Addiction

Trigger warning: you may well get whip-sawed by the changes in content theme, tone, and quality in this space over the next several months. Of course, one might argue that you've been in that position lo these 4,901 posts. In any case, on with the whimsy.

I really dig design. Z, Mark, and I regularly trade texts about kicks, and I get frequent messages from Z about cars that look cool. I'm also a big fan of soccer and its culture. Blending those two interests has become a bit of a problem for me.

It started with the Seattle Sounders. I was watching the U.S. Men's National Team play a match at CenturyLink (now Lumen) Field in Seattle, and the packed house of 68,000 or so made such an infernally awesome noise that I was inspired to buy some Sounders merch. The multi-beer buzz I had going didn't hurt, at least in terms of my lack of spending inhibitions. And from that modest t-shirt, things might've gotten out of hand. 

The picture below depicts some, but not all, of my soccer fashion. Notably absent, the initial Seattle Sounders t-shirt (which I know I still have but can't find), an FC Pinzgau Saalfelden shirt (ditto), a Marcus Rashford England jersey (ditto on that ditto), a Fulham kit from 2016-17 (ditttooooooo), literally dozens of pieces of Loudoun Soccer gear from my coaching and Board of Directors volunteering, and a handful of Tuscarora High School soccer stuff. Not to mention the Senegal World Cup jersey with Sadio Mane's #10 on the back that I ordered earlier in the week.

Some of these have a story. Others I just kinda thought looked cool. Here's the key:

Top row, left to right: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, Liga MX (this one's the Dia de los Muertos version from a few years ago - thought it was a badass design), Atlanta United, MLS (bought this one because I loved the way the team played attacking, fun soccer in 2018 when they won MLS Cup), Netherlands, World Cup 2014 (purchased in Schipol Airport on a layover while headed back to the U.S. from Switzerland), France, World Cup 2018 (N'Golo Kante is my favorite player, and he's with Chelsea. I dislike Chelsea, so I got a France jersey).

Second row: USA, World Cup 2014 (Won this in a charity auction. It's a crap kit, if I'm being honest.), Sporting Kansas City, MLS (My brother-in-law used to work for Ivy Funds, SKC's kit sponsor for a time. He got me this for Christmas. Always liked him.), Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie (Ajax have a long-standing affinity for Bob Marley, and this alternate kit from last year honors that relationship. On the back, just under the collar, there are three little birds. Dope.), D.C. United, MLS (Last year, the league did Pride warm-up tops for all its teams. I got the local one.)

Third row: Minnesota Aurora, USL W League (The second-division Aurora won their league title this season. The logo is phenomenal.), FC Pinzgau Saalfelden, Austrian Regionalliga Salzburg (Humblebrag, I know, but I'm an owner of this club.), Costa Rica, World Cup 2018 (The U.S. didn't qualify for the 2018 Cup, so I chose the Ticos as my side. Didn't go all that well.), Minnesota United, MLS (Best logo in American sports.)

Fourth row: Angel City FC, NWSL (Might be even better than Minnesota United's badge), FC St. Pauli, 2. Bundesliga (My wife was in Germany for New Year's Eve several years ago. She got me this one.), USA, World Cup 1950. (Throwback, and it looks cool.), Atletico Madrid, La Liga (Another airport purchase, this one in Madrid on the way home after celebrating my 20th Anniversary in Spain.)

Fifth row: Nigeria national team warm-up shorts and 2021 jersey. (Bought the shorts because they look cool, and I had a few beers in me. Was given the shirt as a gift by my Nigerian-Canadian colleague. I wish it fit me better.)