During the annual Army Navy game, the Midshipmen will be donning their alternate uniform helmets which are replete with meaning. Each of the seven types of hand painted helmets depict the player's position.
• Linebacker: Cruiser- Provides anti-air defense and packs the biggest punch of Naval surface ships representative of the linebackers on the Navy football team.
• Defensive Back: Destroyer- Known for significant fire power, speed, and anti-missile defense as are Navy's defensive backs.
• Wide Receiver: Submarine- Predominantly utilized as blockers, wide receivers play a key role in driving the Navy rush attack, taking on a stealth-like persona as they blend into the rhythm of the offense but bring significant fire power when called upon, just like a Naval submarine.
• Lineman: Amphibious Assault Ships- Just as a lineman's job is the create a hole for a running back or linebacker, these ships are utilized to establish the "beach head" that enables the invading force to gain access and ultimately accomplish their objective.
• Quarterback: Aircraft Carrier- The QB of the Naval Fleet, the aircraft carrier is the ultimate decision maker; the "quick strike" weapon of the Naval fleet.
• Running Back: Littoral Combat Ship- Like running backs, these fast and nimble ships can navigate through both crowded shallow and deep waters.
• Kicker/Special Teams: Minesweeper- Much like the specific task of the Navy special teams, this small ship has a unique mission of identifying and eliminating mines.
In addition, the rally cry "Damn the torpedoes!" from Admiral Farragut's victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864 is featured on the player's gloves.
Formula One driver Nico Rosberg had a grand plan to honor his native Germany winning the World Cup. The German Grand Prix will be held in Hockenham, Germany. The 29 year old driver for Mercedes Benz "Silver Arrow" team planned to sport a helmet which celebrated Germany's fourth World Cup victory in Rio de Janeiro.
"We
appreciate Nico Rosberg's desire to congratulate the German team and have
therefore been in discussions with the Rosberg team, who have now found a
solution whereby he will still be able to show his support for Germany without
using FIFA's intellectual property in a commercial context."
If only the international football organization was consistent in protecting its trademark from Formula One racers. In 2006, Jarno Trulli raced in the French Grand Prix with an image of the trophy on his helmet celebrating Italty's victory, and he suffered no sanctions.
Rosberg tweeted that he understood F.I.F.A.'s trophy trademark prohibition.
Rosberg tweaked his helmet design to include four gold stars marking Germany's World Cup wins.
Since many star players move through the minor leagues and can not be counted on as an attendance draw, many minor league clubs sell spectacle as much as the ballgame. A couple of teams have eagerly hopped on the ersatz Star Wars holiday "May the Fourth Be With You" by issuing special uniforms for the occasion.
This year,
the Toledo Mud Hens donned Chewbacca inspired jerseys for Star Wars
weekend. The Mud Hens, which are the Triple affiliate of the Detroit
Tigers, will don special Mud Hens Star Wars uniforms which try to depict fur
along with a munitions holder across the players chest.
But it's tough to pull
off fluffy Wookiee fur on two dimensional material. Moreover, Chewbacca stood seven foot tall. So it is
unlikely that fans at Fifth Third ballpark in Toledo with think that they have
been teleported to Mos Eisley.
Craig Katz, the director of merchandising for the Mud Hens told OT Sports, which designed the Wookiee uniforms, sought to do something different. In Katz mind, "There is no such thing as bad press with something like this. We have fans say 'These [uniforms] are so ugly, I have to have one." So rather than just auctioning these Wookiee uniforms after Star Wars weekend, the Mud Hens will be selling them. Katz expects Star Wars fanatics to snap up these out of this world uniforms and add them to their collection. Probably to the likes of the Big Bang Theory crew.
For several years, the Durham Bulls have been celebrating Star Wars, wearing futuristic uniforms, having costumed Storm Troopers and Chewbacca throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. But this year the Durham Bulls, which are the Triple A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, went all in and honored R2D2 for their Star Wars Day uniforms. After the players wear the Droid inspired jerseys, the 40 jerseys will be sold in a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the Autism Society of North Carolina.
Alas, the Durham Droid uniforms are not that unique. It seems that the Sacramento River Cats, the Oakland A's Triple A team, plays to wear nearly an identical uniform in August. The Brooklyn Cyclones will not hold their Star Wars night until August 2nd. The Class A affiliate of the New York Mets will have a meet and greet with Star Wars characters, light saber training and the option of a post game family sleepover. While the Cyclones will give Padwan bobbleheads to the kids, they really should be excited about the Sithclones jerseys. Those jerseys will have the emblem of the Sith Empire on the right sleeve and Brooklyn is emblazened in Aurebesh across the players chests. Now those handsome uniforms should fetch prime dukets for charity.
In the big league Galaxy, the San Francisco Giants, the MLB team nearest to the orbit of George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, have been doing Star Wars Day promotions for years. This year the promo was an R2D2 beanie. While this Star Wars sartorial styling may produce out of this world uniforms, nothing quite compares to the Mud Hens fan kazoo accompaniment to the Star Wars theme music.
Get a load of the Ralph Lauren designed uniforms for Team USA to wear for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Ralph Lauren designed 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies uniform
Something seems to have gotten lost in the transition from Ralph Lauren's design studios in New York to the production facility at the Carver's ranch in Bend, Oregon. The busy design from Ralph Lauren exterior outfit looks reminiscent to the ugly sweater which an aunt gives you for Christmas.
Ralph Lauren designed "Team USA" sweaters for 2014 Winter Olympics
It is curious that the sweater does not proclaim Team USA but instead Polo? Are polo matches part of the Winter Olympiad (sic)? Obviously, Ralph Lauren is branding his product without regards to promoting Team USA. It is sad to see that Jessie Vetter, the Goaltender for the USA's Women's Hockey Team, was forced to alter her mask to not advertise yet Ralph Lauren can shamelessly brand his ugly uniforms during the opening ceremonies.
Team USA Womens' Hockey Goaltender Jessie Vetter and her prohibited goaltender's mask
Vetter planned to wear a mask designed by Ron Slater which included her surname as well as a prominent graphic of the Constitution's opening proclamation: "We the People". The name was prohibited in the spirit of teamwork. The objection to "We the People" stems from the International Olympic Committee, as Rule 50 does not allow for wording on uniforms for any Olympic competition uniforms. Vetter's helmet was allowed to keep the a depiction of the Statue of Liberty, a screaming bald eagle and a USA shield. If there is any redeeming virtue from the Team USA Olympic Opening Ceremonies uniforms, at least they are produced in the USA.
In my estimation, the only way these uniforms could be worse is if it incorporated meggings . But based upon these Opening Ceremonies uniforms, the United States may be accused of winning ugly.
