Not everyone hates the throwback

[mesaSteeler]

Not everyone hates the throwback
Kaitlynn Riely / The Pittsburgh Press
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...31974/?print=1

A Steelers uniform from the past got a rough introduction Tuesday to the communication methods of the present.

"This has to be the ugliest thing I have seen," one person wrote in the comments section of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's website. "They look like prisoner uniforms! Hate them," wrote another.

More fans -- and a few Steelers players -- gave a thumbs down via Twitter to the black-and-gold striped uniforms, modeled after a version the team used in 1934 and resurrected to celebrate the team's 80th season.

Love the new uniforms or hate them, there's one thing most sports watchers should be able to agree on: they are hard to miss.

"I like it," said Jon Kendle, a researcher at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, which keeps examples of throwback uniforms worn by teams in recent years.

"I'm always a sucker for history," he said. "So I am a sucker for throwback uniforms."

In a small section of the Internet -- the spot where people write about sports uniforms -- a couple of bloggers have taken notice of the new old look.

The blog section of the Gridiron Uniform Database, which has compiled drawings of every uniform worn in the NFL since 1933, broke out in debate after the Steelers throwback uniforms were unveiled.

Using newspaper clippings, old football cards and team pictures to bolster their arguments, bloggers and commenters argued over whether the uniforms were worn by the team during the 1933 or 1934 seasons.

Over on Uni Watch, a website that describes itself as "the obsessive study of athletics aesthetics," the lead post this morning was bullish on the new Steelers throwback uniforms.

"If you're gonna throw back, you might as well throw all the way back," wrote Paul Lukas, who writes a column on uniform design for ESPN.com in addition to maintaining the Uni Watch blog.

In a phone interview from Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Lukas said he liked that the Steelers chose a bold design, which harkened to the days when people only watched games from the stands -- before high-definition TV and JumboTrons -- and needed a strong contrast to see the plays.

Although he's not sure the new uniform will be a big seller for the Steelers, he said the throwback uniform -- for the Steelers and for all the teams that create them -- is about celebrating history.

"The throwback allows the team to connect across generations and to throw itself a little party and say, 'This is what we've been about in the past.'"
This story originally appeared in The Pittsburgh Press. To subscribe, go to http://old.post-gazette.com/trypress/ Kaitlynn Riely: kriely@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1707.

First Published 2012-04-18 20:16:44

(This whole throwback uniform concept has gotten really tired. It's just a marketing ploy by the teams and NFL to try and make more money. It has nothing to do with history of the league or of the teams. As far as this particular one goes it looks really hideous against the pale gold pants as I saw in one photo. I only hope they wear them against the white pants or I will have to listen to the games instead of watch them. I suppose I could try and set the TV to black and white so I don't have the watch the team play in them. - mesa)

[pancake]

Are we counting the visual impaired on the list who liked the throwbacks?

[MACH1]

It's just a marketing ploy by the teams and NFL to try and make more money. It has nothing to do with history of the league or of the teams.

I don't think they'll have to worry about breaking the bank on this hideous looking thing.

[fer522]

shit!!!even steve wonder was shocked when he saw those things!!!!!

[Fire Arians]

i do.

[mesaSteeler]

Originally Posted by MACH1

I don't think they'll have to worry about breaking the bank on this hideous looking thing.

Good point. I predict it will be the lowest selling jersey of all time and the unsold ones will end up in some third world country.

[fujirama24]

Originally Posted by fer522

shit!!!even steve wonder was shocked when he saw those things!!!!!

Your killing me man. I was in the middle of taking a drink when I read that. Needless to say I needed some towels. LOL

[fer522]

Originally Posted by fujirama24

Your killing me man. I was in the middle of taking a drink when I read that. Needless to say I needed some towels. LOL

you needed some towels??? hmmmm????

[coffeecup]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

Good point. I predict it will be the lowest selling jersey of all time and the unsold ones will end up in some third world country.

No wonder they hate Americans

[Hawaii 5-0]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

Good point. I predict it will be the lowest selling jersey of all time and the unsold ones will end up in some third world country.

even people in third world countries would rather walk around naked than to wear those hideous jerseys...