It has long been held as one of the essential and abiding mores in the world of sport that to be a champion, one must carry himself as a champion.
There are the obvious character traits. Talent. Drive. Luck. Grace in victory and defeat.
Also to carry oneself through the community like a champion.
In other words, look like a winner, dress like a champion.
There are obvious exceptions to prove the rule. Miami’s Hurricanes showing up for a bowl battle in camo. But you know what I’m saying here.
So the question the Louisville Cardinals and Cardinal Nation are confronted with before tonight’s post-season tip off is this: Will U of L be zubazized out of championship contention.
The Cards haven’t even taken the court yet in their new made-for-TV, made-to-make-Adidas-more-money Zubaz unis and the upshot of donning of wearing them is obvious. Louisville is a legit contender. But will that status be undermined by taking the court, zootsuited up as if it was Zombie Walk Night on Bardstown Road?
I have seen Cincinnati take the court in their Zubazs.
I have seen Notre Dame run the court in theirs, all neon and Smurf green down to their Irish toes.
This is not how champions dress.
So I sit here in turmoil early in the morn of the day my Cardinals start their post season. I wonder if these money grab shorts and shirts are destined to derail a third national championship run?
Can there really be One Shining Moment if the champs will be parading under the confetti in shorts that look leopard-print Kilts by Versace?
I will admit my concern is somewhat undermined by the history of the Kentucky Derby, and the long held belief that all winners of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports would have a name worthy of the achievement.
Until 1992, it was thus. Reigh Count. Flying Ebony. Count Turf. Sir Barton. Iron Leige (By court order.) Save for the occasional Bubbling Over and Tim Tam, Derby winners had names as regal as the lofty status.
Then came a champ with a Honey Boo Boo monicker. L’il E. Tee. The Derby survives. The Derby thrives.
So, I suppose, a champion dressed for Halloween can sit at a table with past champions, the fabled Cali blue and gold of UCLA, the blue and white of the Cats and Blue Devils and traditional Cardinal garb.
But my stomach’s already in turmoil, wondering if the Cards can do the deal?
I just wish there wasn’t this added factor in the equation, that U of L would take the court in championshipish garb.
– Seedy K
7 Comments
I think the awfulness of these unis may provoke action by the rules committee. Unless they too are owned lock, stock, and barrel by adidas.
Amen on the name Lil E.Tee. A moniker barely worthy of a standardbred. The chariot racers had awful names and always like Bluegrass Almahust or Lobell Hanover.
..let us not forget…”Big Brown “!!!
.
Thank you…..I hate uniforms with names you can barely read…with school colors that are not the colors of the school. Who in the world thinks that junk is the thing to do? But I realize that I am old school and always have been…and I am okay with that.
uniforms are truly ugly but the fact is that the greed of college presidents and athletic directors knows no bounds and it is this greed that is the primary culprit in the diminished status of college sports. All they have to say is “no, we won’t wear them” but the likelihood of that happening was not as great as the Culture Maven being named Pope.
Several schools did say no. Michigan, I know, and a couple others.
Spoken like a true old-fashioned conservative.
You guys need to get over this. The kids, that is, the audience to whom this is all directed, LOVES this stuff. BTW, anyone see UCLA’s unis today? If Louisville can play defense like that the rest of the way, they can wear skirts for all I care. This is marketing. This is branding. This is the way it is and they ain’t never going back to short shorts.
And David, I could not disagree more that the status of college sports is diminished.