Do you have a jersey or a certain piece of apparel that you must wear each week when your favorite team plays? Is there some ritual you have to go through to insure your team's success on any given weekend? I have one that has put me in a strange position this season.
As you know if you've been around SDB for long, I grew up a Bengals fan and remain one to this day. This season has been a great surprise and really has Bengals fans feeling great. Shortly before the season started, I got my hands on an outstanding Ken Anderson 1970's Bengals throwback jersey. You know, the one that used to be paired up with the simple Bengals arched helmets that I have been so openly fond of. I couldn't wait for the season to start so that I could wear this classic on Sundays while the team went to war on the field. Opening weekend, I got my spot on the couch in my Ken Anderson classic and am settled in for a great start to a new season against the Broncos. As a Bengals fan, there is never a better time to be optimistic than right before the start of the season's first game.
It was looking like the good mojo from my new throwback jersey was going to lead the Bengals to victory that day. As we all know, the game ended on a freak play and the Broncos stole the mojo from my newly acquired treasure. In disgust, I took off the jersey and felt like it was now tainted with bad mojo! When the second week of the season rolled around, I almost went back to the throwback to allow it to regain its magic, but instead went back to the closet and took out the current version of the Bengals jersey to wear. The Bengals went on to victory that day and put me in a tough spot. Not wanting to mess with the good vibes, I had to return to the current jersey for game three against the Steelers. Again, the Bengals pull off a great win, making the jersey even more lucky. Ditto for week four. So, today I had to have the same jersey on again and the Bengals came away with another victory. This has made my current version jersey the go-to piece of good luck apparel for next week's game.
All of this Bengals success has caused my classic Ken Anderson jersey to continue to hang in the dark in my closet. I want to wear the classic jersey each Sunday but I'm afraid to mess with the good luck that the current jersey is bringing the team. So, the jersey I so longed for will continue to gather dust as long as my #99 current version continues to lead to team success. I just know that the jersey I wear each Sunday impacts the team's success, so no matter how much I want to wear the classic, the current will be my gameday jersey of choice. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I'm sure you all have similar obsessions!
Sunday's retro classic review:
Sunday's NFL games offered up some great AFL looks and a return to a classic look for the St. Louis Rams. The Rams took to the field in their original royal blue and gold colors from their days in Los Angeles. I didn't really remember how much I missed this classic look until I saw it on the field again. The old school look was a welcome sight, that caught me off guard when I saw it.
The game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos presented the good and the bad about throwback looks in the same game. The Patriots classic uniforms and old school helmets are a classic style that is great to see on the field again. Unfotunately, the uniforms that the Broncos had on were not so good to the eyes. The Patriots and Broncos played the first ever AFL game against each other, so these uniforms have great historical significance. Unfortunatley, they just didn't look so hot. I was especially entertained by the striped socks worn by the Broncos. This game proved that not all throwback is good throwback.
The other throwback game of the day brought the original Dallas Texans, now the Kansas City Chiefs, to take on the Cowboys. Though the Cowboys were not one of the original eight AFL teams, they donned the retro look against the AFL team that once called their city home. This matchup created a nice, clean throwback look that was enjoyable to watch.
So far, the AFL 50th Anniversary throwback program has been great for the NFL. I can't wait to see more of these combinations on the field as the season progresses.
According to Joe Posnanski's book, The Machine, Broncos owner Bob Howsam, who was GM of the Reds later, made the Broncos wear the vertically striped socks to make them look taller. Look taller, perhaps. Play better, not so much.
Posted by: John | October 12, 2009 at 07:21 AM
"The other throwback game of the day brought the original Dallas Texans, now the Kansas City Chiefs, to Dallas to take on the Cowboys."
See? This would have made sense, right? The game was essentially ABOUT Dallas, but it took place in KC. The feild was painted with a 50th anniversay seal, though the endzones still said Chiefs -- which is probably smart. Kansas Citiers surely did not want to see "Texans" or certainly not "Dallas" in their end zone.
I guess the schedule didn't have KC playing in Dallas, and the opportunity was too good to pass up, but it would have been much cooler to have had this game in Dallas.
Posted by: Jacob | October 12, 2009 at 10:32 AM
John, thanks for pointing out that typo. You are right, the game would have made sense in Dallas.
At least the endzone did not say the CHEFS!
Posted by: Jim Ransdell | October 12, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Jim,
More power to all the great throwback uniforms. They are a tribute to our history, good or bad.
About that good luck 'new' Bengals jersey, some of the luster may wear off if you are sporting it for the second, more meaningful, rematch with the Steelers.
Daniel J Leonard
Tucson, Arizona
Posted by: Daniel J Leonard | October 15, 2009 at 08:52 PM