I care about sports more than I should. But, had it not been for my parents, I may have cared about sports way more than I should. When I was young I played youth sports during most seasons of the year: soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring (and touch football everyday at recess). And with the exception of baseball, I had a fair amount of success in athletics at an early age. This led to invitations to play on some traveling soccer teams, and weekend basketball tournaments. However, the rule was that I could not play on Sunday mornings if it interfered with church. This meant that I had to say no to such teams. Not playing on these teams probably hindered my athletic development to some degree. I missed out on a chance to play more, against better competition, with better teammates. However, I thank my parents for making this decision, because it taught me that there are things more important than sports. And it gives me something to blame my short "athletic career" on, when what truly limited me was a lack of the requisite running ability, jumping ability, and strength. It also softened the blow when I was cut from three basketball teams. My parents provided me with priorities, balance, and perspective, and for that I will always be grateful.
In spite of this, there is still ample evidence that I care about sports too much:
1. I write a sports blog.
2. I got a throwback Hakeem Olajuwon t-shirt jersey for Christmas. I was really excited, and wear it quite often. I am 27.
3. I am the commissioner of my fantasy football league. And baseball league. And basketball league. And I dabbled in fantasy hockey for one season.
However, there is also evidence to the contrary:
1. I have never had cable television, thus severely limiting my opportunities to watch sports on TV.
2. I have never been to a postseason sporting event.
3. I routinely skip watching important sporting events because of church or family.
You see, I have limits as a sports fan. And these limits probably also affect my ability to blog about sports, because by and large, I don't watch most of what's going on in the world of sports. This last month, I contemplated going to a place I have never gone as a sports fan before: season tickets. You see the Minnesota Timberwolves are not very good at basketball. Therefore, for next season, they are practically giving away tickets. The latest deal allows one to commit to buying season tickets for a price that corresponds to the Wolves' draft position (which will be 1-5). Meaning that I could have Wolves season tickets for anywhere from $40-200. Either way, those are still some cheap tickets. However, I couldn't pull the trigger for these reasons:
1. To enjoy the games, I'd need someone to go with. (I guess I value friendship over sports)
2. When I thought about and additional ticket, parking for the games, eating at the games, buying foam fingers at the game, the price kept rising. (I guess I don't value sports enough to invest in them financially)
3. As much as I would enjoy seeing so much basketball, I think there would be nights that I would feel compelled to go, and though my wife enjoys the occasional sporting event, I am not sure that it would be as fun for her 41 times in a year. (I guess I care about my family more than sports).
4. There would undoubtedly be games that interfered with church either on Sunday or Wednesday nights. (I guess my faith is more important to me than sports)
In the end, I could not justify purchasing the tickets. All of those things in parentheses were too important to me. This has made me come to terms with the fact that I may never have season tickets. There is a chance I might never go to a playoff game. I might never get ESPN. But I think I'd rather have it that way. Most of us have limits as a sports fan. And maybe sports are more fun when they are not our life, but just a part of our lives. And maybe, be just checking out the occasional game that I have the time for, or the money for, or the friends to go with, I'll add to this somewhat eclectic list of sporting events that I have attended live. And maybe these events will be more interesting, more spontaneous, and more memorable than 41 Timberwolves game in a row.
The Best Sporting Events I Have Attended Live (not necessarily in order)
1. Yankees vs. Cubs, Summer 2003, Wrigley Field. My brother and I went to see the the first two games of the first interleague matchup between these two historic teams. In the second game Roger Clemens was going for win 300. He left the game in line for the win, but with runners on base. The first pitch from the reliever was hit out of the park and the Cubs took the lead. The crowd went wild.
2. First Cubs home game after September 11, 2001. Went with friends to see the Cubs, not even sure who they played. I remember "Amazing Grace" being played on the bagpipes. I remember huge flags being unfurled from the buildings behind Wrigley. I remember caring about the national anthem. I remember a moment of silence. I remember Sosa taking the field waving an American flag, and homering in the first inning.
3. Pacers vs. Heat, Easter 2002. After church on Sunday, some friends and I went to a fairly meaningless game in Indianapolis, featuring a very poor, pre-Dwayne Wade, Heat team. But we almost witnessed the 5th quadruple-double in NBA history from Ron Artest who finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, nine assists, and eight steals.
4. Second game ever at Target Field (see last week's post).
5. The last three Indianapolis 500s. Notable for the magnitude of the event and time spent with friends. I am not really a racing fan.
6. Great seats at a Bears-Vikings game at Soldier Field. Notable because, at this point, the Bears were my "second favorite" football team, and it was my first ever live NFL experience.
7. A's vs. Red Sox, late 80s or early 90s, Fenway Park. The first baseball game I remember attending. I remember Terry Steinbach homered for the A's.
8. Red Sox vs. Royals, Kaufmann Stadium. Saw Pedro Martinez pitch, and pitch well.
9. Somebody vs. Royals, 2004. Notable, because four other post-college age friends seemed to be the only non-kids or non-parents in line for their run the bases promotion at the end of the game.
10. Cornhuskers Football vs. Pacific, 1994. My first Huskers game. They won 70-21.
I would be interested to hear from some other people about exciting, or random, sporting events that you saw live.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thoughts from Target Field
Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of taking in the second game ever at Target Field. I got to see the Twins, play my beloved Red Sox. It was great. The stadium is beautiful, set right in downtown Minneapolis. The Twins are fielding a really good, and likable team. Joe Mauer is locked up for the future, which makes the field look 3 times as nice. For at least this year, Minnesota is probably the most fun place to live as a baseball fan. I feel lucky to be here.
It was really a great day. I picked the only game that the Red Sox won in the series. I got to see homers from Pedroia and Cuddyer, two players I really enjoy. I got to endure a little drizzle, but the beginning and end of the game were sunny. The only thing that could have made it better is someone to enjoy it with. My ticket was a last minute purchase, for a day game, so I ended up at a baseball game by myself. This gave me a good 4 hours to think about the following things:
1. Every baseball stadium should be downtown. Almost all new stadiums are going in this direction, and that's a good thing. Skyline views are great. Having places to go before and after the game is great. For people visiting the park from out of town, it gives them the chance to spend the day getting to know the city instead of driving out to a sports complex on the outskirts of town.
2. I'm confused about "Don't Stop Believin'" I'm all for mixing sports and music. And this is a logical song to play at sporting events: inspiring, catchy, recognizable. And I certainly don't think any one team should have the right to play a certain song at their stadium, but this AL Central thing is a little confusing. The Twins play a karaoke version of the song late in the game between innings, and show fans singing on the Jumbotron. Fun and all, but the Chicago White Sox, their biggest rival, made this the theme song of their 2005 World Series Championship run. Steve Perry even showed up at the parade to sing with members of the team. Adding to the confusion is the line in the song that says "born and raised in south Detroit", and you have your fans singing about a city of another divisional rival, the Detroit Tigers. The only division opponents who don't have a stake in this song are the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians (no, Journey, is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). However if this song speaks to any fan base, it should be the Royals. If you haven't stopped believing in the Royals, then you're faith is admirable. Someone needs to figure this out.
3. Tips for appearing to be a knowledgeable fan. I am not so aloof to think that everyone who attends a baseball game needs to know all the ins and outs of baseball. As I've said before, I think anyone can enjoy a baseball game. But here is a little advice.
a. If you are sitting anywhere but directly behind the plate, don't boo balls and strikes, honestly, you can't tell.
b. Don't boo pick-off attempts. Contrary to popular belief, baserunning makes a difference in baseball. A pitcher should not be booed for trying to keep a player a couple steps closer to the base. Baseball is best when sipped slowly.
c. Don't overreact to pop-flys. This is the funniest one. Whenever a bat makes a nice cracking sound and a ball goes in the air, most people assume it is going to be a homer. This is usually not the case. Tip: watch the fielder, if he backs up, or starts to run really hard, it's probably okay to get excited.
4. Target Field is a good name as far a corporate names go. A lot of people bemoan the fact that every field is now named by a corporate sponsors. This does not concern me so much, but I do like when a stadium name is short, easy to remember, and maybe has a double meaning that doesn't automatically make you think of the sponsor every time. Target Field meets these requirements. The United Center in Chicago rarely makes me think of the airline. Tropicana Field makes me think of breakfast. U.S. Cellular field is a mouthful. Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland is just awful. The Pepsi Center in Denver makes me thirsty. The AT&T Center in San Antonio makes me think of Luke Wilson. The TD Banknorth Garden in Boston makes me cry. Target Field works for me.
5. The jersey rules in practice as they apply to the Twins (read my buying a jersey post for reference).
Rule 2- Jim Thome
Mauer, of course is Rule 4
Hunter, rule 7
That 44 is a Chili Davis jersey, a classic Rule 5
There is also a Puckett jersey in there, which would fit nicely into Paul's "Face of the Franchise" addendum.
I know Twins fans liked Doug Mientkiewicz, but his legacy is now a defensive replacement for the 2004 Red Sox, so this has a little Rule 6 to it. (or the optimistic view would be to say this guy has a Rule 3 relationships with Mientkiewicz)
c. Don't overreact to pop-flys. This is the funniest one. Whenever a bat makes a nice cracking sound and a ball goes in the air, most people assume it is going to be a homer. This is usually not the case. Tip: watch the fielder, if he backs up, or starts to run really hard, it's probably okay to get excited.
4. Target Field is a good name as far a corporate names go. A lot of people bemoan the fact that every field is now named by a corporate sponsors. This does not concern me so much, but I do like when a stadium name is short, easy to remember, and maybe has a double meaning that doesn't automatically make you think of the sponsor every time. Target Field meets these requirements. The United Center in Chicago rarely makes me think of the airline. Tropicana Field makes me think of breakfast. U.S. Cellular field is a mouthful. Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland is just awful. The Pepsi Center in Denver makes me thirsty. The AT&T Center in San Antonio makes me think of Luke Wilson. The TD Banknorth Garden in Boston makes me cry. Target Field works for me.
5. The jersey rules in practice as they apply to the Twins (read my buying a jersey post for reference).
Rule 2- Jim Thome
Mauer, of course is Rule 4Hunter, rule 7
That 44 is a Chili Davis jersey, a classic Rule 5
There is also a Puckett jersey in there, which would fit nicely into Paul's "Face of the Franchise" addendum.
I know Twins fans liked Doug Mientkiewicz, but his legacy is now a defensive replacement for the 2004 Red Sox, so this has a little Rule 6 to it. (or the optimistic view would be to say this guy has a Rule 3 relationships with Mientkiewicz)That's all for now. I look forward to a few more games at Target Field this season, but hopefully with company.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Perfect Sport
For many sports fans, this is the very best time of the year. Fall is pretty good too, with the start of the NFL season and the World Series, but spring is where it's at. March Madness, MLB Opening Day, the Masters, the NFL Draft, and the start of the NHL and NBA Playoffs. It is a good time to be reminded of what we like about sports. In honor of the spring, I wanted to create the perfect sport. Each league and sport has unique qualities that make it entertaining. Each sport also has characteristics that detract from the entertainment as well. So my goal, with this post is to make the perfect sport. To me the perfect sport has:
NHL Fans:
Hockey fans are knowledgeable and passionate. As the least popular of the 4 major team sports, it is the most difficult to follow, therefore it requires commitment. It also seems to me that there is less separating the good teams from the bad teams than in most sports, so it requires a little more nuance to know who is good and who is bad.
College football traditions:
Fight songs, classic uniforms, tailgates, entire stadiums in one color, mascots, bowl games, rivalries, cheerleaders (who actually seem to care about the game), marching bands. Professional sports seem overproduced, telling fans when to cheer, pumping in top 40 hits, filling timeouts with distractions. College football just feels more organic.
NFL Regular Season:
While the schedule now goes anywhere from Thursday to Monday, you essentially need only one day to follow football: Sunday. Add to the fact that there are only 16 games, so each is incredibly important, and you've got a compelling regular season. A schedule that weights division games heavily helps create natural rivalries and familiarity. It is no wonder the NFL is the most popular sport in America.
MLB Postseason:
There is something magical about the baseball playoffs. Part of it is that only 8 teams make it, so it means more to make it than it does in the other sports. While single elimination is fun (March Madness, NFL Playoffs), a series creates much more drama. It requires strategy, match-ups, scratching out runs, putting starters in as relievers, etc. While baseball drags too long during the regular season, I root for long games in the postseason. The pressure is palpable.
NBA Offseason:
In no other sport can one player change a team's fortune so much. Whether through the draft (Spurs, Tim Duncan), trade (KG and Ray Allen, Celtics), or free agency (Shaq, Lakers), offseason moves really shape the season. In baseball, we overpay for pitching, in football we overdraft quarterbacks, and rarely see big free agent moves. The NBA has, by far, the most fun offseason.
MLB Stadiums:
No other sport allows for as much interpretation (golf is fun for this reason too, but I'm sticking with team sports). Funny dimensions, high walls, roofs, domes, waterfalls, bays to hit homeruns into, ivy, pesky poles, stupid little hills in center field (seriously Houston, who though of that?). Also, the most fun for fans, especially the new stadiums that feature city views, or ocean views, or mountain views. You can have a good time at a baseball game whether the game is good or not. Good views, good food, good smells.
MLB Uniforms:
Mostly for the hats.
College Basketball coaches:
Coaching college basketball requires teaching, personality, strategy, and longevity. The best ones are teachers who care about their players, strategists who impact the game, and have become fixtures at their schools: Calhoun, Boeheim, Thompson, Wooden, Izzo, Coach K (yes I did avoid spelling his last name).
NBA Players:
Because there are fewer players playing, no helmets, pads, or hats, we get to know NBA players. This is why I love the NBA so much. You can see the emotion, or the determination, or the exhaustion. You can tell when a team has chemistry or not. Add to that a game that allows for style and improvisation, and you have the best entertainment value of any sport.
NHL Trophy:
Obviously.
NBA MVP:
While there is the occasional mistake (Bill Simmons covers this well in his The Book of Basketball), this is the sport that the MVP tells you the most about the season. Players are, for the most part, graded on a similar scale. In the NFL, a quarterback starts with a significant advantage. All NBA MVPs are Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers. MLB MVPs include the likes of Juan Gonzalez, Mo Vaughn, and Terry Pendleton.
That's how I see the perfect sport. But really, sports are fun because of the ways they are different. A 16 game baseball season would be meaningless, even if 162 games feels pretty long in the middle of July. The NBA wouldn't work as well if coaches dominated the game. Football wouldn't make sense with quirky stadiums. College basketball would not be nearly as fun if the playoffs were played in series. So I'll just enjoy the spring, when all of these sports come together for a couple of months.
NHL Fans:
Hockey fans are knowledgeable and passionate. As the least popular of the 4 major team sports, it is the most difficult to follow, therefore it requires commitment. It also seems to me that there is less separating the good teams from the bad teams than in most sports, so it requires a little more nuance to know who is good and who is bad.
College football traditions:
Fight songs, classic uniforms, tailgates, entire stadiums in one color, mascots, bowl games, rivalries, cheerleaders (who actually seem to care about the game), marching bands. Professional sports seem overproduced, telling fans when to cheer, pumping in top 40 hits, filling timeouts with distractions. College football just feels more organic.
NFL Regular Season:
While the schedule now goes anywhere from Thursday to Monday, you essentially need only one day to follow football: Sunday. Add to the fact that there are only 16 games, so each is incredibly important, and you've got a compelling regular season. A schedule that weights division games heavily helps create natural rivalries and familiarity. It is no wonder the NFL is the most popular sport in America.
MLB Postseason:
There is something magical about the baseball playoffs. Part of it is that only 8 teams make it, so it means more to make it than it does in the other sports. While single elimination is fun (March Madness, NFL Playoffs), a series creates much more drama. It requires strategy, match-ups, scratching out runs, putting starters in as relievers, etc. While baseball drags too long during the regular season, I root for long games in the postseason. The pressure is palpable.
NBA Offseason:
In no other sport can one player change a team's fortune so much. Whether through the draft (Spurs, Tim Duncan), trade (KG and Ray Allen, Celtics), or free agency (Shaq, Lakers), offseason moves really shape the season. In baseball, we overpay for pitching, in football we overdraft quarterbacks, and rarely see big free agent moves. The NBA has, by far, the most fun offseason.
MLB Stadiums:
No other sport allows for as much interpretation (golf is fun for this reason too, but I'm sticking with team sports). Funny dimensions, high walls, roofs, domes, waterfalls, bays to hit homeruns into, ivy, pesky poles, stupid little hills in center field (seriously Houston, who though of that?). Also, the most fun for fans, especially the new stadiums that feature city views, or ocean views, or mountain views. You can have a good time at a baseball game whether the game is good or not. Good views, good food, good smells.
MLB Uniforms:
Mostly for the hats.
College Basketball coaches:
Coaching college basketball requires teaching, personality, strategy, and longevity. The best ones are teachers who care about their players, strategists who impact the game, and have become fixtures at their schools: Calhoun, Boeheim, Thompson, Wooden, Izzo, Coach K (yes I did avoid spelling his last name).
NBA Players:
Because there are fewer players playing, no helmets, pads, or hats, we get to know NBA players. This is why I love the NBA so much. You can see the emotion, or the determination, or the exhaustion. You can tell when a team has chemistry or not. Add to that a game that allows for style and improvisation, and you have the best entertainment value of any sport.
NHL Trophy:
Obviously.
NBA MVP:
While there is the occasional mistake (Bill Simmons covers this well in his The Book of Basketball), this is the sport that the MVP tells you the most about the season. Players are, for the most part, graded on a similar scale. In the NFL, a quarterback starts with a significant advantage. All NBA MVPs are Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers. MLB MVPs include the likes of Juan Gonzalez, Mo Vaughn, and Terry Pendleton.
That's how I see the perfect sport. But really, sports are fun because of the ways they are different. A 16 game baseball season would be meaningless, even if 162 games feels pretty long in the middle of July. The NBA wouldn't work as well if coaches dominated the game. Football wouldn't make sense with quirky stadiums. College basketball would not be nearly as fun if the playoffs were played in series. So I'll just enjoy the spring, when all of these sports come together for a couple of months.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Buying a Jersey
In a week, I am going to my first game at the Twins' new Target Field. They are playing my Red Sox (I am not struggling as much with my loyalty with these two teams). I will wear my Red Sox gear with pride. That said, my Red Sox gear is a bit dated. I will most likely be wearing a Nomar Garciaparra t-shirt jersey. I don't have a problem with wearing this shirt, but I probably need to get a new one sooner rather than later. This got me thinking about what goes into buying a jersey. How should a fan go about picking whose number they will wear on their backs. Now I have maybe lost a few people with the t-shirt jersey thing, but I think they are the perfect apparel for a game for the following reasons:
1. They don't cost an arm and a leg. I am not spending $80-150 on an authentic jersey when a player could be traded, leave in free agency, or suffer a career ending injury at any time.
2. I'm comfortable in t-shirts. Football jerseys look weird on me (might have something to do with the fact that they are supposed to be worn with pads. Basketball jerseys look weird on me (might have something do with with their lack of sleeves and my lack of muscle). Baseball jerseys have some promise, but I'd prefer something without buttons for a sporting event.
3. It's a step above a generic team t-shirt. It suggests some actual investment in the team. It involves some thought, and gives us an extra rooting interest. When your guy does well, you look better. When your guy does poorly, you look a little worse.
So, without further ado, here are my rules for buying a jersey (maybe I will have picked my new Red Sox jersey t-shirt by the end of this).
Rule 1 (the Ryan Leaf Rule):
Don't buy the jersey of a rookie. In fact, wait for a player to complete two full years. This way you know they are not a bust. Waiting two years prevents you from buying into the extra hype that a rookie always gets for being new and exciting (the Matt Forte ammendment). By year three, you usually have a good idea of what you're getting. I went to a Lions vs. Bears game a couple years ago and saw a few too many Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Curtis Enis, and Cade McNown jerseys. Make your players earn it.
Rule 2 (the Brett Favre Rule):
Proceed with caution on free agents(especially older ones). As I've stated before, I was all for the Brett Favre signing. He really seemed to be the missing piece for the Viking this last year. However, purchasing his jersey is something of a slap in the face of the other Vikings who have been here for a number of years. Also, with no guarantee that he comes back next year, and the Vikings falling short of the Super Bowl, that jersey will not hold up over time. I found a Joe Montana Chiefs jersey at a thrift store in college. I wore it for fantasy football, and it provided comedic value. That is destiny of all the Favre jerseys that people purchased last year: comedic value (unless, of course, he comes back and wins a Super Bowl this year).
Rule 3 (the Ray Allen Rule, or for Doug, the Fukudome Rule):
This is more a guideline than a rule, but it's good to have some personal connection to the player. For me a Ray Allen Celtics jersey is the perfect storm (although I wouldn't purchase it because of his age, and the fact that this is probably his last year in Boston). Allen played for my favorite college basketball team (UConn), my favorite pro team (Boston), wears the same number I wore in high school (20), and plays a style of game that a much, much, much more talented version of me would play (shooter, not known for his defense). Again, this is a guideline, you can't get carried away with this one, part of why we like athletes is that they are nothing like us, but it's nice to have some solidarity with the player of choice.
Rule 4 (The Michael Jordan Rule, or for Paul the Sidney Crosby Rule):
No one can blame you for not over thinking it. You won't regret buying a jersey of a player who is clearly the best on his team (or best in his league, or best in his sport, or best in history). Going to Twins' game, I'm always struck by the volume of Mauer jerseys. It almost seems silly to wear anyone else jersey. (Mauer is so fun to watch, he seems to be able to do whatever the team needs in specific moments, whether its a walk, a single, an opposite field hit, a homerun). The presence of Mauer jerseys is quadrupled by the fact that he is from here. I fully support wearing Mauer Jerseys. Having said this, the Michael Jordan Rule is not quite my style...
Rule 5 (The Dwight Evans Rule):
Often times, when we're kids, we root for players for no particular reason. On a team where Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Jim Rice would be the logical choices for favorite player, I always liked Dwight Evans. Not sure if it was his mustaches, or his nickname, "Dewey", but Evans was my favorite. Now I'm a not suggesting that it is ok to pick any player, at random, and wear his jersey. But looking back, Evans was a three-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glover, so it's not like he was nobody. A player should still be good, but I prefer a little subtlety over star power. One of my friends from church went to most of the Vikings games this year, wearing an Antoine Winfield jersey. That jersey says to me, "I know a little something about football." Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen are great, but anyone could get their jersey. Winfield is underrated, but a huge part of the Vikings defense. (Add to that, that he used to play for the Bills, he would probably be my choice as well.)
Rule 6 (the Carlos Gomez Rule):
Don't go too subtle. Other people shouldn't scratch their heads when they see your jersey. You want to root for someone who is not just a ninth inning defensive replacement. I saw a few too many of these at the Dome last year.
Rule 7 (The Nomar Garciaparra Rule)
This is the hardest rule, because we can't see into the future. The fact is, most players don't play with one team for an entire career anymore. But there is added value to a jersey that can be worn without embarrassment after the player has moved on. My Nomar shirt brings me back to a time when I was waiting for the Sox to win their first championship of my lifetime. His lack of success in his other stops have insured that he'll always be remembered for his time in Boston. Because of this, I don't feel silly wearing his jersey to games still. But, my friends who bought Nomar Cubs jerseys (they violated the Brett Favre rule), they probably do. Mine kind of holds up.
So let's find me a new Red Sox Jersey
Rule 1
Goodbye Daniel Bard. Try again next year.
Rule 2
Sorry Victor Martinez, Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro, John Lackey.
Rule 3
Youkilis wear 20, I've always fancied myself the relief pitching type, so Papelbon is in play.
Rule 4
Papi is out (not because of current performance, but past success and popularity).
Rule 5
Tricky with the Sox: because they are so overexposed, it is hard to be subtle. Youk, Beckett and Pedroia might be a little too easy. Ellsbury's good looks and base stealing have made him just a little too popular. At the same time, they are a team without a transcendent superstar.
Rule 6
So long JD Drew and Bill Hall
Rule 7
Wakefield is somewhat appealing because of his longevity with the team, but perhaps a little obscure.
Decision: Jon Lester. Still somewhat overshadowed by Beckett, and even Dice-K. Young enough to wear his jersey for the next several years. A great story, extremely talented, easy to root for.
Perhaps on my trip to Target Field I will make a photo journal of the jersey rules. And I should start looking for a Lester t-shirt jersey. But, more likely, I'll keep trotting out the Garciaparra shirt.
1. They don't cost an arm and a leg. I am not spending $80-150 on an authentic jersey when a player could be traded, leave in free agency, or suffer a career ending injury at any time.
2. I'm comfortable in t-shirts. Football jerseys look weird on me (might have something to do with the fact that they are supposed to be worn with pads. Basketball jerseys look weird on me (might have something do with with their lack of sleeves and my lack of muscle). Baseball jerseys have some promise, but I'd prefer something without buttons for a sporting event.
3. It's a step above a generic team t-shirt. It suggests some actual investment in the team. It involves some thought, and gives us an extra rooting interest. When your guy does well, you look better. When your guy does poorly, you look a little worse.
So, without further ado, here are my rules for buying a jersey (maybe I will have picked my new Red Sox jersey t-shirt by the end of this).
Rule 1 (the Ryan Leaf Rule):
Don't buy the jersey of a rookie. In fact, wait for a player to complete two full years. This way you know they are not a bust. Waiting two years prevents you from buying into the extra hype that a rookie always gets for being new and exciting (the Matt Forte ammendment). By year three, you usually have a good idea of what you're getting. I went to a Lions vs. Bears game a couple years ago and saw a few too many Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Curtis Enis, and Cade McNown jerseys. Make your players earn it.
Rule 2 (the Brett Favre Rule):
Proceed with caution on free agents(especially older ones). As I've stated before, I was all for the Brett Favre signing. He really seemed to be the missing piece for the Viking this last year. However, purchasing his jersey is something of a slap in the face of the other Vikings who have been here for a number of years. Also, with no guarantee that he comes back next year, and the Vikings falling short of the Super Bowl, that jersey will not hold up over time. I found a Joe Montana Chiefs jersey at a thrift store in college. I wore it for fantasy football, and it provided comedic value. That is destiny of all the Favre jerseys that people purchased last year: comedic value (unless, of course, he comes back and wins a Super Bowl this year).
Rule 3 (the Ray Allen Rule, or for Doug, the Fukudome Rule):
This is more a guideline than a rule, but it's good to have some personal connection to the player. For me a Ray Allen Celtics jersey is the perfect storm (although I wouldn't purchase it because of his age, and the fact that this is probably his last year in Boston). Allen played for my favorite college basketball team (UConn), my favorite pro team (Boston), wears the same number I wore in high school (20), and plays a style of game that a much, much, much more talented version of me would play (shooter, not known for his defense). Again, this is a guideline, you can't get carried away with this one, part of why we like athletes is that they are nothing like us, but it's nice to have some solidarity with the player of choice.
Rule 4 (The Michael Jordan Rule, or for Paul the Sidney Crosby Rule):
No one can blame you for not over thinking it. You won't regret buying a jersey of a player who is clearly the best on his team (or best in his league, or best in his sport, or best in history). Going to Twins' game, I'm always struck by the volume of Mauer jerseys. It almost seems silly to wear anyone else jersey. (Mauer is so fun to watch, he seems to be able to do whatever the team needs in specific moments, whether its a walk, a single, an opposite field hit, a homerun). The presence of Mauer jerseys is quadrupled by the fact that he is from here. I fully support wearing Mauer Jerseys. Having said this, the Michael Jordan Rule is not quite my style...
Rule 5 (The Dwight Evans Rule):
Often times, when we're kids, we root for players for no particular reason. On a team where Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Jim Rice would be the logical choices for favorite player, I always liked Dwight Evans. Not sure if it was his mustaches, or his nickname, "Dewey", but Evans was my favorite. Now I'm a not suggesting that it is ok to pick any player, at random, and wear his jersey. But looking back, Evans was a three-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glover, so it's not like he was nobody. A player should still be good, but I prefer a little subtlety over star power. One of my friends from church went to most of the Vikings games this year, wearing an Antoine Winfield jersey. That jersey says to me, "I know a little something about football." Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen are great, but anyone could get their jersey. Winfield is underrated, but a huge part of the Vikings defense. (Add to that, that he used to play for the Bills, he would probably be my choice as well.)
Rule 6 (the Carlos Gomez Rule):
Don't go too subtle. Other people shouldn't scratch their heads when they see your jersey. You want to root for someone who is not just a ninth inning defensive replacement. I saw a few too many of these at the Dome last year.
Rule 7 (The Nomar Garciaparra Rule)
This is the hardest rule, because we can't see into the future. The fact is, most players don't play with one team for an entire career anymore. But there is added value to a jersey that can be worn without embarrassment after the player has moved on. My Nomar shirt brings me back to a time when I was waiting for the Sox to win their first championship of my lifetime. His lack of success in his other stops have insured that he'll always be remembered for his time in Boston. Because of this, I don't feel silly wearing his jersey to games still. But, my friends who bought Nomar Cubs jerseys (they violated the Brett Favre rule), they probably do. Mine kind of holds up.
So let's find me a new Red Sox Jersey
Rule 1
Goodbye Daniel Bard. Try again next year.
Rule 2
Sorry Victor Martinez, Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro, John Lackey.
Rule 3
Youkilis wear 20, I've always fancied myself the relief pitching type, so Papelbon is in play.
Rule 4
Papi is out (not because of current performance, but past success and popularity).
Rule 5
Tricky with the Sox: because they are so overexposed, it is hard to be subtle. Youk, Beckett and Pedroia might be a little too easy. Ellsbury's good looks and base stealing have made him just a little too popular. At the same time, they are a team without a transcendent superstar.
Rule 6
So long JD Drew and Bill Hall
Rule 7
Wakefield is somewhat appealing because of his longevity with the team, but perhaps a little obscure.
Decision: Jon Lester. Still somewhat overshadowed by Beckett, and even Dice-K. Young enough to wear his jersey for the next several years. A great story, extremely talented, easy to root for.
Perhaps on my trip to Target Field I will make a photo journal of the jersey rules. And I should start looking for a Lester t-shirt jersey. But, more likely, I'll keep trotting out the Garciaparra shirt.
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