I like soccer jerseys. Now that I can fit into and look decent in one, I like to wear them. But my collection until recently was limited to Mexican soccer jerseys. I've got Toluca, Atlas, Chivas, Cruz Azul, Pachuca and Morelia shirts that I like to wear out - in fact, whenever I go to Disneyland chances are I've got one of those on.
But with Euro 2008 coming up, I wanted to get my hands on a European jersey. Recently, I had the chance to get a shirt at SoccerPro.com and I took the opportunity to get myself a brand spanking new Dutch national team jersey. Now, I've always respected the Dutch. I like the way they play, their tactics, their style... Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup was something else, probably one of my favorite goals of all time.
Anyway, while I like their orange jerseys I don't know that I'd wear it as often as, say, my black Pachuca shirt. So I went for the blue Holland jersey. It's a nice quality shirt and I've worn it out already and got some compliments on it. Many people, in fact, weren't aware that the Dutch even had a blue jersey. They wore it against Austria in March.
So now I've added some European flavor to my Mexican collection. I really should get more MLS jerseys, but to be honest my Mexican shirts are the knock-off kinds you get at the puestos in the cities down in Mexico, and those are a peso a dozen. I don't want to drop $70 on an MLS jersey. Come on now, I'm a writer. I don't make that kind of money. Besides, I could probably get the rest of the Mexican First Division for that much money... except America. I'll pass on that one.
Ultimately, though, I've had nothing but good come out of my little jersey venture. I may go back to SoccerPro.com for another international jersey at some point, perhaps I'll put a Germany shirt on my Christmas list... I'll just have to keep the Germany and Holland jerseys in separate closets. I had a good experience dealing with SoccerPro.com, would definitely recommend it and will probably go back there in the future. Heck, I signed up my 4-year-old for AYSO and I'll need boots and shin guards and a ball and all that come September. So I may become a regular at that site.
8 comments:
e-bay, e-bay, e-bay. I have about a dozen european jerseys and I don't think I've paid more that 25 dollars for any of them. You'd be amazed at the quality of most Chinese knock offs. a thousand times better than the handful of mexican league knock off jerseys I have.
SoccerPro is top notch. I live in Columbia, Mo where it's headquartered and have had nothing but good experiences in doing business with them.
In Marshalls (discount department store) yesterday I found a (real) Real Salt Lake jersey tagged at $20, and was tempted, imagining the beginning of a quest to collect jerseys for all MLS teams. But I resisted. Had it been the red/navy, I might've got it; but it was white. And I imagined people looking at me and wondering what "Xango" means.
Yeah, I think someone at Marshalls screwed up and ordered way too many RSL jerseys. I've been to a couple of different Marshalls stores in so cal over the past few months and each one had a lot of RSL jerseys. And, no, I was not tempted to buy one.
I got an Earthquakes jersey after they moved to Houston because they were really cheap, and I was nostalgic for the rivalry. I also got a gold Galaxy jersey (from pre-Beckham) when they went on sale. Actually I coach a HS boys team who are green and gold, so I bought a practice jersy and jacket as well, Gotta love the clearance prices :p
You want to buy a jersey you could look good with on the streets? I suggest you buy the new USA home jersey LOL! Seriously though...
I still maintain the 2007 USA third jersey (blue with white pinstripes) doubles as pajamas. That Bergkamp goal was incredible. Everything soccer is about (passing, control, creating space, finishing) rolled up into one.
spain euro 2008 jersey - sergio ramos.
enough said.
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