Screw Nike! I was watching the DC vs. Metros game last night and started to really pay attention to an Adidas style kit. I would like to see a conservative blue jersey with a return to the white sleeves. I am also looking forward to the availability of MLS clothing. It was such a pain in the neck to find Nike Quakes' stuff. Go Quakes!
You know MLS is a business and Nike is a business. Businesses are in the market to make money. When they come together in partnership, they have to have a contract that is mutually beneficial. It is not Nike's job to further this league. When are the fans ever going to hold the league responsible for itself? Until we do that, we're giving the league license to make decisions that are not in it's best interest because, hey, it's Nike or Adidas job to further MLS. Is it MLS' job to further Nike? Of course not. So then why should it be the other way around?
Very true, but in this case neither party seems to be doing all they can for the other. If the soccer dept at Niketown in SF is any indicator of Nike's interest in MLS then I would say its about zero. Then again since you really can't buy MLS gear anywhere outside the stadium maybe Nike isn't entirely to blame. A partnership between to apathetic companies is doomed to fail. But I'm sure Nike isn't too stressed, as they sell plenty of Brazil, Inter, etc.
Super, I know you are making a point, but I've bought tons of Quakes stuff at the Nike outlet in Vacaville, for instance, however, your point that it would have been nice to see MLS stuff in Niketown in SF is a valid one. Tony
Yesterday I asked Brian Holmes, the Cal Custom man himself, if the Quakes were going to Adi in '05. His response: "Looks like it."
On the one hand, I am happy that one can find Quakes stuff cheap at an outlet mall 100 miles away from the stadium, but aren't outlet malls like the .99 cent cutout bins at record stores? You know the ones where you find Alexi Lalas CD's, stuff nobody wants.
Other than the mostly useless book store up at Vacaville, most of those outlets are stores like Gap, Geoffrey Beene, Reebok, Adidas, London Fog, etc. Not as high end as Petaluma or Napa, but a huge step up from the Big Lots or 99cent store, for instance. Let me add that 1)we agree that Nike didn't do a good job in getting MLS merchandise into their flagship stores; and 2)your original point was "Then again since you really can't buy MLS gear anywhere outside the stadium maybe Nike isn't entirely to blame" my response was that you can buy MLS gear outside the stadium. I will agree that Vacaville, is a lot more convenient to me in Richmond than it is to fans in the South Bay. But the Gilroy Nike outlet has none of this stuff? There was also a thread earlier this season about some Macy's stores carrying Quakes hoodies, IIRC. I've also had managers of sporting good stores here at Hilltop Mall who stock Mexico and Brasil jerseys tell me that they were offered Quakes jerseys by Nike and refused them because no one ever showed any interest. Tony
I'll offer that the sporting goods store in our local mall carried Quakes jerseys off and on for a while. Unfortunately, they didn't appear to be moving too well either. Nonetheless, they do still have them displayed which is a start. I suspect MLS could do a lot better if they "priced them to sell" a little better. People might be inclined to buy them if they were...say...$45 instead of $75. Might sell a few more to the casual fan that way but what do I know. I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
So, shall we start speculation as to what they'll look like next year? How about a blue with silver accent version of the Spain's jersey?
One thing (I think) you ought to hope for and might get: championship stars above the crest like the Wizards and DC have on their adidas uniforms. (Unless you have them already and I didn't notice. But I don't think so.) I like stars. That being said, I can't understand why people are so afraid that adidas is going to introduce "cookie-cutter" uniforms next year. KC, DC, and Columbus all have very distinctive uniforms despite all being adidas. Nike is a lot more cookie-cutter than adidas IMO.
What an ugly ball. At least when the ball goes into the stands, it will be thrown back. http://www.adidas.com/verticals/football/us/Roteiro_A.asp Based upon the current jerseys, do you think that all teams will be going with a smaller logo on their uniforms?
The ball is ugly, but then, the balls they are using in Europe are mostly ugly these days. (I'm thinking EPL, BL, and the French top flight. The Voit balls that Mexico uses are just plaing boring. And I freely admit to having a love-hate relationship with Nike, Addidas, Puma, Umbro, and so on. I don't expect any of them to subsidize MLS or any other league, but I expect to be able to find Nike gear in a Nike store. I shouldn't have to hunt for Quakes gear. That said, MLS had a deal with Marshall's a few years back. But Marshall's had jerseys that the teams never wore. (They had a really cool Clash jersey that was much better looking than any jersey the team ever wore.) MLS needs to do a better job marketing the league and league gear. They need to keep the teams jerseys and colors the same for a few years so that when we wear their gear in public it is instantly recognizable by everyone, not just MLS fans who say, cool, a '98 Mutiny jersey! I think I'll buy one of the new addidas Quakes jerseys, maybe two. GO QUAKES!! - Mark
I'll have to be prepared to spend a ton Opening Day. Can't wait for them to be released. Ditto a new scarf--adidas has always put some stylish ones at their end.
Brian at Cal Custom has done a great job at carrying Earthquake merchandise from jerseys to hats to shirts for many years. He still has a few 2004 jerseys left. Also has the new Quake beanie and the MLS goals in DVD which is really cool. Give him a call and see what he can do for you http://www.cacustom.com/
I'll 2nd that! Not to mention he has the official MLS numbers and letters. He personalized my Crew and Quakes jerseys for me. Brian has been and always will be the man! Thanks Holmes!
I bought some of my coolest MLS/Clash stuff from Marshalls. I bought my infant nephews both an Adidas outfit with the MLS logo.