I have a serious problem w/ improper jersey etiquette used by many fans attending sporting events all throughout the country. How is that we are the mecca of most all major sports in the world minus soccer and our fans can still not grasp onto to such a simply concept. The “Code of Jersey Etiquette” is my personal beliefs as well as beliefs shared by fellow fans and at some point hopefully every rowdy fan seen attending any and every sporting event.
I. The team’s jersey or apparel that is playing
This is by far the easiest of all the rules of the code to follow and you would think would not have to be mentioned but unfortunately there are those who don’t get it. If you have decided to wear a jersey or apparel to support your favorite team, that’s fantastic, but make sure your team is playing in the game!!! If you are attending a Cubs vs Cards MLB game, it is not necessary for you to wear your
t-shirt and cap letting everyone know that you are in fact a Red Sox’s fan. You may be happy your team is in first place, think it will help w/ the ladies or a conversational starter but in actuality you look like a Moron and deserve any off color comments that are directed at you.
II. The Proper sport that is being played
This rule is for all of those fans who support their city or state team but aren’t sure what sport they are supporting. Hey guys, even the girls don’t get this one wrong. Get it together. It’s great you’re supporting your local teams but at an Indiana Pacer basketball game, I don’t want to see you 6 rows up wearing a Colts Jersey…and I don’t care if you just came from the colts game or vice versa. Just because you are going to a sporting event, it doesn’t mean you have to wear something representing sports.
III. Player no longer w/ team Jersey
This is the one that gets right to the core of whether or not you have any clue of what’s going on. I understand you went out and forked over some decent coin to pick up the jersey of your favorite guy, but news flash…he doesn’t play for your team anymore! In fact he was traded 3 yrs ago and is on his 4th team. Can you really call yourself a fan? This rule gets into a few rules closely connected so we call them 3A, 3B and 3C. (Throwbacks see section V)
IIIA. The player you’re representing is still in the league but is on a different team and his name is blatantly on the back of the jersey. You are no longer allowed to wear that jersey in public anymore and I don’t care if is authentic or not. If he is traded back then you can knock the dust off it and start sporting it again like he never left. Jalen Rose and Edegerrin James don’t play in Indiana anymore so get rid of the jersey. (sidenote…Don’t ever ask your new teams Running Back to sign the old previously traded running back’s jersey that you shouldn’t be wearing out anymore)
IIIB. The player you’re representing is no longer in the league and not because he is a hall famer but because he doesn’t get it done anymore and your team doesn’t want him. This ties closely in w/ IIIA…Not on your team anymore, can’t wear the jersey anymore!
IIIC. Last but not least. If you have a jersey of your favorite football player, say Randy Moss from his early days w/ the Minnesota Vikings. You don’t live in Minnesota but rather in Louisiana. Just because you don’t have an NFL team doesn’t mean you can still wear that jersey around. If he truly is your favorite Player then you better update because your two teams behind. This also goes for fans of Randy Moss in Foxboro who had a Raiders Moss Jersey because it looked tight and went good w/ some black Timbos…Sorry color coordinated dude, you can’t wear it anymore either even if you’re hollering at some ladies in the club…
IV. Wearing proper colors to the game
This is directed mostly towards the ladies but fellas pay attention. Do me a favor guys and gals, know what color your team is and what team the visiting team is. This can be very important depending on what city and stadium you’re in. I once saw a guy get his teeth knocked out because his girlfriend wore the visiting teams colors and needless to say the home team didn’t win that night. I don’t know if every city does this but Indianapolis has PINK colts jerseys. Completely against the code for many reasons plus they just look ridiculous! Get rid of them…all of them!
V. Miscellaneous Etiquette
There are a few categories here. One is the “Throwback Jersey.” This is an exception to a few of the rules but doesn’t give you an exception to every rule when attending a game or when being worn in public. It is only OK if the player being represented is no longer in the league, if so he has to be on the team currently. Also, it still must be for the same sporting event being represented i.e Roberto Clemente jersey worn at a Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball game or a Larry Bird Jersey at a Boston Celtics Game.
This is a new one to the list. This should be completely understood and I don’t care if your playing golf at a Country Club or the worst Public course in any city, you are absolutely not allowed to wear any kind of jersey on the golf course! (Especially not a Minnesota Vikings Daunte Culpepper Jersey 11/20/07. He needs to read section III all the way thru)
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