Tony Romo — Clothes Horse?
Posted: June 26, 2008 @ 3:16 am
Years ago, in a past life, I used to teach video production at a major Midwestern university. This was in the mid ’90s, when Starter ran an ad promoting their sports hats which featured several young men mugging for the camera and mouthing an irritating ditty that began, “first you twist the hat, then you turn the hat…”
You then did a hundred other things with the hat. The ad so saturated the target markets’ collective consciousness that nearly every backwards-baseball cap-wearing frat boy in the class used this commercial as their model for the first assignment — a short, ten-shot video clip. The “parodies” were so numerous and so brain dead that all the instructors banned them, before we were driven to strike our eyes out.
I bring this up because the Sports Business Journal announced Monday that Starter is nearing a deal with Romo that would make him the highest paid shoe and apparel endorser in the league. The match is ideal; Romo is the Peter Pan of the frat-boy set, the 28 year old QB who still wears his cap backwards and probably will when he’s in a rocking chair.
On a more abstract level, the Romo deal reminds us, yet again, of a painful truth: the NFL and fashion don’t mix.
Now, hold your cards and letters. I’m not talking about actual game items like jerseys, which can be stylish in the right context. I’m talking about the league’s regrettable forays into daily apparel.
Let’s begin with those abstract abominations that all coaches have to wear on the sidelines. The NFL apparel folks have calmed down in recent years, giving us more simpler shirts and sweaters, but in the Jimmy/Barry days of the ’90s, the geometry got out of hand:
Barry’s league-mandated attire is a far cry from the simple, understated team color- matching outfits Tom Landry wore on the sidelines. Imagine if Tom had continued coaching into the ’90s. He too would have been outfitted in shirts like this.
It just doesn’t fit, does it? When Mike Nolan offered the league a chance to revive the suits and ties Landry and Hank Stram wore in the ’60s and ’70s, he was initially turned down.
The No-Fun-League label apparently extends to coaches garb too.
Of course, coaching attire looks classic next to that all time football-related mistake — zubaz pants.
The zebra warmup look was also big in the mid-’90s. Nobody should have worn them and the league would have done society a favor by banning them from stadiums or at least from being worn by anybody with a waist larger than 34 inches.
They became so ubiquitous that a major men’s magazine put them atop a list of items for men to avoid.
And don’t think for a second that we’re free of the zubaz scourge. They’re part of the official clothing line for this summer’s Republican National Convention. Take a pot shot at the GOP on this one if that’s your inclination. I’ll blame the NFL.
So you see, Romo’s past fashion sense and the league’s fashion faux-pas have me concerned that parts of the upcoming line could be stone-cold cringeworthy. The last Romo-related attempt at NFL fashion has been sent so deep down the memory hole it could suck the universe in behind it. How could you forget:
That’s official league issue folks. Note the NFL shield, the team name and the star mark on the sleeve. These pink beauties were sold on the team’s site last year. Now, I understand, they’re almost impossible to find.
I don’t know if the team snapped up the remaining stock after the vicious public reaction following the Cowboys’ loss to Philly or the Simpson clan bought up every last one to keep them off the market. Whatever the case, I hope, for Tony Romo’s sake and for those who will buy his sponsored apparel, that the Romo line proves more lucky and more lasting than Jessica’s pink jersey.
And I hope for my sake that the Starter people don’t try to re-invent casual male fashion with Romo-Wear. I taught college boys once. Seeing men my age sporting the Tony Romo forever-frat boy look might drive me insane.
In Other News:
– The Rams are rumored to be considering a move back to Los Angeles after the 2014 season, given an escape clause in their St. Louis lease that will kick in if the team’s stadium revenue is not in the top quarter.
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I don’t want to be rude, but IS that all you guys got?
I was actually worried for a minute but it looks like this is only gonna cost me a dime. I am truly matching so if you are ever going to contribute, now is the time.
For the police and military out there, donations would at the very least show you can be good for something. God knows your jobs only degrade the universe. Smile. Smile.
Still Worried about WRs
I found this
The San Diego Union Tribune reported that the receiver/returner will be traded before training camp. Parker missed the 2007 season with a toe injury, but he has a reputation of being a great teammate and excellent worker. And Parker was very solid for the Chargers between 2004 and 2006, averaging 50 catches a year.
Remember, Parker was with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer when the Jets OC was coaching in San Diego. New York needs a third receiver behind Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles. Brad Smith is currently that option, and he still has a ways to go as a receiver. Parker’s talent and familiarity with Schottenheimer make him worth a late Day 2 pick for the Jets.
San Diego runs a similar offense and here’s a guy averaging 50 catches for a late Day 2 pick.
My worries stem from:
1. Martellus Bennet having a tough time picking up the offense. If he could be a weapon, I worry far less but we can’t count on that.
2. While the RBs should garner a larger reception total this year and the potential of Felix Jones motioning into the slot, the Cowboys are thin on experience at receiver.
3. With TO & Witten, I honestly believe they are absolutely fine, but what if one or both of them go down. That would be a nightmare
4. Considering that the team might move on without Glenn, and the fact that Martellus may not be ready, the Cowboys need a guy they can depend on.
5. The question becomes can they depend on Hurd, Austin, or Stanback.
Hurd is probably the most dependable right now but his top level can’t compare to Austin or Stanback. His ceiling is probably the same as Patrick Crayton. We can’t hope for any more then that with Hurd. I value Crayton highly so, if he developed into a similar player I’d be ecstatic, but I don’t believe we can get more from him.
Austin has the speed and strength to be an ALL-Pro. His routes and hands need to be more consistent. I’ve seem him catch the ball and ran good routes. He just needs to do it consistently. I’d personally like to see him make the stride and move up the depth charts. All the way up to No. 2. He has the ability. Hope he puts it together.
Stanback still has to be the biggest question. Great athletic ability but a lot to learn and still behind Hurd and Austin for consistent playing time. Still, there could be a handful of plays insitutued to take advantatge of his ability.
Hey Raf I love the addition of pictures and “other news” to your blog postings. The new site is strides better than boys blog and I can’t wait to see what new changes come.
Donny seriously, why even bring up your rant on police and military. You consistantly bring up good points in your posts but readers give you no credibility because you’re a dick. This is a sports blog, can we just try to keep it at that?
Parker would be a great pick up at this point. The Patriots managed to handle quite a few receivers and gave them all playing time so why can’t we? The young guys will get their chance or be cut if they can’t perform at this point, and Parker would provide great security and the dude can catch. I think its too early to say Bennet isn’t picking up the offense. He is a rookie and training camp hasn’t even started yet. Lets wait until the rookies are atleast in training camp before we judge tem.
Lord, its a slow time of year for football.
The absolute worst thing for someone like donnybaby is to ignore him. From now on just do not ever acknowledge any of his posts. That will torque him off more then anything else you could do.
Rafael,
Now that would be a site to see. Landry in sports apparel haha.
But don’t you think there would be a “grandfather clause” that he would try to use to get out of that?
I’m worried about the WR spot as is Donny. However, I don’t see the potential in Austin that he does. Matter of fact, I’m not sure he makes the roster out of training camp this season. I’m actually hoping he doesnt, because that will mean we have found someone better.
It’s amazing how thin the receiver market is at this point. Seems to me in past seasons there were mid-level receivers to be had on the free agent market, even right before traning camp. But this year we see teams holding on to injured and aging receivers like Terry Glenn and others giving ridiculous contracts to players like Javon Walker who may or may not be healthy, but definitely has a bad attitude. BTW, didnt Oakland already try this once with Randy Moss? How well did that work out for them?
Look at the RB market this off-season. Available right now are Shaun Alexander, Travis Henry, Ron Dayne, Cedric Benson and Kevin Jones just to name a few. Why couldnt we need a RB instead of a WR?
Let’s hope that this time next year we will have done to our WR stable what we did to our CBs this year. Went from a little shaky to one of the best in the league. Sign a big-name free agent, draft a WR or two with high picks. Dare to dream.
Hey -
there are pictures in the post. That’s a significant technical advance….
Well done Raul.
And a significant difference in advertisers-ATT, Office Depot, Un. of Phoenix?
Wow!
How’d you get them on board with our current low numbers of postings?
Or have they been there but I just didn’t notice?
It’s pretty much a given that Owens will get hurt this year. We’ve sort of lucked out with his injuries the past two years. In 2006 the team had a bye week right after he injured his finger against Washington; last year the team had clinched home-field and had a playoff bye, so they could afford to have him miss some time (although we all know how that turned out). What’ll happen when Owens suffers his inevitable injury in the middle of an important four game strtech, with no byes in sight? I shudder to think about it. I would love to get Parker. Love it, even if it means keeping young guys like Austin and Hurd on the bench.
Any chance of seeing a Romo jersey from Starter? It would be cheaper. I’d like to have a Owens or Ware, though.
I’ll go so far to say that i don’t think polos made for golf have a place off the links.
Raf and Raul:
How many times does Donny get to come on and continuously insult those who serve their country?
I’m seriously irritated, yesterday I just found out that one of the guys I know died on a convoy.
I go to this site to talk about football and then I have to read someone make comments that are TOTALLY unwarranted. Totally.
This is the first time that I am genuinely… absolutely, pissed off.
Because this guy is giving you money, has he just bought his way into saying whatever the hell he wants to people?
To tell people that they haven’t contributed anything to this world?
That isn’t right dude. No one else on this site gets on and talks insults peoples race, work, religion, or ANYTHING else. NO ONE.
I’m sorry if this is longwinded but I’m kind of emotional and that really rubbed me the wrong way.
If I had the money, I would give you the stuff for training camp just to not allow him to post anymore.
Let this be known too, I’m not asking anyone… certainly someone who is going to help with finance some.. get banned.
But I think there has to be some lines drawn in the sand.. and if not give me a block button so I can make it where his stuff doesn’t even pop up the board.
im with AFB2 on this one.. donny has awesome intellect but doesnt seem to grasp simple gratuity towards those who keep us safe putting their lives on the lines daily. nor does he show any compassion to others who dont like reading that garbage. i think if he were to be sent to a different countyr and was told what to wear, who to worship and was condomned from even masturbation how would think a lot differently of our american customs and what we do to keep them this way. it is the same thing we fight for that give donny the right to be the asshole he is.. freedom, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, which he has so consistantly shown us.
Donny, may your intellect of the game be praised but your heart rot in the most heated part of hell you unsympathetic bastard.
afb2 my condolences. sorry to hear about your loss
I saw a sports card magazine with Romo on the cover. It said Romo’s rookie card is worth $4,800. Are there any card collectors out there who can verify that? If so, that’s amazing!
Forget it. He won’t get banned. YOU know it and I know it.
donny has no soul. He posted at 4 AM. He is no doubt toward the end of a bender aimed at killing all his self loathing. He represents what’s wrong in this world.