May 18, 2005

My Team's Redder Than Your Team: A red uniform can give athletes a competitive advantage, according to researchers at UK's Durham University. This will come as a shock to fans of the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Hawks.

posted by rcade to general at 02:55 PM - 17 comments

and the 2004 SF 49ers!

posted by billsaysthis at 06:15 PM on May 18, 2005

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool.... Let me guess, the second best colour was bright blue.

posted by BigCalm at 02:57 AM on May 19, 2005

I always thought the color red made OTHERS angry and aggressive, as in bull fighting. In school classrooms filled with hard-to-manage students, you have the walls and room in light shades to keep them from getting over-stimulated and excited. So it would seem the red would only serve to anger and "fire up" the opponent, not the person wearing the color (who can't actually look at themselves). It also doesn't explain North Carolina and their light, fluffy blue uniforms running all over everyone during the NCAA hoop tourney, the Florida Marlins or Arizona Diamondbacks, the Yankees, etc. It's basically a foolish study and would never have even been considered had Tiger not chose to wear red during the final round whenever he's been in contention (which has been often).

posted by dyams at 07:40 AM on May 19, 2005

I guess the Cincinnati Reds are considered the outliers. (BTW, speaking of Arsenal and ManU, who wears red on Saturday?!)

posted by scully at 08:33 AM on May 19, 2005

What I want to know is, what's the losingest color?

posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:50 AM on May 19, 2005

What I want to know is, what's the losingest color? The combination of Honolulu blue and silver...

posted by MeatSaber at 10:19 AM on May 19, 2005

In all the sports they studied, the competitors face each other, and action can be divided into "offense" and "defense." The actions of any player are greatly influenced by the actions of his or her opponent(s). I wonder what the findings might be if they looked at, say, the 100m sprint, where competitors essentially ignore their opponents as much as possible; or even in something like bobsleigh, where they compete "against the clock" rather than head-to-head.

posted by Amateur at 11:51 AM on May 19, 2005

We have a good opportunity to examine the whole red thing on Wednesday, as Liverpool take on AC for the European Cup. AC and the Pool have agreed that the English team will wear red, even though Milan, whose normal colours are red and black, are classed as the "home" team. Milan wore white to beat fellow Italians Juve and lift the cup in 2003, but all four of Liverpool's European Cup victories came in red, playing against teams in white.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:24 PM on May 19, 2005

oh my, what's this? another new user with something intelligent to say? I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush but it does pique my assessment of this site to see worthy users join, welcome. nice site too You could do a bit of study in the NHL on the home records or teams like the Red Wings and Flames, Hurricanes etc. In the 2003-04 season the league switched from white at home and dark jerseys on the road to the historical dark at home, white on the road. So you've got these red teams playing in red at home in 2003-04 while they played in white at home in 2002-03. Of course, record-wise, the Flames we terrors on the road and terrible at home in the NHL playoffs last time.

posted by gspm at 12:26 PM on May 19, 2005

... records of teams. you know what I am sayin'. point being, between those two seasons you could take the home and away variable out of it by comparing a home record from season to season. of course the players change, but you know.

posted by gspm at 12:28 PM on May 19, 2005

What I want to know is, what's the losingest color? I'm guessing a logo-free brown & orange.

posted by fabulon7 at 12:59 PM on May 19, 2005

A red uniform can give athletes a competitive advantage.Thats just plain stupid.

posted by HOE.O.K. at 02:40 PM on May 19, 2005

fabulon7 that was a nice low blow at the Brownies!

posted by HOE.O.K. at 04:11 PM on May 19, 2005

Years ago, I read some blurb about how black was a "power color" that conferred an agressive attitude on the wearer. I don't remember what year it was, but the Oakland Raiders -- they might've been the L.A. Raiders at that point -- were having a less-than-spectacular season, and I said, "Oh, boy, right again."

posted by alumshubby at 08:17 AM on May 21, 2005

What I want to know is, what's the losingest color? Buccaneer Orange!

posted by springdawg6 at 03:42 PM on May 21, 2005

Today, Arsenal in red beat Manchester United, who normally wear red, but were in black today, in the FA Cup final. It must be true!

posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:01 PM on May 21, 2005

sAME WITH EVERYTHING YOU READ AND SEE ON TV

posted by HOE.O.K. at 02:00 PM on May 30, 2005

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