Well, we won’t get to find out how they would’ve fit a fourth patch onto Drew Brees’s jersey, nor will we have a Blank Bumper Bowl, both of which would have been interesting.
But on the plus side, the Super Bowl will continue its run of never having had a mono-black team (a narrow escape), and the Rams have already announced that they’ll wear throwbacks for the big game, becoming the second team ever to do so. (The first such team, of course, was San Francisco in Supe XXIX.)
Personally, I was rooting for a Rams/Chiefs matchup, which would have looked great (especially if the Chiefs wore their red pants), but at least we’ll have the Pats’ striped socks, which are always a welcome element on the field.
Lots of people are already complaining about how the Rams’ helmets don’t match the shade of blue on their jerseys, “this just proves that the one-shell rule is stupid,” blah-blah-blah. For the umpteenth time, people, the helmet and jersey didn’t match back in the day either:
This will be the second time that the Rams and Pats have met in the Super Bowl. The first time — Supe XXXVI, in 2002 — looked like this:
Ugh, I’d forgotten that the Rams used to have gold side panels on those jerseys. They got rid of them, thankfully, the following season. (Also: It is a sobering thought to realize that Pats quarterback Tom Brady played in that game while Rams quarterback Jared Goff was busy being seven years old.)
Meanwhile: As per his annual custom, reader Jay Braiman has come up with the definitive list of trivia pertaining to this year’s two Super Bowl teams. Take it away, Jay:
The Rams will be the second team to wear a throwback uniform in the Super Bowl, after the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX. They’ll also be the second team after those 49ers to appear in the Super Bowl wearing one uniform design, then appear in a different design, and then appear again in the first design, although both of the times the Rams wore the first design they wore white jerseys (XIV and XXXIV); this will be the Rams’ first appearance in blue jerseys of any design.
The Rams are the second team to have both represented two different cities in the Super Bowl and returned representing the city they first represented. The first such team was the Oakland-L.A.-Oakland Raiders.
This is the first Super Bowl rematch in which one team is using the same uniform design it wore the first time, and the other is using a different design. It’s also the first Super Bowl rematch in which one team is representing a different city, and this is the first time that consecutive Super Bowls have been rematches.
The 17-year rematch gap (XXXVI–LIII) ties a record with the Steelers/Cowboys rematch in Super Bowl XXX 17 years after they met in Super Bowl XIII. Also, the Patriots are the first team to have Super Bowl rematches against three different teams (Giants, Eagles, Rams); they lost the first two.
This will be the first Super Bowl matchup of blue pants vs. yellow pants, and the 16th time that neither team will wear white pants (including the Rams/Patriots meeting in SB XXXVI). The Patriots are 2-4 in Super Bowls against teams wearing non-white pants, having beaten the Rams and Seahawks and lost to the Bears, Packers and Giants (twice). The Rams are 0-2 against teams wearing non-white pants (Steelers, Patriots).
[Update: Longtime reader/proofreader Jerry Wolper points out that the claim that this is the first blue/yellow pants matchup is inaccurate, since the Seahawks and Steelers wore those pants colors in Super Bowl XL. — PL]
This will be the eighth Super Bowl in which one team wears blue jerseys and the other has blue numerals on its white jerseys. Although not always the same shade (e.g., Colts/Bears in SB XLI), blue is the only color family to have appeared this way in Super Bowl games (i.e., there has never been, red jerseys vs. red numerals, black jerseys vs. black numerals, etc.).
This is the sixth consecutive year that both teams have mirror-image helmet decals (extending last year’s record), and that neither team has letters of the alphabet in its helmet decals (ditto). The Patriots are 5-1 in Super Bowls against teams without letters in their helmet logos (the one loss was to the Eagles last year) and 0-4 against teams with letters.
This is the third consecutive year, and the seventh time overall, that neither team’s helmet has center striping. The Patriots have been involved in six of those seven. The only one they weren’t involved in was Super Bowl IV (Chiefs/Vikings).
This is the 13th Super Bowl, the fourth involving the Rams, and the fourth involving the Patriots (second involving both) between one team whose helmet decal is its primary logo, and one whose helmet decal is not its primary logo.* The former have dominated the latter, winning 10 of the 12 games.
(*According to SportsLogos.net, during the relevant time periods, the Rams’, Eagles’ and Bengals’ helmet designs were the respective teams’ primary logos. However, this statistic refers to the decal, specifically, not the whole helmet. The statistic also does not count the Seahawks (1-2), whose primary logo and helmet decals differ only in execution, or the Giants (4-1), whose logo and decals differ only in color.)
The Patriots are 3-1 in Super Bowls against teams whose helmet shell and facemask are the same color (such as the Rams currently have), including their win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Overall, teams whose helmet shell and facemask are different colors have a 10-14 record against teams whose helmet shell and facemask are the same color.
Teams with custom numeral fonts (like the Patriots) are 8-6 against teams with standard block or varsity numerals (like the Rams). The Patriots are actually on both sides of this equation — 0-1 with block-against-custom (Bears, SB XX) and 1-3 with custom-against-block. The Rams have also worn both block and custom numerals in Super Bowls, going 1-0 with block-against-custom (Titans, SB XXXIV), no record with the opposite.
How awesome is that? I think we can all agree that there is no place else where you’ll find that level of deep uni-based trivia!
And then there’s this:
Okay, so that’s pretty funny. Todd Gurley apparently liked it so much that he ran it on his own Instagram.
(My thanks to Mike Chamernik for that Gurley embed, and doubleplusthanks to Jay Braiman for his annual mother lode of Super Bowl info.)
A glove story: I’ve been saying for years now that the most significant and underappreciated football development over the past several decades is the rise of super-sticky gloves, which are now worn by players at almost every position and have led to countless one-handed receptions that would have been impossible a generation ago.
Now The New York Times has run an article about modern NFL gloves, which the article describes as “probably the most significant performance-related football equipment innovation since the advent of the cleat.” The article also includes lots of good historical background and interesting scientific info about how the gloves help to trap a moving ball — recommended reading.
We generally take for granted that gloves are permissible in football. They appeared sort of organically, much like batting gloves in baseball, and apparently nobody objected or said that they ought to be disallowed. Nowadays gloves are specifically allowed in the NFL (Rule 5, Section 4, Article 4, Item 8 of the league rulebook states that “players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players”), but imagine if someone had said, “Nope, not allowed” — it would be a very different game today.
Given that quarterbacks often wear gloves these days, it seems like just a matter of time before ball-throwing players in other sports begin experimenting with gloves. What will happen, for example, if a baseball shortstop wants to wear a glove on his throwing hand –will that be allowed? What about a baseball pitcher? What about an NBA player? And how might the introduction of gloves change those sports, just as they’ve changed football?
All good food for thought.
Click to enlarge
Hoop dreams: Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day — the day when we celebrate the life of history’s greatest American. With that in mind, reader Gerry Dincher found this 1962 photo of King giving a speech — an early version of his famous “I have a dream” speech — at the gymnasium of Booker T. Washington High School in Rocky Mount, N.C. I love that they let the basketball hoop stick out through the curtains, and it looks like the old scoreboard was a beauty.
King would have turned 90 this year. It’s incredible to think he was only 39 — 39! –when he was assassinated in 1968 (or to put it another way, paraphrasing the great Tom Lehrer, when King was my age, he’d been dead for 15 years). Think how much more he could have accomplished, and how different the world might be. What a waste.
The full story of the Rocky Mount gymnasium speech, including an audio excerpt from it, is available here.
Fun with Post-its: There’s a very large ad at the South Station Red Line stop in Boston. A few days ago Uni Watch reader Justine DeCotis noticed that the ad frame was empty, which had prompted someone to leave a Post-it message. Let’s take a closer look:
I swear it wasn’t me.
ITEM! Your input is requested: When I ordered the inventory for the flex-fit Uni Watch Alternate Cap, I misjudged the size breakdown. We sold out of the L/XL last month, but we still have 94 left of the S/M caps (which, with the flex-fit factor, are roughly the equivalent of sizes 6-3/4 through 7-1/8).
For logistical reasons not worth explaining here, my supplier will not be able to do the fulfillment on this remaining inventory. I figured I could try to sell and ship them myself at a cut-rate price, so I asked my supplier to just ship them to me. Unfortunately, the supplier is based in California, so the shipping is expensive — around $100 via UPS Ground.
Now I’m wondering if it’s worth it to have all the caps shipped to me if there isn’t enough demand for them. Like, if I can only sell, say, 25 of the caps, maybe I should only have that many of them shipped to me, so I can cut down on that one-time shipping fee. Or maybe we’ve sold all the S/M caps we’re going to sell and I should just have my supplier donate the remaining stock to charity.
All of which leads to the following question: If I sold these S/M caps for, say, $10.99, plus $4 shipping, how many people would be interested? Would you want to buy one? Would you even pre-order one? If so, please make your voice heard here:
[totalpoll id=”105809″]
Thanks — I appreciate your input.
Membership update: I’ve always said that the worst uniforms make the best membership cards, and it’s hard to find a better example of that than Tyler Goldberg’s new card (which is based on, of course, the Mets’ BFBS alternates). That’s one of several new designs that have been added to the membership card gallery. I’ll expect to get the latest batch of printed/laminated cards in the mail toward the end of this week.
I have four slots open in the current batch. So the next four people who sign up will get their cards pretty quickly.
Ordering a membership card is a good way to support Uni Watch (which, quite frankly, could use your support these days). And remember, a Uni Watch membership card entitles you to a 15% discount on any of the merchandise in our Teespring shop. (If you’re an existing member and would like to have the discount code, email me.) As always, you can sign up for your own custom-designed card here, you can see all the cards we’ve designed so far here, and you can see how we produce the cards here.
The Ticker
By Jamie Rathjen
Baseball News: This picture appears to show Dodgers infielder Manny Machado wearing an Orioles uniform, but with No. 8, his number with the Dodgers. Machado wore No. 13 with the Orioles (from Mark Lackinger). … Here’s a great shot of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shagging flies in a Mets uniform during the 2000 World Series, when he was five years old. His father, Pat Mahomes, was a Mets pitcher at the time. … Speaking of the Mets, they’ve decided not to do a Mercury Mets “throwahead” game this season, even though it’s the 20th anniversary of that game.
Football News: Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: this weekend’s college East-West Shrine Game was color-vs.-color, with players wearing their team’s helmets, and also includes a few Canadian university players who have to play American football for one game (from Wade Heidt). … Cross-listed from the baseball section: Here’s a great shot of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shagging flies in a New York Mets uniform during the 2000 World Series, when he was five years old. His father, Pat Mahomes, was a Mets pitcher at the time.
Hockey News: Reprinted from yesterday’s comments, when we mentioned the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings’ Don Cherry-themed uniforms: Goalie Todd Scott had a matching mask (from Wade Heidt). … The next three are also from Wade: The OHL’s Niagara IceDogs wore Pinktober-in-January uniforms. … New Portland Winterhawks (WHL) G Joel Hofer was wearing his old Swift Current Broncos pads. … The Canadian Women’s Hockey League All-Star Game was purple-vs.-gold. … German teams Schwenniger Wild Wings and Düsseldorfer EG played a blue-vs.-teal matchup, made possible because Düsseldorf are one of two teams in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga without a white jersey this season (from @MSinBOS). … The NWHL’s Boston Pride wear vertical sock stripes this season (from Amy Beth Marantino). … Reader Mike Guterman tells us that Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman, who is Jewish, autographed this jersey in both English and Hebrew.
Basketball News: North Carolina players are wearing Pinktober-in-January sneakers tonight (from James Gilbert). … Uni Watch NBA player-numbering correspondent Etienne Catalan has started a website cataloging every jersey worn by every NBA player this season. He also reports that Pacers G/F Stephan Hicks will wear No. 17.
Soccer News: Swedish team AIK released a solid black shirt – black is a team color – to be worn during preseason, as they also did last year (from Ed Żelaski). … Some players on Costa Rican team Alajuelense (red and black stripes) wear completely different ads from one another (from Ryan Burns). … The UEFA Champions League revealed its ball for the knockout stages, which is orange. … In the Scottish Cup, second-tier Inverness CT (black) and fifth-tier East Kilbride both changed because East Kilbride’s two shirts, which are blue/gold and white/red halves, would both clash with Inverness’s blue/red halves. … Mexican team Atlas debuted a highlighter-colored third kit against white-clad opponents UNAM; their colors are red and black. … Brazilian team Cruzeiro released their second shirt; the team’s crest is simply the Southern Cross.
Grab Bag: Japanese sports club Tokyo Verdy, which has begun expanding from soccer into other sports, is planning a 50th-anniversary redesign, including new uniforms for its teams. In the included picture you can see men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, baseball, field hockey, and judo (from Jeremy Brahm). … The NLL’s New England Black Wolves wore fifth-anniversary uniforms (from Wade Heidt). … Apparel designer Gabriela Hearst says her clothing is for powerful women (WaPo link): “I just want to give [them] uniforms for their lives so they feel comfortable in their power. I don’t want them to waste too much time thinking of what they’re wearing.”
The Pat Mahomes links in both the baseball and football tickets are unclickable
Fixed.
They work fine for me. And that picture is awesome and needs to be on a baseball card.
No link on the Mercury Mets item
Fixed.
NYT article does not mention Neumann gloves worn in mid 80s which I thought were original tacky football gloves.
link
While I am all for the Rams wearing their killer throwbacks – and NOT wearing the white jersey/white horns/blue pants abominations – why are the Patriots wearing white again? The Eagles wore team colors last year as NFC champs. Doesn’t it alternate?
Pats (AFC) were the home team last year and chose white. The Rams (NFC) are the home team this year.
As for the Pats wearing the same design as the first SB against the Rams, that’s not true. The Pats wore their home uniforms in that game and will be wearing their road uniforms in this one. They won’t even be wearing the same pants unless they pair the silver pants with the white jerseys.
AFC was designated home team last year. Pats chose to wear white. NFC is designated home team this year. Rams have chosen to wear blue.
I find it odd that the Super Bowl white jersey good luck is apparently disregarded since the Eagles won in non-white last year. Last 15 Super Bowls were won only wearing white or green jerseys.
The Rams have worn white jerseys in each of their 3 previous Super Bowl appearances, finishing 1-2.
“This is the first Super Bowl rematch in which one team is using the same uniform design it wore the first time”
I would say this is incorrect because the Patriots aren’t wearing their home uniforms like they did the first time. They won’t even be wearing the same pants unless by a miracle they opt to pair the silver pants with the white jerseys.
In this context, “same design” means the same home/road wardrobe; as opposed to, “same uniform“.
The Steelers and Cowboys wore the same uniforms in both of their rematches (Steelers in black, Cowboys in white). The 49ers and Bengals wore the same designs in their rematch, but with the colors (home/road) reversed.
Cowboys Bills too.
Did I miss something? The Patriots and Eagles both wore the same uniform designs in SB 39 and in rematch SB 52.
The point in the original comment is that this is the first rematch with one team in the same design and the other in a different design, but as another commenter has pointed out that’s not correct; it’s the second, after the Dolphins-Redskins rematch in SB XVII.
A S/M flex hat size correlates to what approximate fitted hat sizes?
Approximately 6-3/4 thru 7-1/8.
Fun fact- The Super Bowl in 2002 was the first game a Riddell Revolution helmet was worn. I believe fullback James Hodgins was the first to wear it. I remember thinking the shell looked so odd compared to the traditional VSR-4 and Schutt helmets. I still like the traditional looking facemasks that Schutt and Xenith use on their helmets. Tried to find an article but couldn’t find one.
Non-Uni related:
The Rams have appeared in Super Bowls on Fox, ABC and now CBS twice. They have not yet appeared on NBC.
Oddly, the Patriots will be appearing on a CBS SB for only the second time in 11 appearances. They have appeared on NBC 4 times (including the last 3 times the Peacock carried the game) and FOX 5 times. As it stands right now, they cannot appear on ABC unless ABC gets the rights back and the stars align.
I believe the 49ers, Steelers and Broncos are the only teams to have appeared in at least one Super Bowl on all four networks that have broadcast it (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX).
As Arte Johnson would say: Verrrry interesting…..
Rams join the Colts as only teams to appear in four super bowls with a different head coach each time.
first time for Rams to appear in a super bowl played during an odd-numbered year.
will probably get lots of tv attention, but first super bowl in which a participating team’s head coach was not yet born when that team made its first super bowl appearance
Colts have done that already.
4 Super Bowls with different coaches, that is.
sorry i didn’t say that clearly
It’s an unpopular opinion, but the first Rams-Pats Super Bowl looked really sharp. The Rams’ 2000 update was really nice, and the Pats’ home combination doesn’t look bad at all.
Re: QBs & Gloves.
Jim McMahon wore gloves on both hands through the ’85 playoffs and during SBXX in the SuperDome.
Photo of him in SBXX here: link
I’m guessing the picture of Machado wearing 8 in an Orioles uniform is a picture from a time he was a non-roster invite, and was likely wearing a number in the 80-89 range. Seems like some of the second digit is visible next to the 8.
link:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6229826/20120327_kkt_ah6_116.jpg
Manny wearing 85
From the really obscure reference department…. The Rams’ blue home jerseys did make an appearance once in the “championship Game”…The movie “Heaven Can Wait” in 1978 in which they came from behind to beat the Steelers!
Great movie. I actually have two Rams JARRETT 16 throwback jerseys.
‘It was his time, Joe.’
That also makes the LA Rams the only team to play the Super Bowl in their home yard.
Also the first SB to go into overtime. At the end of regulation it was 24-24.
Now of course Beatty/Pendleton/Jarrett would have had to go to concussion protocol. But then again it’d be like ‘Oh, (Beatty) is a total goofball all the time, he’s alright.’ :o)
The article about football gloves indicated the founder of Cutters discovered the use of glass cutters by a Canadian university football player in 1995.
Why did it take him so long to discover this? Glass cutter gloves were no secret by that point. There were receivers using them in the 1980s, for sure in the CFL. They were loose and taped around the wrist. This allowed them some give and an advantage for catching and always they were orange, like you would find at the hardware store.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ receivers were especially known for using them. Even in the 1989 Grey Cup played indoors, for sure starting receivers Narcisse, Elgaard, and Fairholm all wore them. Narcisse and Elgaard celebrating a score while wearing the orange glass cutters:
link
The further the conversation on Machado and the “8” jersey… no one is bringing up that 8 was worn by Cal Ripken.
*This is the first Super Bowl rematch in which one team is using the same uniform design it wore the first time, and the other is using a different design.
I’d say the dolphins/Redskins rematch is actually the first… Although the helmet stayed with the same decals, the Redskins uniform changed pretty drastically for the rematch, with the burgundy pants. In 1972, home and away was yellow pants. And actually, the decal even changed in 1982, to the tucked feather.
Good catch.
link
link
Pic and Video with Manny wearing 85
The scoreboard at Booker T. Washington High School is even more interesting now that I noticed it reads “Booker T.” for the home side of the scoreboard. I like the less formal name for the school.
The head ref’s chummy jersey exchange with a Rams player just minutes after his crew’s controversial non-call is really rubbing salt into the Saints’ huge wounds. It’s pretty inappropriate, and the optics couldn’t be worse. Not sure NOLA fans find it all that funny.
It’s a fake. You can see the refs pants are actually saints pants. It was two players exchanging jerseys, then a little Photoshop magic.
Oh, I know, Gene. Still, wounds, salt.
The mismatch of blues between the Rams’ helmet and jersey may be historically accurate, but it still doesn’t look good.
Personally, I was rooting for a Rams/Chiefs matchup, which would have looked great (especially if the Chiefs wore their red pants)
Would have tied IV for the Best Ever.
And I would’ve watched. Instead I’ll be making alternate plans for Feb. 3rd.
Didn’t Mike Schmidt play third for a time using a batting glove on his throwing hand for bare handing line drives? Or am I mis-remembering?
Why were there navy helmeted royal blue shirted teams, does anyone know?
I believe the paint the helmet manufacturers used didn’t (or couldn’t) match the fabric shades. Vikings purples didn’t match either. Same for the NY Football Giants (darker hats than jerseys). Even today, although paints are better (and metallic coating/paint helps too), the helmets don’t necessarily exactly match the jersey on a few teams.
Actually the mismatches start in the 1970s when the helmet manufacturers start molding the shells in colored plastic instead of painting them. None of the blue shades used by Riddell or Bike (now Shutt) had at the time matched the blue used by the Rams and Giants. And their purple was nowhere near close to what the Vikings needed.
Did anyone notice that the Braves also slightly tweaked the font used for the NOB’s?
The new style has a pointier A than the old style
link
new A on the retails – link
and on the players in this video – link
Super Bowl 54 trivia (not uni-related): This is the first time that the Super Bowl is a rematch of the World Series played in the same season (LA vs. Boston). Yes I know that Baltimore and New York teams played in the Super Bowl and World Series in 1969, but that Super Bowl was the championship of the 1968 season.
Whoops I meant to say Super Bowl 53, I wish they would drop those ridiculous Roman numerals.
Interesting bit of trivia, although technically of course the Patriots don’t play in Boston nor do they represent by name the city of Boston.
they were originally known as “boston patriots” and i still call them that. they changed their location name twice in rapid succession, which is absurd. for that reason, people can call them “boston” or “bay state” or “bs”
Depends on how you define Boston. They don’t play in the city proper, but they do play in the Boston metropolitan area as defined by the US Census Bureau.
I agree with you about the Roman numerals. I’m kind of looking forward to next year’s game, though. It’ll be neat having a Super Bowl named after my daughter, Olivia.
It appears the Portland Winterhawks are suffering through the same “the black sleeve stripes on goalie jerseys are thicker than everyone else’s jerseys” issue the Chicago Blackhawks dealt with a few years ago
The Rams, Giants, and Chargers all had “royal blue” as their official color in the 70s/80s, and they all had navy helmets that didn’t match the lighter blue jerseys. Is it possible that helmet makers just didn’t make helmets in the right shade of blue? The only NFL team from the time that had a lighter blue helmet was the Broncos, and it made for some weird looking black and white photos in newspapers. The Bears had their midnight blue helmets, of course, but the jerseys matched.
Exactly. It was covered on here before. It sounds like back then there was pretty much 2 different blue helmets available.
When was the last time the World Series and Super Bowl featured the same cities facing each other in the same season?
This is the first time.
New York and Baltimore faced each other in a SB and WS in the same calendar year; Super Bowl III in January 1969, then the Mets-Orioles World Series in October.
It really seems crazy that the St Louis Rams changed their colors and uniform after winning a Super Bowl. I know these decisions are made a number of years in advance. Did they initially decide to change colors because they wanted to differentiate the Los Angeles era from the St Louis era? And after winning the Super Bowl, did they consider not changing? Also were the St Louis fans in favor of this change?
Another question regarding this…I’m assuming that the Rams are the only team to change their colors after winning a Super Bowl, but are they the only team to change their uniform after winning a Super Bowl?
Not football but the Rockets switched from red-and-yellow to that wacky navy-and-red rocketship logo/uniforms after winning the title in 1995.
The Giants changed their uniform after winning a Super Bowl. So did the 49ers, so did the Buccaneers.
The Packers, Colts and Steelers made minor changes after winning Super Bowls, most of which were temporary (e.g., Packers’ sleeve logos, Colts’ gray pants).
The Jets also changed their uniform after winning a Super Bowl.
I don’t remember disliking the 2000 Rams unis–I bought a Rev. Ike jersey at some point between then and their appearance vs. the Pats in the Super Bowl the following season. But I do remember thinking how unfortunate a choice the gold color was. To me, it was the best option for the home uniform (mono-navy and navy over white never seemed right with the gold horns and accents on the jerseys), but when those pants would get a little sweaty, they turned just a little brownish. Maybe it was just the lighting in the Dome that produced that effect. I think they ended up phasing out the gold pants a few years before they skipped town. At that point, after a few years of putrid football, most people were happy to see the “Greatest Show on Turf” unis when they’d don those once a year.
and this is the first time that consecutive Super Bowls have been rematches.
Am I reading that right? Super Bowls 27 and 28, in addition to being some of the greatest moments of my life,were consecutive rematches. Cowboys Bills.
Super Bowl 27 was the first time the Cowboys and Bills met in the Super Bowl. That game wasn’t a rematch. Only Super Bowl 28 was.
Re: QBs & Gloves.
Jim McMahon wore gloves on both hands through the ’85 playoffs and during SBXX in the SuperDome.
Photo of him in SBXX vs Patriots here: link
NFC Playoffs Divisional round vs Giants
link
NFC Championship game vs Rams
link
The Gurley-Vinovich Exchange. The R 9 was (as I recall) last worn by Jerry Markbreit, one of the better refs of the 70s and 80s. There is a LJ 9 on the Vinovich crew (Mark Perlman).
For reference, Vinovich wears #52.
link
Guess I should look twice…photoshopped…
Did anyone notice Tom Brady was wearing his old round earhole helmet again yesterday? I think that’s an old Riddell? It is obviously his old, old friend that he retired in favor of a modern helmet earlier this season. But there it is back on his head like driving an old pickup with 300,000 miles on it because it still works and it’s so comfortable after all these years.
He’s been switching back and forth all season. His current lid will be banned next season so he tried out a newer model for several games.
A few weeks ago, we played softball in 26 degree weather. I was in the outfield and decided that I would wear a batting glove on my throwing hand to keep it warm. It did not have a major negative effect, though I did air mail one throw. Not sure it was due to the glove or not. I will wear it again if the same situation presents itself. If gloves were made specifically for throwing, they might catch on in baseball.
I’m thinking a pitcher using a throwing glove might be able to somehow put more spin on the ball–a big advantage. I don’t know the MLB rule book that well but this seems like potential cheating to me.
Speaking of baseball, I was thinking how instant replay has almost completely eliminated bad umpire calls from baseball–except for balls and strikes and the judgement of when to eject players. Balls and strikes could be cleaned up with electronic strike zone.
Meanwhile football officiating seems to get worse by the year. The game is much too fast to call penalties accurately but NFL won’t allow replay to look at horrible calls. Sad.
Yes…pitchers will likely be excluded from using gloves. Don’t think it would work for them as feel is so important.
By rule, pitchers are expressly forbidden from wearing gloves on their throwing hands- Rule 6.02(c)(7). Position players, however, have no such ban.
Two things:
The Rams will be the second team to wear a throwback uniform in the Super Bowl, after the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX.
SF didn’t wear throwbacks in XXIX. They wore their brand-new 1994 redesign with the drop-shaded block numerals.
there has never been, red jerseys vs. red numerals, black jerseys vs. black numerals, etc.
The picture immediately preceding this statement shows white jerseys (STL) vs. white numerals (NE) in XXXVI. (If black counts as a “color” then so should white, and if the red outline on NE’s blue numerals doesn’t disqualify today, then the red outline on their white numerals shouldn’t either.)
1. link.
2. It would be much more interesting (and way less obnoxious) to look at how many games were not white jerseys vs. white numerals.
Answer: three (3). Super Bowl II (Packers-Raiders; white jerseys vs. silver numerals), XVIII (Redskins-Raiders; ditto), and XLIV (Patriots-Seahawks; white jerseys vs. gray numerals). This year’s Patriots-Rams game, white jerseys vs. yellow numerals, will be the fourth.
German top flight football club Schalke 04 of Gelsenkirchen replaced its sleeve sponsor.
link
Previously they had an advertising patch for an online grocery store which was sold by parent company Deutsche Post/DHL late last year. Vetoing against the Deutsche Post Logo famously for it yellow and black colors, as these are arch rival colors Dortmund, now it’s yellow and red on their sleeve. How the times change, until one and a half years ago every Bundesliga Club was forced to wear the blue white colored sleeve ad patch, even Dortmund, who were donning arch rival colors on their shirts.
Let’s celebrate a clean surface that doesn’t have an ad on it but putting a bright yellow note on it saying I’m glad this clean surface doesn’t have an ad on it!
Insufferable people.
Here’s another factoid. New England will be first team to wear the same white jersey uniform in 3 consecutive Super Bowls. Buffalo has the distinction of first team to wear the same uniform in 3 consecutive Super Bowls, but it was blue jersey.
To the comment regarding the Pats being 5-1 against helmets without a letter decal (moreso the “only loss against the Eagles”) I’d like to point out that, although not precise such the Chicago “C”, Kansas City “KC” or San Francisco “SF”, there is an obviously subtle “E” within the neck of the Eagle that can go either way in the Helmet decal With a letter vs. Without a letter debate.