 |
| My son and I representing our favorite team at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, but I'm dressed like a grown man. |
Grown men need to look like grown men. Let me be specific so there's no confusion. I’m speaking to two sets of individuals. Those men that are at least thirty years old and men that have children that are at least ten years old. The reason that I specify is that it is critical that we understand who we’re talking about. Cat's less than thirty without kids are still trying to figure out what they wanna be so I give them a pass. Let's be honest that's a very small club anyway.
A man that is at least thirty is what the ole timers call “A Fully Grown Man”. Regardless of whether he has children or not, it isn’t permissible for him to walk around looking like a child. A man with children that are at least ten years old shouldn’t leave the house dressed like his kids regardless of his age. While we’re at it let’s throw in the flat bib baseball hats and the sagging pants too.
I’m not saying that a grown man can’t represent his favorite team. However, that’s why they make team apparel like dry fit polo’s, T-shirts, jogging suits etc. It’s definitely OK to put on your team logo baseball cap as well. Just not the flat bib joint bruh. Gentleman, here’s why this is so important to understand. Once you become a grown man, you have to assume the look of a grown man. You can't leave the house looking like you're on your way to high school buh. I’ve got a fifteen year old son that dresses like that.
Although that look can be very fashionable and sometimes impressive but it's childish to say the least. I’m speaking specifically about the hats, jerseys and matching sneakers. My son rocks that type of gear! If I walk around looking like him, people won’t take me seriously. I am his father, so therefore, I’ve got to look like his father. I can’t afford to look like one of his boys and we're hanging out in the same places. If you and your son leave the house rockin' the same gear ya'll look like ya'll about to holler at the same chicks bruh!
I think back to how embarrassing would it have been when I was growing up if my dad were rockin' the same gear that my friends and I were wearing. What if I were in the basement with my boyz back in '83 and we were rockin' the shell toe Adidas, Kangols and dookie ropes and my ole man came downstairs with them joints on too? How crazy would he look bruh and how dumb would I feel?
 |
| Oklahoma vs Cincinnati game at Paul Brown Stadium |
I’ve got several friends that have played professional sports including basketball, football and baseball. They’re all retired now but it wasn’t uncommon for them to think that people that wore jerseys looked stupid. You can’t be a grown man wearing another man's name of your back. I equate the guy that puts on another man's jersey to a woman that puts on her man's shirt after sex and walks around the house smelling it.
As much as I liked Eric Dickerson when I was in high school. I wouldn’t have dared to put on his jersey, even when I was eighteen years old for those same reasons. Maybe because I was an athlete and it just seemed silly to me to rock another guys jersey.
Lastly, what kind of grown woman wants to show up somewhere with a child dressed up like a grown man. Ya’ll catch that one later. If your hanging out with women that don’t mind you wearing jerseys. Then they’re probably dressed up like their teenaged daughters and you guys are meant for one another.
Holla At Ya Boy!
Jay Graves
Hit me up on Twitter: @jaygravesreport
Like TheJayGravesReport on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/sTI3qZ
I think the venue should determine whether or not a grown man looks silly or not. If a grown man is at a football game with his son or with friends, then it is perfectly ok to be seen in a jersey and still be secure in your manhood. If, however, that same grown man is walking down the street or wears the jersey as part of his daily attire then that might be viewed as inappropriate. Just some of my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI think throw back jerseys such as Julius Erving, Jim Brown, or Wille Stargell is appropriat. Personally for me I could freak any authentic jersey and make it look becoming. Holla
ReplyDeleteI have this Rule, and that is to Never wear another MANS names on my Back!!! Wearing a Jersey with another Mans name on it says to me that you Idolize and Worship him and seeming that no athelete is God or Jesus Christ...(Can't Do It!) Now I've bought my share of Jerseys in the day and I can asure you that they all have either my last name(Dickerson), or nick names (Curt D, Big Daddy, or Big-n-Tall) that i've gone by. So to all you "Pops" out there...Step your Game up and Let's look like "Pops and not Pee Wees!"
ReplyDeleteBow ties are what a man should never wear.
ReplyDeleteI think your opinion sucks. We all have different styles as adults I would never wear sandals with socks but that doesn't mean someone who does is any less than me. Whatever clothes u wear has someone's name on it whether its a jersey or Ralph Lauren. If its not your thing don't judge another man cause that's what he chooses to wear. Jerseys are more expensive than polos and grown women recognize that. And bent bib baseball caps are for nerds and baseball players. Sports fans wear jerseys!!! U offend true sport fans with this one.
ReplyDeleteMr Anonymous, cracks me up. Jay, you offended him greatly. Folks take this stuff too seriously.
ReplyDeleteRobotaholic, however; made me chuckle. I'm thinking you can appreciate his retort.
Team gear is the way for a grown man to go. Your take makes me laugh out loud, which I think was most of your intent.
Being different is what makes the world go around.
Boomer Sooner!!!! FYI. The only jersey i own is a framed and signed Joe Namath.
Brady
I understand the concept but I don't think wearing a jersey is idolizing a player. My jersey's hang in a glass case located in my office and if I feel the need to wear one to a game I am attending it doesn't make me less of a man. It makes me a supporting fan out having fun. Then of course the jersey goes back to the glass case. Now just to be out wearing a jersey and not attending a game is kind of suspect as a grown man and it's tacky...
ReplyDeleteAlright, I gotta jump in on this one! I often wear my Walter Payton "Road" Jersey when I attend sporting events. I've worn it when I announced football and basketball games for Morgan State University.
ReplyDeleteI wear the jersey because of the RESPECT I had for the way Walter Payton played the game of football. So does that make me GAY? !@#$ NO! Less than a man? You're welcome to try ya hand.
I've LOVED playing and watching the game of football since I was 6 years old. If I rocked your jersey Jay, or Jimmy's or Johnny's; would that mean I want to kiss you? Or sleep with you? C'mon baby bruh, you know better than that.
I wear the jersey because I RESPECTED the man and the player. So age, nor the "diminishing of my manhood" have anything to do with it. It's about appreciation for the player and the fact that they played the game the way it was supposed to be played. Period.
Walter missed 1 game in his entire career.
He played on some Bears' teams from '75-'80 in which he WAS THE OFFENSE! Payton left; Payton right; Payton up the middle; Payton on a hitch; Payton on a sweep. So you see Baby Bruh, I'm not gay, or "less than a man", or a "clown" because I put on that jersey.
I'm a man who grew up watching this man play, and it was EVERY boy's Sunday ritual in the Hood back in Gary, Indiana, to watch the Bears on Channel 2; then as soon as the game was over, we would meet at Roosevelt, West Side or Horace Mann, and ALL OF US would channel the spirit of some NFL player into our young bodies, and proceed to played our asses off.
Jersey's are for FANS of the game. If you wear it to a game, DUH? That's where you're supposed to wear it! Because you wear a bow tie, doesn't mean that my not wearing one makes me a slouch, right? OK then, because YOU choose not to wear a jersey, you have no right to tell other men who are grown, working, and taking care of their families, that they are less than men because they wear a jersey to a football game.
I use to host a sports talk show here in Baltimore called "Sports Rap". We once had a simliar discussion about Jerseys. Our focus was on what wearing the jersey of your favorite player meant to you. NOBODY called in talking about some gay crap, or less than a man crap. It was all about how we respected the way the players played the game, and that was the reason for wearing the jersey.
Let me ask you, Would you wear your son's jersey?
If you say no, than you're just being stubborn for the sake of saving face. In reality, any father who is proud of his son or daughter, would rock their child's jersey till the cows came home.
So you see, it's about appreciating the player and nothing more. You yourself Jay, you use to run like Lionel "Little Train" James. If you wore his throwback, believe me bruh, your son is not going to suddenly stop respecting you, or questioning your authority, nor your manhood. He knows you're his dad based on how well you're raising and educating him.
You need to amend your position on this one my brotha! This time, you're just plain wrong.
If I had went to that Oklahoma game with you and your son; I would have rocked a Billy Sims 20 joint, and changed at halftime into a Marcus Dupree 22 joint!! What?!!!