The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

You may not know, but Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale hasn’t been seen on the bench in a little over one month. McHale had taken off his coaching hat and replaced it with his “father” hat. McHale returned 2 weeks after his daughter passed away due to complications from Lupus. Alexandra “Sasha” McHale died on November 24^th, at the age of 23 years old. Her father made his coaching return as the Rockets took on the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs beat Houston 116-109. The Rockets will wear a patch on their warm up shirts in the colors purple and green. Green being McHale’s daughter’s favorite color and purple for the color of the fight against Lupus. The players will wear a band of the same colors on their jerseys. 

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: The current mascot of the Colorado Avalanche is a St. Bernard named beanie, but who was their first mascot? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: Red, green, orange, and white. The green was too similar to the Dolphins green, thus is was dropped in favor of the creamsicle colored jerseys. 

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In the wake of Baseball’s Winter Meetings, we’ve seen players move from team to team, finding new homes, and remaking rosters. While every Baseball fan has come to except this constant movement of pieces during the offseason, another sport finding a similar trend is College Football. College Football? You might be saying, “players in college cannot be traded, and transferring is a big deal, so what are you talking about?” Well, the moving parts in College Football are the coaches.

Coaches are fired, hired, and rehired all the time, with incredible numbers of rumors flying all over the place concerning which coach will take which open job. The latest vacancy was at the University of Tennessee, which has been in flux since Phillip Fulmer left in 2008. Well, after trying the Lane Kiffin approach, as well as others, the Volunteers have found their man. Enter Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. Jones previously coached at Central Michigan before heading up the program at Cincinnati. This, though is a bigger move, one from the Big East, to the vaunted SEC. Hopefully for Tennessee, Jones can remake the program, bringing back the success that the team had in the days when Peyton Manning was the signal caller. 

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: What colors were originally chosen to be used for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniforms? Answer to come Monday.

Wednesday’s answer: Teddy Ballgame played four seasons in the minors, the final one in San Diego in the Pacific Coast League.

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Last night the Phoenix Suns played the Dallas Mavericks at home in Phoenix, Arizona. The game was the latter end of a double-header broadcast on TNT with the Heat vs. the Knicks coming before it. The fascinating part of this seemingly semi-important game was that the Suns organization declared this game a “money-back” game in which fans, if they didn’t feel satisfied by the Suns’ performance, could ask for their money back. For some that money might not be much, but those sitting in premium seating, might be in for over $200 rebate. The Suns came close, but lost to the Mavs 97-94 after missing a potential game-tying three pointer with time expiring. Despite the loss, fans seemed to be having fun throughout the game, as the battle was hard-fought and close throughout. While the Suns don’t have plans to have a similar “money-back” game again, it could happen again, and if so, Suns players will look to put up a W for their fans.

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: How many seasons did Ted Williams play in the minor leagues, and for whom did he play just before Boston brought him up to the Majors? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: A taurus.

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Recently, numerous Minor League Baseball teams made logo switches, changing either the team name, logo, or colors. This time a major sports franchise has made the decisions to change the team name and logo, but not the team colors. The New Orleans Hornets, formerly the Charlotte Hornets, will become the New Orleans Pelicans. The name comes from the state bird of Louisiana, which is the Pelican. Tom Benson, the owner of the New Orleans Hornets has owned the rights to the name, and will now use it for his basketball franchise. The New Orleans Pelicans had been the name of a Minor League Baseball team that placed in New Orleans for over 20 years. While the team hasn’t decided to change the team colors yet, it remains a possibility. While many might have thought a name having to do with Jazz would have been more germane in this situation, the Utah Jazz have that taken, thus the Hornets will officially become the Pelicans as soon as 2013-2014. 

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: The Dallas Stars introduced an alternative uniform in 2003-2004. It had what logo on the front? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: The team took the orange from the New York Giants and they took the blue from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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You have to hand it to Robert Griffin III. On Thanksgiving he put up 311 yards in a victory over division the division rival Dallas Cowboys, and this past Monday night the rookie from Baylor threw for 163 more yards in a win over the New York Football Giants 17-16.

Following his Thanksgiving performance, Griffin’s jersey became the number one selling jersey on NFL.com and at Dick’s Sporting Goods, ahead of fellow rookie quarterback Andrew Luck of the Colts. Griffin III will also appear on the newest edition of Sports Illustrated for Kids. Finally, Griffin was seen on at the Verizon Center taking in a Washington Wizards game last night, and the Wizards didn’t disappoint. The Wiz won their second game of the season by beating the Miami Heat 105-101. Griffin has not only been beating the entire NFC East, putting the Redskins in the playoff discussion, his jerseys a top seller with the fans, he’s on the cover of SI for Kids, and he sparked the Wizards to upset the daunting Miami Heat. Doesn’t sound like a rookie, but he is.

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: Why are the Mets colors orange and blue? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: A rainbow coming off of the letters UH with black as the background.

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Okay, so the National Hockey League can’t seem to figure it out. In fact, it’s a weird situation. Everyone involved in the NHL and NHLPA labor negotiations wants the season to begin, the players to play, and the league to make money, no matter how the revenue ends up being shared.

Apart from the lockout, one NHL team is making a move. The Phoenix Coyotes are moving from Phoenix to Glendale, Arizona. No, the team hasn’t changed its name from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Glendale Coyotes, but instead the team has taken over the entire state of Arizona. Glendale has pledged $320 million over the next 20 years to have the hockey team play in Glendale. Since Arizona has only one professional Hockey team, changing the team name from the capitol of the state to the entire state wasn’t an issue. Unfortunately for the people of Glendale their town will not appear in the new name of the team.  

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: What did the University of Hawaii Warriors football team logo look like in between 1982-1997? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: Black, the only team to do so at the time.

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During his career as aMajor League shortstop, Ozzie Smith was known as “The Wizard”. In addition, due to his dazzling defense, Smith compiled 13 gold glove awards, which is the record for gold gloves for a shortstop. Recently, Smith sold his gold gloves at auction for a sum total of $519,203.

Other items sold at the same auction include two pairs of Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, which sold for $385,484. The gloves were those used by Ali when he fought both Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier. In addition to Ali’s gloves, a 1922 Babe Ruth Yankees team sweater sold for just over one quarter million dollars, and a bat used by Lou Gehrig in either 1938 or 1939 sold for just over $75,000. All winning bidders desired to remain anonymous. 

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: What color were the shoes worn by the first four Seahawks teams? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: 1907.

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Jim Valavano was the head basketball coach for the North Carolina State University when the college last won a National Championship. In 1993, having been diagnosed with cancer, Valvano was honored at the ESPY awards, and gave one of the more inspirational speeches in sports history.

Ever since then, ESPN, the V Foundation, Dick Vitale, and others have brought the issue of cancer research to the forefront of the sports world through the story of Jim Valvano. The Jimmy V Classic, a college basketball early season set of games at Madison Square Garden will include Texas vs. Georgetown and NC State vs. UConn. In honor of Jimmy V, the players from NC State will be wearing special jerseys with that says STATE on the front with the players number and the words “Don’t ever give up”, part of Valvano’s famous speech, on the back. The jerseys are red and have the background of a basketball net around the neck. The net on the jersey pays tribute to NC State coach Everett Case, known for popularizing the “cutting down the net” in 1947.

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: In what year was the first Aggie Bonfire lit? Answer to come Monday.

Wednesday’s answer: The mascot, the Fighting Sioux, was considered racist towards Native Americans and eventually, in 2012, replaced.

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Kansas St. was ranked number 1. The wildcats had the probable Heisman candidate and, if the team won out, they would play in the National Championship game. Baylor stood in the Wildcats way, and unfortunately for Colin Klein, Kansas St. lost the game, dropped in the polls, and won’t play in the BCS Championship game. Nonetheless, when a picture came out in Sports Illustrated, it had Baylor wearing green jerseys, when in fact the team wore black. A Dallas Morning News photographer noticed, and wrote it up in a blog. He talked about the ability of publications to crop and manipulate photos, as was obvious from the changing of Baylor’s jersey colors. Sports Illustrated called it a mistake, and said they would publish a correction. It’s important to note that a manipulation of this magnitude isn’t a simple slight of hand on a computer console. Whether it was a practical joke or an act done on purpose, it does shed light on the media’s ability to change something that is destined for massive public consumption.  

You might think that the Oregon Ducks green uniforms and the farms of green beans are the greenest things in Oregon. Not so fast. The Eugene Emeralds released a new logo that might shake things up. Following in the footsteps of the Reading Fightin’ Phils and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres has changed their logo to look like a green Sasquatch. According to the team, it represents the fan base’s quirkiness. The primary logo of Sasquatch has him carrying an evergreen tree, another has him eating the tree, and a third has him swinging the tree like a baseball bat. A fourth logo has Sasquatch footprints spelling out EMS. 

The NBA released jersey sale figures today. Not surprisingly, the reigning MVP, Finals MVP, and Olympic gold medalist Lebron James topped the list. He was fourth on the same list in April of 2012. The list is compiled from sales information gathered from sales made online at NBA.com and at the NBA store in New York City. Possibly due to the location of the store and the Knicks recent early season success, the Knicks sold more jerseys than any other team. Finishing off the individual player list, scoring champion Kevin Durant came in at number 2, with Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Derek Rose rounding out the top 5.

6. Rajon Rondo

7. Dewayne Wade

8. Blake Griffin

9. Dwight Howard

10. Chris Paul

11. Deron Williams

Team list:

1.     Knicks

2.     Heat

3.     Lakers

4.     Bulls

5.     Celtics

6.     Thunder

7.     Nets

8.     Clippers

9.     Spurs

10.  Mavericks

In other jersey sales news, it isn’t a surprise that NFL jersey sales were up during this past weekend. Black Friday sales figures showed that Redskins star rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III’s jersey brought in the most sales. His jersey was followed by Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, with Rob Gronkowski, Victor Cruz, and Tom Brady rounding out the top 6. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt took 7^th, Andrew Luck 8^th, and Drew Brees 9^th. This list taken from sales made through fanatics.com.

Authentic Store Buzz: Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: How did the tradition of basketball team's cutting down the nets come about? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: Famed football coach Herbert "Fritz" Crisler is credited with inventing the winged helmet design, while at Princeton University.

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