A look at the AFL legacy uniforms: The 1963 Boston Patriots
May 12, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Eight former AFL teams will wear 1960s throwback uniforms during "legacy games" in the 2009 season. Shutdown Corner takes a look back (or ahead, if you will) at those throwback jerseys in advance of the season. Today, we look at the 1963 Boston Patriots. These are a strong contender for my favorite among all the AFL throwback uniforms. I'm not sure if I like them because I actually like them, or ...

Beware fans - some NFL gear hardly Super

Reported by: Mike Celizic, NBCSports.com contributor

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 @10:42am CST

TAMPA, Fla. - The contraband lie in heaps on the floor, piled there by more than a dozen federal and local law enforcement officials. The haul's street value was pegged at $500,000, but authorities said that’s just a drop in the bucket on this front of the never-ending war on crime.

The language officers used was nearly identical to that used by drug agents, but the cache of contraband taken into custody wasn’t marijuana or cocaine. It was counterfeit athletic apparel, including hundreds of NFL jerseys complete with the authentication tags, holograms and serial numbers that would lead most consumers to believe they were the genuine article. Instead of being hidden away from prying eyes, this contraband was stacked on shelves and hanging from display racks, waiting for unsuspecting buyers.

The raid was a joint venture spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) division. Tampa Police and an NFL counterfeit expert also participated in a campaign against goods geared to the shopping surge for the Super Bowl.

I.C.E. officials invited reporters along for Wednesday’s raid on a kiosk in a humble cinderblock building that houses the “International Flea Market” in Tampa's Sulfur Springs area. An undercover “shopper” had spotted counterfeit goods and agents responded in an organized raid. The agents had expected it to be a small seizure. They were surprised at the huge take of counterfeit NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA jerseys and athletic shoes.

Before the raid, I.C.E. officials said that $200-300 billion worth of counterfeit goods are annually shipped into the United States. They range from cigarettes to athletic gear to electrical cords to clothing, watches and fashion accessories. Like the war on drugs, the war on counterfeiting is a holding action. A division spokesperson said that seizures of knock-off goods represent only about 15 percent of the total traffic.

“It is definitely not victimless,” said special agent Fred Chow. Investigators following the money trail of knock-off goods have found profits going to organized crime.

“The proceeds are funneled to other criminal activities both here and abroad,” he said.

Sales of knock-offs steal business away from legitimate retailers and jobs away from Americans, he added. The goods, he said, are produced in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and China often by workers in sweatshops.

From the NFL’s perspective, knock-off goods tarnish the league's reputation and ultimately rip off consumers.

An NFL spokesman said the damage is, “to the fan who buys the T-shirt, the graphics will wash away; the local retailer who suffers lost sales.” Then there’s the damage to the league. “Fans associate inferior merchandise with the NFL. We don’t want fans to have a poor experience with anything we do. The NFL is the gold standard.”

Other leagues and manufacturers face the same problem. Among the goods seized in Tampa Wednesday were knock-off Air Jordan sneakers that were selling for $35 — far below the price of the genuine article. Every fake shoe sold is money out of Nike’s coffers, and when the shoes fall apart, the manufacturer’s reputation is tarnished.

Even to semi-discerning eyes, knock-offs may appear legitimate. In another raid on Monday in a shop in Tampa's Ybor City tourist area, knock-offs were being sold mingled in with legitimate NFL-licensed products. The knock-offs have tags that look official and special holograms that are supposed to indicate the genuine article.

But, Chow said, if consumers were to check the serial numbers on the holograms, they will find that the number is the same on different articles. On official articles, every number is unique to the item to which it is affixed. The counterfeiters may also make spelling mistakes. On one alleged Steelers throw-back jersey, the counterfeiters spelled Pittsburgh as two words — “Pitts Burgh.” That, Chow said, would be an easy giveaway. Another tag misspelled “football.” But the spelling mistakes are in the fine print that customers normally don’t even look at and go unnoticed, he added.

Official league articles can be pricey. Throwback jerseys go for $350, and a retailer can make good money by selling fakes for less than $100. But there’s more wrong with the garments than just the spelling on the tags and the serial numbers, agents say.

The finish can be inferior. The garments can fall apart or fade after washing. The colors are also frequently off. The fabric is frequently of lighter weight, the stitching hastily done and the quality shoddy at best.

On a Reggie White throwback jersey seized Wednesday, the player’s name as sewn on the jersey upside down.

“These people aren’t graphic artists, they’re con artists,” the NFL spokesman said.

“This is the annual struggle that we face,” he said. “The Super Bowl is a popular event for fans. It’s also a popular event for counterfeiters. It is truly an ongoing struggle. These counterfeiters go from major event to major event. This merchandise is anything but a bargain.”

In Wednesday’s raid, agents had expected to simply seize the counterfeits in a civil action and not charge the shop owner. But when they discovered just how many fakes he had, they arrested Junior Raphael Prentice, 38, of Tampa, and charged him with dealing in counterfeit items. Authorities said they intended to return with a warrant to search another kiosk run by Prentice that sells trendy, designer women’s wear.

Last year, an I.C.E. spokesperson said, the biggest single haul of Super Bowl-related merchandise in Arizona was worth $100,000. They exceeded that by a factor of five Wednesday — and the week for the enforcement teams is just beginning.

Consumers wishing to know more about counterfeit goods were advised to visit www.iacc.org, a website sponsored by a coalition of manufacturers to fight knock-off goods.

For many, it’s more than just a shirt

DAVE BOLING; The News Tribune
Published: September 5th, 2007 01:00 AM


As for status in the closet, these things rate well above the normal shirt, and somewhere slightly below the typical superhero costume.

But no illusions come with NFL jerseys … even the pricey “authentics.”

Fans don’t actually believe they look like Shaun Alexander when they put on a No. 37 Seahawks jersey.

And they don’t really envision a series of injuries leaving the Seahawks without a middle linebacker, causing the staff to scan the Qwest Field stands for somebody in a Lofa Tatupu jersey to race down onto the turf for a key goal-line stand.

Still, the buying of a jersey is actually a very personal – and expensive – tribute to their favorite players.

When readers of The News Tribune’s Seahawks Insider blog were asked about their jersey buying/wearing habits, 79 readers responded. Some produced lists of as many as 25 jerseys in their collections.

Quality of play, character, citizenship and longevity are variables in the purchasing equation, they reported.

Many follow strict regimens regarding whose jerseys are to be worn for home games, away games, preseason and postseason games … most based on habit and superstition.

And, as one contributor pointed out, numerous options sometimes become necessary.

“It’s nice to have more than one jersey in case you get disgusted by a player’s crappy performance, then you can strip it off in a fit of anger,” said Johnny Peel, a Seahawks fan from Springfield, Ill.

But, when you buy your jersey, you take your chances.

“I don’t buy Hawks jerseys anymore … I am cursed,” said Brett Snyder of Anacortes. Snyder has owned jerseys of Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, Anthony Simmons, Chad Eaton, Koren Robinson and Ken Hamlin. All of them were traded, allowed to leave the Seahawks via free agency or were involved in some manner of controversy.

When Snyder produced his list of doom, fellow bloggers quickly asked him to go out and purchase the jerseys of star players from other teams in the NFC West Division.

Some fans are clearly more intuitive. Chris Olson, manager of the Just Sports store in the Tacoma Mall, said that several fans had sought out replacements for their Michael Boulware jerseys … at least three days before his trade to Houston was announced.

The three most popular Seahawks jerseys at Olson’s store are Tatupu, receiver Deion Branch and placekicker Josh Brown. But two national standouts – San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson and New Orleans’ Reggie Bush – are the best sellers overall, Olson said.

Buying players’ jerseys requires a significant investment. Olson pointed out a number of options, including replica jerseys at $75; premier/replithentic jerseys, $99; authentic jerseys, $300 (away, white) and $256 (home, blue).

In addition, the Mitchell and Ness throwback jerseys can cost up to $400.

Still … “some people come in and buy three or four at a time,” Olson said.

A throwback that’s still popular is Steve Largent’s No. 80, even though Largent hasn’t played for 18 seasons. Olson has them for $280.

Jim Kelly of Pullman said he owns three Largent jerseys because “he’s the reason I love Seahawks football.”

“Do I associate (with) Largent’s characteristics when I wear it? Not really,” Kelly said. “I was lucky. I grew up as the Hawks grew up. From them, as a team, I learned that it was better to have integrity, and not win, than to win at any cost while not being able to look myself in the eye … (like) the Raiders.”

A number of readers said they’ve marched to the nearest Goodwill store to donate the jerseys of any Seahawk who has been involved in off-field scandal or illegal activities.

Jake Wiley, a Seahawks fan in Hamilton, N.J., listed some 22 jerseys, including a number from his swelling “jersey graveyard” of traded players. Wiley’s 14-month-old son should be able to top his father’s collection some day. He already has Matt Hasselbeck, Tatupu and Marcus Trufant jerseys.

Another long-distance fan, Dan Abraham from Toronto, Canada, said that his No. 45 Ken Easley jersey, bought in the early 1980s, still fits. “I’ve worn it for every Hawks game since,” he said.

Clearly, the jersey fanaticism is contagious among families. Abraham said that his wife also got into the Seahawks spirit.

“To surprise me one night last year, my wife appeared in the bedroom in a pair of Seahawks panties,” Abraham said.

We may presume that they had the name “Easley” written across the back.

HOW MUCH?

Price ranges for men’s current jerseys on nflshop.com:

• Customized authentic: $189.99 to $369.99

• Pre-numbered authentic: $239.99 to $284.99

• Premier/replithentic: $99.99 to $109.99

• Customized replica: $99.99

• Pre-numbered replica: $74.99 TOP TEAMS

The top-selling teams for jersey sales from April to August, according to the NFL:

1. Dallas Cowboys, right

2. Chicago Bears

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. San Diego Chargers

5. Indianapolis Colts

6. Philadelphia Eagles

7. New Orleans Saints

8. New England Patriots

9. Denver Broncos

10. Washington Redskins

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

Top Sellers in April

According to the M&N website, here are the top sellers at the moment:

1. Julius Erving
2. Mickey Mantle
3. Vince Papale
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Lou Gehrig
6. Gale Sayers
7. Ron Santo
8. Johnny Bench
9. Allen Iverson
10. Keith Hernandez

Top Sellers for Spring / Michael Jordan update

Current Top Sellers for March

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Joe Montana
3. Lawrence Taylor
4. Cal Ripken Jr.
5. Tony Gwynn
6. Andre Tippett
7. Reggie Jackson
8. Mickey Mantle
9. Junior Seau
10. Sonny Jurgensen

Oddly, the new Michael Jordan release did not make the list. Mainly because only 500 were produced one can assume. In a perceived snub to the long time faithful, the jerseys release was oddly done with none of the online specialist shops getting any stock at all. Nike and Jordan Brand are keeping a tight check on the release and most aspects of this jerseys production. Fortunately for those who manage to get their hands on one, the jersey is being made in the USA and not farmed out to overseas manufactorers who in recent years have contributed to the demise of the once mighty Mitchell and Ness brand.

The jerseys will come encased in a handmade wooden collector's box and includes interior detail such as faux lizard skin, a commemorative 20th Anniversary patch and a signed letter of authenticity.

New Releases

1985 New England Patriots
New NFL releases this week include Andre Tippett and Irving Fryar, part of the '85 Pats team that set an NFL record by winning three road playoff games on their way to Super Bowl XX. Patriots jerseys are in short supply and will sell out quickly, click here to get yours now.

Many new releases and re-stocks of the most popular jerseys have just arrived. Quantities are limited and some jerseys are sure to sell out, so shop all the New Releases now. This season's line up includes:

Sonny Jurgensen
Jim Brown
Roger Craig
Dan Marino

Top Sellers for October

For the month of October, here are the hottest sellers of throwbacks according to Mitchell and Ness:
1. Joe Montana
2. Ronnie Lott
3. Babe Ruth
4. Phil Simms
5. Dan Marino
6. John Elway
7. Deion Sanders
8. Magic Johnson
9. Marcus Allen
10. Thurman Thomas