseys; France ended up borrowing green & white stripes from a local club to play in.
[quote comment=”171094″][quote comment=”171085″]This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.[/quote]
Jesus…to say the reason there is still racism in America is cause of only blacks is just flat out ignorant man. You proved yourself wrong just by saying that…a white docter (to be) still can say borderline racist things.[/quote]
did you really think that the word doctor was spelled with an e or was that a typo?
Looks like Bonds might be fitted for Horizontal Pinstrips.
Having trouble posting…
Paul, your e-bay account is called beerframeguy? Haha!
In Paul’s column today, there was a note on Reggie Jackson forced into wearing a Mariners jersey for the All-Star team photo due to his uniform not arriving on time.
The same photo shows Texas’ Pat Coralles, seated in front, wearing a Cubs cap.
[quote comment=”171270″]Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but the photo of ted williams and joe dimaggio at an all star game made the car talk link
On the back of the dustcover of David Halberstam’s book about the American League Penant Race between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees, The Summer of ’49, there’s a news photo of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio standing side-by-side leaning on their bats. Little else is visible in the photo but you can tell that the photo was taken at a ballpark. Any observant baseball fan can tell you instantly that the picture was taken at an All-Star Game.
The question is, how can you tell?[/quote]
They’re probably both in home unis or away grays.
Steven Jackson wears the double sock thing as you can see with his uni malfunction here.
link
Same With Frank Gore
link
Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but the photo of ted williams and joe dimaggio at an all star game made the car talk puzzler
On the back of the dustcover of David Halberstam’s book about the American League Penant Race between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees, The Summer of ‘49, there’s a news photo of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio standing side-by-side leaning on their bats. Little else is visible in the photo but you can tell that the photo was taken at a ballpark. Any observant baseball fan can tell you instantly that the picture was taken at an All-Star Game.
The question is, how can you tell?
They’re probably both in home unis or away grays.
I wasn’t asking a question, I was just quoting the site.
[quote comment=”171222″]The Thrasher is the link of Georgia. I would say there’s a connection.[/quote]
OK but from a birder’s perspective this still doesn’t work. The state bird of Georgia isn’t the Thrasher, it’s the Brown Thrasher. The difference is like saying your favorite drink or “beer” or your favorite drink is “PBR tall-boys.”
Some sports teams get specific:
St Louis Cardinals; Toronto Blue Jays instead of Gray, Stellar’s, Scrub, Pinyon or Green Jays; Baltimore Orioles instead of Orchard, Scott’s, Hooded, Streaked-Backed, Spot-Breasted, Audubon’s or Bullock’s Orioles
and some teams stick to a generic family of species: Baltimore (Common or Chihahuan) Ravens; Atlanta (Peregrine, Aplomado, Prarie) Falcons; Philly (Bald or Golden) Eagles; Atlanta (a ton of different species) Hawks etc
[quote comment=”171222″]
The Thrasher is the link of Georgia. I would say there’s a connection.[/quote]
OK but from a birder’s perspective this still doesn’t work. The state bird of Georgia isn’t the Thrasher, it’s the Brown Thrasher. The difference is like saying your favorite drink is “beer” or your favorite drink is “PBR tall-boys.”
Some sports teams get specific:
St Louis Cardinals; Toronto Blue Jays instead of Gray, Stellar’s, Scrub, Pinyon or Green Jays; Baltimore Orioles instead of Orchard, Scott’s, Hooded, Streaked-Backed, Spot-Breasted, Audubon’s or Bullock’s Orioles
and some teams stick to a generic family of species: Baltimore (Common or Chihahuan) Ravens; Atlanta (Peregrine, Aplomado, Prarie) Falcons; Philly (Bald or Golden) Eagles; Atlanta (a ton of different species) Hawks etc
Just wanted to put my 2 cents in (for me representing the 2%). I happen to be black (not african-american, I know people who were born in africa then became United States citizens), and I do agree that organized sports should be encouraged in all communities – both urban, suburban, rural, and any other type of community that exists – as it promotes teamwork, accountability to others, respect, along with many other skills and behaviors. I just don’t see how naming a team the Afro’s will encourage young black kids to participate in a game that may not be feasible to play in urban areas that don’t have many baseball fields, or in a game that may be perceived as boring because it isn’t as fast paced as football or basketball. I know if i were 9, 10 ,11 or in my early teen years and presented with the idea of joining a team that was named the Stacks with a logo like that, I probably would laugh and say never mind. We are supposed to be moving forward together as a nation, not backwards to the time where one group of people were considered better than another simply because of differences in appearance. Now is the time to embrace (and even laugh) at our differences, but come together as one nation
I also live in Baltimore and have always loved my beloved orioles. I remember the day the Colts left (I was around 4 or 5) and only had baseball. THe current orioles logo, along with the use of the clown bird, are my favorite logos in sports (with second place being the old tampa bay logo (i guess ii love orange). the boring uniforms are another story…..
[quote comment=”171296″]
Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but the photo of ted williams and joe dimaggio at an all star game made the car talk puzzler
On the back of the dustcover of David Halberstam’s book about the American League Penant Race between the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees, The Summer of ‘49, there’s a news photo of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio standing side-by-side leaning on their bats. Little else is visible in the photo but you can tell that the photo was taken at a ballpark. Any observant baseball fan can tell you instantly that the picture was taken at an All-Star Game.
The question is, how can you tell?
They’re probably both in home unis or away grays.
I wasn’t asking a question, I was just quoting the site.[/quote]
dimaggio is in a seattle mariners uni
[quote comment=”171216″]In the ESPN column Pual links to the old Syracuse Uniforms that were around when Melo played. Why don’t they go back to these?[/quote]
Right on, Sarah. I’ve always wondered why Syracuse went away from these uniforms, as they’re quite possibly one of my all-time favorites.
[quote comment=”171298″][quote comment=”171222″]
The Thrasher is the link of Georgia. I would say there’s a connection.[/quote]
OK but from a birder’s perspective this still doesn’t work. The state bird of Georgia isn’t the Thrasher, it’s the Brown Thrasher. The difference is like saying your favorite drink is “beer” or your favorite drink is “PBR tall-boys.”
Some sports teams get specific:
St Louis Cardinals; Toronto Blue Jays instead of Gray, Stellar’s, Scrub, Pinyon or Green Jays; Baltimore Orioles instead of Orchard, Scott’s, Hooded, Streaked-Backed, Spot-Breasted, Audubon’s or Bullock’s Orioles
and some teams stick to a generic family of species: Baltimore (Common or Chihahuan) Ravens; Atlanta (Peregrine, Aplomado, Prarie) Falcons; Philly (Bald or Golden) Eagles; Atlanta (a ton of different species) Hawks etc[/quote]
A) Most people aren’t Birders.
B) The Devil Rays got specific with their name and everyone thought it was stupid, which it was, and now it’s gone.
Did anyone else just see the sock A-Rod had on in the ‘career moments’ montage ESPN just ran? I have it around 6:22 MST, and he was wearing a Senators uniform, so it must’ve been during a Rangers throwback night.
[quote comment=”171307″][quote comment=”171298″][quote comment=”171222″]
The Thrasher is the link of Georgia. I would say there’s a connection.[/quote]
OK but from a birder’s perspective this still doesn’t work. The state bird of Georgia isn’t the Thrasher, it’s the Brown Thrasher. The difference is like saying your favorite drink is “beer” or your favorite drink is “PBR tall-boys.”[quote]
I think that it might be closer to saying that your favorite drink is cola rather than Coca-Cola.
Though, I must say that the Atlanta Brown Thrashers is a pretty great name for a sports team.
Oh good grief, I love my Ducks but they’re wearing white and black tonight. What a bore, neither is even a school color! However, I am still cheering as I have been for 22 years! GO DUCKS!!!
[quote comment=”171275″]what do you think Oregon will wear tonight against Arizona?
maybe the yellow hats?[/quote]
Nope…. green, white and black
And that Arz softball chick is hot
[quote comment=”171119″]As one of the 2% who post on uniwatch, I find the UBL logos to be inofensive, amusing, although somewhat dated, as you stated. I also find this discussion to be hardly the point. The point is to get black kids playing baseball again, as black kids have done for most of the last 150 years. I commend brothers Boyd and Gamble for the effort to get kids to reconnect with the game. It is no different than trying to reconnect kids to jazz and blues.
Let’s hope they succeed, and then we’ll be able to dish on the unis as we do. That Stacks logo would look pretty good on the original D-rays uni, but it’s gotta be Stax. Shut yo’ mouth.[/quote]
FINALLY! Someone who “Gets it”. (Pun intended)
Bling? Talk about perpetuating stereotypes…
Paul- Did you really think you were going to get insightful comments on this subject? I still say run the piece, but let it stand on its own. Your connections to blackface caricatures were way off base.
i dont like oregon’s combo against arizona..they needed to go back to the all-white like at washington ..but i really like arizona’s uni’s
The Oregon-Arizona game is a uni train wreck. Oregon is Oregon, and Arizona, with its monochrome outfit, chiropractor-guiding lower-back stripe, and funky fonts, is just too much. When Oregon looks comparatively conservative, there’s definitely a problem. Grumble grumble grumble.
Long time reader, 1st time poster.
As I was looking at the sock issues of Steven Jackson and Frank Gore, I noticed that Travis Henry is still wearing his pads from the Titans. You can see the Columbia Blue peeking out of his jersey.
link
[quote comment=”171257″]Phillies to unveal their new alternate the 29th of november[/quote]
Aahh. Just in time for the marketing. . I mean Holiday shopping season . . .
[quote comment=”171302″]Just wanted to put my 2 cents in (for me representing the 2%). I happen to be black (not african-american, I know people who were born in africa then became United States citizens), and I do agree that organized sports should be encouraged in all communities – both urban, suburban, rural, and any other type of community that exists – as it promotes teamwork, accountability to others, respect, along with many other skills and behaviors. I just don’t see how naming a team the Afro’s will encourage young black kids to participate in a game that may not be feasible to play in urban areas that don’t have many baseball fields, or in a game that may be perceived as boring because it isn’t as fast paced as football or basketball. I know if i were 9, 10 ,11 or in my early teen years and presented with the idea of joining a team that was named the Stacks with a logo like that, I probably would laugh and say never mind. We are supposed to be moving forward together as a nation, not backwards to the time where one group of people were considered better than another simply because of differences in appearance. Now is the time to embrace (and even laugh) at our differences, but come together as one nation[/quote]
Hear !! Hear !!
Finally some sanity –thanks for sharing your coherent thoughts w/ us. Well. at least I agreed — while those logos and team names might be tongue in cheek, it is just that silliness that defeats their purpose.
[quote comment=”171156″]I’m proud to be part of that 2% demographic![/quote]
Another 2%-er right here
Ahh……racial situations (seriously, this needs to stop.) And Marcus Hall, that was very well stated, I truly don’t think named a team the Afros and the Stax (shut yo’ mouth!) would encourage black youth to play baseball. But I believe if they do that’s their choice, someone just needs to put that opportunity in front of them.
On another note, Bear Down to ‘Zona’s monochromatic scheme, puttin’ another wrench into the BCS system. Glorious!
Uni-malfunction? (maybe…)
In the Oregon-Arizona football game tonight, the umpire is wearing a blank striped shirt. College football officials have a letter on their backs signifying their positions. The umpire’s jerseys should have a “U”, but it’s blank.
Maybe the jersey was torn or lost.
If the writers guild is on strike, I fear for the future of Sen. Lou Holtz’s Pep Talks…
[quote comment=”171337″]If the writers guild is on strike, I fear for the future of Sen. Lou Holtz’s Pep Talks…[/quote]
……MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!
that ain’t sarcasm folks, I cannot function wothout a pep talk from Ol’ Lou. Plus he was one of my favorite coaches.
^without… see, the though of a Lou-less life is screwing up my ability to type.
^^thought
(retires from Uni-Watch until another Lou Holtz pep talk)
I still can’t believe PUMA is still using lowercase letters for player ID on the back. Shouldn’t fifa (note the sarcastic swipe at PUMA) say that all names should be in CAPITAL LETTERS?
i don’t care whether lou or someone else wrote that last pep…
it’s gotta be better than ANYTHING charlie has EVER told his troops
LH: “play like a champion today”
CW: “you sacks of $h!t…play like a…hold on a sec…gotta take this call from mr. benson…(walks out)…meh…just play, im good now”
Am I the only one who finds link name funny. He shares it with one of the best, Tom Brady and worst, brother Ryan.
In the ESPN column Pual links to the old Syracuse Uniforms that were around when Melo played. Why don’t they go back to these?
Right on, Sarah. I’ve always wondered why Syracuse went away from these uniforms, as they’re quite possibly one of my all-time favorites.
I loved in 2004, the Syracuse Lax team debuted the all orange uniforms in the final four, Mike Powell’s last which included the new beveled SU logo:
link
It was then used for all of the sports including basketball and the football gear.
I have now idea why they went back to the bland Sracuse arch with a block S. Very disappointing!
[quote comment=”171279″][quote comment=”171094″][quote comment=”171085″]This is why we have racism in America still. Its not from middle to upper class white people anymore it’s blacks. So because young black kids don’t want to play baseball its a race thing????Its baseball’s fault? Well then as a 25 yr old white medical student I claim racism on the rap industry because i don’t like rap. They should start a suburbs group to get more white people like me interested. Give me a damn break.[/quote]
Jesus…to say the reason there is still racism in America is cause of only blacks is just flat out ignorant man. You proved yourself wrong just by saying that…a white docter (to be) still can say borderline racist things.[/quote]
did you really think that the word doctor was spelled with an e or was that a typo?[/quote]
Did you really think that sentences aren’t supposed to start with a capitalization? Calm down man, people type fast and don’t proofread all the time.
Man, I’m really hoping that the UBL changes the name to “Stax” and bases the team in Watts. I know I’d be first in line for a WATTSTAX jersey.
How ever will fans of the New England Patriots be able to distinguish Tom from Kyle Brady without FNOB nameplates?
I always enjoy your writing, it’s generally intelligent and fun. It’s extremely difficult to discuss race and stereotypes without opening a whole can of worms, so here are a few more worms. How many times have you written or displayed the Cleveland Indians logo or uniform as well as the pro football team from Washington’s; without discussing the clearly racist elements of those logos and mascots? I know they don’t directly effect Black/White relations, but it is a race issue. If you have addressed this in the past, then I apologize for calling you out a difficult topic. If you haven’t already devoted time to this I respectfully ask you to consider exploring the disgraceful history of racist (usually Native American) mascots.