Chicago Red Stars Jersey

We're pretty gender biased here at the Well Dressed Sports Fan. Though the Well Dressed Sports Girl has shared a rant about female fans wearing pigtails and we've given props to Ashley Judd for her style- most of the time we just talk about what the dudes are wearing.  As we write this, it occurs that we might need to rethink our priorities. 

We rarely talk about what the available gear for female teams.  Chicago's professional women's soccer team's new duds caught our attention, however, so we wanted to give the Chicago Red Stars a shout out.  These look fantastic.  

These double as a nice option for female Cubs fans, especially the powder blue jersey in the above picture.  The jersey reflects the Flag of Chicago.  

Ten dollars to the first dude secure enough in his masculinity to wear rock one of these.  

Breaking in a new 5950 Hat Part III

We could basically start a blog just on this topic.  This topic is one of our most popular and we ask people who find this page just based on these posts to stick around a little bit to read the rest of our blog.  Also, please visit our linked sponsors to feed us.  

We've written about breaking in New Era 5950 hats twice before.  First, we suggested heat and sweat to break in the lid.  We then suggested a technique involving a blow dryer.  This post will suggest our boldest strategy yet - putting the hat in an oven like a batch of cookies.  A word of caution - this is our most dangerous strategy for breaking in your hat, we are not responsible for your hurting yourself.  Call the fire department or your mother to supervise if need be.  

Alright, a brief recap.  The new 5950 - with the black underbill - is made of shrink resistant polyester.  The key with the old version of the 5950 was to shrink the wool on the outside of the hat, lowering the dome to make you look less like a goofball or a 75 year old manager.  The key with the new hats is to shrink the plastic mesh on the inside of the hat without ruining it (or burning your house down).  

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees with a cookie sheet placed inside.  Once the oven hits 200, place the cap in the oven for five minutes.  The metal piece on the top of the cap will become very hot if you put the cap in the oven for much longer, or at a much higher temperature than this.  Once you've had the lid in the oven for 5 minutes, take it out and slowly place it on your head - making sure you don't hurt yourself - and hold the top of the front of the dome down to the shape of your head.  Wait until it cools.  Repeat as needed.  

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Well Dressed Sports Fan MLB 2009 Predictions

Pitchers and catchers report for spring training today.  It is raining and I should be hard at work here today, but I will take a little time to slack off and make my baseball predictions for the 2009 season.

AL East - New York Yankees.  For the record, I hate the Yankees, but I am picking them to win their division.  

AL Central - Minnesota Twins.  A young team came within one game of punching their ticket to the playoffs.  If I were their GM, I would make a push to acquire Joe Crede to shore up third base, but beyond that - I think the decision to stand pat and hope this young rotation takes a step forward was pretty wise.  Sign Mauer and Morneau to long term contracts ASAP.

AL West - Anaheim Angles.  Their outfield is loaded.

AL Wildcard - Tampa Bay Rays.  Can they regress a little from last season and still clinch a spot in the playoffs?  Why not?  

Most improved AL team - New York Yankees.  Will a few big name signings help them make up that eight game deficit in the AL East?  Um, yes.  I think it will.  

Most disappointing AL team - Boston.  While the Red Sox played reasonably well over the course of the second half of last season - I think an entire year without Manny Being Manny will actually have a measurable impact on their lineup.  

NL East - New York Mets.  These guys have to win the division at some point, right?

NL Central - Chicago Cubs.  Here are three major factors determining this team's fate in 2009. Fukudome needs to figure out how to translate his success in Japan to the MLB.  If he can hit for an average close to .300 this season, this lineup is going to be incredibly dangerous.  On the pitching end, Rich Harden needs to stay healthy and give the Cubbies 6 strong innings every time he pitches.  He can miss a couple of starts throughout the year, but Cubs fan need to be praying for this kids arm and shoulder health.  Finally, if the Cubs can work out a trade with the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy before the All Star break . . . good night NL Central.  

NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers.  This was the toughest division for me to call, given the fact that Manny is still a giant question mark.  My guess is that he will eventually come to terms with the Dodgers and shore up their lineup.  

NL Wildcard - Philadelphia Phillies.  Returning champs should make a strong run again this season.

Most improved NL team - Washington Nationals.  Let's just say that this team has nowhere to go but up.  The acquisition of Adam Dunn should help them shore up their lineup a bit.  

Most disappointing NL team -  Milwaukee Brewers.  You lose your two best starters and chances are you won't improve much the next season.  It's science.   

Pairing a Hat with a Jersey

Meet Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers.  Ronnie is a die hard Cubs fan, well known through the village of Wrigleyville.  Ronnie is a local celebrity and charitable business organizations and fans gladly provide him with tickets to games.  Ronnie, being a celebrity and a bit of an eccentric, can pull off wearing a straight up Cubs uniform.  Top to bottom.  You, on the other hand, cannot.  

Reader Matt recently asked us if it was alright to wear a Franchise hat, rather than a 5950, with an authentic jersey.  Our response to Matt, who is a St. Louis Cardinals fan: 

Actually, despite the fact that we like authentic jerseys and the 5950 hat - pairing them together often has the danger of looking a bit overzealous and uniform like.  I think toning it down with a well worn franchise hat is a great look.  It makes you look more like a cool fan than some dude pretending to be a player.  

My advice would be to wear the franchise hat when you have the jersey on and consider a 5950 if you're wearing a matching polo, or even a Cardinals sweatshirt to the game on a cooler fall evening.  Lids (including their online store) sells a deodorizer for hats that can freshen up your franchise hat if you think it needs it (or more importantly if the significant other thinks it may need it).  I would only really worry about washing it if it gets either white or brown stains on it.  Fading, on the other hand, is a good thing - making you look like a hardcore fan.  

In other words, unless you are a local celebrity, avoid looking like Ronnie Woo Woo.  If you're going to wear both a hat and a jersey to the sports bar or the game - consider wearing the crushed hat instead of the authentic on the field hat.  If you do decide to wear both the authentic hat and the authentic jersey, try wearing it with a pair of your favorite well worn and broken in jeans.  

Minnesota Twins Alternate Jersey

The Minnesota Twins will be wearing an alternate third jersey this season - their last in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  The jersey will be complimented by an alternate two-tone cap - completing the throwback uniform.  While Well Dressed Girlfriend hates two tone caps, I really like this particular cap.  

While I really like the idea of sporting throwbacks from this era, I think the Twins really should have gone with the powder blue, v-necks from Kirby Puckett's rookie season - my favorite Twins uniform.  The powder blue jersey is the one and only jersey that I can wear to any stadium in the country and get compliments from opposing fans.