One thing that I have always been fascinated by in sport is uniforms. Jerseys, shorts, shirts, sweaters, socks whatever the different parts of a uniform are I have always liked to look at the different styles that teams utilize. One thing that I have been mulling over for some time is what makes a great uniform? Is it the choice of colors? Is it the style of striping or piping? Is it the team's reputation that brings the uniform to life? Of course I have no immediate answers and this of course just boils down to an argument of taste. So what to do?
I figured I would start by selecting what I think are the best uniforms for a number of different sports. Maybe by looking at my results I'll gain a better insight into what I think makes a great uniform. So which sports to pick? I'll stay with ones where I do know a little bit of history, rugby both club and international, major league baseball, ice hockey both club and international, american football and football (soccer) both club and international.
The first sport I'll select is one most ranters probably are not all that familiar with rugby. On the club level it was pretty easy to pick which team has the best uniform or kit. I give you Harlequins from the Guinness Premiership.
That my fellow ranters is a uniform! Great combination of colors and the stripes on the socks are perhaps the best in the world. This is perhaps the most unique combination of team colors that I am aware of and that is probably why I think it is the best in club rugby.
For the international side of rugby there can be only one choice for top kit.
That's right, New Zealand. The team is nick named the All-Blacks and as you can see their kits are all black. I think in this case it is the tradition of the uniform that makes it great not the choice of color or lack thereof. Plus any team that opens each match with a traditional Haka earns double points in respect.
Ka mate, ka mate! Ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
A upa ... ne! ka upa ... ne!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
So in rugby I learned that on the club level colors and striping combinations are the most important whilst on the international level tradition was the number 1 deciding point. I don't know what that proves but it was fun anyways.
I am still deciding on the other sports so check back again for further uni-updates.
