This isn’t really football specific–but last week, Sports Center introduced Blog Buzz, a feature where they show the top articles being discussed in the blogosphere. I had seen an article on it last week, but paid it little attention, until I saw the article above this morning.
The main reason that I didn’t pay much attention to it was because of the initial reaction to Blog Buzz in the blogosphere–which was not overly positive. Not surprisingly, the first time the segment ran, they featured two blog comments–one from a blog on the Sun Sentinel, a Miami based newspaper, and the other was from one of ESPN’s own bloggers. Not exactly the type of blog coverage that earns the respect of indpendent blogs.
In my reading this morning, it appears that ESPN heard the feedback, and is making changes based on it–at least according to this blog, which appears to be related to the ESPN bit somehow (although, I wonder why ESPN would be tied in with a non-branded blogspot site). Which might make it slightly worthwhile.
But my reason for bringing it up on ZoneBlitz? I just thought the name was funny–Blog Buzz. It’s a fairly logical name–but ESPN also managed to name their segment in a way that ties it together with a rather infamous sports blog moment:
In an effort to distance themselves from last year’s 0-16 campaign, the Detroit Lions today officially unveiled their new logo–which is, in fact, not that different from their previous logo.
The new logo, which had been leaked on the Internet weeks ago, still features the Honolulu Blue Lion introduce in 1970 pouncing on…something–but now features more details, including a mouth, eye and details around the mane.
While the logo isn’t as drastic a change as say, the 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers change (when they dumped the classic creamsicle orange & winking pirate for today’s pewter, red & black skull & crossbones combo), I actually kind of like the new logo–and specifically like that they didn’t make too drastic of a change.
I also appreciate that the team, which just added the black outline to the Lion in 2003, didn’t feel the need to follow the recent trend in the NFL by changing to jerseys featuring different colored side panels & Nike swooshes on the pants.
Some traditionalists will likely decry the move, and the change is unlikely to cause their fans to forget about last season’s record setting performance–but with less than a week until the Lions are officially on the clock for the #1 overall pick, Lions fans can at least take comfort in the fact that the Lions could have screwed this up a lot worse.
The contract is a nice one for Harrison, a 31-year old OLB, and certainly not as ridiculous as handing a 320-pound (or more) defensive tackle with penchant for stomping on people’s faces with his cleats and possibly taking non-contract seasons off a record breaking $100+ million deal.
But, looking back at the Steelers history, one has to wonder if the extension for Harrison is sign of a new philosophy in Pittsburgh, in theory being driven by coach Mike Tomlin, who has a reputation as being more of a “Player’s Coach” than Bill Cowher or Chuck Noll ever were.
In the past, Pittsburgh has let several big name LBs leave in the middle of what would be considered my many their prime, or at the very worst just past their prime–seemingly always considering the system more important than the player.
If the CBA isn’t figured out soon, the NFL could be looking at a 2010 season with no salary cap–which Wrighster points out will be bad for the owners AND the players, as a whole.
Some players, such as Karlos Dansby, have been spouting off about the money they expect to receive in 2010, thanks to the uncapped year. And a player like Dansby might actually see some extra cash, if they draw the interest of a team like the Washington Redskins, who will likely (continue) to spend maximum dollars in an effort to finally win something under Dan Snyder.
But many more teams, like Wrighster’s Jaguars, will be much more likely to take advantage of the lack of a salary floor–meaning they will spend much less than the $111 million that they are required to spend on salaries in 2009. This will lead to a dynamic more like Major League Baseball, where you have big market teams spending anywhere from 2 to 10 times as much as smaller market teams.
UPDATE: Apparently this was an April Fools Joke that just didn’t get publicized until April 2nd. I think the joke should be on the Seahawks–make them play in green! Upon further review, it should have been obvious it was a joke–the Seahawks are amongst the teams advocating the annoying trend of monochrome uniforms, so for this to have been real, they would have needed green pants as well. That would have been AWESOME!
The Seatlle Seahawks new alternate jerseys were leaked on Deadspin this morning–presumably not a late April Fools joke. I have to agree with Deadspin as to the jersey’s being hideous–why would you put the blueish-grey stripes on a beautiful green jersey like that?
Seahawks New Alternate Jersey
I’m not a real fan of the trend of jamming so many blocks of colors and Nike swooshes onto jerseys–most of the jerseys teams are switching to these days are hideous, and belong in the arena league (where the “modern” look seemed to originate).
But I actually kind of like the green Seahawks jersey–it would be better without the blue sleeves–but then again, I also list the Buccaneers old creamsicle orange jerseys in my top 5 all time football uniforms.
Tony’s Top 5 “Ugly” Football Uniforms:
5. Houston Oilers powder blue jerseys
4. Buffalo Bills red helmet, blue facemaks combo
3. New England Patriots red jerseys with Pat the Patriot
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle orange jerseys and winking pirate…
1. Orlando Thunder flourescent green jerseys–had to be painful for opponents to look at during games.
What are some of the other best all time football uniforms out there?
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