Looking good on the field, pitch, or court will always play second fiddle to how an athlete performs, but that doesn’t mean fashion is an afterthought in the world of elite sports. From the Yankees’ classic pin stripe uniforms to Wilma Rudolph’s “U.S.A.” jersey tucked into her high-waisted, super-short shorts at the Olympics in 1960, the way a champion looks can sometimes underscore the prowess with which he or she performs. Of course, the opposite can be said at times as well, as occasionally, the worst looks in sports seem to also accompany the worst performances. Whether any of it matters, of course, is little more than a question of taste. Regardless, here is a look at seven of the best and worst looks in elite sports.
1. Worst — Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s hard to locate where the problems begin and end when it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ uniforms, but their helmets can serve as reason alone. While the team mascot implies fierceness, the goofy-looking jaguar on the Jacksonville helmets is anything but, and that problem is exacerbated by the cats’ teal tongue, nose, and eyes. From there, the helmets fade from unpleasant mustard yellow to black, which just makes one wish the entire helmet was black. While it may seem like the trouble relates to color primarily, there is plenty of sharp-looking sports apparel that’s teal and yellow, so the problem is one of design.
2. Best — Queens Park Rangers Home Shirt
Rich, royal blue and white stripes are what make this jersey so nice to look at whether you’re actually at the game in person or watching it on the television. The splash of red that spells out “Air Asia” on the front doesn’t hurt either. A classic-looking uniform that hits all the right notes; the best part about the Queens Park Rangers home shirts is that they aren’t trying too hard.
3. Worst — The Celtics in Gray
Yes, it’s true that not everyone looks good in green, but when you’re the Boston Celtics, how an individual looks doesn’t matter. One of the perennial powerhouses of the NBA, the Celtics have been the team of legends ranging from Bill Russell and Larry Bird to Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo — green defines the team. To place a Celtic in gray is, in many ways, to lose sight of the history of just how formidable that color has been throughout decades of professional basketball.
4. Best — New Jersey Nets 1977-1990
Back in the heady, scrappy days of the American Basketball Association, the New Jersey Nets embodied the All-American sport of basketball with remarkable play — Dr. J was on the team — and a remarkable look. When the merger with NBA occurred, the stars and stripes of the Nets’ uniform combined national pride with a bit of an underdog air, and the uniforms matched the red, white, and blue balls that had been used in ABA competition, too. It was a sharp and patriotic look worn by one of the most memorable teams to come out of the ABA.
5. Worst — Notre Dame Men’s Basketball
There was a moment in time when the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball team wasn’t satisfied to take the court in just any green uniform, opting instead for a neon green uniform that looked like something even a leprechaun would have said “no” to. Hard to look at whether they were playing great basketball or a lesser kind, they’ve finally come to their senses and gone back to a green that doesn’t offend the eyes.
6. Best — Oakland Raiders in Silver and Black
There are few uniforms as straight forward as the Oakland Raiders’ telltale silver and black. Taking a cue from James Bond, who has never needed to doll up his tuxedo in order to be taken seriously, the Raiders’ no-nonsense, no-fuss, and no-frippery look has been consistently backed up with great football.
7. Worst — Chicago White Sox in Shorts
The heading says it all: One time, in the summer of 1976, the Chicago White Sox wore shorts. Was it unusually hot that summer? Were men’s legs all the rage? Were the White Sox really never, ever planning on sliding, stealing bases, or otherwise needing some protection for their hard-working gams? The thought processes behind the choice have long been forgotten, and thankfully, it was a short-lived fashion mistake.
Looking good and playing well don’t have to go together, but, as this list shows, when they do, fashion can be a means of backing up and reinforcing a team’s stellar — or less than stellar — performance.