Back on April 10th, 2005, Miguel Tejada slid head-first into home plate at Yankee Stadium and emerged with the “1” on his jersey peeling off. He then ended up playing the rest of the game as No. 0. When I linked to those photos from my ESPN column a few days later, I got a note from some guy I’d never heard of before, which read, “That NEVER would’ve happened back when I was in charge of the Orioles’ numbers!”
That was my introduction to Joe Hilseberg, a lifelong Marylander who, as he explained in our subsequent correspondence, spent parts of his high school and college years working in the Baltimore shop that sewed all the names and numbers on Orioles and Ravens jerseys. He’s stayed in touch during the ensuing year and a half, often pointing things out regarding the subtleties of uniform stitching.
Hilseberg isn’t the first stitcher I’ve encountered. Back in 2004, I met Ross Gompers, who does all the stitching for the Mets, and ended up writing about him. But Hilseberg — maybe because he’s not in the business anymore and is therefore a bit freer to speak his mind — was much more expansive on the ins and outs of stitchery than Gompers was. We chatted on the phone a few weeks ago.
[A quick aside: Remember that I myself will be interviewed by reader Todd Krevanchi for an upcoming Uni Watch Profiles installment. If you have questions that you want Todd to ask me, submit them to him here. Okay, end of promo — on to the Hilseberg interview.]
Update, Wednesday, 7:45pm: Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, Hilseberg has requested that I take down the interview, and I’ve reluctantly agreed. I’m doing this because Joe is a peach of a guy who deserves better than the grief he got from certain quarters today. Those of you who saw the interview know how good it was; my apologies to those of you who didn’t get to see it.
Great interview, and apropos for me at the moment.
I wonder if Mr. Hilseberg has any insights into whether number stitching is harder for football jerseys compared with baseball. I have a few baseball and one football with stitched numbers, and the stitching on the baseball jerseys seems to hold up much better than for the football one.
Is it because the football jersey material is thinner, or did I get stuck with a poorly done stitch job?
ed
PS. FWIW, the football jersey is a new 2006 authentic one, for the Browns. The jersey has the same stretchy thicker material on the side panels as on the shoulders, but fortunately is all the same color. Perhaps the construction differences between different sizes have to do a lot with the inconsistency of the side panels that have been pointed out here…
man i envy that guys job. i would love to do that someday!
OK, I know I’m a day late, but I didn’t get around to it yesterday.
I am a 38 year old lifelong Met fan, and, since I tend to like the color black (black car, black clothes, black wife, etc.), I like the black uniforms. I actually own a black David Wright authentic. (And for what these things cost, black made the most sense. Imagine spilling something nasty on a $250 snow white uni.) I agree that historically, the black came out of the blue (pun intended) to capitalize on the so-called “black fad,†but it’s here, and it’s been around long enough to get past the fad stage. I am talking about the home blacks, not the road jerseys, which I write off as unnecessary and which, as you will see below, are a statistically bad thing. Thankfully they have worn the road blacks a lot less this season (18 times in 75 games). From a practical perspective, I don’t know why a team would want to travel with two sets of batting helmets. Doesn’t that take up a lot of room?
I also like all three Met hats, although I do wish they would wear the blues a bit more often—especially when they wear white, and ALWAYS when they wear pinstripes. For me, the only abomination occurs when they wear black and blue hats and black sleeves with the pinstriped uniform. I also would like to see them wear blue caps and sleeves on the road.
OK, and for all you Met fans who signed the petition. Why? Didn’t you realize that the Mets have a better home record in black? Their overall home record is 49-29 (.653), but in black, they are 12-5 (.706). In white, they are 26-16 (.619), and in pinstripes they are 9-5 (.643). (I will acknowledge that they are 2-0 in their ’86 throwbacks, but do you really want those back?)
As stated above, I would be in favor of ditching the road blacks, and the statistics back me on this. The Mets’ road record is 43-32 (.587), but in black, they are a ghastly 6-12 (.333). I wonder if this is why they haven’t worn these unis since August 17. (I just realized that they wore them for five of the six games on that road trip. In the other game, they wore the Negro League uniforms with the black helmets, which I guess goes to my point about traveling with two sets of headwear—something they have done several times earlier in the year.)
Finally, black is the color of POWER.
Great interview, Paul, and thank you Joe for the insight.
I have got to get me a heat press in my basement. That has to be a great idea.
Best UniWatch profile yet, in my opinion. Wish I had the flow to keep 120 jerseys around. Instead, my baseball and hockey jerseys get worn ’till they fall apart, then I go get a new one.
Very cool interview, Paul.
If Joe was a fan of the Chicago NHL team 20 years ago they were the Black Hawks. The didn’t change to the Blackhawks until the mid-90’s
I design the big green overhead signs on highways so I understand Joe’s obsession with making fonts & layouts correct.
My wife has asked me stop pointing out errors on signs to her.
[quote comment=”9752″]I design the big green overhead signs on highways so I understand Joe’s obsession with making fonts & layouts correct.
My wife has asked me stop pointing out errors on signs to her.[/quote]
I drove mine crazy pointing out poorly line-striped parking lots, thanks to a job in college painting parking lot lines and curbs. It’s amazing what you notice when you actually pay attention!!
Nice article, Joe H. sounds like a cool dude from a nice family. Why is it MLB teams have such shoddy-made unis?
I play on a baseball team in Tokyo and had our jerseys done in my hometown, Tulsa, OK by Irv’s and they did a fantastic job on them, except the front logo is a bit incorrect (bat at the bottom of “Eagles” instead of a tail is too close to the lettering), and we’re in our 7th or 8th year in them and still no one’s has had problems with numbers/lettering coming off.
Then again I yell and tell anyone who slides headfirst into home that they are C.R.A.Z.Y.
Paul, Thanks again for the interview…you DID make me sound interesting!
The stitching on the football jerseys probably doesn’t hold up as well because the mesh it’s sewn to is a lot thinner, and the glue on the twill really grabs onto polyester nicely.
And yes, a heat press in my house was the best investment I have ever made! You can do some sweet things with that t-shirt transfer paper and a mac!
Joe,
A 1000 Uniwatch points for you if you outfit your groomsman in stirrups with white sanitarys.
A heat press can also make 4 cubans or paninis at the same time. Great for parties!
Paul,
Great interview…although I will say I was a little disappointed that you didn’t give him a hard time about the link that he designed…
You going soft on us?
[quote comment=”9759″]Paul,
Great interview…although I will say I was a little disappointed that you didn’t give him a hard time about the link that he designed…
You going soft on us?[/quote]
Let me set the record straight…we just did the link I would never put a purple gradient into production!!!
Nice,
I gotta keep the Jersey Vest thing in the back of my mind for my wedding. What vest should i give my friend eric, whos a jets fan. Teal with Eric 13 or Blue with 56?
I know what his buddies mean when they say he’s obsessed. I went to a Ravens/Jets game with him last year and all he could talk about was uniform problems and how Vinny Testaverde’s belt was not regulation. Yeah, hes a nut about this stuff but someone has to be. Great article!
Great interview! This is easily the best one yet. I don’t know why all this stuff is so fascinating, but it certainly is. I have actually just started a jersey collection, myself, and with each new one I buy, I become more and more fascinated by the craftsmanship that goes into the construction.
Thanks for the hard work, Paul!!
Outstanding Interview! I paint football fields, and rewen the experience of going to a game for my friends, because I always point out how the 2-point conversion stripe is too long, or how silly I feel team-colored sidelines are. I surely understand the “attention to detail” obsession.
yeah, this has DEFINITELY been the best UniWatch Profile yet! I guess I never thought about that stuff being hand-cut. I think I just assumed it’s been done on a machine for a long time.
[quote comment=”9760″][quote comment=”9759″]Paul,
Great interview…although I will say I was a little disappointed that you didn’t give him a hard time about the link that he designed…
You going soft on us?[/quote]
Let me set the record straight…we just did the link I would never put a purple gradient into production!!![/quote]
Joe,
Good to know–when I read the article, Paul had put in there that you had designed the uniform, which I thought meant that entire purple gradient madness…
I guess you are off the hook, although it might have been for the greater good if you had lost the jerseys link
A thought occurred to me when considering the deadlines that the stitchers face. When Joel Youngblood was traded and played for two teams in a single day, did his jersey in the night game have his name and proper number on it?
Nice scolding message from that Baltimore jersey link just above…
Responding to Gregg’s post #3, he makes a very good point about not wanting to ruin a pricey white jersey with food stains and the like. While I am definitely not a fan of alternate jerseys, I tend to wear the ones that are black or red or whatever, as I am a slob and I know that they will have buffalo wing sauce or ketchup all of them at some point.
I only wear a white or light gray jersey if I know that I won’t be eating while I am wearing it.
Great profile…I would love to have lucked into a great job like that!
This article is very topical for me as well, as I am finally at the end of a 3-month saga trying to get a replica NHL jersey lettered. When I first brought it to the local shop, I watched in horror as the owner’s wife tried to heat press all three layers of the large tri-color back numbers at one time. Long story short, another set of numbers and many excruciating delays later, I am told the jersey will be done today.
Glad to see there are some very professional shops out there with people who obsess and take pride in their craft as much as the people who wear the jerseys (fans and athletes). Very informative and enlightening.
Am I the only one who looked up link on baseball almanac?
This is really really interesting. Thanks!
[quote comment=”9773″]Am I the only one who looked up link on baseball almanac?[/quote]
How awesome is it that the baseball card on that page says “Kingsdale”? That’s gold.
upon doing some “uni observing” on si.com, i came upon link.
nothing flashy, nothing requiring a second look. but as i gave that second look, the girl on the left looks a ton like link from link
With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?
lmao…that “kingsdale” card is hilarious…i could understand a mom and pop shop messing it up on one jersey…but a big company like topps messing it up on plenty of cards…priceless
[quote comment=”9757″]A heat press can also make 4 cubans or paninis at the same time. Great for parties![/quote]
LOL…
500 Uniwatch points to you for that suggestion.
Well done, Max !
[quote comment=”9772″]Great profile…I would love to have lucked into a great job like that!
This article is very topical for me as well, as I am finally at the end of a 3-month saga trying to get a replica NHL jersey lettered. When I first brought it to the local shop, I watched in horror as the owner’s wife tried to heat press all three layers of the large tri-color back numbers at one time. Long story short, another set of numbers and many excruciating delays later, I am told the jersey will be done today.
Glad to see there are some very professional shops out there with people who obsess and take pride in their craft as much as the people who wear the jerseys (fans and athletes). Very informative and enlightening.[/quote]
NHL replica jerseys are probably the best example of a company improving on its product. CCM used to use flimsy, cheap polyester for the rep jerseys it made. Over the last few years before the sale to Reebok, they had gone to the “cool-flo” material for rep jerseys, and the lettering looked much better. If the letters are stitched on, they look almost like a pro jersey (several differences that I won’t get into here).
Great interview, Paul. Joe, I totally can relate with your jersey views. And that wedding idea is awesome! :o)
What terrific behind the scenes insight, Paul! Originally, I became infatuated with the number/ letter application process on baseball jerseys ever since I paid to have one customized, and it came out really funky (picture incorrect fonts, too low placement of the # the back, and a patch with zig-zag stitching way too spread out). After I ripped everything off, I thought, THAT was $30 well spent!
Then I figured, why I can’t I do this instead? So I became a regular at the local fabric store, picked up a sewing machine, and went at it. After a LOT of trial and error, I can actually feel truly satisfied about my collection of personalized jerseys hanging in the closet (not near the hundreds Mr. Hilseberg has, though I’m trying). Ah… perfectly placed stitches, correct spacing, and attn to detail- what a feeling of accomplishment! And I can only imagine how Joe must have felt after seeing some of his work on such a grand stage. Bravo!
ps- anyone else think that the numbers guy simply forgot to stitch Tejada’s number on, and just heatpressed it?
Joe, Great Idea on the vests. as someone who has to had to don a vest 3 times this year already, i would have loved that idea. I must admit, even though as a browns fan, i pretty much hate most things in maryland, u my friend are AWESOME. dude that is a great story, u are a lucky man.
paul, great job on the interview.
ok, enough smoke up the butt, my real question is this, how is any one shocked the owner of the O’s is cheap, this guys is terrible. ain’t this the team that a group of dj’s or something tried to get the whole fan base to stand outside the stadium and not pay to go in while wearing black or something? I think i read about it on here.
anyone else have a problem with the way the number 2 is handled in uniforms?
i prefer the block number style used by psu (see derrick williams)
link
with the horizontal middle
as apposed to the block number style used by say, the chicago bulls (see eddy curry)
link
with the angled down middle.
but then you have the florida gators whose number 2’s (and 5’s) are totally different from jersey numbers to tv numbers (see chris leak)
link
the tv numbers have the hook at the bottom, whereas, the jersey numbers are simply upside down and mirrored 5’s…
but then the 5’s differ as well (see andre caldwell)
link
dont even get me started about seeing jerseys when either the font or number style is totally different from on the field of play. big culprit, phillies, red sox, cubs.
like this thing
link
ok, it is labeled as a replica, but it isnt even a close replica! who are they trying to fool.
Just to also add some notes…A couple lines on there about the O’s in paticular, were said very toungue in cheek, and don’t come across in print that way. The Orioles as a whole were such a great organization to work with, and of course it was a dream of mine to be associated with them. I have nothing bad to say about them or any of their employees. One of the highlights of my life.
And on a side note…everyone over 30 looks 70 to a 16 year old kid!
[quote comment=”9775″][quote comment=”9773″]Am I the only one who looked up link on baseball almanac?[/quote]
How awesome is it that the baseball card on that page says “Kingsdale”? That’s gold.[/quote]
I remember when Gene Kingsdale played for the Padres a few seasons ago and he definately went by Kingsdale, not Kingsale. I wonder if “Tackle Twill” Joe had something to do with the kid changing his name?
Todd, those replica jerseys where they don’t even attempt to get the font or border colors correct (and insert player surnames where they don’t belong!) are disgusting.
Who actually pays $90 for one of those?
What a complete waste of money.
[quote comment=”9788″]Todd, those replica jerseys where they don’t even attempt to get the font or border colors correct (and insert player surnames where they don’t belong!) are disgusting.
Who actually pays $90 for one of those?
What a complete waste of money.[/quote]
Same goes for when they put a name on the back of jersey where one CLEARLY does not belong
I mean really, what self-respecting Yankees fan link link link?
Aside from the obvious Pavano-based reasons.
[quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.
Speaking of things that look ridiculous even in a replica jersey (and at the risk of starting another Holy War . . .
New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez Power Alley White Jersey by Nike
[quote comment=”9791″][quote comment=”9788″]Todd, those replica jerseys where they don’t even attempt to get the font or border colors correct (and insert player surnames where they don’t belong!) are disgusting.
Who actually pays $90 for one of those?
What a complete waste of money.[/quote]
Same goes for when they put a name on the back of jersey where one CLEARLY does not belong
I mean really, what self-respecting Yankees fan link link link?
Aside from the obvious Pavano-based reasons.[/quote]
i remember during the 03 alcs (ny/boston- the aaron “fuckin'” boone series) seeing yankee fans wearing these jerseys as an insult to the sox fans.
link
i think self respecting yankee fans were proud to wear them (when they were appropriate).
Morten Anderson’s face mask. It’s just really old. I’m sure if you go back and find some pictures, at some point in his career, Terry Bradshaw wore the same thing. As well as Bob Greise. Just to name a couple.
What is this… “self-respecting” Yankees fan? Never heard of it.
[quote comment=”9796″]
i remember during the 03 alcs (ny/boston- the aaron “fuckin'” boone series) seeing yankee fans wearing these jerseys as an insult to the sox fans.
link
i think self respecting yankee fans were proud to wear them (when they were appropriate).[/quote]
LMAO!! I was AT the Aaron “Bleeping” Boone Game (AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!)
But a sign that you’ve been spending too much time on this website is that the first thing I noticed about that jersey is that the typeface is wrong! Here’s a link for comparison’s sake (and maybe to rub a little salt in a Red Sox fan’s wounds)
I was just re-listening to last night’s Met’s game to hear what the SNY guys said about the uniforms for the playoff’s. Basically it went sort of like this:
Ron Darling asked Gary Cohen if the Mets wore the black uni’s in the playoff’s back in 2000. Cohen responded by saying he remembered them waering them often back then and expects them to do the same this year :(.
Great profile – the best yet. Joe is a definite first ballot uni watch hall of famer. Thanks for sharing your story.
..
The CBC is currently running a great series entitled ‘Hockey: A People’s History’. Loaded with old stories and recreations, there is a wealth of imagery of interest to the Uni Watch crowd. For those collectors among us, the network is even offering a selection of featured team jerseys link at their online shop. They are beautiful for their simplicity – love the Kenora Thistles! My only complaint is the choice of material. Polyester makes little to no sense.
Changing the nameplates on jerseys isnt that uncommon. Im a big collector of NHL game-worn jerseys, and I routinely come across jerseys that have been worn by more than one player. You can usually see the outline where the stitching from the previous nameplate was pulled off.
[quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
Maybe it was Gary Anderson that wore the 1 bar helmet.
I’ve tried to block out all thoughts of him since blowing the field goal for the Vikes against the Falcons, so I don’t remember.
[quote comment=”9801″][quote comment=”9796″]
i remember during the 03 alcs (ny/boston- the aaron “fuckin'” boone series) seeing yankee fans wearing these jerseys as an insult to the sox fans.
link
i think self respecting yankee fans were proud to wear them (when they were appropriate).[/quote]
LMAO!! I was AT the Aaron “Bleeping” Boone Game (AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!)
But a sign that you’ve been spending too much time on this website is that the first thing I noticed about that jersey is that the typeface is wrong! Here’s a link for comparison’s sake (and maybe to rub a little salt in a Red Sox fan’s wounds)[/quote]
yeah. mlb.com wouldnt allow a last name to be placed on the authentic jersey. so i had to go replica.
interesting story about last names on jerseys.
about 5 or so years ago, i wanted to get an authentic nike custom penn st. jersey. #4 no last name on the back. like they do.
eastbay offers them. when i placed my order and said no name on the back, the rep said that i HAD to put a name on the back. i rebutted that psu doesnt put names on the back of their uni’s and it was silly that they were being offered in the first place.
when he explained why (it was because i could get this jersey without a name, and on my own, put a derogatory term on it) i responded on how ridiculous that reasoning was.
but as i was arguing, i was also leafing through the remainder of the catalog. i stopped on the page that has all of the replica jerseys. all the nike teams, home and away, and all the adidas teams, home and away.
once i saw all of these replica jerseys i said, so i CANT spend 150 on the custom jersey i want with no last name on the back, because i am capable of putting a derogatory term on it, but i CAN spend 49 bucks on a replica jersey with no last name on the back for any team home or away in nike or adidas? arent i capable of doing the same to those?
silence… let me talk to my supervisor. he returns and the new explanation was, we just cant.
[quote comment=”9805″]
Maybe it was Gary Anderson that wore the 1 bar helmet.
I’ve tried to block out all thoughts of him since blowing the field goal for the Vikes against the Falcons, so I don’t remember.[/quote]
It was, in fact, GARY Anderson who wore the single bar with the
link as well as with the
link
Seeing the Morton Anderson post confirmed the thought I had this weekend about the single bar that they have been outlawed.
I was watchign college and NFL gaems this weekend and saw a lot of kickers with a lot of bars on their facemasks, almost looking like a QB or RB on tight shots. Their shoulder pads and thigh pads, or lack there of, give it away that they’re a kicker.
I was also wondering why some kickers feel the need to wear the Ridell Revolution concussion helmets. Are there that many kickers suffering head injuries that we don’t know about?
Joe, you’ve got a pair of brass ones on you to tell Cal Ripken in his owners box while watching his minor league team play that his framed jersey on the wall is wrong.
I guess the uniform on the wall was one you did not get to put the numbers and letters on?
You also mentioned that the shop you worked in was a mom and pop shop that did lettering for lots of pro teams? How many teams? Which ones? Was this especially common in the past for teams to contract out to small local shops for their letting and numbering needs? Is it still common today?
All in all, a good interview.
[quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
That’s a Schutt facemask as per Helmut Hut.
[quote comment=”9801″][quote comment=”9796″]
i remember during the 03 alcs (ny/boston- the aaron “fuckin'” boone series) seeing yankee fans wearing these jerseys as an insult to the sox fans.
link
i think self respecting yankee fans were proud to wear them (when they were appropriate).[/quote]
LMAO!! I was AT the Aaron “Bleeping” Boone Game (AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!)
But a sign that you’ve been spending too much time on this website is that the first thing I noticed about that jersey is that the typeface is wrong! Here’s a link for comparison’s sake (and maybe to rub a little salt in a Red Sox fan’s wounds)[/quote]
Hey, Yankee fans, win something this century before crowing !!!! :)
Does anyone recall (or did I imagine this) that for a long time, when the teams controlled their own merchandising rights, you could not buy an authentic New York Yankees home jersey. You could buy a road jersey, but Mr. Steinbrenner was of the mind that in order to wear the pinstripes you had to earn them.
Or was this just a fib my parents’ told me to avoid having to shell out the bucks to buy me a jersey?
[quote comment=”9785″]anyone else have a problem with the way the number 2 is handled in uniforms?
i prefer the block number style used by psu (see derrick williams)
link
with the horizontal middle
as apposed to the block number style used by say, the chicago bulls (see eddy curry)
link
with the angled down middle.
but then you have the florida gators whose number 2’s (and 5’s) are totally different from jersey numbers to tv numbers (see chris leak)
link
the tv numbers have the hook at the bottom, whereas, the jersey numbers are simply upside down and mirrored 5’s…
but then the 5’s differ as well (see andre caldwell)
link
dont even get me started about seeing jerseys when either the font or number style is totally different from on the field of play. big culprit, phillies, red sox, cubs.
like this thing
link
ok, it is labeled as a replica, but it isnt even a close replica! who are they trying to fool.[/quote]
I agree with you on the 2’s, Todd. The horizontal is the way to go. I also don’t get why teams use different fonts for shoulder vs. chest numbers. The one that I see all the time that bothers me is the Chicago Bears. They use the same font, but the shoulder numbers are the same thickness as the chest numbers, which means that they look way thicker because they’re smaller. It’s especially noticeable with link.
[quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
It looks like the “kicker version” of the strange facemasks that came around in the early-to-mid 1990s. The only picture I could find is link of Gregg Lloyd. Some of the guys on my high school team used them, but they seemed to big and awkward for me, plus the “bars” were very thick and obstructed my vision somewhat. I only remember linemen wearing it, but they did have versions for backs and receivers, too. Maybe Mort has the kicker version?
[quote comment=”9816″][quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
It looks like the “kicker version” of the strange facemasks that came around in the early-to-mid 1990s. The only picture I could find is link of Gregg Lloyd. Some of the guys on my high school team used them, but they seemed to big and awkward for me, plus the “bars” were very thick and obstructed my vision somewhat. I only remember linemen wearing it, but they did have versions for backs and receivers, too. Maybe Mort has the kicker version?[/quote]
Those masks were also featured in the cinematic classic “Necessary Rougness”.
link
You can kind of see it on Sinbad’s helmet in this picture: link
Kendall Simmons on the Steelers still wears the thick, plastic looking facemask that Greg Llyod wore..the logic behind the facemask was that it was lighter weight…terrible design though
Sorry about the mistake regarding the Anderson facemask, for some reason in my head I pictured him wearing a single bar. Should have looked up some pics before posting.
Damn I can’t type today.
Of course I meant “Necessary Roughness”.
Kathy Ireland was also in that movie. A true classic if you haven’t seen it.
Very nice interview … and not just because it did not involve the Mets.
Cool interview. My summer/winter break job is the same thing at a place outside Buffalo. We do all the jerseys for the Sabres, as well as a few things here and there for the Bills.
I ran the laser cutting machine that cut all the logos and numbers, so I had direct contact with everything that’s going on the new Sabres jerseys.
Always an interesting story to tell.
[quote comment=”9822″]Cool interview. My summer/winter break job is the same thing at a place outside Buffalo. We do all the jerseys for the Sabres, as well as a few things here and there for the Bills.
I ran the laser cutting machine that cut all the logos and numbers, so I had direct contact with everything that’s going on the new Sabres jerseys.
Always an interesting story to tell.[/quote]
My condolences . . . we’ll try not to make you the scapegoat
:-)
I know of 3 current NFL players that wear the big ugly plastic lineman facemask. Kendall Simmons with the Steelers, Wayne Gandy with the Falcons, and Willie Anderson with the Bengals. Ironically, they all played collegiately at Auburn. In college, only Gandy wore this style The other 2 adopted it in the NFL.
[quote comment=”9753″][quote comment=”9752″]I design the big green overhead signs on highways so I understand Joe’s obsession with making fonts & layouts correct.
My wife has asked me stop pointing out errors on signs to her.[/quote]
I drove mine crazy pointing out poorly line-striped parking lots, thanks to a job in college painting parking lot lines and curbs. It’s amazing what you notice when you actually pay attention!![/quote]
My wife gets aggravated with me as well. We signed on a house and the Title Company misspelled their own address. I almost made them reprint it.
[quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
I know my documentation sucks on this but this weekend I saw a punter with the single bar but he had it pulled WAY down like it was almost pointing at the ground. I know they are grandfathered into being able to use it but is there any rule as far as how they wear it?
[quote comment=”9812″]
That’s a Schutt facemask as per Helmut Hut.[/quote]
Actually they are Dunguard facemasks per Helmet Hut; in fact, Helmet Hut got the tooling for these and makes them for their replicas. They came out in the 1960s and were outlawed in the 1980s because they are screwed directly into the helmet at the top. All current facemasks use plastic straps as the attachment so the facemask can flex. The direct attachment was tied to neck injuries.
I’m sure that Anderson will be able to wear his old style mask as he is a non-contact player who was wearing one before they were outlawed.
I guess some kickers are wearing the Riddell Revolution helmets because the facemask is somewhat lower than a traditional helmet and therefore out of their line of site. Of course, some colleges (Iowa comes to mind) have all their players wear Revolutions, so their kicker doesn’t have a choice.
[quote comment=”9815″][quote comment=”9785″]anyone else have a problem with the way the number 2 is handled in uniforms?
i prefer the block number style used by psu (see derrick williams)
link
with the horizontal middle
as apposed to the block number style used by say, the chicago bulls (see eddy curry)
link
with the angled down middle.
but then you have the florida gators whose number 2’s (and 5’s) are totally different from jersey numbers to tv numbers (see chris leak)
link
the tv numbers have the hook at the bottom, whereas, the jersey numbers are simply upside down and mirrored 5’s…
but then the 5’s differ as well (see andre caldwell)
link
dont even get me started about seeing jerseys when either the font or number style is totally different from on the field of play. big culprit, phillies, red sox, cubs.
like this thing
link
ok, it is labeled as a replica, but it isnt even a close replica! who are they trying to fool.[/quote]
I agree with you on the 2’s, Todd. The horizontal is the way to go. I also don’t get why teams use different fonts for shoulder vs. chest numbers. The one that I see all the time that bothers me is the Chicago Bears. They use the same font, but the shoulder numbers are the same thickness as the chest numbers, which means that they look way thicker because they’re smaller. It’s especially noticeable with link.[/quote]
I’m not a fan of different numbers for sleeves/shoulders than the ftons & backs of the jerseys, but I do like the way they look on the Bears jerseys. Even the front numbers are different than the back numbers (I can’t find good pictures, but the 4 and 5 are definitely different on the front than on the back). It’s a good way of picking out a non-authentic jersey too.
Sleeve numbers are wider proportionally than jersey numbers, so they will almost never match 100%. Also, Nike’s 5’s have a “stump” where the vertical stroke meets the bowl (shown here: link) but you don’t see it on the shoulder numbers.
And then there are the Oregon aberrations that aren’t even consistent from number pair to number pair…but let’s not go there.
[quote comment=”9809″]
I was also wondering why some kickers feel the need to wear the Ridell Revolution concussion helmets. Are there that many kickers suffering head injuries that we don’t know about?[/quote]
Because these helmets are very light compared to the regular Riddell helmet.
Here is the Helmet Hut link to their Dunguard page: link
Dunguard Trivia – a few years ago (when he was with the Bucs) Trent Dilfer struck up a friendship with Terry Bradshaw. Dilfer wanted to wear Bradshaw’s old Dunguard mask (the same model Morten Anaderson wears) for one game. I can’t remember if they ever did let him wear it or not – it would have been his last year with Tampa Bay, which would have been 1999 maybe?
[quote comment=”9817″]Those masks were also featured in the cinematic classic “Necessary Rougness”.
link
You can kind of see it on Sinbad’s helmet in this picture: link
I am ashamed of myself for not remembering that, and I’m giving myself a 15 yard penalty. Thats one of those awful movies that you cannot turn off if its on HBO on a random night.
[quote comment=”9825″]
I know my documentation sucks on this but this weekend I saw a punter with the single bar but he had it pulled WAY down like it was almost pointing at the ground. I know they are grandfathered into being able to use it but is there any rule as far as how they wear it?[/quote]
Does it really matter where you have a single bar face mask?
I remember watching Gary Anderson actually move his single bar up and down while on the field.
[quote comment=”9816″][quote comment=”9794″][quote comment=”9777″]With the signing of Morten Anderson by the Falcons, is he allowed to wear the single bar face mask anymore. I assume he was grandfathered in to be allowed to wear it before but since he retired can he still wear it when he comes back?[/quote]
I think they would allow him to be grandfathered in to wear a single bar. However, I’ve never seen him wearing a single bar facemask. He always wore that odd-looking 2-bar facemask that looked nothing like anything anyone else wore. The bar didn’t even go all the way across on the top. I found some pics of his stints with link link link link and of course, link Wierd looking face mask, right? I think the NFL has also outlawed this style as well.[/quote]
It looks like the “kicker version” of the strange facemasks that came around in the early-to-mid 1990s. The only picture I could find is link of Gregg Lloyd. Some of the guys on my high school team used them, but they seemed to big and awkward for me, plus the “bars” were very thick and obstructed my vision somewhat. I only remember linemen wearing it, but they did have versions for backs and receivers, too. Maybe Mort has the kicker version?[/quote]
Take a look at Helmut Hut, it’s extremely comphrensive regarding facemasks. the Mort thin two bar is the same used by Griese & Bradshaw amongst others, I believe that was by Schutt. the one you referenced was also used by Lomas Brown and others for a few years, that’s not a Schutt –but a company (whose name escapes at the moment) that has since gone belly up. Check out Helmut Hut— if you have 8 hours to kill. a great site.
[quote comment=”9826″][quote comment=”9812″]
That’s a Schutt facemask as per Helmut Hut.[/quote]
Actually they are Dunguard facemasks per Helmet Hut; in fact, Helmet Hut got the tooling for these and makes them for their replicas. They came out in the 1960s and were outlawed in the 1980s because they are screwed directly into the helmet at the top. All current facemasks use plastic straps as the attachment so the facemask can flex. The direct attachment was tied to neck injuries.
I’m sure that Anderson will be able to wear his old style mask as he is a non-contact player who was wearing one before they were outlawed.
I guess some kickers are wearing the Riddell Revolution helmets because the facemask is somewhat lower than a traditional helmet and therefore out of their line of site. Of course, some colleges (Iowa comes to mind) have all their players wear Revolutions, so their kicker doesn’t have a choice.[/quote]
Thank you John. In my mind, i had pictured Schutt as the maker of the Mort facemask and the alan page and czonka…. which is completely wrong, as the maker was Dungard, as you said.
thanks.
[quote comment=”9788″]Who actually pays $90 for one of those?
What a complete waste of money.[/quote]
Agreed. I just ordered a replica Red Sox jersey (Troy O’Leary!) from . Cost $150, but they use the actual numbers and lettering that the Sox use. It looks great.
btw Paul, great interview!
[quote comment=”9818″]Kendall Simmons on the Steelers still wears the thick, plastic looking facemask that Greg Llyod wore..the logic behind the facemask was that it was lighter weight…terrible design though[/quote]
Yeah, they were very ugly which is why I wouldnt wear them when I played. I just found some models through google, they were called “Kra Lite IV”.
link
link
link
Oh man I botched up the HTML there.
try link.
[quote comment=”9822″]Cool interview. My summer/winter break job is the same thing at a place outside Buffalo. We do all the jerseys for the Sabres, as well as a few things here and there for the Bills.
I ran the laser cutting machine that cut all the logos and numbers, so I had direct contact with everything that’s going on the new Sabres jerseys.
Always an interesting story to tell.[/quote]
…and you didn’t go blind from the horribleness. You are a much stronger man then me.
[quote comment=”9835″][quote comment=”9818″]Kendall Simmons on the Steelers still wears the thick, plastic looking facemask that Greg Llyod wore..the logic behind the facemask was that it was lighter weight…terrible design though[/quote]
Yeah, they were very ugly which is why I wouldnt wear them when I played. I just found some models through google, they were called “Kra Lite IV”.
link
link
link[/quote]
I remember those facemasks from my senior year in high school. I always refer to it as the “World League of American Football” mask. I get to use this every Sunday, as link wears one for my beloved Bengals to this day.
[quote comment=”9821″]Very nice interview … and not just because it did not involve the Mets.[/quote]
What’s up with all the hate towards the Mets? They won the NL East for the first time in 18 years. They look competitive for the first time in ages. Yeah I know, I know, they went to the series in 2000, but I remember feeling at the time that they didn’t deserve to be on the same field as the Yankees, and the 4-1 series thrashing proved it.
So what’s with the hatred? Anyone, feel free to chime in. Is it a black thing?
And by black thing I mean the unis…… :P
I know my documentation sucks on this but this weekend I saw a punter with the single bar but he had it pulled WAY down like it was almost pointing at the ground. I know they are grandfathered into being able to use it but is there any rule as far as how they wear it?[/quote]
If I remember correctly, it was Scott Player of the Arizona Cardinals. The way he was wearing it offered no face protection at all.
I know punters see very little contact, but it’s still dangerous wearing a facemask like that. I remember a few years ago when Matt Turk punted for the Redskins. He wore a very narrow two-barred face mask that exposed most of his face. He was in on a tackle one time, and either the kick returner’s knee or foot nailed him in the face. The camera showed Turk after the play and his whole nose was shattered. It was a mangled mess and blood streaming down his mouth and chin. Next to Joe Theismann’s leg breaking, it was of the grossest things I’ve ever seen in football.
Sorry, that first paragraph is a quote from Nastykjn’s post #70. I accidently cut out that part when deleting the rest of his post.
[quote comment=”9841″][quote comment=”9821″]Very nice interview … and not just because it did not involve the Mets.[/quote]
What’s up with all the hate towards the Mets? They won the NL East for the first time in 18 years. They look competitive for the first time in ages. Yeah I know, I know, they went to the series in 2000, but I remember feeling at the time that they didn’t deserve to be on the same field as the Yankees, and the 4-1 series thrashing proved it.
So what’s with the hatred? Anyone, feel free to chime in. Is it a black thing?[/quote]
I think the site can be Met-centric from time to time, but seeing as Mr Lukas(I don’t know him well enough to call him Paul) is such a Met fan it is understandable. Kinda like reading Bill Simmons and having to deal with yet another Celtics story. Just my opinion. Love the site.
Lurker coming out of his shell.
[quote comment=”9841″]What’s up with all the hate towards the Mets? … So what’s with the hatred? Anyone, feel free to chime in. Is it a black thing?[/quote]
I don’t think it’s hatred so much as the fact that those of us who aren’t Mets fans and don’t live anywhere near the East coast have gotten more than our fill of Mets-centric discussion the last couple of days on the blog here… at least, that’s how I feel. I know Paul’s a fan and all, and that a lot of you are, too, but wow, it was a bit much there for awhile.
Boston Bruins homepage Fan poll:
“Will you miss the Bruins yellow third jersey?”
Currently the Nos have it at 63%… Who’s holding on to the Pooh Bear?
New Feature:
I added buttons for tags. Please close all tags. So, if you want to use the “bold” button – click the bold button, type the text you want bold after the tag, then click the bold button again after the text you want formatted to return to normal type. This will close the tag.
Feel free to ask questions if you are confused.
Also, the “Live Preview” is back. I think it will be a little quicker now.
As long as we’re talking about odd facemasks, why not add hockey into the mix and link into the mix with his odd goalie mask that he wore long after the modern day “cat eye” mask first made it’s way into the NHL.
Thanks, John. I am sure there are plenty of commenters who will be glad to see the assistance.
the king of the single bar mask (that i remember) was link. when he was in the usfl, his facemask went straight down. you can barely see it in this pic.
[quote comment=”9847″][quote comment=”9841″]What’s up with all the hate towards the Mets? … So what’s with the hatred? Anyone, feel free to chime in. Is it a black thing?[/quote]
I don’t think it’s hatred so much as the fact that those of us who aren’t Mets fans and don’t live anywhere near the East coast have gotten more than our fill of Mets-centric discussion the last couple of days on the blog here… at least, that’s how I feel. I know Paul’s a fan and all, and that a lot of you are, too, but wow, it was a bit much there for awhile.[/quote]
I don’t mind the Mets discussions, as long as it is uni related. WHen it becomes a Mets vs. Yankees mudfight, just like the Cubs vs. White Sox mudfights here in Chicago, it’s just people trying to yell louder than the baby is crying.
[quote comment=”9855″]I don’t mind the Mets discussions, as long as it is uni related. WHen it becomes a Mets vs. Yankees mudfight, just like the Cubs vs. White Sox mudfights here in Chicago, it’s just people trying to yell louder than the baby is crying.[/quote]
You’ll have to admit, there’s very little of that here. Which is a good thing.
I was always a fan of how Kevin “Butthead” Buttler toated his helmet around when he wasn’t on the field as he’d slide that bar into his pants and his helmet would just rest there. Sorry, I couldn’t find a picture, but they always panned to him like the on the sidelines when I watched games.
[quote comment=”9846″]I think the site can be Met-centric from time to time, but seeing as Mr Lukas(I don’t know him well enough to call him Paul) is such a Met fan it is understandable. Kinda like reading Bill Simmons and having to deal with yet another Celtics story. Just my opinion. Love the site.[/quote]
This is a perfectly legitimate criticism. Part of it, certainly, is that I watch more games involving the Mets than of any other team, so I’m more attuned to their uni issues. Also, for better or worse, the only player who was fined for wearing his pants too long and then complained about the amount of the fine was a Met (Pedro), and one of the two players to habitually lose his cap was a Met (Shawn Green), and that the only really good web site devoted to a team’s uniform numbers is Mets by the Numbers. My coverage of those topics hasn’t been an example of Mets-centric bias — it’s just a coincidence, seriously.
Anyway: I’m aware of the pattern and try my best not to overdo it.
Just a general question, and this may have been discussed before but I haven’t seen it (which will prove my point), but has it ever been suggested to try a “message board” style format for posting?
It’s sooo time-consuming and hard to read through 97 (and counting) comments and posts when they can all be on different topics or when they are referring to posts 20, 30 before them.
I think it would be helpful to find stuff and organize thoughts better, making for better discussion. The message board can be contained for each day. We wouldn’t have a continuously running one.
[quote comment=”9860″]Just a general question, and this may have been discussed before but I haven’t seen it (which will prove my point), but has it ever been suggested to try a “message board” style format for posting?
It’s sooo time-consuming and hard to read through 97 (and counting) comments and posts when they can all be on different topics or when they are referring to posts 20, 30 before them.
I think it would be helpful to find stuff and organize thoughts better, making for better discussion. The message board can be contained for each day. We wouldn’t have a continuously running one.[/quote]
I agree, but at the same time, this format allows me to sift through new topics that I probably wouldn’t otherwise read and write upon. So I think this format has its merits.
[quote comment=”9860″]Just a general question, and this may have been discussed before but I haven’t seen it (which will prove my point), but has it ever been suggested to try a “message board” style format for posting?[/quote]
When the site was started, it wasn’t getting anywhere near the amount of comments it is now. Paul and I have batted around the idea of starting a message board, but there a number of drawbacks to this. For starters, it would have to be heavily moderated to avoid what generally happens to message boards (shouting matches, personal attacks, trolling, etc.). Also, there are already some boards out there, and we wouldn’t want to step on any toes.
I have considered going to “threaded” comments, and I’ll look into it a little further. It might take some time.
Cool?
I just used my Uni Watch knowledge today to educate my friends that the old Montreal Expos logo is more than a script M.
By the way, it’s great to have Peter Gammons back!
2 points of interst regarding kicker/punter facemasks:
Scott Player is the punter/holder who wears the single bar and pushes it way down when punting…BUT the second his punt is away he pushes the single bar up into a more “protective” position in case he is called upone to make a tackle…a very small quirk I have witnessed in person at more than one NFL games I’ve been to and watched him in action.
Kevin “BUTTHEAD” Butler actually had “BUTTHEAD” written on his helmet in the front bumper spot where Riddell, etc. would be!!!
[quote comment=”9855″][quote comment=”9847″][quote comment=”9841″]What’s up with all the hate towards the Mets? … So what’s with the hatred? Anyone, feel free to chime in. Is it a black thing?[/quote]
I don’t think it’s hatred so much as the fact that those of us who aren’t Mets fans and don’t live anywhere near the East coast have gotten more than our fill of Mets-centric discussion the last couple of days on the blog here… at least, that’s how I feel. I know Paul’s a fan and all, and that a lot of you are, too, but wow, it was a bit much there for awhile.[/quote]
I don’t mind the Mets discussions, as long as it is uni related. WHen it becomes a Mets vs. Yankees mudfight, just like the Cubs vs. White Sox mudfights here in Chicago, it’s just people trying to yell louder than the baby is crying.[/quote]
A great point, actually great points made by everyone. I’m glad everyone took the time to be cordial about it, instead of turning it into a “because our team is better than your team and your team doesn’t deserve the ink” pissing match.
[quote comment=”9866″][quote comment=”9855″]
A great point, actually great points made by everyone. I’m glad everyone took the time to be cordial about it, instead of turning it into a “because our team is better than your team and your team doesn’t deserve the ink” pissing match.[/quote]
Oh sorry, My team IS better than your team…I can’t lie like that.
In regard to the Kickers wearing revolution helmets, I think it might also be that they are slightly more comfortable because there is no ear piece to annoy you when you’re putting it on and taking it off.
My friend just called Michigan’s colors navy and gold. I berated her. Are my actions upheld to maintain the classic power of Michigan’s maize and blue?
Augh! I can’t believe I didn’t get to read the interview!!! I knew I should have read it while I was at work instead of waiting until I got home!
Paul, can you email it to me?
Ok, I’m confused. Why was the interview removed?
Dammit! (hehe having fun with the new tags). The one day I didn’t read it at work, and look what happens…
[quote comment=”9875″]Dammit! (hehe having fun with the new tags). The one day I didn’t read it at work, and look what happens…[/quote]
Was my explaination of how to use them clear enough? I see you had no problem, but I wonder about those with zero html background…
The interview was great—hard to understand what exactly got Joe in hot water, but it’s too bad.
I don’t find the site too Mets-centric, and I think the entry the day after the clinch was understandable.
Ek, thanks for bringing back the preview section. It really helps me when I’m typing, and it’s fun to watch, too. The bold and italic buttons are easy, but where do I put a link name? I’ll just experiment
[quote comment=”9877″]Ek, thanks for bringing back the preview section. It really helps me when I’m typing, and it’s fun to watch, too. The bold and italic buttons are easy, but where do I put a link name? I’ll just experiment[/quote]
Click “link”. Enter the link address in the pop up. Then, type what you want the underlined link to say after the tag. At the end of the text you want to be part of the link, click “link” again (the button should say “/link”).
html is sometimes hard to explain without getting really confusing. Did you understand?
Here is a replica I would buy: link
Here is the “replica” that nauseates me: link
[quote comment=”9878″]
Click “link”. Enter the link address in the pop up. Then, type what you want the underlined link to say after the tag. At the end of the text you want to be part of the link, click “link” again (the button should say “/link”).
html is sometimes hard to explain without getting really confusing. Did you understand?[/quote]
John,
This is brilliant . . .I was getting the hang of the cut and paste but this is MUCH more user-friendly. Bravo!
For what it’s worth, I like the continuous posting format as opposed to either a message board or threaded posts. I don’t mind surfing down the list at various times. But maybe I have more time on my hands than others . . .
Thanks, Ek, for being on top of things. I understand your explanation, but I also figured it out myself. Even though I missed this link: link.
By the way, I am for threaded comments, but not for a message board.
[quote comment=”9882″]For what it’s worth, I like the continuous posting format as opposed to either a message board or threaded posts. [/quote]
I’m reluctant to change it because threaded comments are not aesthetically pleasing to look at. They get messy, especially when there are a lot of responses to comments. Every response narrows the next response. It looks awful and gets confusing.
Think of it this way: Some comments will be about 1/6 as wide as they appear now.
One Qustion from the interview. Why didn’t John just make 7’s for the Cal Sr. tribute. It says you got them from a supplier. All the other numbers were done in house, why not this little thing?
Webmaster John, I agree with you. Why mess with success? Let’s keep this a thread-free zone.
Hey, Ek, could I have a box of my own? I really envy you and Paul for your colored boxes. I want—what else?—a black box. I like black—except in the Mets’ uniforms, of course.
[quote comment=”9887″]Hey, Ek, could I have a box of my own? I really envy you and Paul for your colored boxes. I want—what else?—a black box. I like black—except in the Mets’ uniforms, of course.[/quote]
You should ask Paul. I wasn’t going to do it for myself, but he thought it might be good for technical questions.
I’m still not totally comfortable with it. I like it for official technical stuff, but I don’t like it when I just want to talk uniforms.
Anyway, I might include “gravatars” soon. It wouldn’t look any different, but it would include a unique icon (that each person could choose) into the comments.
We’ll get it right eventually, haha.
So, I’m watching “Once In A Lifetime”, the documentary about the New York Cosmos of the old NASL . . .The uniforms that those teams wore, and not just the Cosmos, mind you, could keep Paul and this whole website busy for YEARS!!!.
White jerseys with green and yellow collars, greem jerseys with a yellow vertical panel on the right front with the team name in red. I’m telling you it’s a veritable cornucopia of uni-related topics.
In the spirit of today’s interview, there was even a shot of Giorgio Chinaglia’s jersey where the lettering of his name had come off and his name read “CHINA_L_A”
Ek, you are the oil that keeps this website running smoothly. I am glad you have your green box because then I can find you easily, especially when I have questions—as I frequently do. I will ask Paul about my own box—kinda cool if each regular had a different-colored box, but icons would be cool, too. Especially if they are animated.
If there are no female gravatars, I want to be Troy Polamalu!
[quote comment=”9890″]Ek, you are the oil that keeps this website running smoothly. I am glad you have your green box because then I can find you easily, especially when I have questions—as I frequently do. I will ask Paul about my own box—kinda cool if each regular had a different-colored box, but icons would be cool, too. Especially if they are animated.
If there are no female gravatars, I want to be Troy Polamalu![/quote]
That could become a bit problematic… there are enough people on here on a fairly regular basis that we would run out of colors (not counting two colors that are really close together).
I know that this is late, but we live in the central time zone. My fiancee works at dicks and had a customer ask her if a vikings jersey was an old or new copy and i’m trying to find a side by side comparison, anyone know of one. And just to say I loathe the jerseys, and not just becasue their purple. Also I like the fact that all of the comments are in line, when i’m bored at work it gives me a variety of different things to talk about.
I’m kinda upset that the interview was removed and apparently was the best profile yet. Why did you take it off and if possible can it be reposted?
[quote comment=”9893″]I’m kinda upset that the interview was removed and apparently was the best profile yet. Why did you take it off and if possible can it be reposted?[/quote]
It was removed because Joe requested it to be removed.
I think Paul will elaborate more about it tomorrow.
[quote comment=”9877″]
I don’t find the site too Mets-centric, and I think the entry the day after the clinch was understandable.
[/quote]
I think the site can be too metcentric. but then again, I’ve been a Braves fan since birth, so hating the mets come with the territory (except good ole tommy glavine. he is a scholar and a gentleman). but congrats to the mets fans here. you guys had a hell of a season.
[quote comment=”9891″]
That could become a bit problematic… there are enough people on here on a fairly regular basis that we would run out of colors (not counting two colors that are really close together).[/quote]
Yeah, I know, but I think we could come up with enough colors. Or maybe we could do patterns, too. You could be vertical red stripes, for example. All I can say is, I got dibs on black.
Check the Nike counter man. Its gonna overload. Lukas, you either got a lot of fans or a lot of spies.
[quote comment=”9897″]Yeah, I know, but I think we could come up with enough colors. Or maybe we could do patterns, too. You could be vertical red stripes, for example. All I can say is, I got dibs on black.[/quote]
I think the gravatars are the answer. You can choose or create a small picture that will identify you. I’ll work on it over the next week or so.
Gravatars sound good to me. I request an Astros or an SMU Mustangs icon if at possible.
Keep up the good work John.
[quote comment=”9826″][Of course, some colleges (Iowa comes to mind) have all their players wear Revolutions, so their kicker doesn’t have a choice.[/quote]
That would be annoying for me, Riddell helmets would never fit my head. Only a Schutt AIR size Extra Large would work…
The live preview doesn’t interpret the [quote] tags
Or, as I meant, the “quote” tags…
[quote comment=”9904″]Or, as I meant, the “quote” tags…[/quote]
The “quote comment” function is performed by the server after it’s entered into the database. There really isn’t much I can do about the live preview interpreting it because it calls a specific quote by number. Hence the “quote comment =some#” code.
Can’t have everything, unfortunately….
I’m doing my best to include funcionality with ease of use. It’s kind of a balancing act.
[quote comment=”9865″]2 points of interst regarding kicker/punter facemasks:
Scott Player is the punter/holder who wears the single bar and pushes it way down when punting…BUT the second his punt is away he pushes the single bar up into a more “protective” position in case he is called upone to make a tackle…a very small quirk I have witnessed in person at more than one NFL games I’ve been to and watched him in action.
Kevin “BUTTHEAD” Butler actually had “BUTTHEAD” written on his helmet in the front bumper spot where Riddell, etc. would be!!![/quote]
[quote comment=”9843″]I know my documentation sucks on this but this weekend I saw a punter with the single bar but he had it pulled WAY down like it was almost pointing at the ground. I know they are grandfathered into being able to use it but is there any rule as far as how they wear it?[/quote]
If I remember correctly, it was Scott Player of the Arizona Cardinals. The way he was wearing it offered no face protection at all.
I know punters see very little contact, but it’s still dangerous wearing a facemask like that. I remember a few years ago when Matt Turk punted for the Redskins. He wore a very narrow two-barred face mask that exposed most of his face. He was in on a tackle one time, and either the kick returner’s knee or foot nailed him in the face. The camera showed Turk after the play and his whole nose was shattered. It was a mangled mess and blood streaming down his mouth and chin. Next to Joe Theismann’s leg breaking, it was of the grossest things I’ve ever seen in football.[/quote]
Yeah it was scott player. I know this is an old pic, but it looks the same for his facemask. but this artical says he will be the last, b/c he still wears it. so to my guess, i think mort will have to wear a new normal facemask? am i reading that right?
If we do the gravatar thing, which sounds really cool, we should make some uniform detail a required part of it. Maybe the logo/uniform of a favorite team, or a helmet, ore something like that. It is the Uni Watch blog after all, right?
By the way, I love the new preview tool. It’s really cool. And I like the comments section the way they are. I’m not a fan of the message board idea (if you are taking votes on this). The only thing that might improve the comments section is if they could be a little wider on the page. That way, we wouldn’t have to scroll down so much.
Webmaster John, once again, I bow down to the awesomeness that is you. I really dig the preview area and all the cute nifty buttons. I am stoked about the gravatars (though that word makes me think of gravlax), and I thank you for all the hard work you put into this site. Can you give a hint as to what kind of pictures you’ll be creating for the gravatars?
[quote comment=”9908″]Can you give a hint as to what kind of pictures you’ll be creating for the gravatars?[/quote]
I won’t be doing any of it. It’s all up to you. The gravatar project is a web-wide one. The idea is that sites that are “gravatar-enabled” will allow you to use the one you created on gravatar.com.
The point is that if you went here to post or a different blog to post (let’s say a Twins one, in your case), your unique image would be the same on both blogs. If you changed your image on gravatar.com, your image would change here and anywhere else you posted.
A site has to be gravatar-enabled for it to work. More and more are going that root, though.
I am more excited, Ek, after reading your last post. I have to tweak you a bit, though. Route, not root–which is what I do for the Twins.
[quote comment=”9911″]I am more excited, Ek, after reading your last post. I have to tweak you a bit, though. Route, not root–which is what I do for the Twins.[/quote]
Check the time. I’m allowed a few mistakes at this hour.
All in good fun…
Also, I’m almost done with the gravatar code. It might be ready to go tonight. “Route” for me to get it done.
There once was a John from Lancaster
Whose skin was as white as alabaster
Though my color idea didn’t bear fruit
And he mixes up root and route
He’s still one hell of a webmaster!
John, John, he’s our man. If he can’t do it–oh well.
Good luck!
There was supposed to be a space between the end of the limerick and the cheer, but the preview is acting up.
Gravatars are up. Click the stirrup to sign up. Enter your email, and once it’s approved, it’ll show up here.
Sad to see the interview being deleted; maybe the offending parts could be edited out?
I’m betting Peter Angelos’ minions ddn’t like being called cheap and so they threatened to take the business away from Joe and defect to The Sports Authority or Modell’s for their jerseys!
[quote comment=”9816″]
It looks like the “kicker version” of the strange facemasks that came around in the early-to-mid 1990s. The only picture I could find is link of Gregg Lloyd. Some of the guys on my high school team used them, but they seemed to big and awkward for me, plus the “bars” were very thick and obstructed my vision somewhat. I only remember linemen wearing it, but they did have versions for backs and receivers, too. Maybe Mort has the kicker version?[/quote]
I wore on of those playing high school ball in 1991-92. Most of the other guys had the vinyl-covered metal bars, which would get pretty torn up over the course of a season.
What is html? What is a gravitar?
[quote comment=”9829″]Here is the Helmet Hut link to their Dunguard page: link
Dunguard Trivia – a few years ago (when he was with the Bucs) Trent Dilfer struck up a friendship with Terry Bradshaw. Dilfer wanted to wear Bradshaw’s old Dunguard mask (the same model Morten Anaderson wears) for one game. I can’t remember if they ever did let him wear it or not – it would have been his last year with Tampa Bay, which would have been 1999 maybe?[/quote]
He did wear that facemask in a game. It was a sunday night game on ESPN vs. the Tennesse Oilers . (not yet the Titans)I don’t remeber the year but 99 sounds about right. I remember Tampa lost that game and Dilfer had a pretty good game, which was rare for him.