BIG BRANDS

• With all the upheaval in college sports conferences this week, I've come to further realizations of the awful branding involved here.
• "We need a name for our conference, and we want it to sound important."
• "I've got it, THE BIG CONFERENCE!"
• "Oooooh, I love it, but we need to differentiate ourselves from the 9 other conferences also using BIG in their names."
• "Oh, oh, I've got it, we add a '12' for the twelve teams in our conference."
• "That's why we pay you the big bucks, Simmons you are a genius."
• "Excuse me, but don't schools sometimes switch conferences, thus throwing off our numbers and brand."
• "Switch from the BIG 12 CONFERENCE, ha! Simmons, fire that intern."

That's right, from what I understand, the BIG 12 now has 10 schools and the BIG 10 now has 12 schools. I propose a straight logo swap between the two parties involved.


Notice how the Big Ten handled the fact that they've had eleven schools for the last few years. It's like the visual puzzle with the old lady's face or the young lady in a fancy dress. Depending on whether you are a traditionalist or a stickler on facts, you will see what you want. Makes me wonder if the big twelve will drop the two II's from the Roman backround of their mark.

Incidentally, I'm thinking of starting a college conference called the BIGGEST INFINITY CONFERENCE.

In 24 Hours

I will be in the midst of watching the US vs. England. I'm not really excited. Not at all.

Song for Millie

Brady is a good friend who I have known since my high school days when we thought we we're 80's skaters (it was the late 1990's). Anyway, he and his lovely wife Amanda have a beautiful young daughter named Millie who is currently battling leukemia. I had been wanting to do something special for their family, and had toyed with the idea of recording a song for her. A few weeks ago, when Amanda posted this request for letters and well wishes, I knew I needed to act. I contacted Amanda for some inspiration for lyrics and sat down with a couple of rough ideas in my head. It probably sounds cliche to say that the words and music poured out of me, but that's really how it felt. I tried to think of the message I would want Abby to hear if she were in the same situation. It was a truly unique and humbling experience. I recorded it at my house with minimal equipment and some great help with back up vocals and claps from Natalie. You can listen to the song here. (Lyrics after the break.)

Trinidad and Tobago Take City Cup 2010

Another City Cup has come and gone, and everyone at this house is completely exhausted. It was so great to see so many good friends in one place. Unfortunately, I was constantly running (literally) to  one place or another so my conversations tended to be very brief.

This year The champion came from the 8th seed of the knockout stages. Brothers Garrett and Grant Davis, and Jeff Petty formed the red clad Trinidad and Tobago. Like Italy in the 2006 Wold Cup, they seemed to find better and better form as the tournament progressed.

Having lost their first two games, they were not expected to advance past the first knockout game vs. the heavily favored #1 seed Greenland United who were led by the goal scoring wizard Scott Riddle. T & T shocked everyone, dominating the game from the opening whistle. They powered through a tough fought semi-final match verses the talented (and good looking) Amish Country Football Club. In the final, they faced The All Blacks who had advanced thanks to a controversial but correct (sorry Chad, John, and Jayden) decision on the game winning goal.

Old School Crew

Today, I created a new blog header for postfontaine. I think my favorite is the Imogen Heap guy. I would love to see a tough guy in a denim jacket sporting a giant Imogen Heap patch.

The Cup

Let the trash talking begin...

Good Ol' Denim Jacket