The foreboding of sports

Don't turn on the news. Don't read the paper. It's depressing, it's disturbing, is it Las Vegas, is it Texas, is it Washington, D.C.? Is it a myriad of other places?

Switch to sports instead.

When we do change the station, why is the feeling often still there?

In a time in which news in general is dark and darker, the extended trend of black sports uniforms could use a second look.

Sports are generally fun and exciting for a society, a genuine bond among varied people. But now, in this particular era, to insist on continuing the 20-year-old trend of black uniforms is darkening the culture overall.

The seed of it came in the late '80s, when the L.A. Raiders had the best-selling merchandise of any NFL team and they weren't even good.

The reason? It was the time of accomplished rappers first wearing sports insignias, lead by N.W.A. and Eazy-E in a Raiders hat. The great silver and black was menacing. It was also the actual identity of the team. Their official colors were always silver and black.

From this authentic look, the trend arose and first it was black trim added to 49ers uniforms, then the Miami Dolphins... then other professional leagues, then colleges, then high schools.

Here we are in 2017 and the WSU football uniforms seem to get darker every week.

At this point, things can look downright foreboding when you turn on a game.

This is not what sports is supposed to be.

Sports reflect society, but they can also lift it up. In down times why underline it in the world of sports?

Culture is the wallpaper of society. It may be time to brighten the room a bit.

These are the things we can control.

In a tiny way, if the Houston Rockets could remember their colors are red and white with gold trim, the world could be a slightly brighter place.

Wisdom teaches it's only a game, but that's only wisdom.

As Frederick Law Olmstead said – the guy that designed Central Park – “Natural beauty can improve human nature.” Other studies show that people respond to the tone set by the environment they are in.

The fact that sports is darkening our culture should be oxymoronic. Sports have lifted up more cultures worldwide than almost any other human endeavor.

They still do. It just may be time for a check of the clothing.

Garth Meyer

Gazette Reporter