- I was watching Sportscenter and they brought in Tim Kurkjian for some baseball talk. For some reason, I really enjoy when Tim (and a few others - Peter Gammons immediately comes to mind) talks about a pitcher's "stuff." This is the accepted term for the pitches a pitcher throws - including velocity, movement, and accuracy - and I'm ok with that. Perhaps it's just the contrast of such a generic word and the specificity of what it's referring to. I love it.
- Over the years, I've realized there are certain topics in sports I couldn't care less about. Some of those topics include this silly Pro Bowl discussion, Tiger's personal life, contract negotiations, and steroids. Call me a dreamer or idealist, but I like my sports on the field.
- Will someone please get rid of the following NFL uniforms? Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings.
- Oregon State lost to Seattle U. in college basketball AT HOME by 51. In their next two games, they defeated Oregon and Arizona. One of those was on the road (I believe Oregon). Seattle is an Independent. This is the team that just lost to the Univ. of Washington by 47 and played the last couple minutes of the game with 4 players. Wacky season out West in college basketball. And I didn't even mention how sub-par the Pac 10 has been. Oops, just did.
- Eastern Washington is installing red turf! I'm surprised other schools haven't thought to mimic Boise State. I mean, who says a field has to be green? And since we've known it DOESN'T have to be green, why aren't other schools - or pro teams! - doing this? I expect this trend to pick up in Division 1. How does Oregon not have a bright yellow field yet? How come Oregon doesn't bust out a new color of field every week?!?! Come on Nike, you're slacking. Get into the business of playing surfaces.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Call it a comeback!
I went a whole year and then some without posting anything to this blog before I put up my recent Bowl Season Uni Tourney. I've had some more time on my hands recently, so I decided to put some more work into it. I've changed the overall appearance of things, added a Twitter widget on the side, and rearranged some things to present a more interesting experience for my readers. I hope you like what I've done. Please feel free to comment on what you like or don't like. I welcome your suggestions. Thanks for stopping by!
-Dave (a.k.a "Pie Guy")
-Dave (a.k.a "Pie Guy")
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Uni Tourney Final - SMU vs. UCLA
It's the granddaddy of 'em all. Well, sort of. Not really.
SMU vs. UCLA. The Mustangs vs. the Bruins. Interestingly enough, both teams in their away uniforms. I think that's an ode to the strength of their sets.
First up, SMU.
Truly a beautiful uniform from head to toe. You can't help but think of the Bills when you look at these. It's practically the same uniform. I'm not even sure who donned it first. I know SMU returned to these after some monstrosities earlier in the decade. This is what a uniform should look like.
Personally, I could do without the "SMU" on the chest, but that's just me. I love the striping all the way through. Big fan of red and blue.
Now, UCLA.
The jersey might get the nod over SMU. I'm a sucker for blue. And two shades of it is just awesome (see Tennessee Titans). The helmet is simple. Could use a stripe or two, but again, that might be picky. The pants, too.
Back to the jersey, though. I'd wear this. I really would.
Tough call, but when going head to toe, SMU's uniform is close to perfection. I really don't know why schools go Mickey Mouse on us. Teams like Michigan (away piping), Georgia Tech (ridiculous stripe across the chest for no reason), and the Under Armour schools (Texas Tech, South Carolina, etc) with their completely overblown and silly looking unis. It's out of hand. With all the improvements in uniform technology, you can still go with a classic uniform. It's a sad state of affairs, really.
SMU takes the crown. It was almost a foregone conclusion! The lesson to be learned here is that simple is better. Dance with the girl that brung ya, or whatever the saying is. You wanna sell jerseys? Run the "Would I wear this?" test. These finalists get it.
WINNER: SMU
SMU vs. UCLA. The Mustangs vs. the Bruins. Interestingly enough, both teams in their away uniforms. I think that's an ode to the strength of their sets.
First up, SMU.
Truly a beautiful uniform from head to toe. You can't help but think of the Bills when you look at these. It's practically the same uniform. I'm not even sure who donned it first. I know SMU returned to these after some monstrosities earlier in the decade. This is what a uniform should look like.
Personally, I could do without the "SMU" on the chest, but that's just me. I love the striping all the way through. Big fan of red and blue.
Now, UCLA.
The jersey might get the nod over SMU. I'm a sucker for blue. And two shades of it is just awesome (see Tennessee Titans). The helmet is simple. Could use a stripe or two, but again, that might be picky. The pants, too.
Back to the jersey, though. I'd wear this. I really would.
Tough call, but when going head to toe, SMU's uniform is close to perfection. I really don't know why schools go Mickey Mouse on us. Teams like Michigan (away piping), Georgia Tech (ridiculous stripe across the chest for no reason), and the Under Armour schools (Texas Tech, South Carolina, etc) with their completely overblown and silly looking unis. It's out of hand. With all the improvements in uniform technology, you can still go with a classic uniform. It's a sad state of affairs, really.
SMU takes the crown. It was almost a foregone conclusion! The lesson to be learned here is that simple is better. Dance with the girl that brung ya, or whatever the saying is. You wanna sell jerseys? Run the "Would I wear this?" test. These finalists get it.
WINNER: SMU
Uni Tourney Final Four!
Quick summary of how this has played out:
Round of 32:
Fresno St. vs. Alabama
UCF vs. Iowa
MTSU vs. TCU
BYU vs. Michigan State
Cal vs. Ole Miss
SMU vs. South Carolina
Ohio vs. South Florida
Pitt vs. Florida
USC vs. Ohio St.
Clemson vs. LSU
Texas A&M vs. Florida State
UCLA vs. Auburn
Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Idaho vs. Iowa St.
Nebraska vs. Navy
Air Force vs. Oklahoma
Sweet Sixteen:
Alabama vs. Iowa
MTSU vs. BYU
Ole Miss vs. SMU
South Florida vs. Florida
USC vs. LSU
Texas A&M vs. UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Iowa St.
Navy vs. Oklahoma
Elite Eight:
Alabama vs. BYU
SMU vs. South Florida
LSU vs. UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Navy
Here goes:
Semifinal #1
BYU vs. SMU
Just take a second to admire that beauty. Ok, ok. BYU sports a two color look. Kudos for escaping that old two-color look from a few years back that had everyone confused and returning to a uni from the days of Ty Detmer and Steve Young. These are things to behold.
Meanwhile, SMU's look just continues to excite. Honestly, BYU looks extremely solid, but SMU's set is like candy. Candy! And who doesn't like candy?!?!
Finalist: SMU
Semifinal #2
Navy vs. UCLA
Golden domers here. And I ain't talking Notre Dame. Too bad, because they could have made a run in this. Anyways, let's start with UCLA's beauty of a jersey. Two shades of blue work here. Great stripe treatment. Helmets are a notch above Navy's, because, well, there's a word on there.
Navy has come this far on shock value. They busted these out against Army and wore them again against Mizzou. I like 'em, but I have to employ the "Would I wear the jersey?" test and I know I wouldn't - not just because Dad would disown me.
Finalist: UCLA
Round of 32:
Fresno St. vs. Alabama
UCF vs. Iowa
MTSU vs. TCU
BYU vs. Michigan State
Cal vs. Ole Miss
SMU vs. South Carolina
Ohio vs. South Florida
Pitt vs. Florida
USC vs. Ohio St.
Clemson vs. LSU
Texas A&M vs. Florida State
UCLA vs. Auburn
Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Idaho vs. Iowa St.
Nebraska vs. Navy
Air Force vs. Oklahoma
Sweet Sixteen:
Alabama vs. Iowa
MTSU vs. BYU
Ole Miss vs. SMU
South Florida vs. Florida
USC vs. LSU
Texas A&M vs. UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Iowa St.
Navy vs. Oklahoma
Elite Eight:
Alabama vs. BYU
SMU vs. South Florida
LSU vs. UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Navy
Here goes:
Semifinal #1
BYU vs. SMU
Just take a second to admire that beauty. Ok, ok. BYU sports a two color look. Kudos for escaping that old two-color look from a few years back that had everyone confused and returning to a uni from the days of Ty Detmer and Steve Young. These are things to behold.
Meanwhile, SMU's look just continues to excite. Honestly, BYU looks extremely solid, but SMU's set is like candy. Candy! And who doesn't like candy?!?!
Finalist: SMU
Semifinal #2
Navy vs. UCLA
Golden domers here. And I ain't talking Notre Dame. Too bad, because they could have made a run in this. Anyways, let's start with UCLA's beauty of a jersey. Two shades of blue work here. Great stripe treatment. Helmets are a notch above Navy's, because, well, there's a word on there.
Navy has come this far on shock value. They busted these out against Army and wore them again against Mizzou. I like 'em, but I have to employ the "Would I wear the jersey?" test and I know I wouldn't - not just because Dad would disown me.
Finalist: UCLA
Bowl Season Uni Tourney - Elite Eight
Who's pumped? Personally, I'm geeked.
Alabama vs. BYU
It's funny - I had BYU go far in my college basketball uni tourney a year or so ago. Someone knows what's up out in Utah!
This is where Alabama's run ends. The tide has a great uni, but you can't deny BYU's great look.
Final Four bound: BYU
SMU vs. South Florida
South Florida has surprised with the change to the white helmet, representing other schools that saw a ghost like Arizona and Cincy. Unfortunately, I can't deny the beauty of SMU's set here. The 'Stangs are just better looking. Wanna improve, South Florida? Bust out some pants stripes next year and keep the white helmet.
Final Four bound: SMU
LSU vs. UCLA
UCLA has some great jerseys, and they win that department. LSU takes the pants department. Helmets? Close one. I initially thought LSU should take this, but I can't deny my affinity for those Bruins jerseys.
Final Four bound: UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Navy
You can tell I like stripe patterns. Well, I don't think I'm making it 4 for 4. Wisconsin impresses, but to get really picky, I didn't like the "W" they stuck on the back of the jersey. Maybe I'm looking for an excuse to go against my Badger friends. Or, I'm just not done with Navy.
Final Four bound: Navy
BYU-SMU. UCLA-Navy.
Once again, I ask - who's pumped????
Alabama vs. BYU
It's funny - I had BYU go far in my college basketball uni tourney a year or so ago. Someone knows what's up out in Utah!
This is where Alabama's run ends. The tide has a great uni, but you can't deny BYU's great look.
Final Four bound: BYU
SMU vs. South Florida
South Florida has surprised with the change to the white helmet, representing other schools that saw a ghost like Arizona and Cincy. Unfortunately, I can't deny the beauty of SMU's set here. The 'Stangs are just better looking. Wanna improve, South Florida? Bust out some pants stripes next year and keep the white helmet.
Final Four bound: SMU
LSU vs. UCLA
UCLA has some great jerseys, and they win that department. LSU takes the pants department. Helmets? Close one. I initially thought LSU should take this, but I can't deny my affinity for those Bruins jerseys.
Final Four bound: UCLA
Wisconsin vs. Navy
You can tell I like stripe patterns. Well, I don't think I'm making it 4 for 4. Wisconsin impresses, but to get really picky, I didn't like the "W" they stuck on the back of the jersey. Maybe I'm looking for an excuse to go against my Badger friends. Or, I'm just not done with Navy.
Final Four bound: Navy
BYU-SMU. UCLA-Navy.
Once again, I ask - who's pumped????
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)