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[detlef]

On of my favorite new websites is Uni Watch, a blog written by Paul Lukas to supplement his regular column at ESPN. Before he was at ESPN, he wrote for The Village Voice until the sports section was discontinued in 2003, (archives here) and Slate.com (archives here).

Two days ago, Lukas posted about the University of Oregon's new uniforms, and

Comments

[lester22]

Dude, I LOVE Uni Watch. I obsessively click on the links and get all hyper-critical like, well, like a fashionista commenting on the lastest Mizrahi or what Angelina Jolie wore to the Oscars. Actually, I'm kinda grateful that we, as Men, have an analog to what's shown on E! for women.

[detlef]

Somehow I knew you had to be in on Uni Watch! That's really awesome.

What do you think abou those Cool-Flo helmets? I shudder every time I see one on the tube. No way you'd get me to wear one of those things.

[lester22]

Oh man, that Cool-Flo shit has got to GO, and fast. It's not as noticeable on the teams that have the single-color helmets (like the L.A. Angels) but when I see it on the Mets players I want to hurl. I can't imagine it makes that much of a difference, and it looks like something out of TRON.

[detlef]

Jeff Kent switched back to the old-school lid after his beaning, so I wonder if the Cool Flos are as safe. That said, the Mets always look strange. They really need some help.

Have you seen the cool retro-look catcher's helmets Joe Mauer and Mike Redmond are wearing?

[lester22]

Nope, I haven't. Personally, I think the Mets should go back to their circa-1986 unis, with the pinstripes and home whites. Which leads me to another point - teams with two-tone unis (dark colors on top, white pants) should be ejected from the league. Doesn't anyone care about tradition anymore?

And finally, I submit to you this: Dave Parker's batting helmet from many decades ago.

[detlef]

I wonder if Dave Parker's favorite movie was one of the Jason flicks.

Mauer and Redmond are wearing a helmet painted to match the 1976-style. Mauer went up to Tony Oliva (old-time Twins great) and told him that he wanted a helmet like that, and the equipment manager went and made one for each catcher. They wear them at home games and are considering another style for road games.

Two-tone unis can look kind of cool (the ones for Cuba in the WBC looked pretty nice) if they're done right. Think 1950s-style, with high stirrups and striped socks. The unis for the US were horrible, especially the graphic. Time for a re-design, there.

I never much cared for the Met uniforms of that era, myself, especially the road ones. I do like the font they use for the NY on the cap, but I'd like to see something entirely new tried out.

[lester22]

Incidentally, I like the "TC" logo much better than the plain "M." Which also makes me pine for the old Expos "M" a bit...for the longest time, as a youth, I thought it read "slb" in lowercase and couldn't figure out what that stood for.

The thing about the Mets unis that I like is that they're a homage to the two departed NY franchises (especially the NY logo on the cap). The colors are Dodger blue and Giants orange, and the NY is the same script as the NY on the old New York Giants' cap.

[detlef]

I like the TC logo better, too. As a kid I always wanted a hat like Harmon Killebrew (the blue model), but now I like the red version better. Especially when paired with the old powder blue unis.

As a kid I thought that Expos cap said "elb" in lower case, which, knowing the Expos were in Quebec, meant Expos le Baseball to me.

I was aware that the Mets colors were a tribute to the Dodgers and Giants, but I don't know if there's room in NYC for two teams defined by pinstripes.

[lester22]

Right, I meant "elb" too. Is that what the idea was, a logo that was both "M" for Montreal and "elb" for "Expos le Baseball"? If so, that makes it much, much cooler.

OK, the Mets can ditch the pinstripes. But if they do, they have to get rid of the stupid black shirts they've been wearing.

One more observation: call me crazy, but I'm psyched the Brewers are wearing they're old, AL unis from the 1980s on Sundays this season. Next up should be the White Sox unis from the early 80s and this logo. Sure, it flies in the idea of tradition, but something about it really appeals to me.

[detlef]

Thing is, I don't even know if "Expos le Baseball" is correct. That's just what my kid logic told me