(Not Another) Sabres Alternate

We are still awaiting the design of the Sabres supposed alternate to debut for 2013/14. I took something that I wanted to see and made in into a possibility. Nobody considers it but many forget about the Sword in a B logo. I never felt that it got enough use, so it becomes the crest for the alternate I've created.

I used the old numbering and gave them a double outline. The striping is based on the Anaheim Ducks current thirds.  The logos (as usual) come from Chris Creamer's Sportslogos.net. By the way the team earned it's first win in the post-Lindy Ruff era with a win at the Lightning recently.

-Ricky

The Anaheim Ducks and Facebook

POST 3: After following the organization’s Facebook page for seven days prior to your last post, answer these questions:  How does the organization attempt to create dialogue between itself and the fans? How often do these attempts occur? Multiples times a day? Once a day? Once a week? What interesting design or visual elements have been contained on the Facebook page over the seven days?

As one of the leading social media platforms, Facebook has become among the most important places for fans to check for news regarding any given franchise. Almost every post made by the Anaheim Ducks organization primarily includes at least one picture or video. Sometimes, these will accommodate a discussion in the post’s comment area; others will attempt to entice the public to attend a game or watch online, as well as include game summaries or promotions and giveaways. The possibilities seem endless.

There is no specific target amount of posts per day although there are a myriad of posts within one week’s time with some organizations. The particular week that was being monitored saw an average of almost four posts per day (one per six hours) with a grand total of 27 posts. Compared to its Katella Ave. neighbor LA Angels of Anaheim, this is slightly less (22 total posts) although the second half of that one week period saw a double in production from two posts per day to four or five per day. The spike has been due to the first set of preseason games starting in all of Major League Baseball, compared to a shortened midseason National Hockey League schedule. During the NHL offseason and lockout, the Ducks had only posted mostly once per day.

Unfortunately with Facebook it is not possible for any person, group, or organization to personalize the layout of their page. However when people use their imagination – the most powerful tool in the world – the pictures posted by the Ducks can be quite mentally stimulating. 
The Ducks are very good with providing that imagery. Any time a picture of a crowd celebrating a goal or cheering on a fight shows up, a person might be able to feel the energy of that crowd. This is visual imagery. If you were told that a new player to the team who was famous was making his debut, you may be able to imagine the atmosphere, but it simply wouldn’t be the same as you cannot immediately picture or have never seen the exact vision of the team’s home venue. That is abstract imagery (being able to imagine from descriptions).

This does not exclude other pictures and videos. There may be special graphics added to a picture to promote a specific game or regarding a certain promotion at the team store (et cetera). Usually videos posted by a sports organization on their Facebook page are regarding an important highlight of a game in which the team is competing. The videos aren’t limited to that however, as they may also include player interviews, special events, or even behind the scenes “shenanigans” to be shared with you, the fan – their customer.

Social Media Blogging

"BASED ON WHAT IS ASKED BELOW, PICK ANY ORGANIZATION AND START FOLLOWING IT."

POST 1: Identify a sports organization that uses at least four forms of social media (Facebook must be included); which social media platforms are used by this organization to communicate with fans? In your view, which platform is most effective and creative for the organization? Why?

The Anaheim Ducks have always been known for their strong interaction in the social media world. In fact, they have a whole page on their official website just for social media! This impressive list of platforms includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram, their e-news page, their mobile application, their text club, and their RSS feed. The first four appear to be the most successful in reaching out to their worldwide fan base.

As a Ducks fan, you may or may not get a rather unique experience with your interaction through these platforms. You can find Facebook pages for the mascot Wild Wing as well as official and unofficial fan clubs for the team or any of its players. On Twitter, most if not all of the team’s players’ accounts have been verified, therefore allowing you to be in direct contact with them. You might even get a response or two back! The Ducks YouTube channel allows Duck fans to catch up with missed game highlights among other things of in game action whereas you also get behind the scenes access to some things as well. Pinterest is the most peculiar solely because the organization can share photos to you but also you can share your experiences (photos) with them, which unlike Facebook and Twitter appears to be much more interactive both ways.

The most effective platform of these four must be Twitter. Everyone has instant access to everything, the player/fan interaction is surprisingly high; it’s become the epitome of social media from practically every aspect you could imagine. However the creativity award would have to go to YouTube. A picture may say a thousand words, but when those pictures move and include sound, a lot more can be said (and done). YouTube practically is an all-access pass that can allow you to go somewhere you normally can’t.

Social media can be a wonderful thing – when used correctly. The Ducks are our focus because they appear to do a better job than their colleagues and competitors. Getting your brand out through these platforms can be your big break in life, depending on where you wish to take your talents. It may be the hardest step of all, but recognition is the first step toward selling yourself (as a person or group) and and what you have to offer.

-Ricky 

Pinterest

Notice a change on our page? We've added a tab to it. That's because Buffalo Nickel Graphics is now on Pinterest! The tab, as with Facebook and Twitter, is a direct link to our page on the corresponding host site. We're looking forward to the future of BNG and the following is the anticipation of how certain aspects of BNG will be revised.

We plan to add as many as (if not all) concepts as possible to our Pinterest page while condensing the amount of items in the "Portfolio" tab to just the featured (better) works in my collection. We have been working on a Flickr page as well, but that process has been slow. Also, a Soundcloud page has been set up in an attempt to (finally) get a trusted podcasting outlet.Whether or not that will be possible, that's to be determined at a later time. But for now, we are pleased with the forward progression of BNG.

-Ricky

Maryland Terrapins Lacrosse

The Terps have been well featured on Indoor Lacrosse's website and (specifically) Facebook page. and thought I would share the details with you. The men's team has a big televised game at home against Duke on ESPNU at 11AM. The picture from the game at Loyola (MD) is from yesterday.

This one isn't actually Terp gear.

I think this is a part of the Terp collection.

-Ricky

Lady Liberty: Resurrected from the Dead

I intentionally held this one from you as I was both focusing on the AFL thing and wanting to coordinate the posting of this concept  about the time in which it was to appear on HJC (today). At the last minute, based on when the AFL super-series ended, I figured that I would wait regardless until my submission to Hockey Jersey Concepts got graded, thus the reason today's post went up at quarter to 5PM (EST). Eric W. has now been writing on Saturdays at HJC and has subsequently given me my first rating above a 7/10 with a rating of 9(/10)! This was fantastic to see that in lieu of my HJC contributions, the long wait (mostly due to maintenance here) was an important step towards my progress as a graphic designer. I would also like your feed back if possible.

There is actually something to note here. Prior to today's post (Thursday, while drafting this), I noticed the only boo-boo in this concept. The back yoke on the alternate was originally not colored in (white). As you can see, this is the finalized version above. I'm excited for University of Maryland lacrosse stuff tomorrow!

-Ricky

Communications in Sport

Starting Tuesday, possibly Monday, I will be blogging four posts for my Communications in Sport class.The day they are due, with the exception of maybe this Tuesday, I will post the required topic for the post and my response. I have chosen the Anaheim Ducks primarily due to the first topic -to be unveiled soon. Below is the exact specs of the entire assignment.

Social Media Blogging Assignment, Feb. 25 – March 8

Background: As you are now well aware, you will need to identify a SPORT organization that heavily uses social media and monitor/analyze the ways the organization uses it. You do not need to clear your organization with me. I think it is important to do a microanalysis on an organization’s social media as it could increase your knowledge of how these communication devices are used. You will contribute four blog postings on Moodle between February 25 - March 8. You don’t need to blog during our normal class time, but you do need to blog sometime during the day on your assigned days. For example, if you are scheduled to blog on March 1, 4, 6 & 8, please make your posting sometime during the day on those four days. If you miss a day, you have lost your points for the day. Do not post early; please post on the exact day. If you post late, your points won’t count.

Assignment: Your posts will each be worth 10 points for a total of 40 points. You will be graded on your adherence to the directions, your content, length of post (200 words or more for each one) and writing (grammar, punctuation, clarity). If you don’t post on your assigned days, you will lose all the points. If you stay organized and stay aware of your post days, you will do well on this assignment. 

I hope things go very well with this . . .

-Ricky

What Actually Happened: Part II

Here is the second half of my AFL alignment simulated.

As you can see, the McIntyre 6 playoff format is still used through the 2010 season. Since the 2011 season, the AFL Finals System has been introduced in which the Finals Series expands to eight teams. The first week features the Qualifying (4@1, 3@2) and Elimination (8@5, 7@6) Finals. The following week sees the Semi-finals and the Preliminary Finals the week after that. Following a week off, the Grand Final is contested. In the event of a drawn Grand Final, it will be replayed the following week.

Between 2002 and '04, Port Adelaide are the Minor Premiers, Geelong manage a pari in '07 and '08, and Collingwood have three of four ('10, '11, '13). The first Grand Final is between Richmond's Bombers and the Dees from Brisbane, the former taking the flag. Brisbane bookends the Power for two Anstett Cups only with a win in between over the Magpies. The Demons will make it to one more Grand Final by 2006, but losing to the back-to-back Eagles. The Power surge back to win another flag in the '07 season over the minor Premiers. This is when the Pies and Hawthorn begin their re-entry into the top six.

While Geelong are still prevalent, they go on to lose three straight Grand Finals book-ended by the Hawks with St. Kilda in the middle from '08-'10. Hawthorn would go to the Finals for the third time in four seasons  but the new Finals format adding a game to their dreams couldn't get a second straight trophy. Instead it was the Magpies over Fremantle last September then the West Coast in 2011 who beat Geelong this coming year who beat St. Kilda in the Fall of 2014. Please note to ignore the typographical error about Hawthorn being Major Premiers in 2011.A nice summary has been provided for you.

That officially finishes the AFL super-series. I hope it was as entertaining as it was informative. This being one of the bigger projects here at BNG, I can say that it was quite successful.

-Ricky

What Actually Happened: Part I

So I mentioned that I was planning on  having my AFL alignment simulated. This is only the first half.

The Evolution of the Ladder, 1987-2000

 During the five team finals years, the McIntyre 5 System is used (87-90). With a six team finals, the McIntyre 6 System is used from the 1991 season until the 2010 season. To illustrate: Elimination Finals - 6@3, 5@4; Semifinals - 6@4/5 {or} 4/5@3 (SF2), 2@1 (SF1); Preliminary Finals - SF2 winner@SF1 loser; Grand Final, PF winner@SF winner.

Finals Evolutionary Scale - The team on top of the pairing is home

Before the St. Kilda Swans merger, the two teams involved won in the two preceding seasons with Sydney winning in 1996 and the Saints in 1997. The Carlton Kangaroos are the most successful team in the era shown above, despite having lost most of their seven banners with the back to back Premierships in 1994 and '95.

-Ricky

Wellington Lizards

Wellington's series of test games and Auckland's 2013 home games are good enough to be granted an expansion bid for 2014. The Lizards become the first team in the AFL to primarily incorporate any shade of green in their color scheme. The Lizards are named after the native tuatara though the logo does not necessarily depict one.

  

Wellington takes this idea from an old North Melbourne jumper when a Kangaroo was visible on the jumper with stripes over the top of the kangaroo. We will feature a history of the league and the results of each season from 1987-2014 with the first half (87-00) on display tomorrow.

-Ricky

Auckland Sailfish

After the great success of the nine test games in 2011, Auckland is granted expansion for 2013 due to the remaining 9 test games in 2012. Following the test games played in Wellington from 2011-2012, the bid is on hiatus pending the success of all Auckland home games.

  

Auckland becomes the first ever team to play full time in New Zealand and the first team to feature orange in a uniform and logo. The use of orange from the West Coast Eagles is virtually non-existant.

-Ricky

Giants Will Be Giants

GWS enters as scheduled with the logo that is currently in tact. The jumpers and kit producer change from ICS to Blades.

  

I made minor adjustments to the regular jumper from the original one displayed months ago. I also added a clash jumper that does indeed make a lot of sense. Auckland is indeed the first team to be from New Zealand in the AFL, after better success than in Wellington. Wellington's expansion bid would be pending the success of popularity in Auckland the following year (2013). Auckland was approved due to constant success in the nine 2011 test games. This approval was made despite having more than half of the nine test games remaining in 2012. Wellington having decent success in 2011 and following suit in 2012 to that point will be determined sometime after the expansion of Auckland  in 2013.

-Ricky

Suns of the Gold Coast Sky

As anticipated, another team will reside in Queensland starting 2011. With the Suns identity, the rays of the sun are the primary feature in the form of pinstripes. A clash version of the jumper reverses the gold and red.

  

That having been said, New Zealand has quickly become a topic of consideration and is said to possibly have expansion by 2013. Auckland and Wellington having a series of test matches with each team playing at least once in both cities over the course of two seasons (2011 & 2012). Meanwhile, an organizing committee has urged the return of a team to Sydney and New South Wales and will be subject to play in the 2012 premiership season.

-Ricky

Hobart Beagles

We mentioned that Hobart was granted expansion in 2008 under the post from Wednesday. They were subsequently named the Beagles.

 

I'm taking my chances by trying to alter the logo of the Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse. This after not finding a picture of an aggressive enough beagle so I could design one on paper.

-Ricky

Port Melbourne or Bust: Midshipmen, Ahoy!

The AFL once again has 8 teams in the State of Victoria and the seventh in Melbourne. Peace is somewhat restored as there is a balance of teams in the area as opposed to overpowering the league with the abundance of Victorian teams if others had not moved or merged. This is what Port Melbourne developed.

  

Blue and gold looks better than blue and yellow surprisingly . . . what if West Coast decided to add their shade of orange and/or remove the yellow - I've experimented with that before. No matter I've managed to make this work.

-Ricky

The Australian Football League Beyond 2005 (Modern Expansion)

After the three team expansion in 1925 and the five teams that expanded between 1987 and 1997, six new teams would be bound to enter the AFL starting with another team in Melbourne in 2005.

The expansion granted to Port Melbourne in 2005 brought an eighth team into the state of Victoria for the first time since the last expansion year when Sydney and St. Kilda were in merger talks  for the following season. Hobart would soon follow as the Beagles enter in 2008. Gold Coast and GWS are significant as well as Gold Coast adds another team in Queensland and GWS brings professional footy back to Sydney since the departure of the Swans to merge with former rival St. Kilda. Auckland becomes the first team to be  located in New Zealand in 2013 and Wellington follows in 2014 as their team get their nickname from the native tuatara and Auckland likewise as the "City of Sails."

-Ricky

Pre-2004 (Failed) Australian Football League Mergers

Let's take the failed mergers covered in the last week and take the successful ones. From there we will explain any further merger and/or expansion talks that would occur starting in the year 2004.

In order of oldest teams first, we show the VFL members of the 1986 season:

Fitzroy Lions     Carlton Blues     Collingwood Magpies

Essendon Bombers     Geelong Cats     Melbourne Demons

St. Kilda Saints     Sydney Swans (formerly South Melbourne)

Richmond Tigers    Hawthorn Hawks     North Melbourne Kangaroos

Footscray Bulldogs

     These clubs had been in tact since the latter three joined from the VFA in 1925. 1987 was the first season in over 60 years to see a structural change in the VFL. The Brisbane Bears and West Coast Eagles expanded the league to 14 teams from 12. Prior to the start of this season, Melbourne tried to partner with Fitzroy - which fell under. The winter following the 1989 season saw the merger of North Melbourne and Carlton instead to become the Carlton Kangaroos. At this point in time, Fitzroy was to move to Sydney prior to 1981 but wound up for the birds. Those birds being South Melbourne, was to go Darwin in the Northern Territory for the following season, but Sydney emerged as a successful market as the test game during the '81 season drew a sellout crowd, compared to only 70 percent attendance in Darwin. For the 1982 season, Sydney was the new home for the Swans.

Only three seasons after expanding to 14 teams, the now Australian Football League was back to 12 as Fitzroy finally found a dancing partner in Footscray for 1990. Much to the dismay of Bulldog fans, Fitzroy would stay  - thus taking Footscray's nickname. This was just the start of several fluctuations within the next seven years. Adelaide enters the AFL in 1991 with the Crows nickname. Then Melbourne manages to strike a deal with Brisbane to merge for 1994 to become the Brisbane Demons. The Fremantle Dockers become the next expansion team in 1995 and in 1997 both the Power expand to Port Adelaide and another merger occurs. The Richmond Tigers (who "finished ninth again" and had "not been much good since 1982") took discussions with Essendon to finalization and created the Richmond Bombers. Finally, the St. Kilda Saints and Sydney joined forces prior to the 1998 season to come back to South Melbourne under their former rivals' location name and so the St. Kilda Swans were established. This was the decade of the 1990s.

The following were the members of the AFL coming into 2004:

Fitzroy Bulldogs     Carlton Kangaroos     Collingwood Magpies

Richmond Bombers     Geelong Cats     Brisbane Demons

St. Kilda Swans     Hawthorn Hawks     West Coast Eagles

Adelaide Crows     Fremantle Dockers     Port Adelaide Power

So we're pretty much back where we started - 12 teams  in the league. Tomorrow we look at the future of the AFL, starting in 2005. I intend to put together a schematic and club kit(s) for each of the new clubs - including the above if possible.

-Ricky

Melbourne Hawks and BNG YouTube Channel

People though this merger would happen for sure. With this deal, it would for sure ignite the rivalry with the Carlton Kangaroos since the Roo days in North Melbourne before the merger in late 1988.

The actual merger was so close they even had their victory song ready.

BNG's new YouTube page

In any event, the Hawks continued to be a powerhouse for at least the remainder of the decade. Their only other main threat other than the rival Carlton Kangaroos are the Essendon Bombers who have increasingly become a thorn in the Hawks side over the last decade. Essendon did happen to be the rival of both North Melbourne and Carlton which makes those meetings more meaningful as a merged club. The Hawks also have maintained a minor rivalry with Collingwood (another Essendon rival) based on Melbourne's rivalry with both clubs though the one with the Bombers has since been fairly irrelevant.

-Ricky

North Fitzroy Kangaroos

Melbourne went on to merge with Brisbane instead after the failed merger with Fitzroy. This while St. Kilda and Sydney are in negotiations to merge, North Melbourne had something Fitzroy desperately needed - a training facility (located at the Arden Street Oval). Melbourne on their way to stardom took in a financially challenged Fitzroy in the November of 1996 and the works were finalize in January of '97.

North Fitzroy manages to have the upper hand on Carlton since the Roos failed merger with the Blues. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide is granted an expansion team as the Power will compete for the local derby and  affection of still growing Adelaide. After a dismal four loss start in 1997, North manages to gain 32 straight points and from their win all but two matches  good enough for fourth on the ladder and a strong road to the Grand Final including wins over two rivals in Hawthorn and Essendon in succession. Their banner run saw a victory over St. Kilda to take the cup. Little did anyone know, but St. Kilda and Sydney were to merge for the following season. That same following season saw a repeat champion in North who finished one point off of a minor premiership (behind a surprise Richmond) and defeated the Adelaide, a surging West Coast, and Adelaide again to win the banner. This would be the last time for five seasons North would make a finals fun finishing seventh, eighth, and tenth during any given season in the now 15 team league.

Hawthorn Lions

The second merger proposal with Melbourne fell through but this new idea with Hawthorn was the backup plan.The Carlton Kangaroos and Hawthorn Lions continued their lasting rivalry dating back to the Hawthorn/North Melbourne teams of the late 70s. Darwin is still looking for an opportunity to make a move and merge with St. Kilda, who recently saw their stock fall after being put on the market to form the St. Kilda Swans this would be finalized in time for the 1998 season.

Haawthorn's absorption of Fitzroy was almost like the Hawks were going to turn into a colonizing power. However, this merger shut down their glory - having made a decent run to four more Grand Finals, having won three. Port Adelaide has joined the Premiership as an expansion franchise and Richmond has merged with Essendon to form the Richmond Bombers. The league insists on  further expansion to Hobart and possibly into New Zealand as test games are played, but no initiative is taken at first. Eventually Queensland is mentioned with the fact that the Brisbane Bears are the only team in that state. Brisbane eventually has negotiations with Melbourne and form the Brisbane Demons for the 1999 Premiership season.

-Ricky

Melbourne Lions II

For the fifth time Fitzroy seek help and for the second time they look to the Demons for help with a potential opportunity with Hawthorn if things went awry with Melbourne again. That would not be the case however as the Melbourne Lions prepare to debut for the 1995 premiership season. Hawthorn meanwhile continue their success and Fremantle join the league as an expansion franchise.

Melbourne have had difficulty against the Carlton Kangaroos and the Darwin Swans in recent years. In their trips to the finals, it was usually an early exit to the Canberra Bulldogs that spelled doom for the Lions. But a trip to the Grand Final in 2003 saw Melbourne beat Fremantle, Port Adelaide, and West Coast  on their way to play for the flag only to be trounced by Hawthorn. This behind the Hawks leading by at least 26 points in any quarter. In 2005, Darwin and Brisbane agree on a merger that brings them to Sydney while keeping the Bears nickname and giving Canberra a new rival. Darwin wouldn't get a team back until 2012.

-Ricky

Fitzroy Bulldogs

Fitzroy finally has success to find a donor as nearby Footscray merges with the Lions. Following suit of the Carlton Kangaroos, another team leaves West Melbourne (Footscray). Meanwhile the league begins to expand and has bids for Darwin and Canberra as well as a successful bid for Adelaide as the Crows enter the league.

The Doggies would serve as the neutralizer of Melbourne, seeing success in games against Melbourne clubs except the Carlton Kangaroos in a major rivalry based on territory and both now sharing the Arden Street Oval as their training ground. This in turn saw them struggle against the West Coast Eagles in a spurring minor rivalry from two consecutive drawn Grand Finals the Eagles won the first year's (1993) replay and Fitzroy winning the other (1994).

Carlton Kangaroos

North Melbourne has had poor membership since the failed merger with Essendon in the early 1920s. This was in order for North to be admitted into the VFL, but as a result, lost recruiting territory to Essendon and subsequently supporters. Ten seasons removed from their Grand Final appearances against Hawthorn, North are ready to get back to that platform, but at the hands of Carlton. So they merged following the 1988 season.

Ultimately a super club was created coming fresh off Carlton's 1986 premiership flag (just two seasons removed). In subsequent years, they would go on to win six Grand Finals (most notably 1999 over the Sydney Lions) in 12 Grand Final appearances. 1999 Served as a significant year for the Sydney Lions as well. They would have two straight dismal seasons and would finally merge with South Melbourne (after an unsuccessful tenure) who had since moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory following 1992. Melbourne meanwhile finally found a team willing to shelter them in the Brisbane Bears - a financially unstable well performing club. Melbourne was the opposite of that and the teams merged to form the Brisbane Demons in 1994 retaining the Brisbane gold and maroon while adopting the blue from the Demons color scheme.They played the Carlton Kangaroos in three Grand Finals spanning over eight years (1996, 1998, 2004).

-Ricky

Melbourne Lions I

Melbourne and Fitzroy were initially in talks following the 1986 season, just six years removed from talking to South Melbourne who ultimately did move to Sydney for the 1982 season forward. This attempted merger was prompted by The Demon's financial success and Fitzroy's on-field success. Thus to start the 1987 season, the Melbourne Lions were born.

What happened was a collaboration of a middle of the table team who were eliminated in the opening round of the finals when they finished in the good portion of the ladder. But when they did not place in the finals, they were usually just short. Meanwhile a struggling Sydney absorbed the Brisbane Bears (who expanded one season earlier) in the early 1990s and would start play as the Brisbane Swans in 1994, due to the interest of keeping interstate footy. The same year saw the move of Footscray to Canberra at the Manuka Oval, in a surprise move by the AFL as an effort to gain new support from the capitol which may have else-wise gone to Sydney. Sydney would not have a team for several years (Greater Western Sydney at Sydney Showground Stadium/Skoda Stadium), creating an New South Wales rivalry. In addition to this merger, the West Coast Eagles expanded into the league as the first team to be based out of Western Australia.

-Ricky

Australian Football Merger Series

NAB Cup preseason footy is within two weeks away, and I will post its schedule tomorrow. But to celebrate, I wanted to take all of the failed mergers (excluding N. Melbourne and Essendon with an unknown date) and compile them in a branding series. This will start with one that was the first of many proposals for the Fitzroy Lions - this in 1980 as a proposed relocation to Sydney, two seasons prior to the Swans moving from South Melbourne. The SFC monogram I used is courtesy of www.amorsevillista.com although I made a minor change to it.

Given that the merger would have provided us with this, we need to find out what happened next. As South Melbourne (now the Darwin Swans based out of Northern Territory - since 1992) were still in talks of relocating following the 2001 season as the Lions went from table toppers to cellar dwellers in two seasons. The teams had decided that Sydney was the place to be, yet the Swans had no interest in sharing the city with the Lions. The clubs would soon merge to form the Sydney Swans as there was no purpose for the Lions to return to the Melbourne area. The Swans colors would consist of red white and blue, dropping the gold from the Fitzroy identity.

* * * Brisbane is granted expansion the season immediately preceding the proposed merger of Fitzroy and Melbourne. * * *

-Ricky

Lacrosse, the Ravens, and a Super Bowl?

I found this interesting . . . A lacrosse stick stylized to the Ravens of Baltimore. It makes a ton of sense as the Mid-Atlantic is a lacrosse hotbed - especially in collegiate play.

Courtesy of: Inside Lacrosse (Facebook page)

What if there was a Niners one ? ? ? T-minus four hours until kickoff of America's most televised event of the year! Who are you rooting for?

-Ricky

Preparing for a Big Game

I won't get to see any of the Buffalo Bandits home game versus the Toronto Rock tonight, but i instead created YouTube versions of their goal horn with the corresponding goal songs. I however did not put up player specific ones yet.

The consistency in the image is key as the animations were hard to set up in a manageable fashion. The only two player specific goals belong to Mark Steenhuis ("Brick House" by the Commodores) and Scott Self ("Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol).

-Ricky

Friday Follies

So I was surfing to run an errand in my school's bookstore, and I found a potential new commodity.

I took the idea of and addition to the pennant template displayed earlier last month. This all will be keeping me busy for a while.

-Ricky