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The Smack and Scold
If this were Medieval times (the era, not the restaurant), Columbus and Los Angeles would be preparing for a joust between a 20-year knight and a hotshot newcomer of the soccer kingdom.
The Columbus Crew SC, one of the first ten teams of Major League Soccer (MLS), has been defined by its colors. So much so that the club affectionately and proudly goes by the nickname, “The Black & Gold.” Their sobriquet and trademark color scheme, unique in MLS for 20 years, has exclusively distinguished Columbus and its fans from the other original 9 teams and continues to stand-out among the league’s 20 other clubs.
(Original Logo, 1996)
(New Logo, 2015)
(Nordecke, Google+)
Until now.
The 22nd club recently entered MLS: LA FC.
Just as they’ve become the second MLS team in Los Angeles (adios Chivas USA), the frustration they will receive from soccer fans in Columbus will be second to none when they visit for a soccer match in the future (except for Portland).
Why?
The LA FC group, less likely blind to reality and more likely deliberately provocative, chose black and gold as its primary colors.
“Black and Gold embody the success, glamour, and urban texture of Los Angeles.” (LA FC Online)
When thinking of Los Angeles, do you composite the colors black and gold above all others in your mind?
Anthony Precourt tweeted his reaction from the January 7th LA FC presentation.
How does the owner of Crew SC feel about this?
“Hat’s off to @LAFC. Absolutely crushed it with your new crest and colors. @MLS”
He added:
“Only one comment. Columbus Crew SC is the true Black and Gold! Maybe you roll with Gold and Black? @LAFC #CrewSC”
A tweet is one thing, but hopefully Mr. Precourt understands how important tradition and character are to this city and soccer club (the banana kits, cough cough), grows a stronger spine and makes a larger public statement alongside the club’s infectiously energetic ambassador Frankie Hejduk about Crew SC’s decorated (and checkered) history, identity and team-to-team decorum. The brazen brand management color decision made by LA FC, at its core, violates a level of sportsmanship of the beautiful game in MLS.
These are not just colors, but much more. It’s not just poor form, it’s really not cool.
The LA FC logo is fine, but the color choice unmistakably spray paints a lack of respect for its storied Midwestern counterpart. There are dozens of other color combinations they could have selected for this league, but they chose to use a stick instead of a paint brush as their illustrative tool.
LA FC should receive a warm welcome as MLS’s 22nd team. Their entrance is exciting news. However, their naive freshman status does not excuse their team of brand and marketing professionals from deliberately poking Columbus Crew SC in the eye with a stick with tips dripping in friendly shades. LA FC’s logo/crest brainstorming surely involved pictures of every team’s logo and colors with explanations of every team’s history and defining characteristics.
Color Columbus mad.
Actually, coloring just Columbus black & gold is all we want.
‘The Kid’ Gets His Own Place
Cooperstown’s population will be getting two new permanent residents.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York today. To be candid, Griffey Jr. was my favorite player back in the day when SportsCenter was on channel 11.
And by “day,” I mean the ’90s.
The former outfielder for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds was incredible with his glove and bat. Here are a few of his achievements throughout his 20+ year Major League Baseball (MLB) career:
- League MVP (1997)
- Gold Glove (1990-1999)
- Silver Slugger (1991, 1993-1994 and 1996-1999)
- All-Star Game MVP (1992)
(Source: ESPN)
As a lefty, Griffey Jr. always had a curve ball of his own (so to speak) when at the plate or when climbing the outfield wall to deny a home run. Perhaps it was fitting that his first-time ballot vote had a special twist.
“A star slugger during the steroids era who was never tainted by accusations of drug use, Griffey was on 437 of 440 votes in his first appearance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. His 99.3 percentage topped the previous mark of 98.84, set when Tom Seaver appeared on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992.”
–“Ken Griffey Jr. (99 percent of vote), Mike Piazza head to Cooperstown,” ESPN
Ken Griffey Jr. is a great person and he was great on MLB’s big stage.
His remarkable talent was famously showcased on the silver screen. Little Big League, you’re up.
Sometimes in movies, characters and events are exaggerated to enhance suspense, drama and action. However, Griffey Jr.’s smooth swing and monster of a home run was a scene right out of a real Mariners game.
And it’s awesome that 99.3% of Hall of Fame voters chose to give “The Kid” his feel-good movie ending set for release this summer.
#15 is Gone, but ’16 is a Fiesta
(Bleacher Report)
Ohio State 44
Notre Dame 28
Following one of Ezekiel Elliott’s triumphant four touchdowns in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl in Arizona, the aforementioned Buckeye running back modestly shrugged off another highlight run.
Actually, Elliott was paying tribute to teammate Joey Bosa who was suspended after targeting the Notre Dame’s quarterback DeShone Kizer with the crown of his helmet in the first quarter. The no-big-deal shrug is a trademark of Bosa, who will be entering the NFL Draft early (along with Elliott and others) as a potential #1 overall prospect.
Upon further reflection, the picture above captured a sentiment many in Buckeye Nation are feeling after a victorious Fiesta Bowl win.
Yeah, we can be that good. But, what can you do now?
The Buckeyes won impressively in the desert in 2016, but it wasn’t the win everybody imagined. The National Championship game will be played in a week and a half on the same field as this year’s Fiesta Bowl: The University of Phoenix Stadium. All the sports experts had The Ohio State Buckeyes in the playoff and, more ambitiously, playing in the title game. However, the shocking loss to Michigan State in the Horseshoe in November stopped the powerful Buckeye train one station too soon.
And yet, with the continued frustration from that loss still lingering, Ohio State’s victory today provided fans and casual viewers a valuable lesson for the New Year:
When our most grandiose dreams collide with harsh reality, shrugging off the ashes of failure and responding with a gritty, revitalized work ethic is what opens the (running) lanes for renewed opportunities and success…
like a phoenix.
Congratulations Ohio State and Happy 2016 Everybody!
Happy Monday
2015 MLS Cup at Crew Stadium: 14 vs. 11
Evidenced by the unbelievable (not an exaggeration) non-call on a pass that rolled an unmistakable two yards out-of-bounds by a Portland Timbers player just 6 or so minutes into the game, the continuation of this play that led to a cross into the Columbus Crew box that was headed into the net by a Timber in obvious offside position, the officials made it clear to everybody watching that they were biased against the Crew with destructible consequences.
These two consecutive embarrassing miscalls led to an early 2-nil lead for Portland (instead of 1-nil), defining the tone with a favorite in mind.
Important: The head official, Jair Marrufo (chosen by the league) was the same ref that years earlier had granted a controversial free kick to the Chicago Fire against the Columbus Crew. The Fire scored and won on this undeserved kick. After the game, Marrufo received a signed jersey from the Fire player (Blanco) who benefited from the controversial whistle.
From subsequent yellow card offenses that were never shown to a penalty kick not being awarded to multiple instances of diving by the Timbers (appropriate team name), the officials’ IQ of soccer would scrape the bottom of a grungy gutter.
Disgraceful (and completely inexcusable), especially for a championship game at the professional level.
The crowd was electric and the atmosphere and energy before and during the match was special. Unfortunately, the Crew did not play its best game. That’s the truth. However, the prejudiced officiating changed the game and gave clear advantages to the Portland Timbers that influenced the result.
The final score was 2-1.
There are moments when we just need to laugh to take a break from crying, so here’s a very short, temporary relief for Crew fans everywhere.
Laughing and crying (at the same time) at something completely unrelated to our frustrations can work pretty well serving as a welcomed distraction.
This game will sting for a long, long time, but Crew fans must look on the bright side. Life can be very unfair, yet it’s those who find that shred of light in the blinding storm in the present who are able to find success in the uncertain future.
Have a Massive Week.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 