Random sports rant

[germdoc]

We're headed into baseball playoff season (the Brewers are rapidly losing their grip on a playoff berth), and I have a burning question--when did sports guys start dressing so dad-gum sloppy?



Back in my day guys wanted to look cool and wore uniforms that accentuated their musculature, especially the long socks that showed off their calves. Now they wear pajamas. Who decided to move to long baggy pants? I HATE them.

While we're on the subject of lousy fashion trends, why do so many NFL guys have dreadlocks? You don't see it in other sports. Seems like it would be a liability--a tackler grabs for the jersey, gets a handful of hair instead.



And then there's basketball's love affair with ungodly shoes that could be used as floatation aids in case of flooding.



And of course hockey's got the mullet...



OK, I sound like my grandfather. But when I was a kid we looked up to sports figures not because they were so outlandish-looking, but because they were so cool AND clean-cut AND well-dressed. Like Johnny Unitas, among many others. I say bring back the crew cut and the long socks.

[Ed62]

We're headed into baseball playoff season (the Brewers are rapidly losing their grip on a playoff berth)

I understand your pain. I'm a White Sox fan. Need I say more? BTW, I agree with your assessment on the attire.

Ed

[shoottx]

We're headed into baseball playoff season (the Brewers are rapidly losing their grip on a playoff berth).

A George Will said so eloquently " Any team can have a bad Century"

[Pappy]

Gotta agree on the change to worse in the sports attire and looks. To me, Cal Ripkin was what a ball player should look and act like. There are still some out there but they don't gett the attention from the media off the field.

A couple of years ago the NFL addressed the dreadlocks/long hair issue. It was considered to be part of the uniform or player's body and, as such, was fair game as much as dragging a ball carrier down by his arm, ankles or jersey. Personally I would like to see a 285 pound linebacker grab a handful of a 180 pound running back's hair while his feet keep going!

[Schleeper]

The one thing you can count on, is that sports uniforms are going to change over time. (The shorts worn by NBA players is a prime example.) There's nothing wrong with that. But UNIFORM means everyone on the team is supposed to be dressed the same. The assortment of baseball pants on the field every game, ranging from golf knickers to oversized sweat pants, drives me crazy.

[jonmulzer]

While I agree with your points Jeff, I also realize that it was not THAT long ago that basketball players were wearing shorts that barely covered their scrotum and socks that covered their entire legs. Some things have certainly improved, although now I think they are too long. Now they look like thugs...... Our teams is the Pacers, I know all about that. Our basketball team a couple of seasons ago was constantly in jail or court.

[LCHIEN]

can you say scrotum in this forum???

[Uncle Cracker]

can you say scrotum in this forum???

If you've got the balls...

[drumpriest]

Troy Polamalu doesn't have dregs, but does have fuzzy crazy hair and he had a guy drag him down by it last year. It's definitely a liability on the field. I used to have long hair as well, started to shave my head when the long hair became a liability for Thai Boxing.

[cabinetman]

It's getting more difficult telling the men from the women. Makes me wonder what some of them want to be remembered by. I doubt there will be a change in appearance even if the vehicle term "crossover" takes on a new meaning.
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[crokett]

I don't watch baseball so can't comment on the uniforms. I like the NBA uniforms of today better than the short shorts from 20 years ago. Some of the recent NFL jerseys are ugly. I am still trying to figure out what was wrong with the previous Bills' uniforms and who designed the current ones that are so ugly.

[Thalermade]

I don't watch baseball so can't comment on the uniforms. I like the NBA uniforms of today better than the short shorts from 20 years ago. Some of the recent NFL jerseys are ugly. I am still trying to figure out what was wrong with the previous Bills' uniforms and who designed the current ones that are so ugly.

Sometimes I think college and professional uniforms are changed simply to make money off of selling the new design jerseys to the legions of fans who have been sporting the older ones.

As for uniform parity, when will the Male Beach Volleyballers catchup with their Female counterparts?

from a retired Quidditch player,
Russ

[stormdog74]

It's getting more difficult telling the men from the women.
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Wow, this is what my father said when he came back from Vietnam in the 60s!

I don't see this as much of an issue - who is the better man, the clean cut Chad Johnson (or Ocho Cinco) or the long haired Troy Polamalu?

A lot of these differences are cultural and we forget that a lot of our founding fathers had long hair (or wigs - imagine what people would say if men started wearing wigs again).

And if someone confuses Polamalu for a woman, well, I just don't know what to say to that!

[Hellrazor]

As for uniform parity, when will the Male Beach Volleyballers catchup with their Female counterparts?

If we are lucky, never...

[cabinetman]

And if someone confuses Polamalu for a woman, well, I just don't know what to say to that!

When I was a kid, we had a female housekeeper that could have been his twin.
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