In honor of today’s Super Bowl, today’s post is supersized folks. Three columns rolled into one, in fact. More extravagance than a Super Bowl halftime show (and it will take you almost as long to read). So, as we tick down the hours before the big game, sit back and enjoy. I’m joined by guest columnists Rick Pearson and Doug Keklak, who’ll have their own mini-columns below. I’ll start, and my part deals with the team pictured in the above photo. They were, quite simply…the
Worst. Team. Ever.
By Phil Hecken
As the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to play one another in Super Bowl XLIII, they can both lay claim to one of pro football’s most dubious honors — “Worst Team Ever.” Although the 2008 Detroit Lions waged a serious run at the crown, historians agree that the 1944 Chicago-Pittsburgh Cardinals-Steelers were, quite simply, the “Worst Team Ever.” How do both teams share such a claim, and isn’t that really long name in fact a misprint? No. Back in the early days of football, particularly during World War II, circumstances forced some teams to become defunct, some to abandon playing for entire seasons, and others to merge. The Steelers, in fact, merged twice, once with the Philadelphia Eagles (in 1943, becoming the “Steagles“), and once with the Chicago Cardinals. How and why did the “Pitt-Cards,” as they were known (or more derogatorily, the “Carpets”), come into being, and how did they become the worst team ever. Lets examine, shall we.
Due to the manpower shortage created by the second world war, as well as the addition of 2 new teams in 1944, the NFL found itself with 11 teams, making scheduling impossible. NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden asked Steelers owners Art Rooney and Bert Bell if the Steelers, who had previously merged with the Eagles, would do so again, to create a ten-team league. Rooney obliged, but rejected potential mergers with the Brooklyn Tigers, Cleveland Rams or the Boston Yanks, instead agreeing to merge with the Chicago Cardinals (who had themselves gone winless in 1943), in a deal that would guarantee the Pitt-Cards would play half of their home games in Pittsburgh (at Forbes Field) and the other half in Chicago (at Comiskey Park).
The players wore Pittsburgh Steeler black and gold at home games at Forbes Field, and Chicago Cardinal red and white in their other home games in Comiskey. For away games, they likely wore white jerseys, although accounts are cloudy as to whose white jerseys they wore. Ironically, in what might be considered one of history’s first “alternate” jerseys, for one game in Washington, the Pitt-Cards wore BLUE! (this would be the one and only time in either teams uniform history that blue was worn). This was not done in deference to either city, nor was it done to establish an alternate identity, but the idea was if they wore blue, they’d break their losing streak (this was in week 7 of a 12 week season, and they’d already lost six in a row). The blue jerseys proved of no luck, however, as the team lost in them. They’d lose their remaining 5 games as well, finishing the season 0-12. So how did this team get the nickname “Carpets”? By reversing, “Pitt-Cards” to make “Card-Pitts“, and eventually “Carpets,” the monicker was deemed appropriate by fans and sportswriters alike who felt the name was “very appropriate as every team in the league walks over them.”
Just how bad were the Pitt-Cards? Their punters averaged 32.7 yards per kick, an NFL record that still stands. They only attempted to kick two field goals, and missed both. Of their 15 extra-point attempts, four were missed. Their quarterbacks completed a mere 31% of passes attempted. While their QB’s and receivers did manage to score 8 touch downs, QB’s were much more adept at hitting the opposition — they threw 41 interceptions in 1944, the third highest total in NFL history (as of 2008). Their “best” quarterback (and there were several) threw 13 interceptions and had no TD’s, establishing a stellar QB rating of 3.0. Finally, the Pitt-Card run defense was the worst in the league, and they were outscored by opponents by a whopping 328-108. Even the 2008 Lions weren’t this bad. Truly the “Worst Team Ever.”
I now turn the thread over to Uni Watch sexagenarian Rick Pearson, who has a “few” words about today’s Super Bowl participants. His portion deals with the Steelers and the Cardinals…
Before They Were Good
by Rick Pearson
Something seems to be sort of forgotten in this year’s Super Bowl hype. In the pre-AFL and pre-merger years of the NFL, both the Cardinals and Steelers were for many years in the league’s Eastern Conference, playing home-and-home each season. And, generally speaking, they stunk. Especially when the Cardinals were still in Chicago. So, in a bizarre way, this is like fast-forwarding 50 years and discovering that Super Bowl 93 (let’s hope they’ve done away with Roman numerals by then) is 49ers-Rams or Bengals-Browns.
But, let’s talk unis and the aesthetics thereof; that’s what we’re here for. Until the Cardinals’ recent experiments with a return to red pants, an occasional red monochrome disaster, and then current wholesale redesign, these two teams have been among the more stable, uni-wise, in the NFL. In fact, with the exception of adding a black edge to numerals, making the red a little more burgundy (see here also) and going from black shoes to white, the Cardinals changed very little during most of their time in St. Louis. And of course the Steelers—during the Kordell “Slash” Stewart era—changed to their present numeral font. But, as we’ll see, they are no strangers to such numerical whims. Compared to what many others have done, though, those are minor alterations.
What’s quirky about these decades of “uni-stableness’ is that, by contrast, during those last seasons when they played twice a year—especially from the early-to-mid 50s through the late 60s—they were among the “changingest” teams in the NFL. One or the other, or both, changed something”¦numeral fonts, pant colors, helmet colors, adding helmet logos or TV numbers…just about every year.
So let’s begin our trip down Memory Lane (why do I feel like Mr. Rogers?). We’ve all seen plenty of footage in the past couple weeks of the Cardinals’ last title. White helmets, red jerseys, white pants. Sometime in the 50s they changed to red helmets, and added red pants on the road (very likely coinciding with the advent of white road jerseys — note the red helmet!). For sure in ’56, perhaps earlier, they wore the red helmets both at home and on the road (certainly Timmy B can tell us precisely when). In ’57, though, they kept the red hats on the road only, returning to white at home (first “two-helmet” team I remember). Come ’58, the red helmets were gone completely. When the Cards moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960, the “birdhead” helmet logo showed up. For ’61, the red pants were gone, and the two stripes on the white pants got oddly further apart. In ’62, TV numbers finally were added (I have no idea how they were able to go so long without them, since I thought they were mandated in ”˜56 or ”˜57). In ’63, the pant stripes were back closer together.
The Steelers did their share of diddling around, too. And then some. Their ’57 unis had block numbers and yellow-gold pants both home and road. For ’58 they went to very, VERY rounded Arabic numbers. The rounded numbers stayed in ’59, but the road numbers were noticeably thinner than the home version, and they switched to white road pants. For ’60 and ’61, numerals became semi-block with the inside corners beveled”¦and the road jerseys added yellow-gold between the Northwestern-style sleeve stripes. For ’62, more standard block numbers appeared, as did their first TV numbers (the NFL must have put its foot down for ’62), with helmet TVs disappearing (they seemed to rather come and go, anyway) and the one-sided helmet logo making its debut during the season. More obviously, the road jerseys were new. The sleeves””from shoulder seam to the bottom black NW stripe—were yellow gold, with the front and back numbers getting a narrow yellow-gold edge. So, counting the different home and road numbers in ’59 and the gold-edged numbers as variations, the Steelers had six different “number” looks in six seasons. Then late in ’63, the now-classic black helmet was introduced. That meant during that period the also had helmets that were: Gold with TV numbers, gold with no TVs, gold with single side logo and black with single logo. To be fair, the Steelers were a little better by then, making it to the Playoff Bowl that year against the Lions (yes, the Lions). That look stayed around awhile.
Next, of course, came the years of the golden-triangle shoulder yoke (seen here on Shy Obert) (a look NOT inspired by Batman, sorry). By this time the Cardinals were established in St. Louis, of course, and had gone to the black-added set with more ornate pant stripes and white jerseys with multiple sleeve stripes and the TV numbers moved up on the shoulders, a uni that would remain until they moved even further west.
Finally, the Steelers went to the classic set they still wear today, with the exception that early-on the road pants were white. Those pants last appeared in ’71, after they’d moved to the AFC. They showed up in training camp for a while thereafter, though.
It was, to say the least, an interesting time to be uni-watcher (lower case and hyphenated version). You knew the Cardinals and Steelers were gonna do SOMETHING different just about every year there for a while. All you had to do was figure out what it was from black & white highlight films, coarsely screened newspaper photos or wait for next year’s preseason publications (and, no, in my day, we didn’t walk five miles to school. Uphill. Both ways).
And thus endeth Ricko’s amazing contribution to Super Bowl Sunday. Most of those images are from Rick’s personal archives, and are being seen here on UW for the first time. Thanks, Rick! And finally, rabid Steeler fan and UW correspondent Doug Keklak will grace us with…
Steeler Super Bowl Memories
By Doug Keklak
Last summer, I guest wrote a piece about the Pittsburgh Pirates in regards to a DVD set I received in Christmas 2007. This past Christmas, Santa Claus brought me another great Pittsburgh-related sports gift: the full broadcasts of all five Steelers’ Super Bowl victories.
Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6, Tulane Stadium
• This game was supposed to be played at the Superdome, but it wasn’t finished so the game had to played outdoors, which led to a very bleak setting. That being said, it did give us ample opportunities to see both teams in a variety of sideline jackets and capes.
• A bearded Terry Bradshaw leads his team over the ball while sporting the unique, Dungard-style mask.
• The white jerseys from this era of the Steelers had nameplates that were damn near illegible, no matter how near or far away you were. Also, the kerning was different from that of the home blacks of the day as the space between letters, especially the players with shorter names, appeared to be almost a full letter’s width of space.
• SLEEVES: Roy Gerela and Jack Ham were two players that really enjoyed having longer sleeves, but most players of the day had something at least resembling a sleeve, unlike today.
• Here’s John Stallworth with his patented high and straight shoulder pads, which I always thought gave him a unique look out on the field.
• Although most Steelers opted for white shoes, despite being a predominately black shoe team in the early 70s, there appeared to be no hard rule as there is in the league now. Randy Grossman and Dwight White opted to go the more traditional way for this contest.
• No talk of 70s Steelers football and footwear is complete without mention L.C. Greenwood and his gold shoes. This go around, they appeared to have black laces and are taped a little bit.
• Franco Harris may have reinforced elbows built right into the sleeves of his jersey, but it’s hard to tell. Also notice that his hip pads are NOT being worn on the outside like they do a little later in his career.
• Random stuff: It’s funny to see how much the game has changed since the 70s, you had both teams lining up in formations that saw wide receivers get down in three-point stances. This was the first Super Bowl played with the goal posts at the end line and out of play. I always knew that flags were used in the end zones before the pylon took over. Did they all have numbers printed on them though?
• Old school coaches headset!!! You just don’t see 11 in the box on defense anymore!
• Officials: this will get to be a broken record, but I cannot say enough about how much better I thought NFL officials looked while wearing a proper stirrup. Also, check out the red stirrups sported by the chain gang. Did they shop the same places the Cincinnati Reds got their stirrups?! Something we take for granted these days is the referee’s microphone. This game apparently predates that technology. Note how the ref makes the penalty calls to both sidelines. Lastly on the official front, here’s the signal for illegal forward pass, which is a loss of down. But rather than give the current signal for loss of down, the ref gives this signal, which today, signifies illegal touching.
• The Steelers were the first team in Super Bowl history to score a safety, and when it happened, a player did the signal like we talked about a few months ago on UW. A small bit of trivia, the Steelers also got a safety in Super Bowl X. Since then, only three other bowl games had a safety happen: XX (Bears), XXI (Giants), XXV (Bills).
Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17, Orange Bowl
• The Steelers and Cowboys both wore a bicentennial patch, albeit in different places.
• Terry Bradshaw, again, wearing the Dungard-style mask. Also, check out the nameplate and kerning as compared to the whites worn in SB IX. A shorter name shows about a half letter’s width between letters.
• Although most Steelers were wearing white shoes by now, Bradshaw actually wore black in this game. Teammate Randy Grossman, who caught a touchdown in this game, still was wearing the blacks as well.
• Some Cowboy observations: first initials on back, Drew and Preston Pearson. Roger Stabauch rocking the double bar (doesn’t it look awful close to his face here?) Robert Newhouse sporting some serious neck roll. Sharp dressed man Tom Landry, also a gentleman enough to know to remove the hat indoors.
• Backup QB Terry Hanratty sporting the mesh “S” coach’s cap (and a serious 70s mustache!) Hanratty saw some action this game, and that revealed that he was one of the few Steelers at the time to go with the double bar (his looked close to the face too). The only other man of steel I could find rocking the double bar was Frenchy Fuqua, complete with U-bar attachment. Lynn Swann’s mask was sort of double bar, but not in the thicker more traditional sense. The mask itself wasn’t as thick and the bar were space farther apart. The only other player I remember wearing a similar mask was Clarence Verdin of the Colts in the 80s.
• Remember our debate in the comments the other day regarding Roman numerals? You wouldn’t get cool on-screen graphics if you went the Arabic route!
• Does Jack Ham have ANY part of a black sock on? It looks like strictly a high white to me.
Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31, Orange Bowl
• Nice red blazer sported by Dick Enberg.
• In this game, we start to see the elements of some modernizing of the uniform to current standards. You can see the sleeves start to disappear on the offensive linemen. Front bumpers were on the helmets, although not all players wore them, and those that did played in a variety of styles/brands. Mike Webster and Jon Kolb did not wear them while Ray Pinney and Sam Davis wore Riddell and Gerry Mullins appeared to wear Rawlings. In the receiving corps, John Stallworth and Randy Grossman went with no bumper while Lynn Swann a Riddell (I think). Bradshaw was a Rawlings guy, as can be seen by this logo on the side too. The Cowboys also had a lot of inconsistencies, most notably they had some guys in BIKE helmets. Also, was Tony Dorsett’s mask ill-fitted for his helmet? It sure looks like it.
• Tom Landry, as sharp dressed as ever.
• Although Roger Staubach still sported the double bar, he finally went to white shoes for this Super Bowl.
• First initials for Randy and Danny White.
• This muscle stimulator a Cowboy is wearing looks an awful lot like an ankle monitor the police use!
• L.C. Greenwood’s gold shoes, which appear to be Adidas, complete with black laces.
• Terry Hanratty was out and punter Craig Colquitt was in as wearer of #5. Notice in this shot that his rear helmet number is not in the center yellow stripe but set off to the right. This is odd, because the Steelers always treated the single digit placement in the middle stripe. As can be seen in this shot, the front of his helmet was done in the middle.
• Refs still in stirrups (note the different stripe pattern of the official on the chain gang).
• Bless his heart, he’s got to be the sickest man in America (sorry Cowboys fans!)
• Bennie Cunningham with the bucket lid (anyone know what that logo is?)
• Franco Harris with the hip pads out for this one.
• Neat shot here, notice how the “5” is blue and the “0” is red. The yardmarker numbers were all blue to the left and red to the right so they split the 50-yard line down the middle.
Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19, Rose Bowl
• Pre-game introductions show us that L.C. Greenwood was wearing some athletic specs while Joe Greene’s helmet was a Maxpro.
• Vince Ferragamo was wearing what looks like a Dungard version of a more traditional double-bar mask.
• I know it’s old hat to us UW diehards, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t document Jack and Jim Youngblood.
• L.C. still in the gold kicks, although it appears he moved to Nike in this game.
• Major stripe malfunction for Sam Davis. Another view here.
• What brand is that?
• Officials still in stirrups. Also notice there are going full position spelled out on the backs of their jerseys (Referee, Linesman, Back Judge, etc.).
• FAIL from the graphics department: What number did Bradshaw wear?!?
• Rams cheerleaders going with first name on back!
Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Sun Devil Stadium
• This game isn’t actually included with the DVD set since the Steelers lost, but since I had the NFL Films half hour production saved on my DVR, I figured I would give it the same treatment as the five wins.
• There are a lot of logos of companies that either aren’t around anymore or aren’t involved in the NFL anymore prominent in this game. For instance, I forget the name of the company that made these turtlenecks [ed. note: I think it’s Kappa [-PH]. Also, there a quite a few logos in this shot of the Cowboys (Wilson, Easton and Neumann can be seen). Here’s a shot of Pittsburgh in a pre-game huddle with a pair of Franklin (company that makes MLB batting gloves) gloves visible. O’Donnell was sporting Easton branded wristbands with the Steelers’ helmet at the top of them.
• Logo Athletic was then outfitting the officials.
• At this point, sideline caps were really starting to come into vogue. Sure they existed pretty regularly before that, but this was when we were starting to see specific players with deals: Emmitt Smith was a Starter guy while Troy Aikman and Rod Woodson were with Logo Athletic.
• Intimidating mask factor: Greg Lloyd and John Jackson wore this thick (but light) and fierce looking cage on their helmets throughout the early to mid 90s. The visor on Jackson’s made it look that much meaner.
• In those days, the Steelers were outfitted by Starter.
Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10, Ford Field
• This was the first Super Bowl the Steelers participated in where they wore the SB logo patches on their jersey. Note that it’s the opposite corner from the Seahawks since the Steelers have their logo on one corner. Also, it can be noted the the backs of both teams’ helmets contained the NFL logo, an American Flag and a SB logo.
• A couple of Big Ben notes: here’s a shot showing his gloved throwing hand but bare off hand, as referenced in Paul’s Page 2 column. Also, note that his playmaker wristband has the logo (Neumann) blacked out, most likely with some kind of magic marker. By this time, Neumann was not an approved brand by the NFL.
• The Bus going blank front bumper. Also, check out Kendall Simmons in the Greg Lloyd/John Jackson style of mask.
• Kimo von Oelhoffen had a unique mask, and the Steelers had a unique way of doing his nameplate.
• In a day and age where coaching gear can get out of hand, I thought both Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher looked very understated in this game. I’m not saying that as a bad thing either.
• The opposite of understated is this overkill on the officials’ uniforms. How many logos can they fit on one shirt (and I’m not even a logo creep guy!)
The full photo sets can be viewed in the following albums: IX, X, XIII, XIV, XXX, XL.
Although the Steelers were the first NFL team to win four Super Bowls, they took a little longer than they originally expected to get the coveted “One For the Thumb“, so much so that both the Cowboys and 49ers beat them to it. However, with a win over Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII, they will be the first team to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy six times.
Phil here. Hope you enjoyed the post, sorry if it was long (but not as long as the Super Bowl pre-game shows). Hopefully the actual game will be as good as Ricko’s and Kek’s entries. Give them all big props for their efforts!
Even though I went a terrible 4-6 with my playoff picks, I am riding a bit of a streak on both the Steelers and Cardinals. I have picked the Steelers correctly in both their games, and I have picked against the Cardinals and lost all three times. So, today, I am again picking the Steelers (but as an NFC guy, I guess I’ll be rooting for the Cardinals, their uniforms be damned). I will either be right for a third time (by picking the Steelers) or wrong for a fourth time (by picking against the Cardinals). One streak will end for sure.
Enjoy the game!
Wow – what a nice surprise, an absolutely monstrous weekend post! Great job, all involved. I don’t have a comment on the post, I just wanted to send out some business: my rugby team has never had a logo in the five years of its existence and now we have one and we’d like to get it on a bunch of patches. I did a few free quotes online, but then I thought to myself, “why not ask the uniwatch community?” If anyone who posts on these comments has any experience with that sort of thing, it would definitely be nice to keep it “in house” (in the uniwatch sense). Please email me at link if you make patches or if you know someone else who would enjoy this project. Thanks!
this was probrably posted yesterday but somebody posted $12,000 for the cowboys helmet card. Does Paul make enough to do that link
This was posted not too long ago, but I was wondering if someone can explain to me the difference between a “retro uniform”, a “throwback”, and a “fauxback”?
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Since it is the Super Bowl, and everyone is making their picks, I will ask the uni watch faithful the question of the day…Who ya got?
I’m taking the points (+7), and the Cards tonight. I have a feeling the Cards are going to have a massive offensive explosion and build up too big of a lead for the defensive minded Steelers.
Great post, fellas. Ricko, I would really love to take a look at those archives one of these days. Or if you ever decide to unload that stuff, I’ll drive up to MPLS for that garage sale.
Hey, what’s that link? At first, I thought it was just mud/blood/grass, but it looks like #21 might have the same thing on the same spot of his sock as well. Could it have been link?
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At the risk of turning this into a discussion on the weather: how sad is this? Yesterday, it was sunny and the high temperature was 38 degrees. My son asked me if we could set up the pool in our backyard.
“What brand is that?”
I think those are Spaulding cleats.
[quote comment=”312866″]”What brand is that?”
I think those are Spaulding cleats.[/quote]
Talkin’ about these?
link
—Ricko
[quote comment=”312865″]Great post, fellas. Ricko, I would really love to take a look at those archives one of these days. Or if you ever decide to unload that stuff, I’ll drive up to MPLS for that garage sale.
Hey, what’s that link? At first, I thought it was just mud/blood/grass, but it looks like #21 might have the same thing on the same spot of his sock as well. Could it have been link?
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At the risk of turning this into a discussion on the weather: how sad is this? Yesterday, it was sunny and the high temperature was 38 degrees. My son asked me if we could set up the pool in our backyard.[/quote]
I forgot to say in my post how much I really enjoyed the article today as well fellas. Not only was it good, but well written too.
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If we are gonna talk about the weather, it was 40F in S. Wisconsin yesterday and I washed my car outside in shorts and a t-shirt. Down right balmy.
And in case you are wondering, it is supposed to be around 62F, sunny, and calm around kickoff time tonight in the greater Tampa Bay area.
[quote comment=”312864″]This was posted not too long ago, but I was wondering if someone can explain to me the difference between a “retro uniform”, a “throwback”, and a “fauxback”?
_________________________________________
Since it is the Super Bowl, and everyone is making their picks, I will ask the uni watch faithful the question of the day…Who ya got?
I’m taking the points (+7), and the Cards tonight. I have a feeling the Cards are going to have a massive offensive explosion and build up too big of a lead for the defensive minded Steelers.[/quote]
I’ve got the Cards and the points as well.
There was some discussion about the retro/faux/throw distinction maybe a week or so ago. Basically, throwback is a faithful recreation of a uniform (or uniform element) that was actually used in the past. Fauxback is an entirely new creation based on past uniforms/elements. I don’t really recall what was decided for retro.
Hey, which link jersey should I dig out for today? The Kurt Warner/Rams (white, current style) or the Edgerrin James/Colts (blue)?
[quote comment=”312865″]Great post, fellas. Ricko, I would really love to take a look at those archives one of these days. Or if you ever decide to unload that stuff, I’ll drive up to MPLS for that garage sale.
Hey, what’s that link? At first, I thought it was just mud/blood/grass, but it looks like #21 might have the same thing on the same spot of his sock as well. Could it have been link?
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At the risk of turning this into a discussion on the weather: how sad is this? Yesterday, it was sunny and the high temperature was 38 degrees. My son asked me if we could set up the pool in our backyard.[/quote]
I think it’s stickum with maybe a bit of grass it’s gathered. That’s Erich Barnes (#49). He used to keep stickum on his socks ala Lennie Moore and, later, Fred Biletnikoff.
—Ricko
Here’s some stuff about the Montreal Canadiens:
Today they will wear these jerseys… link
(sorry – I couldn’t figure out how to hyperlink).
This is one of the best hockey pictures that I have ever seen. I love the completely striped socks that the two players at bottom right are wearing, as well as the “special” Captain’s Jersey (second from right – top row)
Also the Canadiens removed the All-Star Logo at Center Ice and replaced it with the 100 Years Celebration Logo (removing that logo from behind the nets – sorry no pic.
This makes me wonder: do the Hurricanes and Sabres still have their alternate logos at Center?
Anyone know?
Excellent post today – I quite like the Pittsburgh white pant look of 1971 vintage – quite sharp.
I’m staying with my alphabetical call. Cards over Steelers. If they win, I’ll go 8-3.
SB
Ricko, no mention of the Cards jersey when they had the thin blue stripes on their sleeves? I always thought that was uniquely odd, too bad it’s gone now. Also, the state of Arizona flag on the sleeve (don’t recall if it was on both sleeves or just one).
Kimo von Oelhoffen was wearing one of the original Riddell Revolution facemasks. There was that one and a shorter version for eligible receivers (aka, everyone whose not a lineman, because every position is a skill position). link. However, the G2-B was the first mask used in a game, worn by Andy McCollum in Super Bowl XXXVI
[quote comment=”312867″][quote comment=”312866″]”What brand is that?”
I think those are Spaulding cleats.[/quote]
Talkin’ about these?
link
—Ricko[/quote]
If I am not mistaken..there is some conncetion to Puma with those. Look at the name Beconta. They were some type of distributor (I think?) and were connected to Puma somehow. Dunno.
SB memories in no particular order:
(Thru the view of a Dallas and Cincinnati resident at the times;)
Cowboys over Dolphins 72;
Griese’s 24 yard loss as Lilly chases him down.
Cowboys lose to Steelers 76?
Swann over Washington
Cowboys over Broncos 78
I brought a case of Orange Crush to my senior accounting class. Any Monday after a Cowboy loss was BRUTAL to me at high school. Payback.
Cowboys lose to Steelers 79
Sitting on dorm room @ Miami U- Jackie Smith. Erp.
and Bengals;
Watching it at the Waterfront resteraunt- Bengals get the lead with 2 min to go. Everyone celebrating…but not me. Montana down with 2 min to go? Sadly..I knew better.
And when Stanley Wilson was busted with drugs. We were broadcasting live from the game..but we only had the satellite from like 8a-noon ET. So we were on the air from the air studio with American Top 40 from 9a-1p, and were recording live to tape in the production room, Then played back like 1p-5p or whatever.
Wow. Extraordinary work, gentlemen. What a fun read.
I sure miss the ’70’s St. Louis Cardinals look. As a kid, when I saw a simple red football jersey with white block numbers, I thought: Cardinals.
And much like the lamented Canucks stick-in-rink logo which has been bastardized, the original birds head Cardinal logo is just so fine and stately that its transformation to a…what?…more beastly looking, retarded bird is just….pathetic.
[quote comment=”312874″]Ricko, no mention of the Cards jersey when they had the thin blue stripes on their sleeves? I always thought that was uniquely odd, too bad it’s gone now. Also, the state of Arizona flag on the sleeve (don’t recall if it was on both sleeves or just one).[/quote]
Oh, I knew about them, for sure. Was focussing on the years when the two teams were both still in the NFL (pre-Steelers move to the new “AFC” in’70) and played one another regularly. Phil and I talked about adding some of those recent Phoenix-Arizona images to the first few grafs of the piece, but then we figured was gonna be link-laden enough with all the Chicago-St.Louis stuff…and that was the subject, anyway.
—Ricko
One more RE Cowboys-Steelers 76. Here’s the shot where Swann drove a stake into my heart. Check the Mark Washington shoes:
link
link
I think they were ‘broomball’ shoes. Way popular back then I think.
[quote comment=”312877″]Wow. Extraordinary work, gentlemen. What a fun read.
I sure miss the ’70’s St. Louis Cardinals look. As a kid, when I saw a simple red football jersey with white block numbers, I thought: Cardinals.
And much like the lamented Canucks stick-in-rink logo which has been bastardized, the original birds head Cardinal logo is just so fine and stately that its transformation to a…what?…more beastly looking, retarded bird is just….pathetic.[/quote]
I’ve forgotten the adjective used to explain the alts to the Cardinal head. They wanted it to be more “fierce” or “aggressive”. Something like that.
When that helmet logo first appeared, all I had to look at was a weekly b&w NFL highlights show (sponsored by SAFECO Insurance) that had no closeups. In long shots the beak pretty much disappeared, so I thought it was a winged crown or something having to do with move to St. Louis. Then, of course, when I finally did see a closeup photo and realized it was bird head there was a major league “duh” on my part. LOL.
—Ricko
surpirsed no one mentioned this, but i believe sb xxx was 27-13 cowboys not 21-17
[quote comment=”312879″]One more RE Cowboys-Steelers 76. Here’s the shot where Swann drove a stake into my heart. Check the Mark Washington shoes:
link
link
I think they were ‘broomball’ shoes. Way popular back then I think.[/quote]
I never did figure out the manufacturer of that shoe. Had a whole mess of cleats, much like the Nikes (and others) that showed up later.
link
—Ricko
[quote comment=”312871″]
This makes me wonder: do the Hurricanes and Sabres still have their alternate logos at Center?
Anyone know?[/quote]
Buffalo still does- or at least did before this current road trip.
[quote comment=”312882″][quote comment=”312879″]One more RE Cowboys-Steelers 76. Here’s the shot where Swann drove a stake into my heart. Check the Mark Washington shoes:
link
link
I think they were ‘broomball’ shoes. Way popular back then I think.[/quote]
I never did figure out the manufacturer of that shoe. Had a whole mess of cleats, much like the Nikes (and others) that showed up later.
link
—Ricko[/quote]
Broomball shoes don’t have protruding “cleats”. That would be horrible on ice. Every I’ve ever had have “inversions”, more like suction cups…recesses in a flat, soft sole.
(meant to include that in previous post)
—Ricko
[/quote]The opposite of understated is this overkill on the officials’ uniforms. How many logos can they fit on one shirt (and I’m not even a logo creep guy!)[/quote]
I think the NFL and Super Bowl patches would have looked much better on the official’s sleeves
The company that made the Steelers’ turtlenecks in SB XXX was Maxit. They supplied most NFL teams with cold weather gear in the mid-90’s, sort of a precursor to Under Armor. I never saw any of their clothes in stores, but some of their stuff was in the Eastbay catalog, which I pored over in those days.
Logo here:
link
nice job all around today, guys!
Great job, Phil, Ricko and Doug. I know it’s a labor of love, but thanks for the effort.
As one who didn’t know anything about football until the Dolphins last made the Super Bowl when I was in first grade, it is nice to learn about those other stories from back in the day. I knew the Cards moved from St. Louis, but until this year didn’t know about the Chicago years. Now we get to learn much more about them with all these pictures. Thanks for the history lessons.
Then I became a young Bengals fan, and I learned to hate the Steelers early on, so I’ll enjoy rooting against them yet again. Plus, the Cardinals have been very entertaining in the playoffs, and I want that to continue.
I pick the Cardinals 27-13.
[quote comment=”312880″][quote comment=”312877″]Wow. Extraordinary work, gentlemen. What a fun read.
I sure miss the ’70’s St. Louis Cardinals look. As a kid, when I saw a simple red football jersey with white block numbers, I thought: Cardinals.
And much like the lamented Canucks stick-in-rink logo which has been bastardized, the original birds head Cardinal logo is just so fine and stately that its transformation to a…what?…more beastly looking, retarded bird is just….pathetic.[/quote]
I’ve forgotten the adjective used to explain the alts to the Cardinal head. They wanted it to be more “fierce” or “aggressive”. Something like that.
When that helmet logo first appeared, all I had to look at was a weekly b&w NFL highlights show (sponsored by SAFECO Insurance) that had no closeups. In long shots the beak pretty much disappeared, so I thought it was a winged crown or something having to do with move to St. Louis. Then, of course, when I finally did see a closeup photo and realized it was bird head there was a major league “duh” on my part. LOL.
—Ricko[/quote]
I like the 70s Cardinals look as well, although I’ve always felt those little birds on the helmet were annoying. The only improvement I would suggest for that look would be to bring back the red helmet from the Chicago days and find a better way to incorporate the bird logo into the helmet.
tl, dr
by the way, the Montreal Canadiens are wearing their “Barber Pole” commemorative sweaters. If you like stripes, then this is your uni…
[quote comment=”312871″]Here’s some stuff about the Montreal Canadiens:
Today they will wear these jerseys… link
(sorry – I couldn’t figure out how to hyperlink).
This is one of the best hockey pictures that I have ever seen. I love the completely striped socks that the two players at bottom right are wearing, as well as the “special” Captain’s Jersey (second from right – top row)
Also the Canadiens removed the All-Star Logo at Center Ice and replaced it with the 100 Years Celebration Logo (removing that logo from behind the nets – sorry no pic.
This makes me wonder: do the Hurricanes and Sabres still have their alternate logos at Center?
Anyone know?[/quote]
Hurricanes do too. Typically the only one that ever changes is the team with the all star logo, but usually they start the year off with that and change it afterwards. The Canadiens started with the 100th anniversary, went to the all star and now back to the anniversary logo, which is more changes then usual.
[quote comment=”312886″]The company that made the Steelers’ turtlenecks in SB XXX was Maxit. They supplied most NFL teams with cold weather gear in the mid-90’s, sort of a precursor to Under Armor. I never saw any of their clothes in stores, but some of their stuff was in the Eastbay catalog, which I pored over in those days.
Logo here:
link
Maxit was GREAT. Had a Bengals one. The Chiefs were big into that..all their team portrait shots always had them wearing those.
The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins!
Weird question, but who is announcing the Super Bowl tonight?
[quote comment=”312895″]Weird question, but who is announcing the Super Bowl tonight?[/quote]
al & john, no?
[quote comment=”312896″][quote comment=”312895″]Weird question, but who is announcing the Super Bowl tonight?[/quote]
al & john, no?[/quote]
Yes, it would be Madden and Michaels, with Andrea Kremer. The pre-game show will more than likely have everyone else (Costas, Bettis, Tiki, Collinsworth, Peter King, Dan Patrick, maybe Keith Olbermann). I think Tony Dungy’s a guest analyst.
Leafs GM Brian Burke said in today’s print Toronto Sun, that all high numbers will be ending for leaf players.
Sweet sweet Habs Uni’s today
Watch the game here:
link
[quote comment=”312898″]Leafs GM Brian Burke said in today’s print Toronto Sun, that all high numbers will be ending for leaf players.
Sweet sweet Habs Uni’s today
Watch the game here:
link
I heard them talking about Gilmour’s #93 when he came to Toronto and it came about because the coach or gm thought his number #39 (that he wore in Calgary) was too high and wanted him to wear #14 (which belonged to some famous Leaf, but I forget which one). So, somehow, Gilmour asked for #93 (doing the inverse gimmick) and it got approved.
[quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
It’s on CBC too, if anyone else is near the border.
They actually look pretty nice on close up shots. One of the 100th anniversary unis.
Ricko, Great stuff. I liked the Cards Steelers matchups in most of the pictures. My dad was a Steeler fan and as a kid he got me a Steeler replica uniform with helmet. It was either Rawlings or MacGregor. Any other older guys here get those uniform sets as a kid? They were pretty realistic.
Visible at the end of the NFL Films retrospective on SB IX, but rookie Donnie Shell wore one of the wider-spaced side-mount Dungard masks, the only one I’ve ever seen on the Steelers. Think of the one Jake Scott wore for Miami, just like that one.
Also, the Steelers uniforms changed in layout twice in the early 70s, with higher numbers and wide-spaced NOBs at home and road for the ’72 Immaculate Reception era, then the numbers lowered a little bit in ’74 for SB IX (previously they were within an inch or two of the NOB) but retained the same long thin style with the 5’s checked and the narrow 4’s (like the Packers do now), then they went to the standard block numbers and black masks for SB X and stayed there for the rest of the decade.
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the three entries in today’s “UNIWATCH”…the Super Bowl Edition…
Your input is another reason as to my high-level interest in all things “UNI” related…
Enjoy the game gang!!!
[quote comment=”312902″]Visible at the end of the NFL Films retrospective on SB IX, but rookie Donnie Shell wore one of the wider-spaced side-mount Dungard masks, the only one I’ve ever seen on the Steelers. Think of the one Jake Scott wore for Miami, just like that one.
Also, the Steelers uniforms changed in layout twice in the early 70s, with higher numbers and wide-spaced NOBs at home and road for the ’72 Immaculate Reception era, then the numbers lowered a little bit in ’74 for SB IX (previously they were within an inch or two of the NOB) but retained the same long thin style with the 5’s checked and the narrow 4’s (like the Packers do now), then they went to the standard block numbers and black masks for SB X and stayed there for the rest of the decade.[/quote]
The Steelers’ TV numbers moved some, too, through the years. Sometimes closer to the sleeve stripes, sometimes much higher. The Cowboys’ TVs did the same sort of thing around that same time, but their moves were much more pronounced.
—Ricko
Well-written, gents!
Solid work on everyone’s account, and these weekend entries appear to be a labour of love for the entire board now. ;o)
Well done, Doug, Rick, and Phil. Top-notch work!
[quote comment=”312892″][quote comment=”312871″]Here’s some stuff about the Montreal Canadiens:
Today they will wear these jerseys… link
(sorry – I couldn’t figure out how to hyperlink).
This is one of the best hockey pictures that I have ever seen. I love the completely striped socks that the two players at bottom right are wearing, as well as the “special” Captain’s Jersey (second from right – top row)
Also the Canadiens removed the All-Star Logo at Center Ice and replaced it with the 100 Years Celebration Logo (removing that logo from behind the nets – sorry no pic.
This makes me wonder: do the Hurricanes and Sabres still have their alternate logos at Center?
Anyone know?[/quote]
Hurricanes do too. Typically the only one that ever changes is the team with the all star logo, but usually they start the year off with that and change it afterwards. The Canadiens started with the 100th anniversary, went to the all star and now back to the anniversary logo, which is more changes then usual.[/quote]
Really? I honestly don’t remember the Canadiens starting off with the 100th Anniversary Logo and then switching to the ASG Logo. That’s pretty interesting, 3 center ice logo changes in one season?
The only reason I asked about the Sabres and Hurricanes is because at the beginning of the year I heard it was just a “promotion” and that center ice would be back to normal in a couple of months. I figured the All-Star Break would be a good time to switch back, but apparently that’s not the case.
[quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
Yes, it looks like a prisoners vs guards game today! My eyes are swimming! :-)
Thanks to Phil,Doug and Rick.
I looked at my Steeler helmet since I still have it. The replica uniform sets were from MacGregor. Early 1960s.
[quote comment=”312908″]Thanks to Phil,Doug and Rick.
I looked at my Steeler helmet since I still have it. The replica uniform sets were from MacGregor. Early 1960s.[/quote]
Gold helmet or black?
[quote comment=”312907″][quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
Yes, it looks like a prisoners vs guards game today! My eyes are swimming! :-)[/quote]
No! Horizontal stripes are beautiful. They look like mighty fine hockey uniforms to me.. Though I must say, television wasnt made for thin stripes like this.
The Boston commentators were ripping on them calling them “worst ever” during the 2nd intermission. :(
I just noticed these Montreal sweaters are lacking the ugly curved hem that all other reebok edge sweaters have… Awesome.
[quote comment=”312909″][quote comment=”312908″]Thanks to Phil,Doug and Rick.
I looked at my Steeler helmet since I still have it. The replica uniform sets were from MacGregor. Early 1960s.[/quote]
Gold helmet or black?[/quote]
It is the gold helmet. I have Christmas pictures of me wearing the black and gold jersey and wearing the helmet. The helmet had no logo and no numbers. Not sure how to post or link a picture here yet
SB XXX Pokes 27-17
[quote comment=”312907″][quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
Yes, it looks like a prisoners vs guards game today! My eyes are swimming! :-)[/quote]
Actually, the prison-look game was played in Vegas last night. The ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors link.
The orange corrections-clad Condors defeated the striped convicts from LV by a 3-1 score.
[quote comment=”312915″][quote comment=”312907″][quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
Yes, it looks like a prisoners vs guards game today! My eyes are swimming! :-)[/quote]
Actually, the prison-look game was played in Vegas last night. The ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors link.
The orange corrections-clad Condors defeated the striped convicts from LV by a 3-1 score.[/quote]
Sorry, make that the night of January 30. My bad!
link
link
link
By the way I hate the Steelers now. I am a Browns fan. But I have fond memories of Bobby Layne, Tom Tracy, John Henry Johnson as a young kid.
[quote comment=”312897″][quote comment=”312896″][quote comment=”312895″]Weird question, but who is announcing the Super Bowl tonight?[/quote]
al & john, no?[/quote]
Yes, it would be Madden and Michaels, with Andrea Kremer. The pre-game show will more than likely have everyone else (Costas, Bettis, Tiki, Collinsworth, Peter King, Dan Patrick, maybe Keith Olbermann). I think Tony Dungy’s a guest analyst.[/quote]
*sigh* I was afraid of that answer, but I figured as much. Did they do the SB last year?
Oh, one more thing about Cardinals uni history…
When the team was getting started, they bought used jerseys from the University of Chicago. Upon unpacking them, someone took a look at how faded they were and decided that they were no longer maroon, but cardinal red instead — hence the name Cardinals.
I always thought the story was apocryphal, but I verified it on link, so it has to be true.
[quote comment=”312906″][quote comment=”312892″][quote comment=”312871″]Here’s some stuff about the Montreal Canadiens:
Today they will wear these jerseys… link
(sorry – I couldn’t figure out how to hyperlink).
This is one of the best hockey pictures that I have ever seen. I love the completely striped socks that the two players at bottom right are wearing, as well as the “special” Captain’s Jersey (second from right – top row)
Also the Canadiens removed the All-Star Logo at Center Ice and replaced it with the 100 Years Celebration Logo (removing that logo from behind the nets – sorry no pic.
This makes me wonder: do the Hurricanes and Sabres still have their alternate logos at Center?
Anyone know?[/quote]
Hurricanes do too. Typically the only one that ever changes is the team with the all star logo, but usually they start the year off with that and change it afterwards. The Canadiens started with the 100th anniversary, went to the all star and now back to the anniversary logo, which is more changes then usual.[/quote]
Really? I honestly don’t remember the Canadiens starting off with the 100th Anniversary Logo and then switching to the ASG Logo. That’s pretty interesting, 3 center ice logo changes in one season?
The only reason I asked about the Sabres and Hurricanes is because at the beginning of the year I heard it was just a “promotion” and that center ice would be back to normal in a couple of months. I figured the All-Star Break would be a good time to switch back, but apparently that’s not the case.[/quote]
The promotion thing was just speculation on here. People were saying they would be gone by the regular season and they didn’t go away then.
And you can see the ice at the beginning of the Canadien’s season in link from their home opener.
For those of you who like the bird head, St. Pete Times has a great photo up of a Cardinal fan.
link
wow. watched the Bruins/Habs game.
those uni’s might have been a little too much for me. they were definitely too much for my TV!
close up they looked great, but on a rink shot w/ the action flowing they were really tough to watch…
saw some fans in the stands had purchased some.
the shoulder patch was almost impossible to read.
bruins win again!
[quote comment=”312918″]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/Larrymb/st.jpg?t=1233524586
By the way I hate the Steelers now. I am a Browns fan. But I have fond memories of Bobby Layne, Tom Tracy, John Henry Johnson as a young kid.[/quote]
And we have photos of all three of them today. Hey, if you hate the Steelers now, then think of that helmet as vintage Iowa. As they do today, the Hawkeyes looked almost exactly like the Steelers in the late 50s and early 60’s, especially their home unis.
Don’t know if that helps or not. LOL.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”312923″]wow. watched the Bruins/Habs game.
those uni’s might have been a little too much for me. they were definitely too much for my TV!
close up they looked great, but on a rink shot w/ the action flowing they were really tough to watch…
saw some fans in the stands had purchased some.
the shoulder patch was almost impossible to read.
bruins win again![/quote]
Whoah nelly !
link
Hmmm, average NFC team hot through the playoffs versus an outstanding AFC team… sounds familiar
[quote comment=”312924″][quote comment=”312918″]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/Larrymb/st.jpg?t=1233524586
By the way I hate the Steelers now. I am a Browns fan. But I have fond memories of Bobby Layne, Tom Tracy, John Henry Johnson as a young kid.[/quote]
And we have photos of all three of them today. Hey, if you hate the Steelers now, then think of that helmet as vintage Iowa. As they do today, the Hawkeyes looked almost exactly like the Steelers in the late 50s and early 60’s, especially their home unis.
Don’t know if that helps or not. LOL.
—Ricko[/quote]
Being a Buckeye fan. I hate Michigan. But I respect their history and tradition. I love all teams uniform history and evolution. As a kid I later used black marker to sort of make the winged helmet look on that Steeler helmet. When I got older I cleaned it up good enough so it looked like it did 40 or so years ago.
And yes the old Iowa helmets sure look just like that old Steeler helmet.
Those Canadiens jerseys aren’t as nice as I thought, kinda dizzying to look at.
They look pretty good close-up though – but they’re not the nicest Montreal throwback by any means, but I like them (except for the fact that the number on the back is kind of in a box).
Also a quick SB Note:
Warner is wearing gloves as usual; but Big Ben is doing the opposite of SB-XL, with a glove on his non-throwing hand and no glove on his throwing hand. Interesting.
HIlarious. These jerseys SUCK.
link
[quote comment=”312926″]Hmmm, average NFC team hot through the playoffs versus an outstanding AFC team… sounds familiar[/quote]
At a hunch, this one will end a little differently. might be that 100 something to 13 yards differential.
Those Canadiens jerseys aren’t as nice as I thought, kinda dizzying to look at.
They look pretty good close-up though – but they’re not the nicest Montreal throwback by any means, but I like them (except for the fact that the number on the back is kind of in a box).
Of course they’re terrible. I mean a black and white photo from 1912 looks retro chic…but in color they look like bad bed sheets my Mom used on our beds in the Bicentennial year of 1976.
Awful!
Check out Santonio Holmes. His jersey tag is showing.
Kinsio (or however you spell that) tape on James (Cards). Coming down on the bicep from underneath the pad.
Noticed Gatorade has used the occasion to officially unveil it’s ‘G’ logo…
[quote comment=”312910″][quote comment=”312907″][quote comment=”312894″]The Bruins are in Montreal, where they appear to be playing a prison team or a group of barbers. Those unis are hideous. My eyes are gonna really hurt by the end of this game. Go Bruins![/quote]
Yes, it looks like a prisoners vs guards game today! My eyes are swimming! :-)[/quote]
No! Horizontal stripes are beautiful. They look like mighty fine hockey uniforms to me.. Though I must say, television wasnt made for thin stripes like this.
The Boston commentators were ripping on them calling them “worst ever” during the 2nd intermission. :([/quote]
Those Unis don’t work on TV, but they look great in person. The name/number boxes is an excellent touch to make sure you can actually read the numbers.
As for the Bruins announcers, here’s a little known fact: They tend to be homers. Worst in the league. Don’t expect an ounce of respect given from a Bruins announcer to ANYTHING Montreal Canadiens.
SB
Isn’t one of the points of throwbacks to show how styles change? To have a little fun seeing how, when you take some of the old-time uniforms and move them to today, they look odd, garish and, yes, sometimes downright ugly? I mean, it isn’t always, “Look how great they looked!” Sometimes it’s, “Wow, look what they thought was great-looking back then.”
I think the Philadelphia Eagles yellow-gold and powder blue uni definitely fall into that category. Certainly no one said, “Let’s wear these cuz they’re so good-looking.” It was cuz they ARE so goofy.
They’re meant to be conversation pieces, not necessarily “Handsome Uniforms of History.”
—Ricko
Thanks to everyone that offered kin words on today’s post. Phil and Rick, awesome job as usual.
I thought I’d show some updated pics of the puppy, she’s gotten much bigger than the photo in the post today shows.
link
Anyone got the (terrible) Heroes/NBC ad with the former NFLers? I’m pretty sure when John Elway flies in (ha), he’s wearing a ’94 throwback with the 75th patch on it. Warren Sapp is also wearing a Bucco Bruce helmet. Catch any others?
im goin’ to disneyland?
WTF
link to Elway in the 94’s.
You know, I can’t understand why people are bitching about the Canadiens’ jerseys. We want different, we want unique, yet we can’t grasp the concept of the barbershop look?
Even Ron MacLean on HNIC said he didn’t like them, but how history is on the Canadiens’ side.
Sure, they weren’t great for television, but how many people had a television in 1913? Because we’re blessed with technology shouldn’t mean that a team cannot honour their history.
The jerseys worn by the Canadiens today receive a thumbs-up from me. Fabulous throwback to their early days.
[quote comment=”312939″]Anyone got the (terrible) Heroes/NBC ad with the former NFLers? I’m pretty sure when John Elway flies in (ha), he’s wearing a ’94 throwback with the 75th patch on it. Warren Sapp is also wearing a Bucco Bruce helmet. Catch any others?[/quote]
I didn’t spot too much, but as soon as Elway flew in I couldn’t help but notice him wearing the throwback early 60’s jersey (orange with the wide blue sleeve stripes) with the “D” helmet of the late 60’s – mid 90’s. And I thought, Hey, those two never went together…
Clearly no one on the production staff of this commercial consulted UniWatch.
That’s right, they muffed the helmet. And they were doing so well, Rice had a old niners one, and sapp had the old bucs one. I also saw an old Chargers (but possibly new chargers too).
Pretty sure those mystery cleats are Spaulding.
I think those shoes were on the market about a year, which was one year too long.
A buddy & I bought Spauldings for high school football and the cleats started tearing off before the end of the season.
But we looked good.
elway
For as lame as this year’s Super Bowl logo has appeared by itself, it actually seems to look pretty good on both jerseys.
[quote comment=”312926″]Hmmm, average NFC team hot through the playoffs versus an outstanding AFC team… sounds familiar[/quote]
For those of us who grew up in the 80s, that sounds backwards.
as a patch, that is
Coke Zero commercial with Troy Polamalu, he’s not wearing his actual uniform. Yellow pants have no stripe, and I’m pretty sure the jersey he has had block numbers. I’ll get pics later if no one else does.
Now Fitz is swigging a bottle of G on the sidelines – what is this, NASCAR???
I would swear that those mystery cleats were from Canada, and they were ‘broomball’- at least that’s how they were referred to. I’m about 90% sure on that.
What’s with Boldin’s number? The 1 of his #81 looks out of alignment. Or is that just due to the bad numbering that the Cards use?
#62, Coach would like to see you in his office. And, bring your playbook.
Adding to the other resounding cheers already expressed, excellent posts, gentlemen!
Ricko, a couple of observations/questions:
Next, of course, came the years of the golden-triangle shoulder yoke (seen here on Shy Obert)
According to the pic the Steeler player’s name is Don Shy; the New Orleans player’s name is Obert Logan.
In fact, with the exception of adding a black edge to numerals, making the red a little more burgundy (see here also) and going from black shoes to white, the Cardinals changed very little during most of their time in St. Louis.
Both the red (before) and the burgundy (after) pics show #15 sporting Cardinals “25” patches. Did they make the color change mid-season or are we looking at film/printing discrepancies?
Thanks again for some excellent reading and wonderful pictures.
Rarely have I seen a team fold as fast in a big game.
[quote comment=”312956″]Rarely have I seen a team fold as fast in a big game.[/quote]
Take away the somewhat fortunate TD at the end of the first half, and the Cardinals win in a romp.
[quote]Ricko, a couple of observations/questions:
Next, of course, came the years of the golden-triangle shoulder yoke (seen here on Shy Obert)
According to the pic the Steeler player’s name is Don Shy; the New Orleans player’s name is Obert Logan.[/quote]
don’t blame rick…that was my fault–the pic rick sent me he ‘entitled’ “shy obert”–for the names of the two players in the pic…i didn’t actually read the caption when i was posting his pic…my bad
/congrats to the stillers
Anyone else notice the Super Bowl caps had “REEBOK” and not the symbol thing?
SIX PAAAAACK!
Yeah, congrats to the Stillers. They really looked like they were headed down the chute there, but man Roethlisberger and Holmes just nailed the Cards. Thread the needle thru triple coverage.
Like the hats too. REEBOK on the side.
[quote comment=”312958″][quote]Ricko, a couple of observations/questions:
Next, of course, came the years of the golden-triangle shoulder yoke (seen here on Shy Obert)
According to the pic the Steeler player’s name is Don Shy; the New Orleans player’s name is Obert Logan.[/quote]
don’t blame rick…that was my fault–the pic rick sent me he ‘entitled’ “shy obert”–for the names of the two players in the pic…i didn’t actually read the caption when i was posting his pic…my bad
/congrats to the stillers[/quote]
LOL…not a problem and no blame assigned. Although Shy Obert would certainly belong on the NFL’s All-Name Team had he actually existed.
[quote comment=”312955″]Adding to the other resounding cheers already expressed, excellent posts, gentlemen!
Ricko, a couple of observations/questions:
Next, of course, came the years of the golden-triangle shoulder yoke (seen here on Shy Obert)
According to the pic the Steeler player’s name is Don Shy; the New Orleans player’s name is Obert Logan.
In fact, with the exception of adding a black edge to numerals, making the red a little more burgundy (see here also) and going from black shoes to white, the Cardinals changed very little during most of their time in St. Louis.
Both the red (before) and the burgundy (after) pics show #15 sporting Cardinals “25” patches. Did they make the color change mid-season or are we looking at film/printing discrepancies?
Thanks again for some excellent reading and wonderful pictures.[/quote]
That just how I named the file (“Shy Obert”), and Phil picked up the file name. I had saved another photo of Don Shy in the triangle-uni that I considered using, and wanted to note which one also had the player #0 (Obert Logan) in it, because it’s the only game action one of him that I have.
LOL. I didn’t notice that patch til afterward, so I sure should have used a different photo for the “red” version. But it does illustrate how much direct sunlight and shade can change the way some colors look in old photos.
—Ricko
Oops, I see Phil already ‘splained “Shy Obert.”
Funny. It looks like the Seahawks won the SuperBowl.
I remember when Super Bowl PA announcer Alan Roach was only Rockies PA announcer Kelly Burnham *lol*
going to go back and get those Polamalu screen grabs in a few, although the wife pointed out that if the Seahawks could have won this year’s Super Bowl, the colors for the hat would have been perfect for them (especially before they went with the darker blue)
did they give the steelers old seahawks caps?
dammit Carl, you got there first! :)
[quote comment=”312946″]link[/quote]
…and Sapps helmet in that commercial was the old orange Bucs one!
[quote comment=”312967″]did they give the steelers old seahawks caps?[/quote]
…I love this blog. We have a serious problem.
“The winningest franchise in NFL history” –Dan Patrick.
Anyone got a problem with that? Johnny O, Chance?
Notice the ‘NFL POST GAME’ crew scrambling after Holmes scored??? Making d*mn sure the Steelers merchandise got on the field and the Cards went back in the World Vision box…
Chalk that one up to the refs.
Dear ref:
This is the NFL, you absolutely need two feet in bounds to maintain possesion. There is no push out rule.
[quote comment=”312971″]”The winningest franchise in NFL history” –Dan Patrick.
Anyone got a problem with that? Johnny O, Chance?[/quote]
history didn’t start till SB I, larry
Here are the Polamalu grabs from the Coke Zero commercial
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[quote comment=”312975″]Here are the Polamalu grabs from the Coke Zero commercial
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link[/quote]
That’s because they didn’t pay the rights fees to NFL properities to use logos/uniforms. Happens all the time. Like that spot with Eli Manning in what looks sorta like an Ole Miss jersey and dark helmet with a single white stripe.
@112
I assume that’s due to Pepsi being the official cola or soft drink product. (I think) They can’t use official stuff then. Though I have seen Coke/Steeler merch here in PGH, perhaps that’s just a team thing, not an NFL thing.
[quote comment=”312974″][quote comment=”312971″]”The winningest franchise in NFL history” –Dan Patrick.
Anyone got a problem with that? Johnny O, Chance?[/quote]
history didn’t start till SB I, larry[/quote]
Slight problem…but not that big of a deal. The Stillers have doubled our Super Bowl Championships, but we have the last laugh because the name “Lombardi” is now on six pieces of hardware in their stadium!
[quote comment=”312971″]”The winningest franchise in NFL history” –Dan Patrick.
Anyone got a problem with that? Johnny O, Chance?[/quote]
Those guys are Bears fans?
Two observations related to Larry Fitzgerald:
1) The wordmark on his jersey appeared to be arched tonight.
2) Best graphic of the night:
LARRY FITZGERALD, SR
LARRY’S FATHER
Uh, OK… Larry who?
What an exciting game, but I’m disappointed the Cardinals didn’t hold on to win. They sure surprised a lot of people, and almost got it done. Maybe they’ll get more fans now too, especially here in FL where PIT fans are overabundant.
Regarding the SB logo patch, I thought the green field part disappeared against Steelers’ white jerseys. It was more visible against the red.
regarding lynn swann’s facemask in SB X…he was wearing the same style of facemask dan fouts wore.
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if i understood your post correctly, i think you thought he was wearing the cris collinsworth type mask.
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jim zorn also wore this one for a while after he gave up his dungard. so did john jefferson, wes chandler, sammy white, greg coleman and a few others.
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Super Bowl XLIV Logo? Wikipedia, I know…
did anyone else have a problem with the ref in bruce’s performance? he was wearing the wrong uni..
i had several problems with bruce’s performance. i hope the camera man that bruce teabagged is ok.
[quote comment=”312985″]i had several problems with bruce’s performance. i hope the camera man that bruce teabagged is ok.[/quote]
Hahaha. Bruce’s “oh shit” face when that happened was priceless.
[quote comment=”312976″][quote comment=”312975″]Here are the Polamalu grabs from the Coke Zero commercial
link
link[/quote]
That’s because they didn’t pay the rights fees to NFL properities to use logos/uniforms. Happens all the time. Like that spot with Eli Manning in what looks sorta like an Ole Miss jersey and dark helmet with a single white stripe.[/quote]
*lol* I mean I know the reason why behind why its obviously not authentic, but it just sometimes looks really bad :) My attitude toward that has always been if you can’t use the real thing, then go with something VERY generic, instead of knockoff-ish :)