Syracuse Basketball Platinum Uniforms: You Know, For Kids

by Sean Keeley on Feb 21, 2012 1:58 PM EST in Syracuse Basketball

You know how you'll often check to see what the most popular show on TV is or see which movie made the most money at the box office and it will end up being something that seemed to universally-revolting that it seems to defy everything you knew about America and society and humanity?

"Wait...HOW many people watch Two And A Half Men? No....there's no way. I have yet to meet another person who says they actually watch that show. I refuse to believe it."

It happens all the time, right? Conversely, the same phenomena works in reverse. "I don't get it. EVERYONE I know loves Community. How is it only being watched by, like, 27 people. I know more than 27 people and they all say they're watching!"

First of all, you do not know more than 27 people so stop lying. Loser. Second, the lesson is, you're the outlier. I'm not going to theorize too much about why the shows and movies you know are terrible do so well, it's just the way of the world. There are more of "them" than there are of "you."

And the same thing applies to the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum unis that the Syracuse Orange will wear Wednesday night.

Donnie Webb inadvertently channels The Hudsucker Proxy in his latest piece when he reminds all of us complainers that while "we" might hate the idea of Syracuse wearing ~~gray~~ platinum, "they" love it.

"It was like, hold on, I need to stop and look at this for a second," [Breanna Stewart] said. "I think they’re cool."

"The first time I saw them, I was like, ‘Wow, they’re nice,’" said [Jerami] Grant. "I’m hoping that we’ll be able to wear them next year."

One store representative, whose target audience is 18-35, said interest and sales in the various platinum products was "crazy."

Who is buying all this platinum? Future Syracuse basketball players, apparently. Even DaJuan Coleman is in on it.

"I like them a lot," [DaJuan] Coleman said of the platinum uniform. "I wish they’d bring them next year when I come there. I think the fans will definitely love them. It’s something cool to bring out this year, like a fire."

Wait a minute...DaJuan wants the Orange to literally come out on fire? SOMEbody is a Hunger Games reader...

I still say SU (read: Jim Boeheim) isn't a fan. Donnie mentions that the schools helped select the opponent, which might explain why Syracuse chose to use its least-televised remaining game of the season to debut the uniforms (not to mention that USF wears Under Armour). Originally not set to be televised nationally, the game will now be televised on SNY/ESPN3.com.

(By the way, if you really want my theory on why crap rises to the top and quality stuff sinks to the bottom, it's because most people aren't looking for quality from their entertainment. They're looking for escapism. Something to turn their brain off to for an hour or two. There you go.)

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The Platinum That Never Dies

I saw this story on syracuse.com and went off a bit in the comment section. I get that I am 39 and this is not “designed for me” but what I don’t get is why my complaints about it are any more silly than those who like them? Not only do I find them ugly (my personal taste) but to me, this is not a representation of the school and it’s colors. Trust me, I think most people know I would drink the Orange Kool-Aid for most things SU but it is about more than just the same color of our most hated rival. Why is it that we have to change to fit a mold that several colleges are using? Wouldn’t 2003 throwbacks be more of a nod to the the elite? Could they truly not come up with something orange and blue that the demographic they want will enjoy? Syracuse actually has a color as their team name and if any of you are like me, Orange has become more than just a color, it is an identity that says I bleed Orange! I think it is great that past, present and future players find it attractive but why can’t we do it with a color scheme that embraces our school, our traditions and not a variation of our most hated rival. I wonder how much Duke fans would love these if they came in Carolina Blue but Nike and other just claimed it was “just blue?” I hate to be the old man kicking kids out of my yard and shouting for them to get their hair cut but I like tradition and the one I embrace probably the most because I own an Orange car, use it in my name and own many Orange things is the colors. Whats next, change the alma mater to end with “Just Do It?”

"I'm in a Syracuse State Of Mind"
http://www.syracusestateofmind.wordpress.com/

by Orange Chuck on Feb 21, 2012 2:16 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Personally, I like the idea of switching up uniforms

I like Oregon and how they get to have brand new, completely different unis every week.

If you don’t like that for our football team, fine, I get it and I see why people like the Blue tops, Orange pants/helmet to stay.

But for basketball we change every few years anyways.. .we always have. So why not throw in a few weird uni’s every once in a while. I think it brings attention to the program and shows to potential recruits that you’re going to be on TV wearing the newest uniforms out there.

The fact that Nike flew Sean out to NY just to show these off demonstrates Nike has an interest in our program, and I think we can use that interest to benefit us. Sure, there may be some things that miss (these jerseys are an unmitigated disaster btw, thats not debatable), but I would hate it if our poor reaction to this one game made Nike have second thoughts about coming to us again with another uni, like throwbacks or a design that’s actually more than one color.

Lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief

by Rocket Ship Science on Feb 21, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

I Am Not Against Changing Uniforms From Time to Time

But why can’t change stay within our colors? Again, I am not trying to be the miserable old man (I would hate to take Coach B’s gimmick) but I just don’t see how you can’t find a cool design with those colors that has the same feel. It does not have to be all orange but most fans recognize blue and white as acceptable colors to compliment it, not platinum/gray. I am not anti-Nike, I just think sometimes we need to embrace our traditions/team colors and stop trying to be “elite” with the same generic uniform that several other schools are also using. I LOVE the ideas of throwbacks and if you can do new with our colors, I will probably be all over Twitter/Facebook/this blog praising Nike and SU for the awesome selection. Heck, my choice of shoe is Nike most times (especially since the blue and orange Starburys are no longer available) but I just don’t see what is wrong with embracing who we are and our colors.

"I'm in a Syracuse State Of Mind"
http://www.syracusestateofmind.wordpress.com/

by Orange Chuck on Feb 21, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

this

Our uniforms are some combination of orange, white, and blue. Period. And no all-orange football uniforms.

by drothgery on Feb 21, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

I'm 40...

…I’M A MAN!!!!

Sorry, every time I say my age the past seven months it is followed by that because of the Ok St coach….

I love the uni’s, but I like different stuff. All of my jerseys are alternative ones, the only exception being my throwback blue 44.

I will be purchasing one of these.

Also, Breanna, it’s not too late to change your mind and come play for coach Q and leave that a%%hole Auriemma behind….Come on, girl! Go Northstars!!!!

by ex-Townie on Feb 21, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions