What Not To Wear: Sports Edition

Although I don't normally take special requests at the sandwich shoppe, I must mention this next story.

No Sweatshirt For You!

Earlier this week MLB came down on Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and told him he couldn't wear a hooded sweatshirt in the dugout. He had to wear one of the MLB authorized on field gear provided to him. The sweatshirt has been a staple of Maddon's dugout presence since the Rays post-season run a couple of years ago. Now, conveniently when the Rays are playing in Boston, MLB says he can't wear the hoodie. He took the decision in stride, playing off the edict from the head office with a couple of jokes.

Now, after the story made the rounds on ESPN and other media outlets, MLB is somewhat embarrassed by the position they took and has retracted its statement and is allowing Maddon and other managers, should they please to wear the hoodies.

The crazy thing about this story is that managers in all sports dress poorly for the most part. They often can't decide if they want to be on the field, in a boardroom or just stepped out of the 1970's. Coaches should have one of three options;

1 - dress like a player. This works best in baseball, although George Karl did try it on the court.

2 - dress in a suit. This is good for hockey, basketball and some football coaches if they want that throwback look.

3 - dress in gear provided by the league. This is how the NFL works for the most part. Reebok decides what gear they want to promote and that is what the staff wear. The NHL (also sponsored by Reebok) does this with the training staff, but not the coaching staff. I think this might work well for the NHL seeing as most of their coaches dress poorly.

So how would you like coaches to dress?

Did You Miss?

So much as occurred since I last penned for the Sandwich Shoppe, so I am not really sure where to start...

1. "Drago's Cut" - Tiger Woods went down for the first time in a major after leading after 36 holes. He shot a very uncharacteristic 3 over on a Sunday to choke away the title to Y.E. Yang. Is this the end of Tiger's run as the dominant golfer of our generation? Everyone on the PGA tour would hope so, but I really doubt it. Tiger has been in contention in almost every tournament he has entered with the exception of the British Open. Tiger is still good, check that great and will be within a couple of shots of the top of the leaderboard in almost all of the tournaments he enters.

2. "Lookin' Good" - In a move only in Canada, Hockey Canada unveiled it's jersey for the 2010 Olympic games in August for February games. Most people would say - "hey, put that jersey in stores around October or November so that kids will all want it for a Christmas present." Not Hockey Canada, they understand that hockey is a twelve month a year passion in Canada so they jump the shark and unleashed it on the masses. As for the jersey itself, it isn't that bad looking, some nice details and they had to adapt because of the regulations of the IOC and not being able to use the association logo. As was noted in the press conference, many people will be wearing these jersey's in the middle of the winter.

3. From the "it just didn't just happen did it" file. Today was either the worst day ever to be a Packers fan or the best. I still can't figure it out. When Favre retired two seasons ago, I thought it was the right move for him and the Packers. A young QB in Aaron Rodgers was ready to take the lead for the franchise and Favre had set all the records that he wanted to accomplish. Then Favre made the radical decision to return to football and play with the NY Jets. He started the season out really well, but his age and nagging injuries caught up to him and the Jets faltered. Favre again decided to retire - this time for good in July, saying that his body could no longer take the punishment and he wouldn't regret the decision. I turn on the interweb today and what do I see - Brett Favre is wearing Viking purple.

The only thing I am happy about is that the saga is over. He signed and the soap opera is done. Favre is going to play football in the 2009 season. It sucks that he is back in the NFC North, it sucks that he is playing for one of the Packers arch rivals and it sucks for Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. As we saw last year, Favre is slightly passed his prime. He is still an NFL caliber quaterback but he will no doubt struggle at times and with all the lies to his former #1 and #2 quaterbacks I don't think Brad Childress is going to have an easy time going back to Jackson or Rosenfels during the season.

Brett Favre in purple won't be easy on the eyes, but no matter what he does in Minnesota he will still be enshrined in Canton as a Packer.

EPL Soccer Kits

In the four major sports in North America, teams plan uniform changes 2 and 3 years ahead of time to prepare the manufacturers to stop producing the old jersey and to ensure that there is not alot of stock of the old jerseys around.

There is usually little warning to fans, who might have shelled out $100+ for a jersey that can be outdated a month later. That is why you still see these jerseys in the street.

In the UK and most of Europe it is vastly different. Supporters expect their favorite soccer teams to have a new "kit" each season. In fact, some international team jerseys come with a tag that says "the (insert country) will be releasing a new jersey in October 2009" so that fans know they will need to spend more cash if they want to wear the same strip that the club is wearing when the big international tournament starts.

Where is all this leading you ask? To the unveiling of all the new EPL kits for this season.

H/T to UniWatch for the link. Pictured is Burnley who look smashing and below is my favorite club Spurs looking a little off this year compared to the past couple of seasons.

NBA Summer League Craps Out

Over the weekend the NBA Summer League, Las Vegas edition wrapped up. This is the time for the recently drafted stars of tomorrow to show their teams why they are worth the big money. It is also when second and third year players will go to improve their game and try to keep their spot on the bench.

Some young guns dominated the games. Number one overall pick Blake Griffin posted a couple of double-doubles including 27 points in his debut against the Lakers. Toronto Raptor rookie DeMar Derozan had several hilite reel dunks, which gives Raps fans a light at the end of the tunnel for some excitement at the ACC this winter. Second year Golden State Warrior Anthony Morrow, set a summer league record with 42 points in a game and then two nights later, bested that with 47.

The summer league is a great training ground and I would have liked to see games in Vegas as it would be entertaining basketball, but the one issue that bothers me more than anything else with the games is the uniforms. Why in the world do they wear practice jerseys for these games (see above photo)? It's not like the NBA or the teams can't afford a set of uniforms for these games. I know these two weeks could be compared to spring training in baseball where the teams sport a lighter jersey and a different ball cap, but the NBA plays inside no matter the time of year, so why can't these guys wear the real jersey?

If you have an answer leave it below.

Best Jersey EVER!

The geniuses of Straight Cash Homey Dot Net came through with a gem the other day...



Like I said - best jersey EVER!

Stars and Stripes Hats

Alright, so I ranted on the state of baseball's third jersey a while ago...now the caps will get the treatment.

Alot of people have an affinity for New Era caps. They are the best in the business and everyone wants a "crisp New Era". They do have quality control issues with sizing and width of their letters, but we deal with it because they are the only ones who produce official caps.

In the past decade fashion caps have become all the rage. Take a NY Yankees fitted make it purple, put a green NY symbol and you have a best seller. Pro teams haven't taken this to the field, until July 4th this year. New Era has turned every teams hat RED and made the logo with the stars and stripes (the Jays have a Canadian flag) and teams will be wearing them twice this season - July 4 and September 11. I assume the Jays will get to wear there's a third time on July 1.

For the past couple of seasons we have had the stars and stripes design, except they were in team colours, this is taking the process a little far. New Era has to make certain they don't upset a lot of uniform purest.

Stars and Stripes For Every Team

OchoCinco

NFL recognizes Chad's new surname of 'Ochocinco'

I am actually shocked this went through, it opens up the door for players to bring a little of the XFL to the "No Fun League".

Waiting for the first Brazilian player who wants to put his first name on the back of his jersey.

From Si.com - Chad Ochocinco Unveiled

Third Uniforms

When do teams finally decide they have enough uniforms? For example the hometown Toronto Blue Jays have four sets of uniforms. The normal home whites, the regular road grey, the third black uniform and then the Flashback Friday baby blue set. The reason for all the uniforms isn't so other teams get confused during a three game series and never know who they are playing, it is the all mighty dollar. There is nothing wrong with adding a third jersey or even a fourth, teams just need to think more about when they wear them.

The third jersey started as "Sunday" wear for most teams, then it crept into Saturday games, then out of nowhere teams began wearing them whenever they pleased. Now we see teams wearing their alternate jerseys twice during a three game series.

The coloured third jerseys like the Indians blue, Oakland green or Astros red are not only ugly, but they don't work well with the grey road pants. Would it be too much trouble for the visiting team clubhouse worker to do laundry twice?

The third fashion jerseys should be relegated to weekend games and only at home. It is the home fans that will purchase the jerseys, so why not show them off to your own fans instead of wearing them on the road.

Now to write my rant on second and third hats, oh you Red Sox...

AFL Celebrates 50 Years

As a bit of a Uniform fanatic, the AFL 50th anniversary uniforms that were unveiled today came as a welcome change to some of the atrocities fans put up with these days.

Eight of the orginal AFL teams will partcipate in the throwback games. Most fans will be excited to see the return of the AFL uniforms of their favorite teams as it allows them to reminisce about the "good ol' days".

Some of the highlights;
The KC Cheifs who were originally the Dallas Texans before moving to KC, will be wearing the 1962 championship gear that features the state map of Texas on the helmet.

Tennessee Titans will be wearing 1960 Houston Oilers jerseys complete with oil rig helmets.

New England Patriots wearing the Boston Patriots uni from 1963 including Pat the Patriot on the helmet.

For the full treatment - NFL.com

P.S.=> could the Bills not get a Owens #81 made up prior to the announcement?

J. Russel Martin

So the WBC game yesterday between the USA and Canada was very entertaining. The SkyDome was filled with 42, 000+ fans and made it really enjoyable to watch baseball live again. The only downfall, beside, the loss - was the huge lines at the concession stands. There was a severe lack of staff. The ice cold beer guy visited our section in the first inning and then we never saw him again. To get any sort of food and drink took 45 minutes. Pretty awful.

As some of you may have seen during yesterday's game, catcher Russel Martin who plays for the Dodgers during the MLB season was wearing a jersey with "J. Martin" on the back. This confused most in attendance if they noticed, but ESPN apparently cleared it up for viewers at home;

Russel Martin will be wearing J. Martin all year in honor of his mother according to the ESPN announcers at the WBC (his mother’s maiden name is Jeanson).