cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14910435
The University of Houston has informed the NFL that it will proceed with plans to add an alternate blue uniform. The about-face comes six months after the NFL’s merchandising and licensing division sent a cease-and-desist letter to UH, threatening legal action if the school did not halt what was described as UH’s “blatant copying” of the Houston Oilers-themed uniforms.
Good. Fuck Bud Adams. If spectator sports have any value beyond mere economic activity, it’s down to communities and their fans.
NFL: We own the color blue used by a team that doesn’t exist any more.
UH: LOL, no.
By all accounts he thought that because he founded the team and liked the name, blackmailing the city and then moving to Tennessee and completely rebranding didn’t matter and he was justified in strenuously opposing 40 years of history in Houston. Legally, he and his family have had a good run with it, but there are limits and I like seeing UH (and potentially the Texans) test them.
@wjrii I initially hoped the city would move on from Oilers colors. They left us, betrayed us. But it seems the move is to take back that identity and I’m coming around to the idea of it.
Especially if it upsets the Titans.
Plus the UH blue jerseys are immaculate.
As Jags fan who married into a Dallas Cowboys family, I’m not allowed to like any of y’all, but that Oilers identity was iconic and clean, and I really hate that Bud Adams took his own personal fondness for the Oilers project and made it toxic when the city wouldn’t give him what he wanted. They should have rebranded immediately and turned the history over to the League to hold in trust. Frankly, that should be mandatory any time a franchise moves, with the possible exception of the Raiders who are… something else. LOL
