Can the Texas Rangers’ new batting helment look any more goofier?

The new batting helmet is a dramatic shift. It is two tone, with metallic flecked paint.

I speculate the design is inspired by the way players accumulate more and more pine tar on their batting helmets as the season goes on. The design even has wing thingys which are positioned where the players fingers would stain pine tar down the sides of the helmet as the players press the palms of their hands against the fronts of helmets while shoving the batting helmets into place. The wing thingys even fade out as they go back – exactly as the players’ finger-implemented pine tar stains fade out as they go further back on the helmet. I’m speculating, but this makes sense as inspiration for the design.

My Southern brother is not speculating. He is a professional in the field of sports uniforms and helmets. He emails some industry scoop:

OK…sometimes I have the most obscure knowledge given my career path….similar to MSNBC’s Morning Joe program feature of “News You Can’t Use” …that’s me

1. The Rangers had to make a special appeal to Major League Baseball to request wearing BLACK shoes. MLB dictates / requires that a team’s shoe color be their dominant uniform color. Also, MLB defines the dominant uniform color as that which applies to 75% of their uniform. Therefore, MLB requires one of their teams colors to be 75% of their uniform from head to toe.

2. Most common plastic used in baseball helmets is ABS. ABS plastic is used in football helmets 9^thgrade and below. ABS allows for greater flexibility and of course is much less expensive. Two things happened a couple of years ago…first helmet paint went to acrylic…the same stuff used on cars….several application steps are required…priming, painting, hardener application , then the final clear coat finish. It is during this final clear finish coat you have the option for metallic flakes to be added. Look at your car paint, all cars have metallic flakes in their paint, you don’t see any of them with just a flat color. I never sell a helmet without adding metallic flakes in the clear coat process, even on white helmets it makes a huge difference…note The University of Texas helmets and how they shine on TV compared the big Badger football team or even the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. This is why HS, college, and Pro football helmets shine so much better today, and look so much better with HD TV cameras. The metallic flakes come in multiple shades of different colors…next time you watch Rutgers , they have red flakes in their red paint, makes their helmets really shine. Metallic flakes even allow eccentric alumni such as Phil Knight and Nike to dream up so many color combinations for Oregon ’s helmets.

3. MLB had a problem…ABS plastic won’t accept acrylic paint…it weakens the integrity of the shell (that means they crack)…so MLB was SOL on the retail market for good looking helmet paint colors. MLB used their heads…good ‘ol lawyers and money being the root of all evil. MLB said they were concerned with concussions so they appealed to NOCSAE to increase the standard on protection of helmets used in college through the big leagues. To increase the scoring ratio from baseballs slamming into batting helmets required helmet manufacturers to move into GE’s Lexicon plastic which is used in HS varsity through NFL level football helmets, but VERY expensive. But guess what this does for MLB now Sherlock? If I told the story line correctly, hopefully you have concurred MLB is now able to use high gloss metallic acrylic paint and thousands of parents through out the metro-mess will be filling into Academy, Oshmann’s and Lids at the mall to pay $200 for a MLB merchandise approved Rangers batting helmets. MLB and the Rangers put mega bucks into their pockets…thank you very much. Only in America !

 

It all looks totally stupid to me, and it’s going to be pretty laughable seeing the rangers trot out to the batter’s box wearing these ridiculous helments and having a losing record. They may very well be the laughing stock of Major League Baseball if that happens.

UPDATE:::::: It looks like my story has caught on over at ESPN

I love this internet blogging!

UPDATE 2:::::::: It looks like the Rangers have scrubbed the goofy looking helments!

 

Texas Rangers new 2009 uniforms: Industry scoop (The End Zone)

A Giant of a Man – Meet Nick Vujicic

This is a must see video. The next time you begin to feel sorry for yourself, watch this video.

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Old Steelers’ Cheerleaders: Browns’ Fans Not Nice

The Steelerettes were the first NFL cheerleading team, paving the way for thousands of young ladies to live out their dreams of shaking it for sloppy drunk, out of shape football fans with mustard stains on their chins.

The ladies talk with ‘Burgh media about the good days. “The Browns used to throw things at us,” a former member said.

Memory lane is paved with old uniforms and photos.

“Mary Ann Wolfe Barrington is in the front and myself, Bonnie Botti Galla. And my uniform I donated to the Heinz History Sports Center my mega phone and hat,” Bonnie Botti Galla said.

Of all their memories, one sticks out.

“The day Y.A. Tittle was injured. I was very close to him. When we saw him kneeling their in pain and took off his helmet. And you could see the pain in his eyes and the blood. To me, I will never forget that when you saw a legend injured,” Miller said.

It’s these memories and friendships that kept the sisterhood of the Steelerettes strong, entertaining crowds from the sidelines at Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium even after they were dissolved in 1970.

And they owe much of it to the longest Steelerette who they lost six months ago to cancer.

“Diane Battiste Zinkham, a graduate of Sto-Rox, was a cheerleader in 1963, cheered for 4 years and then stayed on as the manager and adviser,” says Miller. “And she is the one that really kept us going out on the field and she knew what to do at all times. She was an outstanding woman.”

The Steelers to this day is one of just seven NFL teams with no cheerleaders.

“I think we’re one of a kind. We’re unique and as we talked before we’re the first,” adds Miller. “That’s something no one can ever take that away from us. And just the memories and friends are the most important aspect of it all.”

I’m just not sure….

I just read a great story, but it made me very sad by Bill Simmons.

I encourage you to read it, but please have the Kleenex ready. This was such an awesome, but sad story but I have to share it.

One Final Toss For the Dooze

I’m not sure you will appreciate it, but hell, read the story.

Aubrey Coleman Steps on Chase Budinger’s Face, Gets Ejected, Laughs

Houston was leading Arizona at the McKale Center by a score of 63-51 when Aubrey Coleman decided to stomp on Chase Budinger’s face. As it turns out, that’s just the wakeup call the Wildcats needed.

 

As you can see from the video his actions were pretty blatant, and Coleman didn’t seem all that upset with himself when he was sent back to the locker room. Arizona captured the momentum following the ejection of the Cougars’ second leading scorer, and Jordan Hill propelled the home team to a 96-90 comeback win in overtime. Hill scored 30 to pace Arizona who also got 23 from Nic Wise and 15 from the stompee himself.

In today’s college basketball action Louisville traveled to eighth ranked Syracuse and came away with a big 67-57 victory. The win moves Louisville to 15-3, and could mean a promotion into the top ten when the new rankings are released. It was the Cardinals 6th straight win, and their second over a top ten team in just over a week. Elsewhere 14th ranked Georgetown fell at Seton Hall while number 21 Minnesota picked up a win over Indiana.

 

Aubrey Coleman steps on Budinger’s face (Deadspin)

Their Youth Sustains Him

How does Jerry Jones unwind after a stressful season? By hanging out with the young people at John Legend’s after party, of course. The unbuttoned shirt just screams youthful and hip.

In other NFL news…well it’s actually pretty slow on that front.

I just want to mention that I am very grateful to everyone who visits the blog. We have just set a record for clicks and almost 5100 views for this month so far! Thanks so much for your continued readership. It just motivates me to do more! Thanks!

Their Youth Sustains Him (Deadspin.com)

Dear God, the 100-0 beating is getting larger than life

This story is just getting bigger and bigger over time. Let me bring everyone up to date.

1) Covenant School of Dallas girls’ basketball team beats Dallas Academy 100-0.

2) Now officials from the winning school say they are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory.

3) Covenant Coach disagrees an apology is in order for winning so large.

“In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Website, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed,” Micah Grimes wrote in an email that was sent to The Dallas Morning News. “We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity.”

Covenant has been in the national spotlight since Thursday when The Dallas Morning News published a story about its 100-point shutout victory over Dallas Academy back on Jan. 13.

When posted on dallasnews.com, the first-day story attracted 665,000 page views worldwide, an enormous number for a story on a local private school girls’ basketball game.

E-mails have flooded in from across the country and as far away as China and Thailand commenting on the story. Most have questioned the motives of Covenant’s coach for “running up” the score. But some have defended the coach for allowing his girls to play to their potential. None have blamed the Covenant players.

Dallas Academy girls, portrayed as lovable losers on the court but winners in life for their attitude after the loss, have been showered with praise nationally. They’ve were on ABC and CBS network morning shows on Saturday and are scheduled to make a repeat appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday as well as their Today show debut.

I wonder if and when this story is going to end? Both sides have compelling arguments, but really and truly (and I’m no coach), if I saw my team winning by 50-60 points, I’d put the reserves in or ask the refs to stop the game. But that’s just me. I tell you what I wouldn’t do though. I wouldn’t tell my team to take it easy on the competition unless it was to take a knee with a minute left in the game and I’m at their 3 yard line leading 50-0.

It’s all kind of confusing, but since this story won’t die, look for the next step in this process…the winning coach leaving or getting fired. Tragic.

UPDATE::::::: 7:30 PM Sunday Night……

Ummmmm yeah, the coach is indeed fired. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see this coming.

 

Covenant Coach Disagrees with apology to Dallas Academy over 100-0 victory (Dallas Morning News)

Saturday Night at Love and War in Texas

Love and War in Texas? What a name for a restaurant. But last night it was the perfect place to get to know some folks I hadn’t met before. It was a place to meet some new friends, and I had a blast. I’m pretty sure I lagged on the group and they probably don’t feel as excited as I do about meeting some new people. I probably blew it again as far as first impressions, but hell, I was out there trying.

 

I ad the huge rack of baby-back ribs and they were awesome.

All things considered, it was a blast and I hope the new friends enjoyed it as well. Hopefully, we can do this again soon.

Pilot Returns Home to a Hero’s Welcome

 

 

 

 

 

Chesley B. Sullenberger III, a US Airways pilot, and his wife, Lorrie, at a celebration in his honor Saturday in Danville, Calif.

Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger III, who safely landed a US Airways flight in the Hudson River 10 days ago, finally said a few words beyond his now famous warning to passengers: “Brace for impact.”

At a celebration here in his hometown, 40 miles east of San Francisco, on Saturday, Captain Sullenberger said, “We were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do.”

At that, someone in the crowd that numbered in the thousands yelled, “Just another day at the office.”

Under gray skies, Captain Sullenberger spoke to neighbors, friends and many new fans in the town green in this community of about 43,000 residents that is known for its sycamore and oak trees.

The town’s mayor, Newell Arnerich, and many of its residents wanted to throw the pilot a parade, but Captain Sullenberger and his family asked for something more modest and, as the mayor put it, “humble.”

Abiding by a request from his union, Captain Sullenberger declined to talk about any details of the Jan. 15 accident.

Shortly after leaving La Guardia Airport, the pilot reported a bird strike over the Bronx and the loss of power in both engines. The crew managed to land the crippled Airbus A320 in the Hudson, and all 155 aboard survived. The investigation is expected to take months.

The Sullenbergers, who have lived in Danville for 13 years, were clearly touched by the reception they received.

Standing erect in a dark suit, gray shirt and tie, Captain Sullenberger smiled broadly, and when the crowd applauded, he patted his heart with his hand. His wife, Lorrie, sat with him, while their two daughters watched from the front row.

Captain Sullenberger was serenaded by the San Ramon Valley High School Marching Wolves, the United States Army Reserve Band and a teenage bagpiper, and, not surprisingly, he was given a key to the city.

Deborah Eusebio, 39, went to the ceremony with her three children because, she said, “There is so much bad going on, it’s good to have something good going on.”

Michael Witt, 61, an Army veteran, said: “I think this guy spent his whole life studying flight just for that moment. I don’t know anyone else who could have done it.”

Tony Carnemolla, a locksmith, said of the captain’s actions, “I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’ve been in the aviation Signal Corps.”

Toward the close of the ceremony, Ms. Sullenberger told the crowd that after learning what had happened to US Airways Flight 1549, “I knew what the outcome would be that day because I knew my husband.”

Still, despite all the public attention, her husband remains, she said, “the man who makes my cup of tea in the morning.”

 

Dolls Resembling Daughters Displease First Lady

The company that makes Beanie Babies has introduced two new dolls, named Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia.

Hey, wait a minute, aren’t Sasha and Malia the names of the Obama daughters? Yes.

Coincidence? Ty Inc., the company in Oak Brook, Ill., that makes the dolls, said yes and no.

“They are beautiful names,” Tania Lundeen, a spokeswoman for Ty, said in an interview with The Associated Press. But, “there’s nothing on the girls that refers to the Obama girls,” she said.

But the first lady, Michelle Obama, who has publicly described her role as “mom in chief,” apparently was not amused. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes,” Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Mrs. Obama’s press secretary, said in a statement on Saturday.

The first lady’s office declined to comment further. A representative for Ty could not be reached late Saturday.

Here’s my question, and I’m being sincere with it: What is the problem with companies marketing things after famous people? There was a car dealership that had an Obama look-alike pushing cars in an advertisement during the presidential campaign and all kinds of people objected to it. Why?