Tuesday's disjointed ramblings

The Wyoming football team will have a much different look on the field this season and I'm not just talking about the depth chart. The UW athletic department released a look at the “new-look” Cowboys this season with nine variations of uniforms from Nike this season.

You've got white tops, yellow pants, yellow tops, white pants, brown tops, brown pants, a white helmet with the bucking horse logo, a brown helmet with the outline of the bucking horse logo, Wyoming on the chest and WYO on the chest. Although the Cowboys won't have as many uniform matches as Oregon, they'll have a closet full of different outfits to wear to the dance.

"We've developed an outstanding relationship with Nike during our time here at Wyoming," said Cowboy head coach Dave Christensen in a news release. "Nike provides us the highest quality game and practice gear available, and they have worked with our equipment staff to develop a variety of uniform options for our team. Our goal is to build a first class program, and that means playing first class, acting first class and looking first class. Nike helps us look first class, and that also carries over to how recruits perceive our program. We couldn't be happier with the look of our new uniforms."

Here's a photo gallery from wyomingathletics.com.  http://www.wyomingathletics.com/view.gal?id=97045

It will be interesting to see what fans like and what they don't like. Of course, winning in a certain uniform might go a long way in the team wearing the combination more than once.

From a distance, I like the new looks. We'll see how they look on the field.

***

BYU's arrogance was obviously on display Tuesday with theindependent Cougars, who left the "inferior" Mountain West Conference, hosting football media day. The Mountain West football media day isn't for a couple of weeks and the Wyoming media day is a week later. For the most part, that is the norm for most schools.

But BYU isn't the norm, at least in their eyes. It prides itself on being better than most, so it really wasn't much of a surprise to hear about they early gala that saw them bring in the likes of Steve Young and Ty Detmer among others, to add to their dog and pony show. I'm guessing that Jim McMahon wasn't invited to the "We are the Champions" love fest.

Naturally, there was one last mention or two (with love, of course) about Laramie and Wyoming.

“Laramie, Wyoming, is one of the Top 5 hardest places to play. They have a hatred for BYU that’s unrivaled!” Young said at the media day which was televised by BYUTV.

I wonder if they truly can't figure out why Cowboys fans hate them? Actually, we all know the answer to that question.

***
I'm not sure what to think about this year's MLB All-Star Game. For as long as I can remember, it has easily been my favorite all-star game. I never got into the Pro Bowl even though I'm a huge NFL fan. The same for the NBA All-Star Game, although I can't call myself much of a NBA fan these days. Ditto for the NHL All-Star Game.

The MLB All-Star Game, however, has always been special to me. As a young Twins fan, I couldn't wait until Rod Carew got to bat and later as a younger adult, with Kirby Puckett at the plate. I never missed a game. As a kid, I voted as much as I could for every Twins player that was on the ballot.

I'm just not sure what to make of my lack of interest in this year's game. Maybe it's the fact that the best players have chosen not to participate, either by injury or by the lack of interest and basically a lack of respect for the game.

Unfortunately, I think it's likely more of the latter.

Willie Mays was named to 24 All-Star Games. He played in 24 All-Star Games. Derek Jeter had to rest after his recent successful chase for 3,000 hits and didn't even travel to Phoenix for the All-Star Game. He was just too exhausted.

That just might explain the difference between old school and new school. I'll take old school every time.

***
With not being a sportswriter for over a year ‑‑ after being one for about 30 years ‑‑ if there is one thing that I have learned in recent months, is to stick with what you love to do. I'm certainly not the best sportswriter around ­‑‑ I have never claimed to be or bragged on my awards ‑‑ but it's what I love to do.

This past couple of years have certainly been tough on my wife with her health and tough on me and my stepdaughter, Cassie. But it's just like Teresa to think about others before herself. If I had a dollar for every time she has encouraged me to get back into writing, I'd be a rich man.

Well, maybe not rich, but much better off. Hopefully, I can get back on the saddle again soon.