Live from Braves-Snakes, talking about UGA’s new uniforms
For posterity's sake, take a picture of that ugly new uniform! (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
I’ll get around to baseball in a moment, but first I need to say: In the history of sports, no fan base has ever reacted favorably to the sight of new uniforms. (OK, maybe I exaggerate. San Diego fans might have exulted when the Padres got rid of the brown jerseys. And Georgia folks seemed to like the black jerseys against Auburn in 2007. But not the black helmets against Florida in 2009.) Put simply, this is human nature.
People like familiarity. Every newspaper/magazine/website redesign is always met with scorn, even if it’s clearly an artistic upgrade. That Georgia’s Nike-designed Pro Combat uniforms — unveiled at Photo Day in Athens — are a dramatic change, but that’s kind of the point.
Because — more generalization here — players love new uniforms. (Does that mean players aren’t, you know, people themselves? No, but they get to wear the uniforms, as opposed to behold them.) Players love new uniforms because they make them feel new and sleek.
Esteemed colleague Chip Towers has been chronicling the whole uniform debate, and it’s pretty amusing — but not unexpected. To his credit, Mark Richt gave Bulldog backers two weeks to steel themselves. And then, after the Boise State game is over, it’ll be back to standard uniform procedure for South Carolina. But it gives us something to talk about in the interim, does it not?
OK, about the Braves. They’re going great. They’ve taken five of six against the Giants and Diamondbacks. They’ve thrown a hammerlock on the wild-card race. (They lead by eight games at the moment, meaning they’re closer to Philadelphia than the Giants are to them.) The NL postseason grid is all but set: Phillies, Brewers, Braves and either the Snakes or the Giants.
And with that, the floor’s yours. We can talk baseball. We can talk uniforms. We can even talk baseball uniforms. It’s Sunday, which means the Braves are wearing the red jerseys. Join me, won’t you?
Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. I hate the Braves’ red jerseys.
By Mark Bradley
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282 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
August 21st, 2011
1:10 pm
first?
Nova Scotia Steve
August 21st, 2011
1:12 pm
Dislike the Red Jersey’s too Mark!!! Love the navy blue ones tho!
Silver is Back!
August 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
Liking the silver helmets, wish there was more black or silver in the pants. Just a little too red…
J.J.M.
August 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
uga uniforms would be much better with silver pants to me
Bill
August 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
Braves players love the Red uniforms….But UGA’s new uniform sucks!
Dave
August 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
Looks like they guy is wearing those singlet red pajamas of the 1930’s, with the two-button flap in the back. They should have gone with white trunks.
FlaDawg
August 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
I dislike the Braves’ red jersey’s much more than I dislike the Dawgs’ Pro Combat uniforms!
Steve
August 21st, 2011
1:15 pm
Funny article Mark! Do you like the UGA uniforms? Why do you hate the Braves red jerseys?
bro
August 21st, 2011
1:16 pm
Who will really care if you just WIN.
Adam Tolle
August 21st, 2011
1:16 pm
I think the red jerseys are the sharpest. The road blue is awful
2012 FEAR THE END
August 21st, 2011
1:16 pm
that guy is really skinny
bro
August 21st, 2011
1:17 pm
Wish the Braves would wear the blue and red jerseys on Saturday and the red on Sunday. A little color always brightens the day or the night.
Brett Favre was once a Falcon
August 21st, 2011
1:18 pm
I’ve worn several uniforms. And I’m here to tell you that there are no ugly uniforms if you win.
Except maybe those ugly Jets’ uniforms. I didn’t have a very good time in New York.
DZ
August 21st, 2011
1:18 pm
I hate the Braves’ red jerseys too. Always have, always will.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:20 pm
Kudos once more, J.J.M.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:20 pm
those uniforms are the ugliest i’ve ever beholden. CMR must think it’s going to be a great season if he feels comfortable enough to insult the fan base like this.
Joe 12-Pack
August 21st, 2011
1:20 pm
They already have the UG. Now they have the LY.
Are these leftover from the NFLEurope days? Ridiculous.
Boise by 12.
.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:21 pm
For the record, I am underwhelmed by the Pro Combat uniforms. I’m often underwhelmed by Nike products.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:22 pm
the Braves grey on grey visiting uniforms are some of the worst in baseball. they look like white uniforms washed in the oconee river.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:23 pm
if Georgia loses that first game, the new uni will go down in infamy. it should go down win, lose or draw.
fred
August 21st, 2011
1:23 pm
UGA, where’s the damn fire. hate the uniforms. Braves red as bad..like the Braves white uniform.
Botton line just win!!!!!!!!!!!!
J.J.M.
August 21st, 2011
1:26 pm
nobody can touch WVU uniforms
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
I’m guessing the guys in the the ugly uniforms will be OK against BSU.
Steve
August 21st, 2011
1:28 pm
Mark, do you think Lowe will be a starter in the postseason or in the bullpen?
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:29 pm
One or the other, Steve.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
Regarding Lowe: Much depends on Hanson’s shoulder. If he’s OK, the first three pitchers will be Jurrjens, Hanson and Hudson. If Hanson isn’t, then Fredi has to decide if he’d rather go with a veteran or a rookie.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:36 pm
suprised to read the Braves lead baseball with 22 last at bat victories this year. i thought that was last year’s highlight.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
the only thing that’s not low about Lowe’s pitching this year is his ERA.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
Last year’s last at-bat wins were more dramatic, I’d suggest.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:40 pm
was also suprised Chipper publicly said he was coming back. i guess he was already getting tired of answering that question.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
based on memory, the Braves’ Opening Day Lineup has only been used in 11 games this year.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
I’m a little surprised about Chipper, too. I thought he might retire after this season. I believe I predicted as much. Ah, well.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:43 pm
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/presspass/gamenotes.jsp this page does help the memory, heh
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:43 pm
Hudson gets the DBs 1-2-3-4. Walked Chris Young.
Joe 12-Pack
August 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
Is Hinske hurt? He hasn’t played since 8/16.
Schleydawg
August 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
I love the new uniforms! Good change for a special game. Teens love different uniforms, ask Oregon. Victory red for the brave on Sundays are good too!
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:45 pm
I don’t believe Hinske is hurt.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
Mark – UGA’s Pro Combat uniform is a little “Power Rangery” but it could be worse. My home town team wore this monstrosity for road games last year
http://kitkross.com/kitkross-blog/2010/6/3/official-everton-fc-1011-away-kit.html
Talk about doing away with 140 years of blue and white! At least we didn’t lose to Liverpool while wearing it.
roger
August 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
i will let you know if i love the uniforms on sunday after the game, depends how the football turns
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
Mark, didnt you report the other day when you asked Fredi about Hinske’s health he gave you a rather oblique answer?
roger
August 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
they are hitting him hard early nothing to show
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
I like the Power Rangers. The Pink Power Ranger was cute. Kimmie, I believe her name was.
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
i’m listening to the game on the radio, and Don and Jim act like the Braves tatooed the ball a couple of times.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
Two of the three balls were hit hard. McCann broke his bat, though.
Eaassyy
August 21st, 2011
1:50 pm
I imagine the players will look much more awesome in the unis then the mannequin. I bet Alec Ogletree looks pretty cool in them.
I happen to really like the Braves’ away blues. The greys are about as boring as they come.
BTW, Tech fans have no room to talk. Those dehydrated urine-yellow Russell unis are about as bad as FUGLY as they come. I don’t care who you are…
Eaassyy
August 21st, 2011
1:51 pm
I liked the yellow ranger. But I always have had “yellow fever”
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
You are showing your age – the original pink PR is now 40 years old
Aaron
August 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
If pink jerseys would let us beat the gators. Then put them on
todd grantham
August 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
i remember a game a couple of weeks ago where Brian almost broke his, well, a pitch almost broke him.
Mark Bradley
August 21st, 2011
1:53 pm
The one and only Mark Bradley — actually, not the only — is 55, I’m sorry to say.