zexez_sports

Top 5 New NBA Uniforms for 2019-20

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 20:47:23 GMT

While it seems like there are always a couple complete uniform overhauls in the NBA every year, in
recent years, teams are pumping out new alternate jerseys on an annual basis. There are two styles --
Statement Edition uniforms feature new designs that tie into the city or region, while Classic Edition
uniforms are fun throwbacks.
Let’s take a look at the five best for this NBA campaign.

5. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are giving a nod to their present and past with their new Statement Edition jersey . Golden
State is playing their first season in the new Chase Center in San Francisco, while they are honoring their
history in Oakland with this new look.
The yellow jersey features the club’s new “The Bay” logo. It’s supposed to represent the seaside cliffs of
both ends of the San Francisco Bay, with a basketball melded into the water below.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder partnered with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in creating this year’s
Statement Edition that honors the victims and survivors of the Murrah Federal Building bombing, that
will mark its 25 th anniversary in 2020.
The dark gray and bronze jersey features several elements that pay tribute or remembrance to what
occurred on that day and how the city was changed forever. The neck of the jersey features the
Thunder’s standard color scheme.

3. Phoenix Suns
The Suns are making a splash with their new Planet Orange Statement Edition . It pays homage to the
team’s “Seven Seconds or Less” era from the mid-2000s, which was the first group in franchise history to
wear orange uniforms. These feature the sunburst logo with purple trim.
The team will wear these every Friday, and they are encouraging fans to come decked out in orange for
home games in which the uniform will be worn.

2. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are expected to have more eyes on them this season with the addition of Kyrie Irving and Kevin
Durant (though Durant likely won’t suit-up until next season), and those new viewers will see a pretty
sharp Statement Edition jersey .
The gray jersey features a hand-drawn BKLYN design by Brooklyn-based artist Eric Haze, which
resembles graffiti. “NETS” is spelled out down the side of the shorts, and the team’s subway token-style
logo is on the right thigh. These unis will be worn 22 times this season.

1. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets represented everything early-1990s when they came into the league. Their purple and teal
color set was a vast departure from everyone else in the league at the time – though many teams ended
up adopting similar colors throughout that decade, including Utah, Milwaukee, Vancouver (teal), and
Toronto (purple). With stars like Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning, the Hornets uniform could be seen
everywhere.
Now, the pinstriped purple and teal is back as a Classic Edition to celebrate the 25 th anniversary of the
jersey’s initial debut, and we are ready to bust out our old Starter pullover jackets to celebrate.

The Top 5 Teams Heading into 2020 Season

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 16:59:31 GMT

In ranking the importance of NBA timeframes, the offseason is probably the second-most crucial, next to the playoffs. You can argue that it has eclipsed the regular season in both excitement and importance.

With another crazy offseason behind us and the regular season approaching, let us look at how the deck was shuffled and present our top 5 NBA teams heading into the 2019-20 season.

5. Golden State Warriors

The five-time defending Western Conference champions are not favored to reach the NBA Finals for sixth-straight season. However, don’t count out the champs. They may have lost Kevin Durant and are without Klay Thompson until at least the All-Star Break as he recovers from an ACL tear, but there are still several potent pieces to this team – Steph Curry, Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell, Kevon Looney, and head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors probably won’t be a top seed like they are accustomed to, but if Thompson is at 100 percent by time the playoffs start, expect Golden State to continue to make noise in their new San Francisco arena.

4. Houston Rockets

The last time Russell Westbrook and James Harden played together, their Oklahoma City Thunder reached the NBA Finals in 2012. The pair was reunited this offseason when the Rockets shipped Chris Paul and some draft picks for the former league MVP. Either Westbrook or Harden has led the league in scoring in the last three seasons, so it will be interesting to see how both can contribute. Don’t forget center Chris Capela, who quietly averaged a double-double last season.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

It was somewhat stunning to see LeBron James sitting out the NBA playoffs after he played in the previous eight Finals. Between an injury and lack of supporting cast, the superstar lost head coach Luke Walton and team president Magic Johnson, but he gained the co-star that has always helped his teams when the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis. It’s up to new head coach Frank Vogel, coming off a disappointing run in Orlando, to make the team gel. Expect the Lakers to start slow – as James-led teams sometimes do – but they should be a force come the spring.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

You can make a case for Philadelphia, but Milwaukee is the clear class of the Eastern Conference. The combination of a dominant force (Giannis Antetokounmpo) and a bunch of shooters is usually a solid one, and the Bucks are no different. We all know what we’re getting in the Greek Freak. The key will be whether the shooters can perform when it counts (see Eric Bledsoe’s cold streak in the Eastern Conference Finals last season).

1. Los Angeles Clippers

With the way Kawhi Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to an NBA title by dismantling Golden State (the Warriors contended with injuries, but it’s not fair to use that as an excuse – especially when Toronto was able to win three games at Oracle Arena to help shut the building down. Leonard and Paul George, led by head coach Doc Rivers, will be enough to be favored in nearly any playoff series, and if a weakness emerges during the regular season, expect fiery owner Steve Ballmer to do whatever it takes to acquire the missing piece of the puzzle.

Five Best College Football Rivalries

design@hightechgrafix.com (Bryan Nichols) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 12:54:47 GMT

With college football upon us once again, it’s time to talk about what makes this version of the sport so great – rivalries that stand the test of time. While there will always be rivalries in the professional ranks, they usually ebb and flow based on how good a team is. We had Dallas and San Francisco in the early- to mid-1990s, but that largely means nothing now.

In college football, the names change, but loyalty for one’s school trumps all, so it makes these storied rivalries timeless. If both teams happen to be good and that adds to the stakes of the game, that’s just icing on the cake.

Let’s look at the top 5 rivalries in college football.

5. Miami-Florida State

There are plenty of candidates when you consider rivalries in the Sunshine State. Florida and Florida State play every year, and even duked it out for the National Championship in 1996. There’s the sporadic Florida-Miami rivalry, and even UCF and USF are trying to do everything in their power to get into the conversation. However, Miami-Florida State evokes the greatest memories, and they have been conference rivals in the ACC for 15 years now. This rivalry gained steam in the 1990s, when both teams were perennial national powerhouses, and the term “Wide Right” was born from this rivalry. From 1991 to 2004, the Seminoles missed five late field goals (four of them were missed to the right) in narrow defeats to the Canes.

4. Oklahoma-Texas

The Red River Rivalry is the main event of the State Fair of Texas in Dallas every year. Despite the game being in Texas, Dallas is the closest halfway point from Norman, OK and Austin, TX, so it’s truly a neutral contest. The rivalry began in 1900 and gained national prominence in 1963, when the No. 1 Longhorns beat the No. 2 Sooners on their way to Texas’s first National Championship. It was routinely a top-10 matchup in the 2000s and early-2010s. After a rough patch, Texas is back in the spotlight. The Longhorns were the only team to beat the Sooners in the regular season in 2018, but Oklahoma avenged the defeat when the rivals met in the Big 12 Championship game for the first time in their illustrious histories.

3. Alabama-Auburn

While the Iron Bowl rivalry dates back to 1893, you need not look back further than the past decade to understand the drama on the field and the hatred off it. In 2010 – shortly after Auburn erased a 24-0 deficit to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa – a crazed Tide fan poisoned historic oak trees in Auburn’s famous Toomer’s Corner. The Tigers went on to win the National Championship that year with Cam Newton at quarterback. In 2013, Auburn beat Alabama with no time remaining when they returned a missed field goal 109 yards for the winning score in the game that would be known as the “Kick Six.” In 2017, Auburn won on the field, but Alabama got the last laugh when, despite the loss, the Tide were voted into the College Football Playoff and won the whole thing.

2. Ohio State-Michigan

Ohio State and Michigan meet on the final weekend of the regular season each year, and throughout history, a Big Ten title was usually on the line. Now, it’s a division crown that is decided by this game, many times. Former Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes wouldn’t even say the word Michigan, instead referring to the Wolverines as “that team up north.” In 2006, both teams were 11-0 going into the matchup, and the game was referred to as the “Game of the Century,” because the winner would be going to the National Championship Game. Ohio State won, 42-39, but were upset by the Florida Gators for the title. Both teams have dominated the rivalry at times, but it’s currently Ohio State who’s enjoying a 14-1 stretch over their rivals in the past 15 years. Jim Harbaugh has yet to beat the Buckeyes since returning to his alma mater as the Wolverines’ head coach.

1. Army-Navy

This has to be considered the greatest rivalry because of its purity. The game is usually one of few contested on the entire Saturday in early December. The pregame pageantry of parades, flyovers, and videos can’t be matched. The action on the field is intense, but respectful, as both teams unite as one at the end. Navy has dominated the action on the field in recent years, winning 14 in a row from 2002-15, but Army has won the last three contests by a combined 12 points.

The Five Worst College Football Mascots in History

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 12:54:29 GMT

College football has its share of Spartans, Trojans, Warriors, a Mountaineer, and tribal mascots. There’s also fierce animals like the obvious (Tigers, Wildcats, and Wolverines) to the ones you might not expect (the horned frog [TCU] can squirt a four-foot stream of blood from its eyes when frightened). And don’t forget the live mascots like Bevo (the Texas Longhorn) and UGA (the Georgia Bulldog).

However, there are some mascots that are just not all that intimidating. Here are five mascots that – while some are cute, and even iconic – miss the mark on the gridiron.

5. Otto (Syracuse University)

When Syracuse dropped the -man and -women suffixes off the Orange mascot, they also may qualify for the worst team name in college sports. Otto predates the 2004 name change, however, and he’s a staple during college basketball season – the giant orange at least somewhat resembles a basketball. However, when he’s cheering on his favorite football team, Otto ranks toward the bottom of the list when it comes to intimidating fellas.

4. Oski (University of California, Berkeley)

Cal’s nickname is the Golden Bears, so there’s enormous potential for a good mascot. Unfortunately, Oski hasn’t evolved since 1941, so he looks like a portly person wearing a rudimentary bear mask. You’ve probably seen better bear costumes around your neighborhood on Halloween. However, there is good news: starting this season, Oski will be training his replacement – his son, Cali.

3. HokieBird (Virginia Tech)

Now, we can’t give Virginia Tech too much grief for having a purple turkey as their mascot when their nickname (the Hokies) is a made-up term that means, “a person loyal to Virginia Tech athletics.” The nickname doesn’t easily lend itself to a mascot. The turkey comes from the 1909 football team, when head coach Branch Bocock put players into the Gobbler Club. While that’s a nice origin story, being called a turkey is not a term of endearment – calling someone a turkey generally means you’re insulting that person’s intelligence.

2. Nittany Lion (Penn State University)

Penn State is on this list for wasted potential. With a nickname like the Nittany Lions – named after mountain lions that roamed on nearby Mount Nittany in the 19th century – you would expect a mascot that instills fear in opponents and inspires fans. The Nittany Lion name was developed by students in 1904 in response to the Princeton Tiger. The mascot came along in 1921, and he’s in desperate need of a makeover. A plain brown suit with a goofy brown head and a scarf barely scratches the surface of what a lion mascot could be.

1. Stanford Tree (Stanford University)

Much like Syracuse, Stanford’s nickname is that of a color (Cardinal red, not the bird). They do not have an official mascot. Because of this, the marching band rolled out some new mascot candidates in 1975. The Tree received so much positive attention that it because the school’s de facto mascot ever since. The Tree represents a tree named El Palo Alto. It appears in the school’s logo and the official seal of the city of Palo Alto. It’s a good backstory, but still – it’s a tree!

Worst NFL Preseason Injuries

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 12:56:45 GMT

As training camps around the NFL are in full swing in anticipation for another football season, the debate rages on whether the rigorous practices and preseason games are worth the injury risk for established veteran players

While the evaluation period is crucial for rookies and players who are competing for a starting spot or just a place on the 53-man roster, veterans with little to prove put their bodies on the line for little to no reward, and sometimes the results are disastrous.

Five serious preseason and training camp injuries come to mind that not only left the player on injured reserve before the season even began, but it changed the course of his career.

Teddy Bridgewater, August 2016

Teddy Bridgewater’s NFL career got off to a great start: in 2014, he was voted by the fans as the Pepsi Rookie of the Year. The following season, Bridgewater led Minnesota to an NFC North division title and was named to the Pro Bowl. The Vikings and their fans thought they found their franchise quarterback. However, during training camp in 2016, Bridgewater suffered a torn ACL and dislocated his knee in a non-contact injury. The Vikings were so devastated that head coach Mike Zimmer cancelled the rest of practice after the injury occurred. Bridgewater didn’t start another game until the final game of the 2018 season, after his new team – the New Orleans Saints – had sewn up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. He will backup Drew Brees again in 2019.

Michael Vick, August 2003

Michael Vick was the NFL’s most dynamic player going into the 2003 season. Just months removed from being the first visiting quarterback to win a playoff game in Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, big things were predicted for Vick and his Atlanta Falcons in 2003, but a scramble in a preseason game led to a broken leg and shattered dreams for the Falcons that season. The team went 2-10 in the 12 games that Vick missed. Vick was able to get back on track in 2004, leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship game, but legal issues would soon end his tenure with the Falcons.

Trent Green, August 1999

While unfortunate for Green, this injury would forever change the path of the (then) St. Louis Rams. Green just signed a four-year deal to serve as the Rams’ quarterback, but a hit from Rodney Harrison in a preseason game caused his knee to blow out and end his season. Enter Kurt Warner, an unknown in NFL circles, who only won the league MVP award and a Super Bowl title in his rookie season. However, there is evidence that Green may have been able to lead that historic offense: while filling in for an injured Warner in 2000, Green threw 16 touchdowns in five games.

LeCharles Bentley, July 2006

When you think of all the rotten luck the Cleveland Browns have had in the 20 years since returning to the NFL, the tale of LeCharles Bentley is largely overlooked, but it’s another case of what could have been. Bentley was a two-time Pro Bowl center and signed a six-year, $36 million deal with his hometown Browns for the 2006 season. However, a torn patellar tendon in training camp not only ended his season prematurely, it ended his career.

Tony Romo, August 2016

Romo’s plight was similar to that of Trent Green. The longtime Dallas quarterback broke a bone in his back during a preseason game, forcing the Cowboys to turn to rookie Dak Prescott. The quarterback out of Mississippi State took it from there. Prescott went 13-3, accounting for 29 total touchdowns and throwing only four interceptions. Romo played briefly in the final game of the season before retiring. Now, he serves as CBS’s lead analyst and is widely considered the best television analyst in football.

Five of the Worst Mascots in MLB History

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:39:28 GMT

Mascots are supposed to represent your team, right? They’re the embodiment of everything that makes your city great, and they’re supposed to get the crowd excited and bring them to their feet to he lp rally the team to victory.

Apparently certain mascot planning commissions throughout history didn’t get this memo, or they frequently mixed up words like “excite” and “entertain” with “confuse” and “terrify”. You wish you could have been a fly on the wall while the characters on this list were being cooked up. Because these mascots manage to get every single thing wrong. It’s as if their designers were given a checklist of proper mascot characteristics and instead of using it, they opted to burn it, eat it, and then do the opposite of everything it contained.

Here are five of the worst mascots in Major League Baseball history, presented in no particular order because they’re all equally terrible.

Crazy Crab (San Francisco Giants)

If you were a kid in San Francisco during the 1984 baseball season, you were provided with ample nightmare fuel with the introduction of Crazy Crab. This mascot was a fairly realistic hermit crab with a large, cartoon face inexplicably stuck onto the character’s underbelly. Its unfixed googly eyes and mild look of a stroke victim didn’t do anything to warm the hearts of Giants fans. It also didn’t help that the team lost 96 games that season.

Crazy Crab was actually designed to be hated, and so it could be argued that it was the most successful mascot ever. It lasted a single season.

Dandy (New York Yankees)

What do you get when you combine a muppet, an eggplant, and Yosemite Sam? No, there’s no punchline. You get Dandy, the strange genetic hybrid that lasted two seasons as the mascot for the New York Yankees.

Not only was he made mascot right as the team took a nose dive after the 1979 season, but also his mustache looked quite a bit like the one worn by team captain Thurman Munson, who died in a plane crash during Dandy’s tenure. Dandy was cut in 1981, and the Yankees haven’t had a costumed mascot since.

Bleacher Creature (Atlanta Braves)

The Braves have an unfortunate history with mascots. Their Chief Noc-A-Homa character was an offensive Native American parody that would spring from his teepee to dance for the crowd whenever the Braves hit a home run.

But preceding the Chief in the 1970s was Bleacher Creature, a fuzzy green furball with matted hair that can best be described as a sentient, unwashed brussel sprout in a baseball cap. If the Banana Splits had featured a moldy pet rock on their show, Bleacher Creature would have been a shoo-in for the role.

Dinger (Colorado Rockies)

Dinger, a cherubic, polka-dotted purple stegosaurus was literally hatched from a dinosaur egg on the field back in 1994 and has since been the focus of quite a bit of mascot hate, for good reason. Dinger looks like he was made to host a children's show, but was beat out for the lead role by another famous purple dinosaur who shall go unnamed.

If you were a kid in the late ‘90s you may still harbor a love for Dinger, but that love was created while you still thought the Wiggles was good music, sprinklers were satisfactory stand-ins for swimming pools, and farts were the highest form of humor. That doesn’t say much for Dinger.

Charlie-O (Kansas City/Oakland Athletics)

This last mascot makes the list because of the sheer laziness it represents on the part of the team’s owner and the fans that let Charlie-O represent them for 13 years, from 1963 to 1976. There were no poor design choices here because no design was required. Charlie-O fails as a mascot because he wasn’t a mascot. He was a mule. That’s it. The Athletics’s claim to mascot fame for 13 years was the infertile offspring of a horse and a donkey. It didn’t do any special tricks other than carrying players on its back and occasionally pooping on the field.

We said these five mascots were equally terrible, but that’s not true. Charlie-O pulls ahead of the pack as the worst MLB mascot ever. Congratulations, Charlie-O...you win?

Five Generous Athletes that Tip Big

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 15:23:47 GMT

You can learn a lot about a person by how they tip. If they leave a paltry $25 on an $800 bill (we’re looking at you, Mr. Pippen) then it’s possible that they aren’t the quality human being you thought they were. They may not be bad people, but they’re certainly cheapskates.

On the other end of the spectrum are those athletes that are truly considerate of other people and generously give back. These are the heroes of hospitality. The kings of kindness. The champions of the everyman. Here are five athletes that redefine what it is to be a good tipper.

Sealver Siliga

Siliga, a defensive tackle for a number of NFL teams, takes his Christmas cheer very seriously. He spent Christmas Eve, 2017 eating out with a few friends at a local Applebees. At the conclusion of the meal, he asked the manager how many people were working that night. He then left a $1,000 tip, enough to give $100 to each of the ten people he was told were on staff that evening. Merry Christmas indeed!

David Beckham

A gentleman to his core, David Beckham is a famously generous footballer. While still a player with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Beckham once joined a few teammates for drinks at a local restaurant. While he sipped mineral water his teammates racked up a $100 tab for beer and food. Not only did Beckham pick up the tip on a meal he barely participated in, he left the waitress $1,000. Tipping ten times his bill amount qualifies David as a saint among tippers.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq is famous for being one of the most dominant players in NBA history as well as an enormously generous tipper. It’s reported that he regularly asks his waiters and waitresses what they’d like for a tip and then obliges. Once a waitress asked him for $4,000, and without batting an eye he penciled in that amount.

Tamba Hali

Most recently a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, Hali puts most of his fellow players to shame in the tipping department. Once, while entertaining family and friends at the Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao, Tamba managed to rack up just over $1800 in charges. Even though this already included roughly $300 in gratuity, Hali added an additional $1,000. Apparently, the steak and the service were exceptional that night.

Phil Mickelson

Golf legend Mickelson is another tipper that’s known for being generous to a fault. On one occasion Phil spread the love even though he’d just lost the 2006 U.S. Open by one shot. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Mickelson went around to each of the golf club staff members that had helped him throughout his stay and tipped them each between $1,000 and $1,500. He left the club, having spent over $10,000 in tips, only to turn around when he realized he’d missed a few locker room attendants. If Beckham is a saint among tippers, then Mickelson is the Pope.

The Future of Dye Sublimation Sports Uniforms

Thu, 23 May 2019 15:32:11 GMT

It’s hard to say when the first sports uniform was used in a professional setting, although we do know the modern-day jersey that we cherish and love made an appearance in the 1860s-1880s in both football and baseball. Since then, these uniforms have become an essential part of sporting events, team pride, merchandise, and understanding among athletes, young players, and people simply having fun.

Today, we have the technology to pursue sublimation sportswear, otherwise known as the designing and imagining of a jersey with logos, designs, and so forth. We are able to perfectly envision what we want to see, and make it come to life. It’s the process of knowing where every seam, arm, and neck hole will sit, understanding how the contours and shapes of bodies will impact the overall presentation and image.

The main benefits from sublimation uniforms is that they are all-over prints, printed on the flat material and then sewed together after. The prints are full color, bright and vibrant, and really stand out when compared to your average, boring team shirt. With special effects such as neon inks, you can REALLY make a statement!

The Dye Sublimation Sports Uniform Process

For our team, dye sublimation sports uniforms start with an image, a pattern, or a logo. We upload it to the computer, use special hardware to print it on a film paper, and place it on the garment, where the dye is then transferred with impeccable ease and precision.

We apply heat to that helps the ink to become part of the fabric. It’s a versatile digital printing method that has proven to be durable and perfect for breathable fabrics, so athletes are able to experience ventilation, while ensuring their numbers and names won’t peel off from the jersey over-time.

Starting with just an idea or a theme, we are able to create a fantastic looking, one-of-a-kind design. Once it is printed and the jersey is sewn together, we are able to have a truly phenomenal uniform piece!

What Will the Future Look Like?

As a digital process that is completely supported by technological tools, there are many future enhancements that are just waiting to take over this process. We could see:

• Holographic process in which our team is able to virtually see the print before we do it.
• Artificial intelligence that makes the jerseys for us, from start to finish, on our behalf.
• The process could go from a 2D canvas to a 3D canvas with the right technology, so we are able to see how the jersey fits before we even make the jersey.
• Streamlined software could help us automate the process, leaving zero room for mistakes or error by the time it’s all said and done.

These are just a few practical ideas that will undoubtedly take over the industry. Since the 1920s and 1930s, sports uniforms have been equated with quality sports apparel for players and fans alike. Almost 100-years later, we are using 2D models and software to ensure our product is as close to perfect as possible. As we advance into the future, this form of sports uniform is going to become the most sought-after option, as we say goodbye to low-quality print-outs and peel-offs.

With readily available technology, the future of dye sublimation is only going to advance for a more streamlined and perfected result. Are you ready for your uniform upgrade?

5 Reasons You Should Replace Your Team Jerseys This Summer

Mon, 13 May 2019 13:17:55 GMT

When it comes to athletics, nothing bonds a team like a new, shiny uniform that demands respect and attention from the opposing team, bystanders, and coaches. Motivating in nature and hard-to-ignore, jerseys are an essential part of sporting etiquette today.

Jerseys have been an essential part of our sporting events since the 19th century, when the first Major League Baseball players sported these uniforms with pride and passion. Since then, athletes of every age want to own, collect, and cherish their uniforms, carrying their memories, accomplishments, and careers with them as they move onto the next gig.

Here are 5 reasons why you should replace your team jerseys this summer:

1. Identity:

If your teammates are wearing outdated jerseys, substitute pinnies/t-shirts, or anything else that is less than uniform, your team is lacking an identity. With new uniform jerseys, your team will be able to unite around a common identity that brings everyone together, no matter your differences and backgrounds. Not to mention, common identity makes it easier for you to identify team members, especially if you’re playing a sport like soccer.

2. Equality:

No matter how young, how old, or how experienced a player might be, they are still wearing the same jersey as everyone else. It’s a humbling element that inspires equality among all players. With this respect for equality, everyone is more likely to work together and lift each other up, realizing that the same jersey identifies every face on the team.

3. Excitement:

Depending upon the age of your team, what’s more exciting than receiving a new, un-stained sporting jersey? It’s like Christmas-morning! It’s a new piece of clothing that has a proud number displayed on the front or back, signifying a player’s presence in the world. Plus, it’s just fun to wear out-and-about, to school, and so forth.

4. Intimidation:

Have you ever walked onto the field and spotted a team that was outfitted with gorgeous jerseys and apparel? Did you immediately find it a bit intimidating, assuming they were serious about the sport? This kind of mental anticipation is a great advantage to your team when they step on the court, field, etc. If you can inspire an intimidation element, your team will start off with the upper hand.

5. Pride:

If you want the crowd, coaches, teammates, and parents to be cheering your team on, unified jerseys will inspire a team pride that is infectious. It will spread from one end of the crowd to the other, as they are able to unite behind you and your sporting mission. We all need a little home pride to help us make it to the end of the game/match.

We proudly provide full dye sublimation jerseys, custom sport uniforms, company polos, and fan gear for people countrywide. We know how profound the unified statement of a jersey can make on the player, as well as the spectators.

Consider replacing your team jerseys this summer.

https://www.zexezsports.com/

How to Deal with Crazy Sports Parents

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:49:45 GMT

How to Deal with Crazy Sports Parents

As a sports parent, you know the amazing joy and pride you feel watching your son or daughter
develop athletic skills and compete. You’re there to cheer for the wins and offer support for the
losses. You know the lifelong benefits of learning teamwork and how much hard work and
dedication your child shows.

So when you’re at a game and a parent from an opposing team starts taunting your son or
daughter it’s very frustrating. They’re all kids, afterall, and youth sports is completely different
from professional sports - kids need to focus on self development and simply having fun. When
another parent gets out of hand and takes things so seriously to the point of being rude, how
should you react? Do you confront the parent? Or sit there silently feeling annoyed?

Why Sports Parents Get Crazy
Before taking action, it’s important to understand why a parent might have such an overblown
response to a game. Trying to see life from their perspective (and understanding motives) will
help keep your own anger in check.

Fear
Nobody likes to lose, but some people see losing as affecting self-worth. An outspoken parent
that resorts to heckling opposing teams maybe be trying to cope with the fear of their own child
losing. The parent may worry that a loss will crush their child’s spirit and is trying to
overcompensate by creating a world where the child always wins (or is always the best).
Unfortunately, none of us can win all the time. Helping your child learn to cope with failure is an
important life skill.

Ego
We all have regrets about our youth. A crazy sports parent might be trying to live vicariously
through their child. Having a child that is a star athlete feeds the ego of this type of parent,
causing them to boast and brag and generally be a nuisance to other in the crowd.

Greed
Some parents dream of their kids becoming pro athletes, getting scholarships to pay for college,
and riding the gravy train to fame and fortune (even if the child wants a different career). They
may push their child harder to succeed in pursuit of their financial fantasies. Some kids will grow
up to be professional athletes, but it should never be at the expense of other kids who are
looking to have fun and make friends.

Competitiveness
Finally, some parents are just competitive. They may have none of the above issues, yet will
become obnoxious at games. This type of parent may have grown up in a household where
winning was emphasized and wants the same for their child, even to the point of pushing other
parents away.

What to Do When You Meet a Crazy Sports Parent
Now that you understand some of the underlying issues, let’s talk about how to handle the
situation. There are several different approaches you can use based on what’s going on and
what you feel comfortable with.

Don’t Engage
When another parent is heckling or making rude remarks, whether loudly or just enough for a
handful of others to hear, it’s best not to engage the person. You may feel like yelling at them to
calm down and take a seat, but this approach has a high chance of creating an even larger
disturbance. You may end up in a yelling fight, which would further distract the kids who are
trying to play a game (as well as embarrassing your own child!).
Instead, try removing yourself from the area. Switch stands or move to the grass to distance
yourself.

Ask Someone with Authority to Intervene
Look for an official or police officer who can help confront the crazy parent. He or she is trained
to handle those situations. The parent will also be more likely to calm down when confronted by
authority.

Avoid Criticism
A great way to discourage obnoxious parents is to lead by example. Avoid criticizing kids (yours
and others) as well as referees and coaches. Sure, we all have times where we disagree with
something, but by creating an environment where it’s not okay to heckle and yell at people
means crazy parents will feel more embarrassed about outbursts.
Strive to create an environment of respect for everyone involved in the game. Showing your
child the importance of respect will also help them grow up to be strong, compassionate adults.

Avoid Cliques
After games, some parents will form groups and talk. Sometimes, these groups are friendly and
positive. Other times, they can be toxic and a way for parents to start picking on kids and
criticizing others. If you find yourself approached by parents who are known to be more
“gossipy,” you can politely decline invitations to chat. This will help you avoid unnecessary
drama during future games.

Promote Your Clan
If all of the above still isn’t discouraging the crazy sports parents around you, your last option is
to simply ignore them and focus on your own feelings of excitement for the game and pride for
your child. Invite more members of your family to attend games (there’s always strength in
numbers) and you can even order matching shirts to promote your clan. Your child will feel a
wonderful sense of family when he or she looks to the bleachers and sees everyone proudly
wearing matching t-shirts.

Go ahead and cheer your own child on loudly (without putting down other kids) and focus on
why you’re really there: to create positive memories.

How to Choose the Best Sport for Your Child

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 21:14:41 GMT

You already know the benefits of youth sports, like teamwork and physical activity, but how do
you know the best sport for your child to play? Some children show interest toward something
specific early on, yet others need a little more guidance. With so many sports to choose from,
helping your child make this decision can feel overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. We created this simple guide to ease your stress and relieve anxiety.
With a few tips and strategies, you can feel confident that the sport you choose will be right for
your child, leading to months (or years) of enjoyment and activity.

What to Consider When Picking a Youth Sport

The first thing to consider is always whether or not you’re projecting your own interests onto
your child. This can be hard for many parents to hear. If you played a particular sport yourself
(and are an active fan), your first instinct may be for your child to play baseball or football or
whatever sport you personally love.

Projecting your own interests, though, will hurt your child in the long run. He or she may easily
lose interest, experience social problems, or be at an increased risk of injury if the sport isn’t
suited for them. Be mindful of what your child likes, even if it isn’t a sport you previously
considered.

Body Type and Activity Level

Is your child already physically active with a lot of energy? Physically demanding sports like
soccer or basketball might be a good choice. Is your child more interested in low impact
activities and/or needs to work up endurance or strength? Dance or martial arts may be more
enjoyable.

Some body types are better suited to particular sports more than others. That doesn’t mean
your child can’t participate in something he or she loves; it means there may be a few more
challenges to overcome. Being aware of your child’s physical limitations will help you offer the
right support when needed.
Interest and Personality
To figure out which sports your child is most interested in, start exposing them to different
experiences as soon as possible. Even though watching sports on TV is a great introduction,
taking your kid to live games will help them understand everything involved and the actual
environment.

After your child is a spectator in a variety of sports, give them a chance to sample each one. Go
play baseball in the park. Swim some competitive laps in the pool. Try some gymnastics moves
or go ice skating. Giving your child the opportunity to try out several activities is not only fun, but
your child will know right away if he or she doesn’t like something.
Personality is also a factor. If your child is more outgoing, team sports may be most appealing. If
your child is introverted, sports where they can rely on their own skills, like golf or gymnastics,
might be best.

Here are some questions you and your child can go over to help gauge interest and personal
preferences:
Does your child like to challenge him/herself?
Do they like to work with others?
Do they like indoor or outdoor environments?
Do they like to compete against themselves or previously set records?
Do they show interest in combat movements (martial arts)?
Do they like to be creative and link together movements for aesthetic quality (dance)?
Do they like the idea of using something to hit a ball?
Do they like water activities?

A Comprehensive List of Youth Sports to Consider
So far, you’ve learned what to avoid when selecting a sport for your child and some ways to
discover what your child is drawn to (and most likely to stick with). To further help your decision,
here’s a list of youth sports grouped by type and personality traits (some fall into multiple
categories):

Highly Competitive / Invasion
Personality type:
● Likes teamwork and being around peers
● Enjoys the idea of attacking or defending
● Extroverted
● Likes competition
● Enjoys outdoor environments
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Football
● Ice Hockey
● Lacrosse
● Rugby
● Soccer
● Basketball
● Field Hockey
● Flag Football
● T-ball

Water Sports
Personality type:
● Loves swimming and playing in the water
● Enjoys being indoors or outdoors
● Introverted
● Likes challenging him/herself
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Swimming
● Surfing
● Diving
● Water Polo
Net and Wall
Personality type:
● Likes more separation from competitors (non-contact)
● Interested in hand-eye coordination games
● Introverted
● Enjoys using a racket
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Badminton
● Tennis
● Table Tennis
● Volleyball

Non-Competitive
Personality type:
● Likes activity but not competition
● Interested in self-development and personal goals
● Introverted
● Prefers solo activities and indoor environments
Suggested Sports / Activities (can also be done competitively and with a team):
● Dance
● Roller Skating
● Skateboarding
● Water Polo
● Martial Arts
● Indoor Climbing
● Gymnastics
● Frisbee
● Figure skating
● Skiing
● Snowboarding
● Biking
● Cheerleading

Striking and Fielding
● Likes teamwork and being around peers
● Extroverted
● Likes making tactical decisions
● Enjoys using a bat
● Likes being outdoors

Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Softball
● Baseball
● Lacrosse
Skill Based
● Likes refining skills to score points
● Introverted
● Enjoys learning how to use equipment
● Likes indoor or outdoor environments

Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Track and field
● Golf
● Bowling
● Archery
● Racing
● Skiing
● Snowboarding
● Skating
● Biking
● Gymnastics
● Wrestling

Now that you’ve figured out the best sport for your child, you can start shopping for a uniform!
We create custom uniforms for any sport you can imagine - we can even make t-shirts for
parents to support their young athletes.

How to Start an Adult Sports League

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 21:59:12 GMT

Playing sports as an adult is an extremely rewarding activity. Not only does it provide great
exercise, it’s a way to connect and spend time with friends. Starting your own adult sports
league seems to be the logical next step. All you need are some players, some jerseys, and a
location, right? Yes, but there are several more steps involved in getting started.
While playing your sport is fun, organizing a recreational sports league will take time and effort.
We love the game as much as you do, and we want to help you succeed. We created this
how-to guide so you’ll know everything involved and the steps necessary to make your league a
fun and successful endeavor. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather Players and Determine Interest

Before a league can go anywhere, you’ll need enough players to create teams. A good starting
amount is 6 teams, but you may be able to get away with 4 if players are scarce (of course,
more is better). Ask around to determine people’s interest. You can even post some
announcements online or on bulletin boards. It may be hard to find players at first, but as your
league gets up and running it will generate more buzz. In this “research phase,” you need to
determine good days and times for games (when people are most available) and how much
your members are willing to pay. You can even establish a discount for signing up early to
encourage more people to join.

Step 2: Determine Your Budget

There are a lot of costs involved in having a successful league. Before crunching the numbers,
think about your why you want to do this. Are you playing for fun or for profit? When you’re
starting a league just for fun, you only need to generate enough money to break even. This is
usually accomplished through player membership fees. If you’re playing for profit, though, you
need a profit margin of at least 25% in order to be sustainable.
These are costs to budget for:
● Venue
● Referees
● Apparel/Jerseys
● Equipment
● Advertising
● End of league prizes (optional)
Do your research to determine your costs. Then add 25% if your league is for-profit. Your final
number can be divided by the amount of teams/players you have to help determine membership
fees. You can also look for sponsors to offset costs.

Step 3: Find a Venue

You have several options when it comes to finding a facility for your games, but you should
always book early. Many leagues get put on hold simply because they waited too long to get
their venue. Your location should be secured several weeks before the season starts.
Here are some great venue options:
● Public schools
● Public parks
● Private schools
● Community centers
● Sports complexes
● Churches
When determining your facility, remember to factor in distance. No one wants to drive for an
hour every week to play a short game. Find a location that’s 15-30 minutes away from your
players.

Step 4: Hire Refs and Other Assistants

Good referees will keep your players safe and help them have a great time. They will also be
assertive and consistent with their calls. If you’re lucky enough to know some refs who want to
donate their time, all the better. If not, you’re looking at $10-20 an hour. Just don’t overlook this
step. Refs are important to help maintain order in your league and they will make your players
view each game as more important and professional.
You may also need additional help like coaches and people to maintain equipment and fields.
This will depend on your type of league and location, so plan accordingly.

How Youth Sports Teach Children the Value of Teamwork

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:16:45 GMT

Not every child who plays youth sports will go on to be a professional athlete; however, the majority of children who play sports will go on to achieve greater success than their non-sports peers. The reason is simple: sports teach children teamwork, an important life skill. Every career involves some form of teamwork, whether you’re part of a large corporation or working one-on-one with clients, and personal relationships also require a strong team mentality.

A 2009 University of Kansas study showed that Kansas students in grades 9-12 who participated in sports actually scored higher on academic tests and had a higher graduation rate than students who didn't participate. Additionally, 57 percent of business leaders attributed their youth sports experiences to career success . Participating in sports is such a rewarding and important experience for kids of all ages and it can positively impact their entire lives.

The Benefits of Teamwork in Youth Sports

The essence of teamwork is a group of people working together to achieve a common goal. While the premise seems simple, it requires a lot of dedication and perseverance. Successful teams must overcome many obstacles and be willing to learn and grow together. Because of the complexity of being part of a team and participating in youth sports, children can experience quite a lot of personal growth while receive several benefits and life skills.

Cooperation

Sports teams are an amazing way for kids to experience diversity and learn to cooperate with others. Every member of a sports team must work together to achieve success (even when it comes to picking out new uniform designs ), so individual differences have to be put aside. The diverse mix of personalities and challenges that young athletes face will help your child become patient, persistent, and adaptable.

Self-esteem

When children understand that their voices are valued, they gain confidence. Being heard provides a sense of worth and encourages further participation. Teams naturally help children feel important as teammates interact and support each other. Kids may also develop long-lasting friendships that foster a sense of community and give them a safe foundation when dealing with stress.

Leadership Skills

Along with organization, self-discipline, and conflict resolution, a strong leader understands how to communicate and work within a team. Youth sports can help children develop strong leadership skills by teaching them how to voice their needs, such as talking about issues with a coach, and to listen to the needs of their teammates.

How Team Working Skills Help a Child Later in Life

According to Fortune , 75 percent of executives said an applicant's background in sports positively influenced their hiring decisions. The reason for that is the strong team working skills that young athletes learn. When an applicant has participated in youth sports, hiring managers understand that he or she has dealt with pressure and competition and has solid experience working with a team for a particular outcome.

Children in sports learn the importance of following rules and procedures, how to take constructive feedback, how to offer support to others, and when to ask for help. They also learn what it means to balance their strengths and weaknesses against teammates. Sports are basically teamwork in action, a major plus for any career.

Besides job opportunities, personal relationships from friendships to romantic partners benefit from team working skills. Any successful relationship requires communication, compromise, support, and a willingness to work together for a common goal. By teaching kids these skills through sports at an early age, they will have what’s needed for successful interactions later in life.

Youth sports is far more than an after-school activity or a way to get your child out of the house for a few hours. It builds teamwork and provides children the skills they need to be successful adults. So let’s get out there and play!

Did you know that every member of your team can work together to sell fan gear and raise money for your organization? Our Fan Store is 100% free and a great way to sell apparel and other items with your team logo. Fans can visit your store, support your team, and then you’ll receive fundraising sales. No commitment and easy to set up!

Or, if you’re looking to order custom uniforms, submit a request today.