It is similar in the olympics. Other teams maintain the same uniforms through the years. Holland has the bright orange. The chinese are all red, the greeks are a medium blue, the japanese have a big red dot. There is some degree of consistency through the years, meanwhile the Americans inevitably look like someone half digested a flag and then barfed it back up on them. Sometimes the stars are big, sometimes small, sometimes non-existent. The bars are also somewhat inconsistently represented.

I say USA needs to come up with a uniform design that they can commit to for all international competition where national pride is at stake and stick with it for eight years. If the design is relatively simple it can be replicated easily for any sport and brand loyalty will increase sales.

Yeah, it does seem as if the U.S. just sort of throws its colors (and stars and stripes) in a blender doesn't it? Hadn't thought about making it across the board for all international comp. Hmmmm. Though when I'm in Europe, and watching speedskating (and God, do they show a lot of it), I think I remember the famous Dutch team also wearing those hoodie suits in blue, like the flag. But could be wrong.

After I had typed this up, I recalled that (perhaps) not all the countries I listed were always wearing the same thing year to year - I'm sure my poor research merits some sort of sanction by slate. To be frank, I'm somewhat surprised at the check mark. Still, there must be some truth to my presumption, seeing as it was accepted with nary a demand for a "link, please?"

I guess what I'm saying is that it may not be that other national teams are 100% consistent in their uniform designs, but they must be more consistent than the US because we precieve them to be. Other countries don't slash and burn their brand every year, so when they do change we may notice, but we - I - don't remember it from year to year. If Mexico showed up in bright pink to the Olympics in 2008 and then returned to the red white and green in 2012 the 2008 photos themselves would probably revert to the tri-color.

So maybe their was some truth to my lazy post, because no one objected (excepting your note about speedskating) Either that, or some combination of the article, the subject, the poster, and/or the post has kept the rest of the fray at bay.

In any case I appreciate the check!

I didn't think your post was lazy at all. I thought the Olympics angle was a valid--was just thinking out loud regarding Euro speedskating (I've watched too much speedskating without paying much attention for better and/or worse. Ditto for biathalon.) I have noticed that in Euro track and field teams like France and Italy usually do wear blue, same as their national soccer team.