The Jersey Blog Week 12
Twelve weeks in and I haven’t subbed myself out yet. If you want in on the blog, be sure to DM pictures of your favourite jersey to one of the Bench Life Social accounts every Wednesday night.
Jersey of the Week Submissions
Fifth Place
Paul Pierce Boston Celtics Mid-2000’s Alternate Jersey
Given the his Instagram live on the weekend, I thought about bumping up The Truth one or two spots here.
But on this blog, we’re talking jerseys. I just don’t like the look of the black on green alternate that the Celtics used in the 2000’s. When the kelly green and white combo looks so good, why mess with it? I don’t even mind their current all-black with green lettering alternate.
Just the black lettering on green just doesn’t jive. If I was to do a power ranking, to me, it’s third-worst only to this monstrosity:
followed by this:
Fourth Place
Brian Lewerke Michigan State Spartans
I know that Ben’s had this jersey for a few years now, so I can only imagine the payoff when when he saw his New England Patriots sign his college quarterback as a undrafted free agent at the beginning of 2020. Lewerke only lasted a few months before being waived, but he did in fact don a Patriots practice jersey.
This jersey comes in at 4 this week purely because it begs the question, how many other people could possibly own this jersey? People are still talking about Lewerke’s 2019 Pinstripe Bowl MVP performance over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. That’s a game that won’t soon be forgotten.
The Podium
Bronze Medal Jersey
Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors 25th Anniversary Throwbacks
Considering that the Raptors only brought these jerseys back for their 25th Anniversary 2019-20 season, makes this jersey kind of rare. At the very least it’s more rare than the purple Vince Carter jersey that was submitted last week. Not only is the jersey very cool, but the name on the back puts it over the top.
Kyle fits in the middle of the Raptors’ all-time greats venn diagram where he was a key piece on the championship team with Kawhi, and has the longevity as a bright spot in some lean years alongside Demar. A lot of Raptors fans have a soft spot in their heart for Kyle since we got to watch him grow with the franchise in the wake of the Chris Bosh era until he helped to guide the Raptors to the organization’s greatest height.
Silver Medal Jersey
Brett Favre Green Bay Packers
I know that he isn’t the GOAT. But it’s a bit of a disservice that Favre is almost forgotten as probably a top 10 guy due to all of the great QBs that have emerged in the last 20 years. Rodgers usurped him in Green Bay, Brady and Peyton blew past him after winning for dominating and winning multiple rings. Hell even Drew Bress’ gawdy numbers get the pundits taking.
But Favre was a big-armed, iron man quarter back. As per his WIkipedia page:
Favre had 321 consecutive starts from 1992 to 2010, including 297 regular season games, the most in league history. He was also the first NFL quarterback to obtain 70,000 yards, 10,000 passes, 6,000 completions, 500 touchdowns, 200 wins, and victories over all 32 teams.
…
At the time of his retirement, Favre was the NFL leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and quarterback wins. From 1995 to 1997, he was named Most Valuable Player three times, the most the award was consecutively received.
Sure Favre also has the NFL record for all-time interceptions, times sacked and fumbles, but his era was the last when pass rushers were allowed to absolutely light up quarterbacks and yet he still made plays and didn’t miss starts. The only people that wouldn’t appreciate a Favre jersey are either: 1) were too young to watch him, 2) Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings fans or 3) strictly Aaron Rodgers fans.
Jersey of the Week
Claude Giroux Berlin Polar Bears
Awesome hockey player + funky jersey = good stuff right here
When the NHL was last locked out in 2013, a handful of players went overseas to get reps in. That year Danny Briere also got some games in with Berlin, Jumbo Joe, Rick Nash and Loui Eriksson played for HC Davos in Switzerland, Tavares played in Bern, and all the Russians went home to Mother Russia. Luckily the NHL got back on track in time for the Leafs to improbably make the playoffs, blowing Game 7 in the first round to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins, and setting the franchise back at least five years chasing the highs of that season instead of taking it for the outlier it was. But anyways… Claude Giroux playing in Berlin!
Jersey of the Week Standings
The pundits questioned what would happen once Adam ran out of 90’s hockey jerseys. Well it turns out he isn’t skipping a beat. The only player in the Jersey of the Week game to have a jersey every week, yet he’s only missed the podium once. Shlok has been a late edition to the jersey scene but he’s been wildly consistent out of the gate. Ben and Drew continue to try chip away but they could be losing steam. And shout out to Joe for cracking the podium with a bronze medal first submission.
Jersey News Round-Up
Love the powder blue.
Quick power ranking of these jerseys:
1. Brewers
2. Padres
3. Blue Jays
4. Cardinals
5. A’s
6. Mariners
7. Rockies
8. Orioles
Looks like the MLB and Nike is going to take the NBA approach and expand every team’s jersey catelog. Don’t hate that one bit.
Not their best jersey but I don’t hate them.
These jerseys are pretty cool TBH. Maybe I’ll pick up a Candace Parker Chicago Sky jersey.
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