As we rapidly approach the NBA season, my attention naturally turns to the defending champs. I saw this on "Forum Blue and Gold" (my new favorite Lakers site) and thought it was worth sharing. Just a little commentary on the Lakers team logo. Enjoy.
"Then the Lakers moved to Los Angeles where their nickname made no sense. Some half-wit designed a logo with streaky lines and a swooping watery ‘R’ and then kicked back to wait for the Jazz to move to Utah so that people would forget how nonsensical the Laker name was by comparison. Objectively, this logo is lame. But the longer they use it, unchanged with only minor alterations, the more vastly superior it becomes.
When I look at the Lakers logo, it says: “This is our logo. We’re the Lakers. What’s that in our logo? It’s a basketball. Why? Because we’re the basketball team from Los Angeles. What’s our mascot? What do you mean? You think we’re concerned that our team name has no obvious personification, and we’re going to have some kind of Steeley McBeam debacle? Please. Our mascot is Kobe Bryant’s middle finger. What’s that? You’ve noticed that some idiot named Bob Short decided that one of our primary colors should be purple? You think that’s kind of (lame)? Let me refer you to our mascot. We’re the Lakers. (Screw) you.”
Look, I cheer for some teams with admittedly lame logos (an intentional mis-spelling, an un-intentional mis-pronounciation, and historical squatters to name a handful) and I really DO, on a certain level, appreciate the "screw you" attitude.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, let's just admit it. It's lame. And some dude puffing up his chest on an internet message board doesn't make it any less so.
Ah, spoken like a true Celtics fan. The rivalry burns brightly on this crisp Autumn day. But seriously, you have a midget in short pants, bow-tie, and less-than-manly vest as part of your logo and you think OUR logo is lame?
ReplyDeleteThe Lakers logo is just one of many things that sets them apart from other teams. Other things include: not hanging division or conference championship banners, the afore-mentioned lack of mascot, and of course the fact that every season that doesn't end in a championship is considered an abject failure. As Riley once said, "There's winning and misery." Most teams (and their fans) celebrate mediocrity and need gimicks to distract them from how far away they are from true success. As a Lakers fan, I'm proud to say my team has its priorities straight.
1) Re-read the first paragraph.
ReplyDelete2) I'm no fashion guru, but apparently vests are actually in. . . .
What's most interesting about the quote I included is that it is NOT by some "dude puffing up his chest" as you so colorfully stated. Rather, it is from an admitted Laker-hating WOMAN who begrudgingly admits her respect for the logo. It's actually funnier (and dirtier) in context. See it here "http://www.bothteamsplayedhard.net/2009/09/02/the-nba-logo-ranking-project-17-los-angeles-lakers/"
ReplyDeleteAnd even if vests ARE in, that probably doesn't include ones covered in green shamrocks :)
Sounds to me like a certain Laker-hater has a certain Laker-crush, then!
ReplyDeleteFor the record, vests with green shamrocks are categorically the ONLY ones that I'd ever consider wearing. Which probably does mean that they're not "in."