Look, back in 1992, I was somehow convinced that I needed to spend upwards of 60 some-odd dollars on a replica sweater for the newly minted San Jose Sharks even when I hardly had two nickles to rub together. I was 12, and I suppose wearing such a thing wasn't exactly frowned upon when you're in 6th grade (we won't even start on the Bobby Hurley Sac-town Kings joint I owned)- but even then, I understood that the reason teams market research colors (it was a turquoise kinda time in our lives) and put out all manner of variations in their uniforms more than likely has a commercial overtone to it. So while it's nice to think that Florida State's all-black uni's (they are currently 1-1 in them) that are being pulled out for tonight's game against Boston College are, as they say, a tribute to the Seminole tribe, who would also wear all black when they played football back in the day. Yeah, it says "unconquered" down the pants leg, but that just makes you think some Camaro-driving miscreant in Tallahassee won a design contest. But as Bobby Bowden admits, the only tribe that really stands to benefit from tonight's fashion show is Nike:
"Really," he said, "we're doing it for Nike."While QB Christian Ponder says the team gets pumped up for these duds, you have to remember that Oregon boasts how recruits can't get enough of the Nike tomfoolery that goes on in their wardrobe. So I don't really know who to trust.
"Nike wants us to do it."
"I guess we could fight it."
"Anything that cuts expenses, you've got to do," Bowden said. "And if we can advertise for 'em, they pay for the advertising. So it helps both [parties]."
