Great post Clutch. A good read. I find it crazy how they don't give credit to you for all the info they get from CC.net. I( have read a few articles before in the past that did mention cc.net, but most just say Rocket's Fan Site.
dang, this thread is quite venemous. i hope tim doesnt end up too pissed to continue posting on cc over all this uniform backlash. i for one appreciate the fact that a member of the organization is willing to sacrafice his annonimity when posting here. im sure there are others with the rockets on here who arent macho enough to reveal their identity (come on yao, who are you!).
Heh. No, I won't stop watching the site or posting when appropriate. I've been online on BBSes for waaaaay to long (since my original Apple //c and kickass 120 baud modem) to be overly shocked by people who like to use the anonymity of the net to flame away and vent. I do put pay more thought to negative comments that are expressed thoughtfully and with intelligence. You have to sift through somewhat. For what it's worth -- yes, we're upset that Eastbay leaked the uniforms. Yes, they'll be in some trouble over it. They signed a non-disclosure agreement like anyone else who given a copy of the design. But the truth is that the league manages those relationships not the teams. We don't have any direct interaction with merchandise vendors like Eastbay. It happens on the league level, and it will be addressed on the league level. I have no problems with this -- it gives the teams quite a bit more clout. A similar issue happened with the logo leak, if you'll remember. We've had quite a few conversations with the league about their ability to control vendors and suppliers on this front. We'll undoubtedly have more. It's a concern of theirs as well. As to debuting the uniforms at Open House -- I'm a firm believer that you need to show elements in context. There's no way you can get the full impact of a uniform until you see it on someone. We wanted Rockets fans to see it first that way. Showing a picture of a design from a computer screen on a scoreboard monitor? It's just not the best presentation. Ideally, we'd like to have had the uniforms earlier and launched them earlier. Getting the fabric right (this was a huge issue) was a delay. But as I mentioned in the Chronicle article, if given a choice between taking shortcuts on the uniform design to have a great launch event early and taking the time to get the uniforms right and having a downscaled launch event later, I'd choose to get the uniforms right every time. We could've launched these with the old rough mesh fabric months ago. But it would be an inferior product, both in terms of fan appeal and player performance. Besides, for those who think we blew the PR opportunity here -- the uniforms were on the front page of the Sunday Chronicle (highest single reach vehicle in the entire city), on the top of the sports section, and on all the broadcast news channels. How much more incremental exposure do you think we'd have gotten otherwise? (Answer: None. You can't get more.) And we'll get another burst of attention when we show the full uniform, on players, as well as most of the new RocketShop store merchandise, next week. Sometimes the media gives you better coverage if they "discover" something. One other question I forgot to address earlier -- the cut of the jerseys. The way Eastbay posed them is misleading; they tucked in the fabric below the arms. They hang below the arms like any normal jersey does. The shoulders are neither the old "skinny" shoulders the Rockets had or the big wide shoulders the Sixers have. We asked the players for the ideal shoulder cut for performance and they pointed us towards the cut Miami uses. As they explained it, it's wider than the old school cut, which keeps the jersey from sliding around, but not so wide you feel it when you raise your arms to take a shot. And for those who want to start lobbying for "Houston" on a jersey ... just trying to be helpful here ... for your best chance of getting results, start lobbying about the third jersey. It's a lot easier to affect that one (it hasn't been developed yet) than it is to affect change on the current ones in the short term. Daaaang. This was a long post. A lot to respond to. Congratulations are in order if you made it all the way through. Tim
thank you for clearing this thing up tim. im sorry too for saying such insulting comments about the rockets marketing dept. im just confused with all this talks going around about the unis and all that other stuff. im sorry and im deeply embarassed for the way i acted. it was uncalled for and i didnt see it at your point of view. anyways, im glad that things are clearing up. thanks!
that was a macbethian post! thanks for the info-i for one enjoy reading about all the insider goings on from a marketing perspective (im in the marketing game myself...just thought id throw that out there -i live in austin, but would be willing to relocate...just thought id throw that out there too). and in turn im sure it is good for you to know the perspective of the hardcore fans. good to hear about the weird shoulder thing too. im not a fan of that 76ers sleve style. it just looks weird and probably isnt too aerodynamic either. im glad ours wont be looking like they do in the photo.
Yep,whoever said they look feminine was right. At first I loved them,but then started wondering why there isnt a third contrasting color on the edges on the stripes like a black. Every jersey has 2 main colors,then a third contrast. These are actually kinda plain ,just 2 \colors,kinda like a high school jersey. I think the stripes look like overalls, and I think it looks like a soccer jersey. I wish the two stripes would somehow at the top come to a point or form 1 stripe instead of looking straight up and down.
I did a real quick touch up. To make the stripes not look like it came out of the queer eye for the straight guy show,I decided to try to make the stripes more masculine without butchering it and changing the design completely.
Tim, Fans appreciate what you've done, but it's hard for them to say it but like me and most of the posters here .. we thank you TIM!!! Keep up the good work!
Tim, While I agree with the others and very much appreciate all of your input and comments, you happen to be the only Rockets rep on the site, and therefore get all of the griping. My anonymity has nothing to do my openness to speak my mind. If you were to give your phone number out, I am sure that we would all be glad to tell you who we are and express our thoughts that way. However, I am confident that this is the avenue that you would prefer, right? Right. Anyways, the jerseys are a huge improvement and you deserve some credit. However, the lettering and numbering is a little too over the top and may need some refinement eventually. I feel like the jerseys would be more appropriate for an all-star or alternative game. They don't have a classic or consistent appeal to them. I would put them in a category with the Mavericks or Kings jerseys. They look okay but are too awkward to have staying power. When it comes to numbers, the standard block look is always the way to go. The letters have the possibility to grow on me, but they sort of look like the sloppy crayon of a second grader. Not really sure what you were going for there. Anyways, overall you did a good job, not a great job(the logo absolutely sucks), but you won't stop hearing it until the Rockets have at least one jersey that says HOUSTON. And oh yeah, they should probably win some games too. No, they should definitely win some games.
We all know pleasing everyone is impossible! Everyone here needs to chill and just be happy that the pin stripes are gone. There are just too many complainers in here!
I always thought of the Rockets as a red & white team. Something about these colors, the name, the city, the team, the whole basket. Weren't they wearing red the last time they consistently won? The silver/gray piping on the red jerseys looks way cool. The white jerseys look more classic. They have both ends of the spectrum covered. Now go play some kick ass ball.
I know a nice charm school you can enroll in. I think they teach fashion design in addition to basket weaving. Feminine? These jerseys look the they can take to the mountaintop, then kick it across the ocean. Men's clothes my man, men's clothes. Ain't nothing sissy here.
I have to admit that I stopped reading this thread after the first several pages, but when I checked on the Chronicle's Rockets section and saw ClutchCity.net in front of the uniform pictures it flipped me out. I guess I'm one of the last to see that! Congratulations, Clutch. I'm glad you and the site got some recognition. I like the uniforms. They aren't perfect, but did anyone ever think they'd be? Seriously? I'm pumped about seeing the team in them and can't wait to see the arena with the guys playing on the court. And thanks, Tim, for being understanding about the responses around here. These are the Rockets most passionate fans, so you shouldn't be surprised about the passionate responses... pro and con. Bring on the season! (and I want a cap and a t-shirt and a jersey and some comp tickets and... )
1. the jerseys look good. 2. the number font still looks weird, but growing on me... 3. lack of 'houston' on road jersey just plain ol' sucks. 4. the photo circulating around was almost definitely photoshopped. the road and home are exactly the same shape and form (look at the outline and wrinkles), and i think the road was a copy of the home cause you can see hints of white patches on the road jersey where it was airbrushed. 5. rockets are playoff bound!
