FASHION SENSE
Barry Laminack: NBA city edition uniforms are (mostly) awesome
Dec 28, 2017, 9:52 am
The Rockets city edition uniform. Courtesy photo
First of all, no I don’t plan to turn this weeks column into a fashion blog. That said, Nike and the NBA have released their “City edition” uniforms, and most of them are pretty badass.
Nike’s Houston City Edition Jersey.
After looking at all the bad ass designs, you have to tip your hat to the NBA for trying to stay “cool” and “relevant’ and fresh when it comes to apparel and jerseys. Which is pretty much the complete opposite of the NFL. Other than the color rush uniforms that are used on Thursday night games (which I really like and think should be adopted full time – and updated often), the NFL uniforms are old, boring and quite frankly they all pretty much suck.
Each NBA team has FOUR different jerseys they can choose from, and to take it a step further this year, the NBA is no longer requiring a team to use their white uniforms. Teams can choose whatever colors they want, so long as they opposing uniform isn’t close in color (in other words, the Rockets can’t wear their black unies if they are playing the Spurs, who also plan to wear their black jerseys).
Like the NBA, the NFL needs to embrace this new era of modern and ever changing uniform designs. In the NCAA, teams like Oregon are able to recruit better because they have so many different variations when it comes to their uniforms. And don’t think for one second other colleges didn’t see that and follow suit with updates and more uniform options.
The NFL is already watered down enough. It’s game play is actually getting kind of boring, if I’m being honest. So they might as well be appealing in other ways.
I’m not sure why the NFL has to be so stiff with everything they do. I guess it’s the good old boy network still running things behind the scenes? They should embrace these kinds of changes. Surely there’s a way that they can capitalize on it monetarily?
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Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
SAY HEY!!#Relentless pic.twitter.com/fqAiUHHdNh
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 12, 2024
Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.
Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.
Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.
Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.
Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed five hits and a run with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to help the Astros avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid with the victory.
La Grasa had himself a day.#Relentless pic.twitter.com/LvGeKBAoqA
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 12, 2024
Oakland starter Mitch Spence permitted seven hits and two runs in seven innings.
Singleton hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second before Heyward smacked a line drive into the second row in right field for his first home run as an Astro to make it 2-0.
It was the third hit in 12 games with Houston for Heyward, who signed with the Astros Aug. 29 after being released by the Dodgers.
Jacob Wilson doubled to open the seventh and moved to third on a ground out by Nevin. The Athletics cut the lead to 1 when Wilson scored on a single by Daz Cameron that chased Valdez.
Bryan Abreu took over and pinch-hitter Seth Brown grounded into a double play on his second pitch to preserve the lead.
Lawrence Butler doubled with one out in the third to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.
Singleton doubled again to start Houston’s fourth before Spence sat down the next 11 Astros. Houston’s next base runner came on a double by Dubón with two outs in the seventh and Alex Bregman grounded out to leave him stranded.
Trainer’s Room
Athletics: 1B Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist injury) is scheduled to come off the injured list Friday for the start of a series against the White Sox.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup Thursday, a day after leaving in the fifth inning with discomfort in his right side. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better Thursday and that he is listed as day to day.
Up Next
Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will start for Oakland against LHP Garrett Crochet (6-11, 3.83) in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night.
Astros: Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) opposes LHP Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45) in the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.