Functional Fashion?

I'm not sure who/why/or where the trend of wearing your favorite player's sport jersey started; but I was reminded last night of why I dislike it.

As I was eating my grilled veggie burrito at Baja Fresh yesterday in walked Mr. Welker wearing his NE Patriots jersey. I could tell it was Mr. Welker because it said so on the back. He was being fawned over by another guy who jokingly was referring to his catching a career high 15 passes as he single-handedly tore up the defense against the Jets. Despite this production, I very much doubt that this overly stout man in his XXL toga-like shirt was indeed a real football hero, perhaps it was his brother Eas.

Folks of all ages around the nation (and presumable the world) are adorned in these things, of almost every imaginable sport, in almost every possible setting (to job interviews or at work, out to dinner, traveling, etc.), anything except actually using it while playing the sport for which it was intended - and for what reason?

Forget about the youngsters for a moment who have the right to dream and look up to their local or international sports hero's. Also look beyond the crass commercialization in progress and capitalizing on a marketing scheme - what does this apparel idolization on adult men & women say about the people wearing this stuff? If there wasn't a market, there wouldn't be people capitalising on it.

Fortunately my favorite sport (except for perhaps the brief tenure of Toyota-United?) is largely exempt from this trend. Though the '08 & '09 jersey's of Gin Optics did list teamies on the pockets, you would be hard pressed to find anybody but a Gin O racer wearing one.

True aficionado's of cycling do like to accumulate unique or obscure team jersey's to show off on club or training rides - perhaps because of a favorite racer, or the country they're riding through, or they just like the garish clash of colors on lycra (or retro wool).

But I doubt you'll see anybody actually wearing one into Baja Fresh unless it's for a mid or post-ride carbo topping & their mode of transportation is outside leaning up against the storefront glass or adjacent tree.