Slug-haters, rejoice. Your day has come.
???On Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres unveiled their new third jersey for the 2008-2009 campaign, and all I can say is they finally got it right.
???The jersey, a retro-feel to a new-age design, hits every element that the organization could have possibly ever asked for. The original crest from the 1970s has been touched very little, with minor detail in the outline of the logo more so than the design itself.
???The coloring, sticking true to the new Sabres navy and gold, gives the fans a little bit of something old and a little bit of something new.
???Throw in silver piping under the arms outlining the gold striping around the jersey, and you have yourself a great match.
???Oh, and did I mention it has ties?
???Let it be known that I am no slug-hater. When the new jerseys came out in 2006, I loved them. I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones to get one at the stadium and I wore it with pride.
???Now it's going straight into my closet.
???When the team came through the curtains in the jersey, something happened that made me realize that these jerseys in fact were the right choice.
???Pride.
???Every single player who came through those curtains had an aura of energy around them that could not be matched in any situation that I can remember where a new identity was announced for a team. While it might sound stupid, these guys are into these jerseys. They are one with the history behind the beloved crest and are into becoming a part of history with the new modern look.
???When you were a kid and your mother made you wear the most ugly outfit in the world to school, how did you feel?
???Exactly.
???Now, while the jersey isn't the only factor that makes a team good or bad, let's just say it's going to make them want to play better.
???I only say this because of when I was in high school. When I played football, we had these crisp red jerseys that emitted fear in our opponents, or our nasty looking white jerseys that made me want to throw up all over myself. When our coach would throw us our reds, we'd get amped up, knowing that when we played, we looked good doing so.
???When we wore the whites, let's just say we weren't thrilled as we ran onto the field.
???This jersey is only the first step for the Sabres organization into making a statement again in the National Hockey League. After the departure of many key faces, the re-signed Darcy Regier better step it up and make things happen with this team.
???While the team is so young, it has many key prospects that can send this city into the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in its history. While I am skeptical that it will happen this year, I can only hope that we get a shot.
???If we don't, I won't be too upset. At least we'll look good.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
