The sports jersey has taken on a few different meanings as I take a ride on my sports journey. There seems to be jersey phenomenon going on that I am not quite sure if I should join or just be afraid of. Just last week at the supermarket I saw a grandma wearing a Lakers Jersey, Kobes no less. Since when has it become popular with Nana and Papa to wear what the kids are wearing.
I have owned just one jersey in my life. Congratulations to ESPN. Your were the chosen one. Not that I didn't want to wear the Magics, Bird, Jordan , Jackson's or Gretzky jersey. Just never really needed one that bad.
There a few reasons that I kind of shied a away from the Jersey thing. My first was a crazy superstition that if I bought say a Michael Jordan jersey, he would get traded the very next day. I know it was weird, but remember I am a sportsfreak. Who knew he might even retire.. to play baseball (stupid Whitesox jersey ) or unretire with a new number (#55 really?) and/or play for another team (The Wizards, should've stayed the Bullets). So how many vintage one of kind Jordan jersey's would I have now. You get the point.
Some do it just to change their image..wait ..all of them do it to change their image. We are talking about changing their jersey number. My mom would wash my mouth out with soap if I wrote what I think of that. Kobe, past # 8 present #24 did it to make every one forget his rape , sorry his alleged rape. Sorry Kobe not everyone has forgotten. The worst part is the NBA doesn't even care. Kobe "8" jersey sales were tops every year. People in other countries had his jersey. Why would the NBA allow him to change the number. We associated #8 with Kobe, no one else. Now who wears the # 8 jersey? I'll give you a million bucks if you can.
We now have Lebron James who wants to change his jersey number from 23 to 6. I honor of the greatest player James knew.. Michael Jordan. Nice gesture but a slap in the face to Bill Russell. Did he forget that basketball was played before 1984? WTF is everyone going to do with their #23 jersey. You wouldn't be caught dead at the arena with an old, ratty, clearance bin #23 James jersey would you?
Come on NBA have a backbone on this one.
Major League baseball has gotten it right. Teams can retire numbers as they see fit. The Ring of Fame, the Outfield Wall, the Monument Parks. Each stadium has their own unique way of honoring their hometown stars.
Baseball itself has showed honor and respect to Jackie Robinson's #42.
How to create fan loyalty for your program. Create 480 jersey combinations for your fans to choose from. Thank you Oregon for going out on the deep end. Here is my version of a Ducks fan in their bedroom on Saturday morning.
Should I wear the home or away jersey today. That cuts it down to 240 choices.
Do I feel the green or black or white or yellow one matches my jeans today. OK, now only 60 choices.
Did they say it was going to a "stripe out" at the stadium? Horizontal? vertical? animal? Just 20 left.
Cotton or polyester? 10 left.
Short or Long sleeve? 5 left.
Numbers or no numbers number. 2 left.
Names or no name?
I GOT THAT ONE.. finally!!!
Mad love to everyone who sports a jersey of the player they once loved to watch play. From the big stars (Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Joe Namath) to the cup of coffee players (my favs are Wesley Walker, Kevin Maas and Rennie Stennett.
The sportsfeak will always be stylin"
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Anticipation
We have all spent a few hours watching our favorite sport. Sometimes we have the television on just for background noise and others times it is to scrutinize events happening every 5 seconds. But there comes a time in every sport that capture the heat of the moment..the time to check one's self... the second that has everyone waiting in anticipation that will decide the final result. This exact moment has us feeling many diiferent types of emotions,depending on which team /sport you are rooting for/against. This moment in sport is usually declared by one sentence that draws us in. I've listed a few of my favorites below. I hope they are some of your as well.
"It's a high fly ball, deep to right....."
Visions of Chris Chambliss and Kirk Gibson always come to my mind when I here this.
"He breaks the tackle, he is at the 40,the 30,the 20,the 10...."
Why do I always end up standing in the middle my living room, heaving out of breath like I was just running with the guy.
"Down the stretch they come...."
I watch 3 races (the Triple Crown) every year. But I would watch a hundred more races if I heard those words. The networks have never figured this out.
Shout out to the Zombies at OTB.
"He shoots!! He..."
Thank you for all those buzzer beaters. MJ, Reggie (I still hate you) and most of all me. I can't tell you how many times I hit the game winning shot in my mind by throwing a piece of paper into the trash bin or my milk carton in the the garbage.
"The kick!! He..."
All I can say is GGGGOOOOAAAALLLL!
"The Bell lap (DING DING)"
The Wanamaker Mile at MSG, RUN Eammon Coglin RUN!
"Match Point"
Can it get any quieter at a Tennis Match?
"He needs 9 pins to win, it's in the pocket...."
Don't think I'm kidding, your palms are sweaty , your feeling weak in the knees, the ball suddenly weighs 100lbs, why is he lane so skinny? There's as much pressure as in any sport.
"And now for her dismount...."
Knowing that all her training has ultimately come down to her jumping off a piece of wood 4" wide, then turning 2.5 twists and and 1.5 somersualt in mid air while landing as soft as a feather. That, truly deserves my attention.
"Save and a Beauty...."
The Hockey puck is so hard to see, this is usually when I wait for the instant replay to realize exactly what I thought I think I saw. I think.
"He rounds third and heading for home, here comes the throw, he slides...."
I once pushed my Mom out of the way to see a Red Sock get thrown out at home.
Hey, it was a Red Sock. Sorry Mom.
"I'll write again soon..."
Keep reading the sportsfreak
"It's a high fly ball, deep to right....."
Visions of Chris Chambliss and Kirk Gibson always come to my mind when I here this.
"He breaks the tackle, he is at the 40,the 30,the 20,the 10...."
Why do I always end up standing in the middle my living room, heaving out of breath like I was just running with the guy.
"Down the stretch they come...."
I watch 3 races (the Triple Crown) every year. But I would watch a hundred more races if I heard those words. The networks have never figured this out.
Shout out to the Zombies at OTB.
"He shoots!! He..."
Thank you for all those buzzer beaters. MJ, Reggie (I still hate you) and most of all me. I can't tell you how many times I hit the game winning shot in my mind by throwing a piece of paper into the trash bin or my milk carton in the the garbage.
"The kick!! He..."
All I can say is GGGGOOOOAAAALLLL!
"The Bell lap (DING DING)"
The Wanamaker Mile at MSG, RUN Eammon Coglin RUN!
"Match Point"
Can it get any quieter at a Tennis Match?
"He needs 9 pins to win, it's in the pocket...."
Don't think I'm kidding, your palms are sweaty , your feeling weak in the knees, the ball suddenly weighs 100lbs, why is he lane so skinny? There's as much pressure as in any sport.
"And now for her dismount...."
Knowing that all her training has ultimately come down to her jumping off a piece of wood 4" wide, then turning 2.5 twists and and 1.5 somersualt in mid air while landing as soft as a feather. That, truly deserves my attention.
"Save and a Beauty...."
The Hockey puck is so hard to see, this is usually when I wait for the instant replay to realize exactly what I thought I think I saw. I think.
"He rounds third and heading for home, here comes the throw, he slides...."
I once pushed my Mom out of the way to see a Red Sock get thrown out at home.
Hey, it was a Red Sock. Sorry Mom.
"I'll write again soon..."
Keep reading the sportsfreak
Thursday, March 11, 2010
That's Just Odd
At any NBA arena, the players bench consists of ordinary folding chairs. They are good for you and me, but being 6'10" 260 that's just odd.
Every four years you hear a cowbell at a winter sporting event. Its a very cool sound that all seem to enjoy. Why not anywhere else? that's just odd.
Why is it at a game, that you have throw back a ball that goes out of bounds only if the ball is bigger than your hand? Soccer, basketball, football,volleyball. But if its smaller you can keep it. Tennis, baseball, hockey..That's just odd.
Baseball is the only sport of the big four that does not have cheerleaders?
That's just odd. Plus unfair to us baseball fans.
Who the hell designs the Speed Skaters uniforms? I though I was on shrooms when I was watching them. That look is just odd.
We are fans. sometimes we are stupid. Case in point: why else would we be happy (no wait.. honored) that a 7 foot 275 lbs sweaty, stinky player lands on us trying to save a ball from going out of bounds. That's just odd.
Don't the camera guys know by now that on a breakaway, the player is always going to fall into them. Then they seems surprised (and honored) when they do.
Is that really the best spot to be set up? That's just odd.
Why is going to a spring training basball game quieter than going to a wake?
Even the ushers are quiet. That's just odd.
Is it me or does cotton candy only come in colors red and blue? That's just odd.
Good night Felix and Oscar,
TSF
Every four years you hear a cowbell at a winter sporting event. Its a very cool sound that all seem to enjoy. Why not anywhere else? that's just odd.
Why is it at a game, that you have throw back a ball that goes out of bounds only if the ball is bigger than your hand? Soccer, basketball, football,volleyball. But if its smaller you can keep it. Tennis, baseball, hockey..That's just odd.
Baseball is the only sport of the big four that does not have cheerleaders?
That's just odd. Plus unfair to us baseball fans.
Who the hell designs the Speed Skaters uniforms? I though I was on shrooms when I was watching them. That look is just odd.
We are fans. sometimes we are stupid. Case in point: why else would we be happy (no wait.. honored) that a 7 foot 275 lbs sweaty, stinky player lands on us trying to save a ball from going out of bounds. That's just odd.
Don't the camera guys know by now that on a breakaway, the player is always going to fall into them. Then they seems surprised (and honored) when they do.
Is that really the best spot to be set up? That's just odd.
Why is going to a spring training basball game quieter than going to a wake?
Even the ushers are quiet. That's just odd.
Is it me or does cotton candy only come in colors red and blue? That's just odd.
Good night Felix and Oscar,
TSF
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