Ian Desmond, first baseman for the Colorado Rockies.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In the polarized world we live in, rabid, partisan debate is inevitable. I discovered this sad truth the other evening at a local watering hole a few blocks from Salt River Fields.
I was sitting at the bar, sipping a nice glass of Malbec and eating shrimp and grits (weird combo? You name it). I struck up a conversation with a seemingly friendly woman from Boston who now lives in Florida. She had family ties to Colorado and attended a few Colorado games. Coors Field.
When I told him what I did for a living, I gritted my teeth, knowing what was coming next.
“Isn’t this new purple on the Rockies uniforms the worst?” » she said, making a face. “I mean, it’s way too purple.”
When I told him I liked the new look, there was an awkward pause. I insisted that the color be brighter and make the logo distinct. She frowned.
I broke the silence by asking her what uniforms she liked. Big mistake. The debate rages. You would think we were talking about President Trump’s hair or President Obama’s golf game. It was so intense.
She of course loved the Red Sox uniforms. Which was good, I love them too. She reluctantly admitted that she liked the classic Yankees pinstripes. Me too.
But then she dropped the bomb.
“You know who has the worst uniforms? » she asked me, ready to fight. “The St. Louis Cardinals. What is this bird on the jersey? It’s ridiculous.”
I was disconcerted. Terrified. Stunned. How could anyone not love the classic Cardinals uniform worn by Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Tim McCarver and Ozzie Smith?
“You’re kidding I hope? The cardinal perched on the bat is iconic,” I said. “It’s one of the best uniforms in all of sports.”
But she refused to back down. So I asked her what other baseball uniforms she hated. She didn’t hesitate.
“The ones in Oakland are garish, with all that green and gold,” she said. “They look like Halloween costumes.”
Once again I was baffled. Terrified. Stunned. Etc.
“That green and gold uniform, with the white shoes? It’s fantastic. It’s distinct,” I retorted.
We were now walking on dangerous ground. It was like Nancy Pelosi showing up to a Tea Party event and then realizing she wasn’t actually serving tea.
So I tried to find common ground.
“You probably like the Detroit Tigersuniforms with the old English “D”? I asked.
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “It’s so classic. Who wouldn’t like that?
Exactly. You see the “D” and you think Detroit. It’s iconic.
Once the uniform debate was settled, we settled down to finish our drinks and dinner.
Then we started talking about Trump and his speech to Congress and… well, that’s a column for another section of the paper.
Full disclosure: I actually had this conversation with this woman from Florida. I admit that I might have embellished the conversation a little for the purposes of this column. But the fundamental opinions are genuine. And by the way, she really, really hates Rocky Mountain purple. Do not say it Dinger.
