Should I Buy That New Favre Jersey?

A few weeks ago, I offered the following advice, wait until the ink is dry on that Brett Favre contract to buy a jersey. Well, after another retirement head fake, Favre has finally signed with the Vikings and he did end up sticking with the number four.

So - should you click your way over to NFL.com to buy that new Favre jersey? The short answer? It depends.

The longer answer? It depends on how often you wear jerseys. I'm the type of guy that only wears jerseys on gameday. When Sunday rolls around in the fall, I already have my Adrian Peterson jersey - so why would I drop another pretty penny on a player that will likely only be around for one season. Let's say you find a deal on eBay and buy a jersey for $70 with shipping and handling. If you only wear it during regular season and playoff games that works out to about $3.50 per wear. Now let's say Adrian Peterson sticks around in the league and with the Vikings for another four years (a fairly conservative estimate). The same jersey would cost you maybe $0.97 per wear.

Let me boil it down for you to a simple NFL jersey philosophy. Don't waste your hard earned cash on jerseys of grizzled free agent veterans or brand new rookies. Wait until you team drafts a player that has a breakout rookie season, then buy a jersey before year two. That way, you'll have a jersey of a great player and you'll be able to wear it for the longest amount of time.

My Advice on that new Favre Jersey?

Will Brett Favre being signing with the Minnesota Vikings in the coming days? It is certainly looking like a strong possibility. So, should you buy that new Favre jersey so you can be the first one on the block with what is sure to be the NFL's top selling jersey this year?

My advice? I'd wait.

Remember that Randy Moss changed his number. Joe Montana changed his number. Brett Favre might want to wipe the slate clean after a disappointing finish in New York.

John David Booty - the QB way down on the Vikings depth chart - does happen to sport the same number as his idol, Favre. Booty would likely give up the number to Favre, if asked, but Brett may be looking to sport a new number with a new, rival team.

On the other hand, maybe you could make money on a #4 jersey in a few years. Forty years from now this stuff could be worth a lot if Favre chooses to stay retired.

Midyear Sports Predictions - June 2009

Chicago Cubs - It is fair to say that the Chicago Cubs have underperformed this season. They've been plagued by injuries, bullpen woes and a lack of timely hitting.   

Best Case: They right the ship, realize they are only 2.5 games down in a winnable division, get healthy and make a run into the postseason.  They get through at least one playoff season this year. 

Worst Case: They struggle throughout the year, but keep it close enough just to break the lil' Cubbie blue hearts of Cubs fans everywhere.  They spend money to sign aged vet Pedro Martinez, which flops.  And to top it all off, they end the season without completing the sale of the team from the penny pinching Tribune Company. 

Most probable: I think this team still has a reasonable shot of winning the division this season. They have the pieces, they will likely get a few parts back from the DL soon, and may add to the roster at the trade deadline.  I highly doubt they make a run at the World Series this year, and if they make another first round exit, I wonder if it isn't time to blow this team up and try to hit the reset button with some new young prospects.

Minnesota Twins - The Twins sit a few games behind Detroit in the AL Central.  

Best Case: The Twins do have a young, exciting team this season.  If they can add a bullpen arm or two to get them to All Star closer Joe Nathan, they have a chance at winning a few more games down the stretch.  Joe Mauer continues his superhuman hitting and wins both the batting title and MVP.

Worst Case: The team fades, young pitchers can't hold it together in the second half of the season and Detroit walks away with the AL Central. 

Most probable: I'd say this team has about a 50-50 shot of winning the division.  If they do make it into the postseason, they could win a series against Texas or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but probably not the Yankees or Boston.  At they very least, there should be optimism for Twins fans - they have a young team and a new ballpark opening next season.

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings were 10-6 last season with two very, very average quarterbacks running the offense.  This offseason, they drafted some rookies that will help right away and are looking to sign future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.  Favre is known for his cannon arm and reckless abandon on the gridiron.  For him to have success with the Vikings he will simply need to stretch the field slightly to keep defenses honest for Minnesota's already strong backfield. 

Best Case: With Favre, a record of 11-5 or a repeat of 10-6 is possible.  Don't put me in the category of Vikings fans worshiping at the alter of Brett quite yet, but I think with a healthy arm he can still play.  The Vikings would have to ask Favre to rely on the run more than he did in the first ten weeks of last season, and in this scenario Percy Harvin - the Vikings new wideout - shreds offenses forces to play up against Minnesota's potent running attack.  Without Favre, I still see as many as 9 wins.  Sidney Rice could become the red zone threat that he has shown himself capable of becoming.  Adrian Peterson could be an MVP candidate.

Worst Case: Brett Favre signs, then re-aggravates his arm and drags the team down by throwing interceptions late in the season.  Vikings lose to Packers in both games, and muster splits with Detroit and Chicago.  They miss the postseason despite sky-high preseason expectations.  

Most probable: This is tough to call.  I think they will sign Favre, boosting both TV ratings and ticket sales.  It will be a two way race for the division between the Bears and Vikings.  Though I like that scenario for the Vikings, they haven't made it to the Super Bowl since I've been alive and they've never won.  

California Golden Bears Football - California has been knocking on the glass ceiling HARD the last few seasons, but they just haven't been able to break through.  Last year they were 9-4 and were rewarded with a trip to the Emerald Bowl in which they defeated Miami in one of the highest rated mid-range bowl games last season.  But let's not pretend that fans of the Golden Bears were perfectly satisfied with the performance.  It seems like every season the Bears, led by coach Jeff Tedford, lose one game they shouldn't and fall to USC.  Pundits have also predicted Oregon to rise to the top of the Pac-10 for the past several seasons, despite falling to Cal in 2006, 2007 and 2008. 

Best Case: Cal could be a BCS bowl contender this season, but they have to limit themselves to just one or two losses - and they can't lose to both USC and Oregon.  Kevin Riley, a junior this season, should be an upgrade over graduating Nate Longshore.  Longshore, despite giving Cal fans some great memories, actually saw his completion percentage decline every season he played.  Running back Jahvid Best stays healthy all season and competes for the Heisman Trophy (something Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, et. al. couldn't quite do).  

Worst Case: Riley doesn't progress, Best gets nicked up, and the Bears lose to USC, Oregon and Minnesota getting yet another invite to the second place bowl.  

Most probable: I'm optimistic about the Golden Bears this season.  I think they take a step forward and USC takes a step back without newly minted New York Jet Mark Sanchez. The big tests will come early.  Weeks 3-6 could be fantastic or tough (at Minnesota, at Oregon, USC, then at UCLA - a possible letdown game). 

Minnesota Golden Gophers Football: 

Best Case: A repeat of last year's success.  Last year, I was hoping the Gophers would win 4 games after their dismal 2007 season.  Instead, they won 7 games last season and were rewarded with a trip to the Insight Bowl.  They drew a tough matchup in their bowl game (Kansas).  People have, for years, predicted the Gophers would wind up in the lowliest of postseason games - the Motor City Bowl.  Thankfully, they've nearly always managed to squeak into slightly more desirable bowl games.  This season, however, any bowl appearance would be a great finish to a really tough looking schedule.   

Worst Case: 4-8. I see them beating South Dakota State and Air Force for sure, after that it is anyone's guess. 

Most probable: No matter what happens to the Gophers this season on the field, they will be opening up a new stadium, bringing football back to the University of Minnesota campus. That's a plus.  Recruiting will likely improve over the next couple of seasons and the team is loaded with young talent.  

Reviewing the 2009 NFL Draft Hats

The NFL Draft is in two weeks, but each team has already released their draft hat - the hat the selected players put on when they are photographed with their new teams jersey.  Some of these hats are fantastic and others . . . well, let's just say we've got some duds in there.  You can pick up your team's hat here.

Atlanta Falcons - At first, I was a pretty big fan of this hat.  I've cooled on it a little, only because it is a bit too shiny to wear everyday - but this hat would go well with a black Falcons jersey - unless it is Michael Vick.  

Seattle Seahawks - This hat looks like a kindergartner or one of John McCain's staffers threw up all over it.  I guess this hat is supposed to go with Seattle's new alternate jersey, but it mainly gives me a headache.  Wow.  

San Diego Chargers - I really like the old school powder blue Chargers jersey and I'm pumped they've brought the look back. This hat is pretty cool, but if you're going with a throwback design, you might as well go with a throwback looking "relaxed fit" hat instead of a shiny techie looking hat like this.  As you've seen with Seattle, however, you could make a far worse choice. 

Minnesota Vikings - Again, I like to wear hats that you can wear everyday.  That's why the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox hats are so popular - subtle navy with a white or red accent. Purple and yellow with stripes, on the other hand?  Not so subtle. I think most of these hats could be worn with a jersey - this one would go well with the Vikings white away jersey - but wouldn't look so great for everyday use. 

 Houston Texans - This hat is pretty similar to the Atlanta Falcons hat.  Pretty good color scheme, not too overwhelming.  

Carolina Panthers - The Carolina Panthers logo is just so painfully 1990s.  The neon teal color scheme is not unlike the Jacksonville Jaguars - which entered the league at the same time.  And lest we forget, the 1990s also witnessed the expansion of the Florida Panthers hockey team - so that decade couldn't even pick an original team name.  And color scheme?  Remember the San Jose Sharks?  If you're a Panthers hat, go with a black jersey and hat.  

Brrr . . . Preparing for Winter

Autumn is easily the best time to be a sports fan.  I can't say this enough.  Football is now well under way and we're in the midst of the baseball playoffs.  Basketball and hockey are on the horizon and the crisp weather gives sports fans' the opportunity to break out the hooded sweatshirt.  As we've mentioned before, NFL hoodies, by-in-large, are not nearly as cool your classic college hooded sweatshirt. But what other tips should a sports fan be aware of as the weather turns cool?  Well, there are plenty, and you've come to the right place.

The very first thing on your shopping list should be a gray hoodie for your favorite team.  Gray might not be the most exciting color in the rainbow, but it can be worn under zipped or buttoned up jackets like these, or it can be worn underneath your jersey.  This works especially well with football jerseys that might run a bit large on you or when attending a hockey game in an arena kept cool.  

Despite the fact that your hands would be chilly without them, we would recommend against going with these kinds of gloves.  If you're headed to an indoor hockey game - why not try some gray wool gloves instead? For fans attending an outdoor football game - consider a pair of Nike cold weather gloves designed to counter the elements.  

Also for NFL fans, we love these throwback hats - but only for going to games or hanging out with the guys.  Let's be honest, they look a little goofy, but we love 'em anyway.  

Be careful when buying an NFL jacket.  Most of the available jackets look a lot like the Starter Jackets kids were getting in fights for in the early 1990s.  Definitely opt for something a little more adult looking like this.  

What to Wear: New York Jets

It should be an exciting year to be a New York Jets fan.  After a 4-12 season last year, the fanbase has reason to be excited again after acquiring future Hall of Famer Brett Favre.  While Favre might not lead the Jets to the promised land this season, he certainly gives new fans a reason to jump on board the bandwagon and provides lifelong fans with even more reason to show their pride.

Brett Favre jerseys have been flying off the shelves at NFL.com. These jerseys will no doubt be the "hot" item this upcoming season at the Meadowlands, but we recommend looking just a little bit different from the crowd of number 4 jerseys.  We love jerseys, but Favre isn't exactly at the start of a promising young career - so we predict they will look a bit dated within a couple of years.  You don't see too many Joe Montana Kansas City Chiefs jerseys anymore, right?

Check out these "Ithaca is Pretty" shirts from M. Phil Designs here.  Match the shirt with either a casual looking Jets hat or the team's 2008 draft hat.  The shirt and hat combo looks great and isn't over the top - which is key if you hope to snag anyone's number during pre and post game festivities.

The Jets logo and colors also look good in more traditional fitted caps like this one.

Once again, avoid player "tribute" tees like this one.  If you have that much of a man crush ona player like Favre, it might be wise to pick up a jersey instead. After you make your purchase, consider counseling before you become a full blown stalker.  If you do opt for the Favre jersey, we suggest snagging a throwback "alternate" jersey.  These will set you apart from the crowd. Unfortunately, "authentic" versions of these jerseys (with sewn on numbers) are not yet available as of this posting.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the authentic versions of these to appear, as they will last you much longer than the replica versions.

Be sure to check out our other tips for looking good this football season here.  Also, check out our Preseason NFL Preview.  You can find other fun designs from M Phil Designs here.

Dos and Don'ts of The Well Dressed NFL Fan

With the NFL season upon us, The Well Dressed Sports Fan thought it would be a good time to address some football fan fashion dos and don'ts for the upcoming year.  The Well Dressed Sports Girl will join me for this post.

Picture 1: Jessica Simpson sporting her boyfriend, Tony Romo's, jersey.  

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: Jessica Simpson is so damn close to nailing it here.  Plus she is hotter than that time I found a bunch of girly magazines next to a dumpster.  Replace that slightly pink jersey with a more authentic looking jersey and she's got it.  Jessica is clearly wearing the the women's cut jersey, which is a great call here.  The long curly hair tops it off.  Be warned, dressing like this at a game will get you a lot of attention.  If attention is what you're going for - copy this look with your favorite player's jersey and wear it with pride.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take:  Agreed.  But come on, are you really faulting her for wearing a little pink?  Jessica Simpson and her look-a-likes can wear the girly version of fan gear

 without shame.  A "real" version might add a few points, but this works.

Sports Guy's Response: A lot of hardcore fans complain about pink hats and jerseys, but if you're hot enough to pull it off, my guess is that even the most hardcore fan won't be complaining.  

Picture 2: Bills fans tailgating.

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: These guys actually do a pretty reasonable job of dressing for the game.  The guy on the right could consider subbing the Bill's hat for a plain blue stocking cap, but they don't commit any sins against spot here.  These guys are doing two things correctly -- they are dressing for the weather and they aren't over doing it.  No face paint, no shirtlessness.   

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take:

 Average.  They don't make me cringe, but there's no reason for a second glance, either.

Sports Guy's Response: I'll agree with your take here, lady, but part of the goal of this blog is not to look like a jackass.  No second take, sure, but they avoid many of the most common crimes against fandom.  

Picture 3: The Shirtless Train Wreck.

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take:  Here is a wonderful example of what NOT to do.  Nothing says, "Heckle me," like an overweight, shirtless, drunk, sports fan.  The terrible helmet and nipple decorations sort of make me want to jump of a bridge and break both of my ankles on my way down.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: Once, I thought enthusiasm was everything.  This is the exception.

Picture 4: A Bit Too Skimpy?

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take:  If you're going for reasonable attention, copy Jessica Simpson's look in picture one.  If you're looking for the drunk guy in picture 4 to rub his nipples and make an inappropriate comment about your rack, this is the way to go.  Dignity goes out the window here.  If all you're looking for is to get on TV - oh, and you're hot - this might be the look for you.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: Where are these guys' parents?  Who let them out of the house.  When they were 18.  Seriously, they need supervision.

Sports Guy's Response: Nothing says, I'm pole dance at night and am just here for the attention by not wearing ANYTHING with your teams colors.  Find a sparkling bra that says New Orleans Saints or something.

Picture 5: Straiten up that hat!

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: Straighten up that hat and this guy has a pretty sweet look.  This would work well watching the game at a friend's place or going to the game with your girlfriend.  A khaki shirt might work a bit better with the purple hat, but other than that - pretty good lookin'.  Read about how to rock a crushed hat here. 

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: This is a good laid back look for going to a game.  Disregard the sports guy's take, though.  A khaki shirt would be intolerable.  Instead go for a classic oxford, and one without the weird chest pockets.  Nice jeans, clean hat, nice watch, then you've got to finish the look with a nice crisp shirt.  As long as you avoid the white hat, you can't fail with this look.

Sports Guy's Response: I would try to avoid the "I just came from work," look that so many guys fall into at baseball games.  Instead, if you're going for this kind of look, wear a casual looking oxford, rather than one you'd wear with a tie to the office.  Finally, be sure to roll up the sleeves.  

See more with our NFL Preseason Preview here.

NFL Football Pre-Season Preview

There are really two breeds of football fan -- fans who are able to go to games and fans who watch the game from afar. Unfortunately, it isn't very easy to dress casually as an NFL fan, the way you can as an MLB fan.  Going with a jersey for your favorite player's jersey is a good choice, but do you really want to spend the dough to buy an authentic jersey?  Should you wear your jersey on your second date with that hot blond from the office, or just on gamedays?  

Football, unlike baseball, does not have a low-cost casual option that looks good on most guys.  While baseball hats look natural, football caps for most NFL teams look a bit too busy -- and can often look pretty stupid.  If you have a NFL hat that matches your favorite team's jersey, you can wear it on gameday and actually look pretty decent.  The MLB and NCAA just seems to do a better job than the NFL of offering stuff to wear that is easy on the eyes.  A lot of NFL gear has HUGE logos and overwhelming colors.

Whereas the Well Dressed Sports Fan has at least a couple of great hats in his or her closet they also have at least one great NFL jersey.  Instead of dropping your hard earned money on "replica jerseys" go with authentic jerseys.  As an added tip, take a look on eBay for some great deals (another post on this later in the year).  Replica jerseys can fade and the numbers and letters can "chip" in the wash.  Authentic jerseys have sewn on letters that will last you a much, much longer time - making it worth the money.  But buyer beware, a few authentic NFL jerseys, like the Bengals, contain both sewn on and printed on elements.  The printed on elements, as with the replica jerseys, are likely to fade.

If you're able to go to a game in person, pretty much all bets are off.  If you're looking to meet a good looking girl that is also a fan of your favorite team, it is a wise idea to tone things down a little.  If you're just looking to have a good time, however, and aren't planning on going to bars away from the stadium afterword -- sure, go all out.  

If you want to show support for your team on any other day of the week than football Sunday, grab a polo shirt with your team's logo.  These shirts are more subtle than some of the other NFL gear and can look good at the golf course.  Unfortunately, some of these polos can be a bit spendy.  

Quick Tip: Wear a matching hooded sweatshirt under your jersey for cold weather.  This also works to make the jersey a bit more snug if you look like you're swimming in it.  

Avoid: Wearing the jersey of a player still in the NFL, currently playing for another team.  For example, avoid wearing your Randy Moss jersey to a Vikings game.  Snag an Adrian Peterson jersey instead.  On the other hand, you'll look like a hardcore 49ers fan if you rock your Steve Young jersey on Sundays.  

Also Avoid: Wearing your jersey other than on game day and during draft day.  If you go to watch your team practice in the fall, feel free to sport the jersey.  You also get an exemption for Super Bowl Sunday -- which is sort of like a national football holiday.  Thinking about wearing your favorite jersey to your daughter's 3rd grade graduation?  I promise you will look stupid.  

Final take: Instead of opting for a hat or t-shirt, we recommend to go with a NFL jersey.  Further, we recommend buying the authentic jersey with letters and numbers that will last a long time.  Finally, sport that jersey only on gamedays 18 times a year and special events like the NFL Draft to keep it fresh.  

Throwback or Throw It Back?

Not all jerseys are created equal. If you're a casual sports fan, you might be tempted to think they all look same, but believe me, they do not.

Swing by one of my favorite blogs, Uniwatch to learn a bit about the history of all types of sports uniforms. The main author of Uniwatch, Paul Lukas, also writes columns for ESPN.com's Page 2. Check out, for example his column on the history of Chicago Cubs uniforms.

Uniwatch points to some of the more unfortunate occurrences in Cubs uniform history. Sporting a throwback uniform to a game or the pub can really show off your dedication to your team, but I wouldn't recommend running out and snagging a jersey like the one pictured in the last link.

Some jerseys from the 1970s and 1980s were unfortunate then and they still look awful now. Others, can look very cool and stylish.

Throwbacks are typically more expensive than regular authentic jerseys, but they come with special advantages. First, they show off your ardent dedication to your favorite team. Fairweather fans, or bandwagon fans rarely own throwback jerseys. So you're jersey will set you apart from other fans at the game.

The second advantage of throwback jerseys is the fact that the players featured on the back of the jersey are nearly always retired, meaning that they will never be traded to another team, making some jerseys look out of touch.

And a tip: if you decide to drop your hard earned money on a throwback, make sure you know a thing or two about the player on the back. You might have an old timer strike up a conversation with you about Tony Oliva or Johnny Bench. I'm not saying you have to memorize statistics, just learn a little bit about who the dude was, when he played, and if he or she made the Hall of Fame of their respective sport.

Also, avoid buying a throwback two or three sizes too large. Buy the same size you normally would.

There are a couple of sources for throwback uniforms. The official sites of Major League Baseball and the National Football League feature various kinds of throwbacks. Mitchell and Ness, bills itself as a "nostalgia company," whatever that means. While a bit pricey, Mitchell and Ness jerseys are of extremely high quality.

Ebbets Field Flannels provides some amazing (and hard to find) throwbacks. These are a bit pricier than even the Mitchell and Ness jerseys, but can be pretty amazing. A Willie Mays 1951 Minneapolis Millers will really impress your hardcore San Francisco Giants fans, but it will set you back $175.

A throwback jersey can really set you apart from the crowd. Don't invest in one if your only a casual fan. Grab a throwback t-shirt from a site like Distant Replays instead. But if you're a hardcore sports fan and want to show of your undying love for your team, grab a unique flannel and your friends as well as other fans at the park, will be impressed.

Bonus tip: on a cold evening, you can slide a hoodie underneath the jersey, just make sure it matches the colors of the uniform itself.