kolob

16 hours ago, sayahh said:

Probably a preseason game, but I think they prefer the name "Indiana University."

OOOOOOH ... they're one of THOSE schools.

7 hours ago, Discogod said:

 

Nope, last used in the 1994-95 season.That's from a preseason game at the AirCanada Center on 19 October 1995.

Actually it's Saskatchewan Place in Saskatoon.  

1 hour ago, SCalderwood said:

Here are two NBA uniform matchups that only occurred for one season (1995-96):

 

It's really odd to see the Bad Boy-era jerseys next to the Grizzlies. So odd.

7 hours ago, Discogod said:

 

I don't have the exact dates in front of me, but the Sonics introduced the Celtics-esque design when Bill Russell took over as coach in 1975. In 1977 they changed the home unis to the arch design whilst keeping the previous road unis, then introduced a matching road uni in 1978.

Perfect. Thank you. That was what I was getting from what I researched. 

I wonder why they did the mismatch? 

38 minutes ago, ImmortalChef said:

Why were the Hawks in London?

London Games in 1993. They played the Magic during the preseason.

2 hours ago, sharplcd said:

I love this thread! I gotta add some rare "one-time matchups" due to some alternate uniforms first introduced in the 90's.

1) I love those pinstripe Bulls jerseys. Classy.

2) I never hated those red Sonics jerseys, but I am glad they went back to the Green and Gold.

3) I absolutely hated those Pistons red jerseys. Of that set -- I love the teal. It was probably the best they ever looked.

Also, team pictures are a dying art. I found these few and I have to say ... I like! Especially the Sonics street car picture.

I never realized this ... about the Sonics.

Back in the late '70s the Washington Bullets and Seattle Sonics met in back-to-back Finals. The Bullets won in 1978 and the Sonics in 1979. What I never noticed was the Sonics' uniforms between the two Finals. 

I knew the Sonics' jerseys in 1978 were the Bill Russell Celtic-inspired jerseys, but those were apparently just for the road! They wore the familiar arched "Sonics" jerseys at home. 

Here is a shot from Game 6 in 1978.

And, here is a picture of Game 7 in 1978.

The following year the Sonics added a matching road jersey. As evidenced by the this picture from the 1979 Finals ...

This really kind of blew my mind, because I just always assumed that the Sonics wore the same template jersey for both home and road. I know the Sonics wore similar home jerseys to the 1978 road jerseys as seen here (at least the year before -- with NY Nets jersey) ...

Does anyone have any information on that timeline? I'm going to dig a bit deeper, but I thought I'd put this out there to see if there is anything someone else knows more readily. 

4 hours ago, Old School Fool said:

As much as I like how Jazz is a suitable name for New Orleans, I wouldn't want it to end up that way again. As someone who got into the NBA during the Jazz/Bulls rivalry in the late 90's, I'm just too familiar with the team being in Utah. The name doesn't make sense but it just feels right.

As much as I would love a return to the Stars to Utah or Jazz to NOLA ... you're right. It doesn't make "SENSE" but it "FEELS" right to have the Utah Jazz. The history of the two Finals run on top of the Stockton and Malone era (which was over 18 years) kinda cemented that. 

But, if we had to right some wrongs at least we got the Hornets back in Charlotte and Rams back in LA. 

1 hour ago, B-Rich said:

I have it from a very good source (former legal counsel for the Superdome Commission and former Hornets team executive) that around the time of the team's return post-Katrina, just before the Hornets re-branded with the "creole blue" instead of teal, and when they introduced the "fleur-de-bee",  that the former executive had in fact worked out a deal with Larry Miller to get the Jazz name back-- but the price (which he knew was reasonable) was considered to be far too high by cheapskate then-owner George Shinn, who wouldn't agree to it.  Damn, if only THAT would have happened.

Well, if Facebook had "Bring Back The Buzz" and "Bring Back The LA Rams" ... we should just get a "Bring Back the Jazz" movement for New Orleans.

As much as Pelicans "fits" New Orleans, it's a clunky nickname. Sure the colors are the state flag, etc., etc., etc. But, they're dull. Mardi Gras colors work so much better. A better nickname would work better. Especially, Jazz.

Oh, and I think it should be noted that even up until the 1996 rebrand there was still chatter of renaming the team. Miller was supposedly open to selling the team name when the T'Wolves were planning their move to New Orleans in 1994.

But, after the run to the Finals I think it really cemented the nickname to the area since Miller wasn't open to giving up the name when the Hornets moved to New Orleans or when Benson bought the team in 2013. 

7 hours ago, Discogod said:

 

Money. The Jazz were on the verge of going under by the time they moved to Utah and there just wasn't the funds to rebrand. Plus, the move wasn't approved until fairly late in the offseason (late June, I believe), leaving very little turnaround time to come up with new logos, uniforms etc.

Yep. It's kind of fun to read some of the old Deseret News articles about the move. There was an op-ed piece (I'll have to hunt for again) mentioning there was a "Name the Team" contest held. I think the winner was actually "Scouts"? 

Either way, there was very little turnaround to even do marketing or a season ticket drive. It really is a miracle that the Jazz are still in SLC. If it wasn't for Larry H. Miller they'd be long gone -- Minneapolis, Miami, Las Vegas, Charlotte, merged with Denver or some other fate. 

10 hours ago, FinsUp1214 said:

Speaking of the Salt Palace (re: conversation earlier), this is a really great picture of the entrance:

 

 

Just an awesome, vintage feel to it. It got me looking for other pictures of the entrance as well.

 

This one is more or less to show context of where the first picture is taken, but I also hadn't realized the entrance featured the old Golden Eagles logo as well. The two teams were a tandem tenant even up to the Delta Center's opening until the Golden Eagles were sold and moved to Detroit in 1994. I was born in 1992 and the Salt Palace I know now is a (very nicely) renovated convention center, so I'd never seen this entrance before.

 

The next picture has something really neat to it:

 

 

This is Pre-Jazz, as evidenced by the Stars logo at the left side of the entrance instead. Look closely underneath the Salt Palace logo also, and you'll see that Johnny Cash was coming to town that Wednesday.

I never watched a Jazz game in the arena, only a Golden Eagles game and bunch of circuses and Ice Capades. I did however attend the Jam Session and All-Star practice back in 1993 when the All-Star Game was in SLC. It was a small building, but it had character which is something that's been lost in today's venues.

1 hour ago, KittSmith_95 said:

When the Jazz moved to Utah, why didn't they just use the Stars name again? 

I ask that question all the time. Especially considering how popular they were in the city. 

2 minutes ago, sc49erfan15 said:

These aren't particularly "rare" pictures, but if anyone isn't familiar with the ABA, check out the saga of the Baltimore Claws, as told by Remember the ABA. These are the only two known photographs of a Baltimore Claws game - the Claws (essentially a relocation of the Memphis Sounds) only played three exhibition games in 1976 before folding.

 

 

 

Check out how the sewn-on "Claws" nameplate doesn't quite match the rest of the jersey (sweat?). It's not like the team was made up of scrubs either - #9 on the Claws in both pictures is HOFer Mel Daniels! Someone, somewhere, has more pictures. I think they'd be fun to see.

 

Considering their brief history their "rare" for sure. The sewn on "Claws" is great! You know kinda who this team was in bad shape when their first choice of a nickname was "HUSTLERS" 

Okay, riddle me this ... are these Denver jerseys blue, olive green or black? I can't tell? I'm wanting to say dark blue?

4 hours ago, MadmanLA said:

 

I stand corrected in that it's not the Salt Palace...however, Moses actually made his ABA debut against the Nets at Nassau Coliseum; the following night (October 19, 1975), the Stars played the Squires in Hampton. 

 

Both Hampton and Richmond Coliseums have somewhat similar interiors, and both were built and opened around the same time (1970)

 

Here's the interior of Hampton Coliseum

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The caption on Getty Images stated first professional game as a PRESEASON game. It very well looks like Hampton Coliseum, but I am trying to find a preseason schedule to back the caption -- which is kind of hard for ABA history. You'll find either the regular season or NBA/ABA exhibition schedules.

4 hours ago, goalieboy82 said:

if i remember correctly (need to find a photo), the 1925 MSG, you had to step up onto the basketball court:

also here is two for you nostalgia fans:

 

Look how close the bench is to the baseline. In fact I'm sure some feet are in fair play?! WOW! 

Interesting seeing the Warriors play in their home golds on the road. Not sure why? But, could because of a doubleheader weekend or something? Either way -- I love these jerseys. Very underrated, especially color wise.

2 minutes ago, goalieboy82 said:

i think the Virginia Squires could have work out (also the Kentucky Colonels).  

I'm not sure about the Squires? But, the Colonels definitely could have. Both both worries back them were closeness to other markets Squires (Bullets) and Colonels (Pacers and Cavaliers). 

I'm pulling for a Louisville team in the NBA though.

6 hours ago, kimball said:

Okay, I am trying to confirm with an era apprioriate photo -- still looking. But, this looks like Richmond Coliseum based off what I found online from a current picture. Sure, it's gone under a number of renovations, but you'll notice supporting beams. It looks like the panels were replaced and some seating added.

48 minutes ago, MadmanLA said:

 

That's the Salt Palace, Salt Lake City...

No, it's not the Salt Palace. Here is the Salt Palace is the '70s and it didn't change much when the Jazz played there either.

5 hours ago, Frylock said:

Adding to the pre-1996 NBA throwbacks...

 

November 17, 1994 - Cleveland at Portland, celebrating each team's 25th season (Portland actually had a 25th Anniversary logo that year)

 

 

I vaguely remember this happening a few seasons afterwards with the Blazers and Cavs' 77 jerseys. I'll have to dig some, but I could be thinking of this game as well and mixing up the eras.

Also, I believe this is the only time the Blazers have thrown back to this jersey ... most have been to the '77 championship jerseys.

Going with the ABA theme a bit, here are a few things I found ...

I believe this was noted here or UniWatch -- I'll have to dig, but this is a game in 1967 (first year of the ABA) against the Pittsburgh Pipers (Connie Hawkins pictured) and the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are in white tees because if I remember the story well enough they were lost or hadn't arrived yet? Not sure what the excuse for the Pittsburgh player's blank black jersey?

The caption notes that this is Doug Moe playing for the Carolina Cougars. Not sure why he's wearing a blank jersey -- or if it's the lighting? Doesn't look like a lighting washout to me. 

This was noted as Moses Malone's first professional basketball game (pre-season albeit). I'm not sure of the arena? Scope? Richmond? I'll have to dig. I am assuming it's in or near Virginia, the caption gave no clues to it. But, it is color vs. color!

These are the Utah Stars' last jerseys before they folded that same season. I've seen the front of the jerseys, I had no idea they had the names under the number. Kinda cool find.

A rare sighting of a matching Memphis Tams jersey combo! 

1 hour ago, IceBurgs70 said:

THIS. IS. GORGEOUS. 

WOW!