For a man who claims to have made the “Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can” and who is more adamant about rocking a “button-up” rather than a jersey; rapper and Brooklyn Nets investor Jay-Z introduced the much anticipated Brooklyn Nets’ uniforms in grand style at his concert to mark the grand opening of the Barclays Center.
Jay-Z unveiled the road jersey — a simple, yet fresh combination of the Nets’ new black and white colors — before a sold-out crowd on a stage that reportedly cost $400,000 to build on Friday night.
The jaw-dropping price tag likely had a lot to do with the high-tech tribute to Brooklyn’s own Notorious B.I.G., according to Miss Info. Originally rumored to be a hologram, the legendary rapper, who was murdered in November of 1997, hung out on the big screen as Jay-Z performed a tribute with songs “Kick in the Door” and “Juicy.”
Though much more basic than anything seen in the NBA these days, the Nets’ jerseys scream one thing: “This team means business.” Choosing to ignore some of the flashy ensembles that have encompassed sports uniforms over the last decade, the Nets appear to be following the “less is more” philosophy and, according to a majority of the public, the franchise nailed it. A simple search of “nets jerseys” on Twitter reveals mostly positive reviews.
Others, however, are not quite as high on the new design.
@TOGradyChicago to @louismusto What’s there to hate… Black? White? It’s to[o] boring to have an opinion. – September 30, 2012
Tom O’Grady is the President and CEO at Gameplan Creative, a branding and marketing agency that has worked with many professional sports franchises. Responsible for the Nets’ previous identity, which had been featured since 1997 (h/t Chris Creamer), O’Grady believes the franchise allowed “hip-hop culture to get in the way of the ‘tribal’ color of sports.”
@louismusto to @TOGradyChicago Care to expand upon what you mean by “letting hiphop culture get in the way of the ‘tribal’ color of sports?
@TOGradyChicago to @louismusto Brooklyn is a colorful dynamic city… To “RAP” it in dull black and white is really a statement of how out of touch JayZ is – September 30, 2012
O’Grady’s corny pun aside, his comments echo amongst those critical of the Nets’ new identity, which reeks of lifelessness in a New York City borough that is rich in history and beauty. Most sports franchises boast a color scheme so full of intensity and pride that the fans can wear on their sleeve – or their face.
Still, the excitement for the Nets – along with their new identity and jerseys – is unparalleled. For the first time in 55 years, there is a professional sports team in the Brooklyn borough. The local residents cannot wait for the team’s November 1st opener with the ‘cross-river-rival New York Knicks.
“[The Nets are the] best thing to happen to us since the Dodgers,” said Kristian Winfield, a Brooklyn native and staff writer at Rip City Project. “The fact that it’ll be a winning team is even better.”
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcasting Network covering the NFL and NBA. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.