On Clothing…
Joe here. I know we’re all happy that the Wings are back in the Stanley Cup Finals. But I want to take a moment here to talk with you about an opportunity you face now.
Sure, it’s easy to see those “Conference Champions” t-shirts out there, and there’s a Jackson burning a hole in your wallet. NHL.com has at the top of their home page the opportunity to buy the locker room t-shirt and hat.
Don’t.
When you buy that t-shirt, here’s what you’re saying: “I don’t expect to have to purchase any more Red Wings clothing: therefore, I feel that the team will not be manufacturing, say, a ‘Stanley Cup Champions’ t-shirt.”
That’s right: when you plunk down your hard-earned money before a team is eliminated or wins the whole thing, you’re sending the message that you don’t have any faith in the boys with the winged wheel.
You think I’m joking. You think I’m making this up.
I’m so not.
“Joe,” you’re thinking, “but all I want to do is show my support and congratulations for this hard-working team! Is that so wrong?”
Of course it’s not. But just as it’s inappropriate to riot in the streets after winning a first round matchup, it’s just as wrong to slap down your hard-earned money for making it three-quarters of the way home. They don’t hand out medals to the runner that’s leading at the 19.66 mile mark of a marathon. You can’t find a list of teams leading the Super Bowl after three quarters. And hockey players don’t touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (nice job, Nick).
“Well, Mr. Sports Apparel Etiquette, what can I do?”
The first option is to simply wait. That $20 isn’t going to gain much more interest in the next three weeks. And won’t it feel even sweeter to head to Hockeytown Authentics the day after that final game? Trust me: it will.
But you want to buy something now? Fine: buy something non-event specific. Get a simple t-shirt: may I suggest an Old Time Hockey t-shirt? Go with a classic jersey: get a Terry Sawchuk #1.
“But I want to buy something that commemorates this great matchup,” I hear from someone in the back. “Can I buy a Stanley Cup Finals t-shirt?” From personal experience, I can tell you this is mildly acceptable, though not preferable. You’re talking to someone who bought a Wings/Devils t-shirt in 1995. How’d that work out for us?
If the inexplicable happens, those shirts will still be there. But really, Red Wings fans, you know the right thing to do.
Save that money. You’re only four wins away.
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2 Responses to “On Clothing…”
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May 20th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
It’s the apparel equivalent of touching the Clarence Campbell Cup or the Prince of Wales trophy…
May 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I actually bought a Conference Champs shirt today, but only because I retired my Hasek jersey somewhere around Game 4 of the Nashville series.
And no Sawchuk for me. I’ll be buying a Gordie Howe jersey with my Economic Stimulus.