[johnnysama]

http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=7586668

In their last year in the National League, and for their 50th anniversary season, the Houston Astros will, at least for six games this season, will bring back a piece of their past with them- the old Colt .45s. Unfortunately (YMMV on this, however), there will be ONE thing missing from these jerseys: The gun (or, the Colt .45) prominently displayed on the front of the jersey.

My thoughts: 1) I am on the fence about firearms, but this is just ridiculous. It's a pertinent part of the jersey, and the team's history! 2) It sure looks weird to have the smoke like 'C' in Colts w/o the gun. It just removes something from the jersey itself.

Your $.02, people.

[winghaz]

It's sad. Welcome to the world of PC.

What's next? Can we no longer refer to Pete Maravich as Pistol Pete?

[Magnum]

Didn't they use to have this wild western shows back in the heyday of tv? I remember it was a popular thing for kids to want to renact cowboy scenes ... it's not like they were seriously going to a handgun or anything. I think it's ridiculous to want to change the truth about history ... it's like saying that segregation didn't exist when it did.

[nmsuaggie]

Didn't they have to drop Colt 45's because the gun makers had the copyright for the silhouette? If so I'll have less of a problem than if it's a politically correct reason.

[OnWis97]

I think they did drop the name/gun in part for that reason.

I'll steal almost verbatim what Paul Lukas said: I don't have a gun, I am not particularly fond of guns, I would not want an expansion team today with such a name (nor would it happen, and I think dismissing that as "PC" is too simple), but this is silly. Either you bring the jersey back or you don't (assuming the firearm company / copyright is not the reason).

The "smoking C" does look odd this way...I'd like to see the uniform accurately portrayed and if MLB or the Astros don't feel it's right to use the gun, then just skip it.

[DaytonBlue]

From the article it sounds like it was MLB's decision. OK, so MLB wants to maintain a family-friendly environment? I would buy that argument if it wasn't for the giant Viagra ads they put behind the batter's box all the time and all the players that still chew tobacco (and this doesn't even consider all the beer ads and the fact that three stadiums are named after beer companies).

If I were the Astros, I would have just skipped them.

[d_hav]

I know the new owner is saying the Astros name will stay and the previous post stated this was probably the MLB's doing but maybe just maybe Jim Crane wants to test out how the Colt 45's uniforms would look and sell. It probably isn't the case but I don't remember seeing him saying they would keep the Astros name forever so maybe they see how the jerseys look and sell and maybe that has some sort of impact on the permanent decision on the teams name. He might not wanted to change names and unis for this season when they get a fresh start in the AL West which would be a perfect oppurtunity to make a change if indeed they change.


This whole post could be completely stupid if he said anything concrete about the Astros staying the Astros lol my medicine helps forget things alot.

[Old School Fool]

 d_hav, on February 18, 2012 - 05:14, said:

I know the new owner is saying the Astros name will stay and the previous post stated this was probably the MLB's doing but maybe just maybe Jim Crane wants to test out how the Colt 45's uniforms would look and sell. It probably isn't the case but I don't remember seeing him saying they would keep the Astros name forever so maybe they see how the jerseys look and sell and maybe that has some sort of impact on the permanent decision on the teams name. He might not wanted to change names and unis for this season when they get a fresh start in the AL West which would be a perfect oppurtunity to make a change if indeed they change.


This whole post could be completely stupid if he said anything concrete about the Astros staying the Astros lol my medicine helps forget things alot.

It's not happening. There's no chance in hell.

[pianoknight]

Washington Bullets was a much, much better name than Wizards, too.

They'll probably petition the Raiders and Bucs to remove the pirate swords from their logos.

[BlueSky]

Ridiculous. They should wear it as it was or forget it.

This does remind me though of something funny. When the Bullets changed their name, Jay Leno said something like, "Yeah, Washington's basketball team is changing its name to eliminate the part that tends to remind people of crime and violence. From now on they'll just be called the Bullets."

[Coast2CoastAM2006]

how long before this devolves into a thread about unfunny pc jokes?

[charger77]

 Coast2CoastAM2006, on February 18, 2012 - 09:09, said:

how long before this devolves into a thread about unfunny pc jokes?

The inspiration for this thread is an unfunny PC joke.

[DEAD!]

If you're going to do a throwback, you should do it right... but seeing as throwbacks are up most of the time anyways, I just shrug at the removal of the gun. (or I'm just not up in arms about it)

[walkerws]

 DaytonBlue, on February 18, 2012 - 04:13, said:

From the article it sounds like it was MLB's decision. OK, so MLB wants to maintain a family-friendly environment? I would buy that argument if it wasn't for the giant Viagra ads they put behind the batter's box all the time and all the players that still chew tobacco (and this doesn't even consider all the beer ads and the fact that three stadiums are named after beer companies).

If I were the Astros, I would have just skipped them.

They finally told players no more chewing tobacco during games and in post game interviews. Tony Gwynn should be a cautionary tale for all.

[DaytonBlue]

 walkerws, on February 18, 2012 - 09:26, said:

 DaytonBlue, on February 18, 2012 - 04:13, said:

From the article it sounds like it was MLB's decision. OK, so MLB wants to maintain a family-friendly environment? I would buy that argument if it wasn't for the giant Viagra ads they put behind the batter's box all the time and all the players that still chew tobacco (and this doesn't even consider all the beer ads and the fact that three stadiums are named after beer companies).

If I were the Astros, I would have just skipped them.

They finally told players no more chewing tobacco during games and in post game interviews. Tony Gwynn should be a cautionary tale for all.

Didn't know about the tobacco ban.

I still imagine taking my kid to his first ballgame someday and him asking what Viagra is!

[DEAD!]

 DaytonBlue, on February 18, 2012 - 09:44, said:

 walkerws, on February 18, 2012 - 09:26, said:

 DaytonBlue, on February 18, 2012 - 04:13, said:

From the article it sounds like it was MLB's decision. OK, so MLB wants to maintain a family-friendly environment? I would buy that argument if it wasn't for the giant Viagra ads they put behind the batter's box all the time and all the players that still chew tobacco (and this doesn't even consider all the beer ads and the fact that three stadiums are named after beer companies).

If I were the Astros, I would have just skipped them.

They finally told players no more chewing tobacco during games and in post game interviews. Tony Gwynn should be a cautionary tale for all.

Didn't know about the tobacco ban.

I still imagine taking my kid to his first ballgame someday and him asking what Viagra is!

It's the grown-up version of Flintstones vitamins...

[Saintsfan]

I've been thinking about this, and I still don't know how I feel. The name itself is as much a gun reference as the logo, so why allow the throwback at all if you're going to get all prissy about the gun on the jersey? Actually I kind of like the last sentence of Lukas' piece. Surely a reason for throwbacks is to show progress and/or change? Seriously would anyone look at a baseball jersey with a gun on it and run out and buy a gun? Any more than someone would look at the Padres uniform and feel a vocation to a holy life?

[sportstar1212]

I hate how these days everything has to be PC. This is just like last year when the Rays wore Tampa Smokers unis, they had to leave out the cigar on the jerseys. I hope they sell a Colt.45s New Era 59Fifty though.

[lahaye7]

yep, soon we will be naming teams Wind, Rain, Sun, kittens, teddy bears, frogs, clouds, crickets, any color, lakes, flowers...or naming them after corporate sponsors. Big Macs, Whoppers, Soft Tacos.

[Perfect Zero]

I wonder if this has to do more with Colt Manufacturing than with PC (which I agree is a worthless movement). If I remember right, that's what caused the whole mess in the 60's. Take a look at the logos...





That smoke is worth a number of lawsuits.