Who's the Bigger Deal ... And How About Those Short Shorts?
Lakers and Celtics, right?
Lots of organizational pride/arrogance here.
The Celtics' warmups had their 16 NBA titles emblazoned on the back. Like 16 little championship banners.
But as the Lakers were introduced, Lawrence Tanter reminded fans that the Lakers have won 14 championship "and more games than any team in NBA history."
And the pregame audio-video show I mentioned a few days ago ... focused on the Lakers' first defeat of the Celtics in the NBA Finals, in 1985.
And now there was a serious pre-game buzz when fans realized the Lakers are wearing throwback uniforms ... that are so throwback the shorts are almost really short.
Like the sort all basketball players wore, up till about 1990. When Michigan's Fab Five seemed to popularize the ultra-baggy shorts ("bloomers," as John Wooden has called them) that are still in use.
Anyway, the Lakers' shorts aren't ultra-short, but they are considerably shorter than what you've seen for a decade or two.
Some of the Lakers have reacted with old-fashioned modesty. Concerned their legs are too skinny, I'd guess. Trevor Ariza is wearing undershorts that reach almost to his knees. Same deal with Kobe Bryant.
Derek Fisher is wearing them proudly. And the crowd just buzzed -- if you can imagine this, in L.A. -- at a closeup of Fisher's thighs. As if we were being treated to some sort of peep show.
Very odd.
The Celtics were supposed to be wearing short shorts, too, but they didn't really go all the way. Their uniforms are retro, but their pants are baggy. Still.
Anyway, I now remember how/why it was possible for a female sports writer, 30 years ago, to talk about her "All-Thigh Team" of basketball players. That's when you actually could see guys' thighs. Before we got trendy and then oddly prudish.
Comments
No, I think the baggy look is more a homeboy sort of thing. I know because my spouse was a PE instructional aide & there was a constant problem with the kids wearing the shorts so baggy & low, they'd be falling off while running laps in the track.
Posted by: Char Ham | January 1, 2008 11:41 AM