‘Cool…Miami…International’

By Phil Hecken

“Cool…Miami…International.”

Those were the three words Florida Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria used to describe the new uniforms of the South Florida baseball team.

So…how’d they do?

Let’s start with the logo, which isn’t exactly breaking news, since it leaked quite some time ago. It’s a very distinctive, four-color, beveled “M”, featuring gold, orange, aqua and black (outlined in gray), with an image of a marlin atop the “M”. It’s a rather bold statement, but it looks like the 2012 Marlins aren’t your father’s Marlins. When I first saw this, I didn’t really like it, but it’s grown on me. A lot.

OK … onto the uniforms:

Home Whites: We got a bit of a preview of the homes yesterday, but last night was the official unveiling. It’s different, but it still looks like a baseball uniform. It takes the aforementioned wordmark and puts it on a white uniform, with thin orange piping around the neck, sleeve ends, and pants. At the unveiling, Loria explained that “Miami” will be very prominent, and that both the homes and roads will have “MIAMI” emblazoned on the chest. It’s not bad — I’d prefer “Marlins” on the chest, and perhaps in a year or two, they’ll do it, but for their inaugural season in the as-yet-to-be-corporately-named ballpark, they’ll be the Miami Miamis. Gone are the pinstripes, the block “F,” the teal…and Jack McKeon. In with the Ozzie.

Road Grays: Almost the reciprocal of the home whites, the jersey wordmark will be in white, with black piping, also with “MIAMI” on the chest.

Alternate Black: Never have been a fan of the Marlins with a black top (and cap), but it looks like the team will be keeping that element going forward. I mean, nothing says “South Florida” like a black uniform, right? Seems like most of the models were wearing the black top with gray pants, so hopefully this will only be used as a road alternate. Still not a fan of the black cap & top, but what’re ya gonna do?

Now…if that were it, I’d be pretty disappointed, but the Marlins aren’t done. Now, they’ve already shown us one alternate too many, but what’s one more right? We knew yesterday, when this was leaked there would be an orange top. But what we didn’t know was…

Orange Alternate: The spec sheet would show an orange cap! It’s a GREAT alternate (if you have to have an alternate). Unfortunately, the players only came out wearing the black cap with the orange top. Let’s hope that’s just for show. Unlike the white, gray and black jerseys, the orange jersey says “MARLINS” and features the flying fish jumping between the “L” and the “I”. I like it.

The Marlins really had a chance to stand out from other clubs with this unveil, and to a certain extent (read: look at the orange tops), they did. Unfortunately, they still seem to have a heavy preponderance of black. Their pullovers and dugout jackets are both black, and I believe their BP jerseys are as well.

One thing I also like are the unique number fonts, although I can’t see why they need the drop shadow. Oh well, it is Miami. It’s hard to tell from this screen grab, but it appears the orange tops may be drop-shadowless. Maybe.

So, they’ve got a new uniform set, a new stadium, a new city-name…and it looks like they’re trying to make a big splash in the free agent market. Reports are they met with and offered contracts to both Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes. In fact, by the time you read this, Reyes may be a Marlin. These are not your father’s Marlins, no sir.

Overall, I’d give the uniforms a B+. Not because they’re great, but because they’re much more reflective of South Florida — the boldly colored “M” and wordmark are certainly unique without being completely overboard, and even though I hate softball tops, I hope to see that orange alt as often as possible next season. Good job, Miami Miamis, you’ve done South Florida proud.

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All Hands on Deck…

Yesterday afternoon, the Tar Heels and Spartans hooked up in a camouflage-themed duel atop a carrier deck.

If that wasn’t surreal enough, the game was kicked off by Commander-in-Chief, who watched the game with First Lady Michelle Obama. It was all part of the Veterans Day festivities that featured the number one ranked Tar Heels and Spartans playing on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

Say what you will about the unnecessary gimmicky uniforms or the long sleeves (it was outdoors, ya know), this was quite possibly the most beautiful outdoor playground most of us will ever see. I was just hoping that someone would see if they could kick the ball into the water. No such luck.

I bet Roy Williams (pictured with some guy who looks familiar) could have done it with those steel-toed boots.

Lots and lots more photos here and here.

Some good closeups of the uniforms (prior to the game being played) in the video below:

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50 Years Ago…This Weekend

Back again with Rick Pearson who is here to bring us his look at the featured ABC television college football matchup from 50 years ago. As always, Rick documented the game via his “kid cards”. Here’s Rick to tell us about it.

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Nov. 11, 1961”¦Minnesota at Iowa

How ”˜bout that. Gophers the one and only TV game two weeks in a row, this time against the other Big Team powerhouse. … Gophers changed their road unis as much as anyone, switching to gold pants and adding UCLA jersey stripes/loops. … Not a bad idea; their first roads with that set were a tad nondescript. … Iowa in their typical Iowa look, using the standard template that had been employed by the Steelers, Packers, Oklahoma, Michigan State and plenty of others (including Minnesota) in the early 1950s. … The players? HB Bill Munsey was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but spent four seasons with the B.C. Lions. … Cloyd Webb? Oh, man, one of my favorite college players ever. … Played DE, too, cuz most players still played on both sides of the ball. … Drafted by Bears and Bills; signed with Bills but also ended up in CFL. … Had short career that included a few games for Winnipeg and then a year or two with Hamilton.

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Great job, once again, Rick. Loved your “painting” of Cloyd Webb!

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Uni Tweaks

We have another new set of tweaks today.

If you have a tweak, change or concept for any sport, send them my way.

Remember, if possible, try to keep your descriptions to ~50 words (give or take) per tweak. You guys have been great at keeping to that, and it’s much appreciated!

And so, lets begin:

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We start with Adam Walter, who takes a comical look at the Winter Classic…

Phil

If the NFL got to design the jerseys for the NHL Winter Classic…

Adam

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Next up is Jordan Woodson, with the first of some Tar Heel tweaks:

First, modified UNC sweatback. The sweatbacks are bad, but if UNC had to do them, they could have at least used some design sense in the pattern used. Simplified it, and made it more ‘classic’… if that is possible.

Second, UNC procombats. Not much to it here, just using some sublimated argyle.

Third, a mock of a potential UNC digital camo, similar to the ones possible leaked for Mich. St for the upcoming Carrier Classic.

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And closing down today is Andy Miller, who also has some UNC concepts:

Hey Phil,

Love the site. I have some concepts for The University of North Carolina’s football program. For years I’ve thought that North Carolina has had an opportunity to use their classic basketball uniform designs on the football uniforms, in order to bring some symmetry to the jerseys of the university’s major programs. The part that stands out the most on North Carolina’s basketball jerseys is, of course, the side inserts with the diamonds. So, I transferred those to the football uniforms and added an alternate uniform that incorporates the school’s use of navy blue in their colors.

The jerseys follow the same pattern for home, away and alternate. White helmets, white face masks, for a cleaner look. (Though, I don’t have it illustrated, they would have one of the old school Carolina logos on the side… either the Tarheel foot, or the Old School Ram, both of which I’ve included), and each jersey has the side insert with the diamond-design.

– Andy Miller

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Thanks fellas. Back with more tomorrow.

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Benchies

by Rick Pearson

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Ah, Ol’ Eddie, he knew ye well…

And the full-size.

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Got a funny E-mail yesterday, making a prediction for tomorrow’s “5 & 1.” Dig:

I’ve gone to the trouble of predicting the 5 & 1 for tomorrow’s games.

5, in no particular order:
-Tulane and whoever they are playing
-Random SEC match-up and/or
-A couple teams with stripes
-Two teams with nothing special about their uniforms or full of grey
-Two teams that actually look good

1. Maryland/Notre Dame, even though…

Terp Tracker: Best uniform of the season

-Rex Henry

Thanks Rex. Perhaps you can fill in for Jim every week some time.

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That’s going to do it for today folks. For anyone who isn’t aware, we’re having the annual Uni Watch gathering today at Sheep Station in beautiful downtown Brooklyn, in the Park Slope section, from 2:00 till whenever. C’mon down if you’re around, get yourself a Uni Watch sticker (right after you watch the Penn State/Nebraska game–I’m not sure, but that one might be somewhat interesting), and have a drink with this guy. And if you didn’t get a chance to check out yesterday’s post, give it a read. Paul gives us a preview of the special uniform Notre Dame will be wearing today — and he’ll be bringing it down to Sheep Station (yet another reason to stop by). See (some of) you in a few hours.

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“Penn State Football Promo Box includes:

1) Stop Snitchin’ T-shirt
2) Bucket of sand (to bury one’s head in)
3) “See no evil, Hear no Evil, Say no Evil” monkey figurines made in China”

–The Ratner Factor

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And now, your moment of zen: