Cool Uniform Props: Powder blue MLB throwbacks

Most Major League Baseball teams trot out throwback uniforms a couple times each season. Recent years have seen the Phillies, Blue Jays and Brewers all reach back to a time when powder blue was prevalent — the 1980s. And joining them recently were, as pictured here, the Cardinals and Rangers.

Throwbacks are cool and all, but I think the time is upon us for some team (hopefully the Phillies) to commit full time to a powder blue uniform. In the case of the Phillies, I'd keep the home white w/ red pin stripes, as well as the the cream day game-only uniforms, and sub in the powder blues for the gray road uniforms. Everyone wears gray on the road now, and it's boring. Someone, preferably the Phillies, needs to lead the way into the powder blue yonder.

And before you say it, I know the Royals are wearing light blue jerseys on Sundays (I think) this season, but they're just jerseys and button-down jerseys at that. I'm talking about shirts and pants, with the jerseys being 80's-style pullovers. Who needs buttons?

Cool Uniform Props: Oregon carbons

In honor of their playing for the national championship tonight, I dole out some Cool Uniform Props to the Oregon Ducks for their "carbon" uniforms donned in their Civil War win against Oregon State Dec. 4.

People tend to love or hate the Ducks' uniforms, and I'm definitely in the pro camp. As they wear a different arrangement every game seemingly, they tend to have several candidates for props, but the carbons were my favorite so far this season.

White jersey and socks, a carbon fiber-patterned helmet and silver cleats. Top shelf.

Not sure what they're wearing for the BCS Championship, but I'm sure Nike will bust out something crazy.

Cool Uniform Props: Tampa Bay creamsicles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to roll the franchise's original creamsicle uniforms out once a year now, as they did a couple weeks ago against Atlanta, but they should make it permanent.

Tampa may have won a Super Bowl in the current pewter and red uniforms, but they are lame and the orange, red and white creamsicles rule.

Cool Uniform Props: U.S. Olympic snowboarding team

The navy and red plaid jackets and weathered jeans-styled pants designed by Burton for the U.S. snowboarders got a decent amount of press for being "out there." But looking at designs sported by some of the other nations' boarders (and, of course, Johnny Weir) and snowboarding kit in general, the 'Mericans' unis were almost staid in comparison.

Anyway you look at it, they were definitely cool.

Cool Uniform Props: Buffalo Bills throwbacks

If the Buffalo Bills wear these rad throwback uniforms enough, eventually we won't be reminded of national pariah O.J. Simpson every time we see them. More importantly, we won't be subjected to their current regular uniforms, which are heinous.

The Bills rolled out these third uniform throwbacks out last season, and have continued with them this season. And whether all white, or with blue jerseys, they're super sweet.

Cool Uniform Props: Denver Broncos throwbacks

These uniforms are nutso — and pretty far from any orange and blue arrangements you'd expect the Broncos to be wearing — but I like them.

If the yellow jerseys and brown pants weren't enough, Denver was sporting socks with vertical yellow and brown stripes. They looked pretty Oompa Loompa, and normally I'd prefer horizontal stripes, but they grew on me and earned points for crazy factor.

Top everything off with a black helmet with only numbers on the sides, and you have a winner. Also, Orton and Marshall ran up fantasy points for me today, so it was win-win.



UPDATE: Road version!

Cool Uniform Props: Barcelona MES jerseys

I watched the above pictured Zlatan Ibrahimovic score his first La Liga goal for Barcelona today in a dominating win over Sporting Gijon, and remembered this one-off uniform Barca wore against Manchester City a couple weeks back.

Pretty sweet (though the colors are a bit faded in this pic; see the next link for a better look). Some more details here on the MES jersey, sold in limited numbers to raise funds for the UN Refugee Agency.

Cool Uniform Props: Flyers third/throwback jersey

I figured I better get this one up before the Flyers were (possibly) out of the playoff picture a lot earlier than last year, so here are the official Cool Uniform Props for their third jerseys that debuted this season.

Styled like the original 1970s Flyers jerseys, the orange on these things really pops. And we're big fans of that around Orange Whip. I also like the white C and A's on the front of the jersey, the white background for last names on the back, and the fact the numbers on the sleeves aren't contained within the white stripe. I think the arm stripes were a little less even/skinnier in the '70s, but I like them better here.

Let's hope we haven't seen the last of these jerseys for this season.

Absolutely Fabregas Part II

My boy Cesc Fabregas was clutch again for Spain in their Euro semifinal against Russia, making skilled passes on two goals after entering the game for injured striker David Villa. If Villa is out for today's final against Germany, Fabregas would likely get the start, which is pretty convenient for the Spanish coach even if Villa was the tournament's best player up to this point.

Should be a good game, but I'm pulling for Fabregas and Spain.

I'm also going to give some Cool Uniform Props to the goldish-yellow Spanish uniforms. They were supposed to bad luck for the team that's worn red for the rest of their games, but they didn't look like bad luck in the 3-0 win over Russia. I liked the dark blue (but not navy like the shorts and socks) used for the numbers too.

Cool Uniform Props: Turkey

I don't know if light blue has some traditional significance in Turkey, or if they just wanted to stand out from all the other red and white teams competing in Euro 2008, but I like the deep cyan and white duds they're sporting — the only red being the little flag on the chest. Very simple design overall, but with some stylized numbers. Nice.

I must say Nike has had the clear upper hand in the uniform department for Euro, though Adidas and Puma have been solid.

Orange brilliance

One of the announcers kept referencing the "brilliant orange" colors of the Netherlands supporters and the team's uniforms during the first-round Euro 2008 match between Holland and Italy Monday. Well, there was definitely some brilliance on display by the guys in orange as Holland whipped Italy 3-0, employing some of the most entertaining offensive soccer you'll see.

Most entertaining were the second and third goals by Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst — which started as defensive stops in their own box and turned into swift counter attacks. The Sneijder goal especially was a bit if brilliance.

Fun game to watch, especially if you were rooting for Nederland, which I was.

It should also go without saying that the Dutch qualify for Cool Uniform Props. I like the new blocky numbers and light blue socks.

Cool Uniform Props: Fenerbahce road whites

Usually I prefer simple and classic over busy and modern, but I like the yellow striping with navy on Turkish side Fenerbahce's road uniforms, worn in defeat to Chelsea in the recent second leg of the Champions League semis. The numbers look kind of digital, and the striping cleverly does not run behind the numbers on the back of the jersey. The blue socks work better than the former white socks, too.

Cool Uniform Props: Barcelona road oranges

I was surprised to see Barcelona wearing these orange uniforms against German squad Schalke 04 in a Champions League quarterfinal win this week. Don't know if they've had them a while, or if they're brand new, but we at Orange Whip appreciate the all-orange look. It helps that Barca's my team in La Liga, even if Patrick Kluivert's long gone.

Cool Uniform Props: Arsenal road whites

Cesc Fabregas lines up a kick against AC Milan in the second round of the Champions League last week. Like these, with the maroon, white and gold, much better than home red jerseys. Good socks too.

Cool Uniform Props: Sixers throwbacks

The Sixers have sported these 1980s throwbacks a few times this year, and I say it's time to bring them back permanently.

Andre, my team is sorry

(Think L7's "Andres" for post title.)
Despite the fact my first two draft picks (who shall remain nameless) either stunk or were hurt most the season, I think I still could have made the playoffs in my fantasy football league if I had wide receiver Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans healthy all season. He was money when healthy, averaging 100 yards and a touchdown per game. But he only played seven, and the Pacmen are in last place, missing the playoffs.

Naming my team after the suspended Titans cornerback/professional wrestler Pacman Jones may have been bad karma, but Pacman did well by me last year, and I stick by my players. The efforts of those who fought hard for me down the stretch this year will not be forgotten come 2008.

Also, we need to give Cool Uniform Props to the Texans for trotting out the red jersey/red pants combo against the Broncos this past week.