The Mavericks yesterday unveiled prototypes of an alternate uniform they "will wear for at least eight games" during the '15-16 season, according to Brad Townsend of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The uniform was designed by Dallas native Geoff Case, through a “jersey design contest” sponsored by the Mavericks and Chicago-based crowdsourcing service Crowdspring. Case’s design "features a silhouette of the Dallas skyline across the chest, with DALLAS underneath." For designing the winning entry, Case "received $1,000" on behalf of Crowdspring and '15-16 season tickets on behalf of the Mavericks. Twitter reaction to photos of the "prototype white jerseys with blue silhouette and dark blue jerseys with green trim and silhouette were generally favorable." A "near-unanimous squawk arose, however, after media members tweeted photos of the dark blue jerseys with gray silhouette." Unlike the "other prototype jerseys, it was virtually impossible to discern one of the Dallas skyline’s most recognizable features -- the ball atop Reunion Tower." But Mavs Owner Mark Cuban said, "That'll change. The first generation we had to rush them out, so it’s going to get refined and we’re going to do all this stuff with Adidas" (DALLASNEWS.com, 9/23). In Ft. Worth, Dwain Price notes Case "owns a design company called 1 Man Agency." The jersey "won't go on sale until next year." However, new merchandise featuring the skyline design "is on sale now at The Hangar Victory Park" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/24). Also in Ft. Worth, Mac Engel noted Cuban's crowd-sourcing method "resulted in hundreds and hundreds of potential selections." Engel: "Hard to complain with this new look" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 9/23).
SEEING CAJUN RED: The Pelicans yesterday unveiled an alternate red uniform, which will be worn during four home games this season, beginning with the team's Oct. 28 opening-night matchup against the Magic. The jerseys feature "Pelicans" in white across the front with navy trim. In addition to the home opener, the team will wear the alternate uniforms Dec. 16 against the Jazz, Dec. 20 against the Trail Blazers and April 15 against the Spurs (Pelicans). In Baton Rouge, Darrell Williams notes the new uniform now gives the team three total -- "adding to the home white and road blue versions they wore last season, its first under the moniker Pelicans." The new uniforms also include red shorts with "white lettering and gold and white trim on the sides" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 9/24).
FLIGHTLESS BIRDS? ESPN.com's Paul Lukas noted Hawks F Al Horford yesterday "tweeted an image from a preseason photo shoot, which shows that the team is changing its chest insignia from 'Hawks' to 'Atlanta.'" Lukas noted the Hawks are "adding the old 'Pac-Man' logo to the left leg of the shorts, part of a broader revival of that logo, which among other things is now being used at center court." While bringing back the logo "is fun, it'll take more than that to save this team's visual program, which is hopelessly generic." There is "nothing wrong with shifting from the team name to the city name per se, but it's a missed opportunity for more proactive changes that could have been made" (ESPN.com, 9/23).
