I am extremely proud that I am an American. In my
opinion, few people actually ever say that and believe what they are saying.
Many people nowadays have little to no trust in the government, the economy is
taking a very long time to recover, and the United States has been involved
militarily in the Middle East for the past decade. One of the few things that
transcend barriers between national pride and personal feelings across the
globe is soccer. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, more Americans
than ever tuned in to see the national team play, soccer got a record amount of
press coverage in the United States, and the United States Men’s National Team
(USMNT) demonstrated what it should mean to be an American. The jerseys that
the players put on before each match are symbolic representations of
traditional American values as well as illustrating current beliefs. I was able
to take a simple soccer jersey and I pulled as many meanings out of it as I
could. I never imagined all that could go into each and every stitch of the
jersey. It was very interesting to analyze the design, the technology, the
colors, and the tradition that went into the creation of the jerseys that the
USMNT wore for the 2010 World Cup and the following couple of years. In my
opinion, the most fascinating part about the kit is not on the outside, but
rather is hidden to most people (you’ll have to read on to find out). The kit
that the USMNT wears exemplifies many of the attitudes on which the United
States of America were founded on in the 18th Century and ideas that
have developed as the country has grown to be the powerhouse that it is known
to the world today.
US Men’s National Team Kit
2010-2012
To put on the kit[1]
before a match in which you are going to represent an entire country is an
enormous honor. In the very early days of soccer, a player used to receive a
cap whenever he was selected as a player in recognition of his service to the
country. Now the players only receive one for their first international match
as well as milestones. The kits of the national teams signify where you are
from and what you represent. The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has
typically been on the peripherals of the global game until the most recent two
decades. During this time the team began developing a stronger reputation and
gaining more respect from other soccer powerhouses. Right now, the USMNT is
ranked by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) at number 31
out of all the countries in the world. The USMNT recently participated in the
2010 World Cup, which took place in South Africa, and advanced to the knockout
stages. They used a white home kit, a navy away kit, and a red third kit, all
with the same basic design. The basic aesthetics of the kits are: a base color,
a US crest, and a sash from the right shoulder to the left hip. The development
of these kits for the United States Men’s National Team sprang from a
combination of the tradition of past teams and current technologies.
All the colors that are used for the jerseys derive from
the colors of the flag of the United States of America. I think that this is
important because it illustrates the patriotism and pride of the players who
fight to earn the privilege to represent the country. There are some teams like
the Netherlands (Holland), Italy, and Australia, to name a few, whose kits are
mainly colors which don’t show off their respective flags. The combination of
the colors red, white, and blue represent the American resolve which began in
the American Revolution. I have always believed that these three colors
together symbolize passion, determinedness, hard work, and grit. The recent
displays of the USMNT on the world stage perfectly demonstrate these ideals. In
the final game of the group stages of the 2010 World Cup, the US needed a win
which was provided in the final minutes of the game by the team captain, Landon
Donovan. Their doggedness was also displayed in their previous game in the
tournament against Slovenia, as they came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie 2-2.
Although many other countries use red, white, and blue in their flags, the
colors of the US show a team which won’t give up until the final whistle.
An important aspect of recent additions to the collection
of US National Team kits is the sash on the front of the shirt. The sash was
first used by the USMNT in 1950, and has held great significance in the hearts
of the US fans. That was the year that the Americans somehow upset heavy favorites
England in a group match. This was the first World Cup for England and they had
the best post-World War II record going into the tournament. On the other hand,
the US team was put together with only a few players having professional
experience. This gamed dubbed “The Miracle on Grass”, lives on in the minds of
US fans everywhere. The gritty USMNT managed to beat “The Kings of Football” at
their own game, which is another illustration of the passion and resolve of the
Americans. 60 years later, the US in their new jerseys were to take on England
in the group stages of the World Cup and came out with a tie. Although there
hasn’t always been a sash on the jerseys of the USMNT, it is a design that has
recurred often and hopefully will become a main part for all the kits to come
in the future.
The crest on the left chest of the kit is
based on Old Glory, the flag of the United States of America. It contains stars
and stripes, and the colors red, white, and blue. Before every match that the
USMNT plays, the national anthem plays and the camera pans over the starting
eleven. You can see the focus, determination, and pride on their faces as they
are about to represent the United States of America to the world. In my
opinion, these are the ideals that America wants to represent. The crest of the
jersey is outlined in gold which says a lot about the history of the country.
Gold has played a large part in the history of America. The search for gold led
to a large emigration movement from Europe to North America which populated the
country. Throughout the short life of America, there were the various gold
rushes that led to the westward and northward expansion of the United States.
The attitudes of those who went in search for riches are similar to those of
the players now: determination, hope, and hard work. The gold can also
represent the wealth of the United States. The US economy is one of the largest
in the world and for most of its existence, the wealth of the US was based on
the amount of gold it had. Even though the dollar isn’t based on the gold standard
anymore, the US maintains huge deposits of gold at Fort Knox. The crest
symbolizes the American dream and ideals. One of the most interesting features
of this current kit isn’t seen on the surface, but only when the shirt is
inside out.
One of the most unique things about the ‘10/’12 kit of
the United States Men’s National Team is the patch behind the patch. When you
flip the jersey inside out and look at the reverse side of the US patch, a
hidden emblem is displayed. It is a shield covered with grass and a coiled
rattlesnake. Over the shield, a ribbon displays the letters “DTOM”. These
letters stand for the famous American phrase: Don’t Tread On Me. The
rattlesnake first showed up in the American image before the American
Revolution, when Benjamin Franklin suggested that America should send them to
England in thanks for the English sending criminals to America. The rattlesnake
and the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me” were put together on the first flag (known
as the Gadsden Flag) used by United States Marine Corps in the American
Revolution. The reason the rattlesnake was chosen for this symbol was because
two types of rattlesnakes lived throughout the original 13 colonies. Since
then, this symbol has been featured on a lot of apparel produced by Nike in support
of the USMNT. This is my personal favorite part of the kit because it exemplifies
the American spirit and attitude. The “Don’t Tread on Me” phrase has become a
rallying cry for the extremely passionate fans and shows how Americans believe
that nobody should mess with them.
Over the past two centuries, the United States of America
has been at the global forefront of technological development. This tradition
continued with the creation of these jerseys for the USMNT. These kits are a part
of a new Nike product line which are created with recycled materials. The yarn
of the jerseys is made up of polyester from at least eight bottles that have
been recycled. These are the most environmentally friendly kits that have ever
been designed. This shows America's continued efforts to make the world a
better place to live in by making use of old materials to make new things. Even
though this makes the kits sound uncomfortable to wear, they are extremely
lightweight, have numerous micro holes on the sides to keep the players cool,
and the fabric helps the sweat evaporate even faster. The technology that goes
into making this jersey shows how advanced society as a whole has become today
and also shows how Americans are becoming more environmentally conscience.
There is a saying by Steve Garvey that goes “The
difference between the old ballplayer and the new ballplayer is the jersey. The
old ballplayer cared about the name on the front. The new ballplayer cares
about the name on the back.” While this may hold true for the players when they
play for their clubs, they put the team first when it comes to international
play. Especially with the US team, some of the world views them in a negative
manner for either political reasons, or because some countries think that they
aren’t too good; the USMNT has to pull together as one. The current kits of the
Americans show the tradition, passion, and determinedness which are perfect
examples of the American ideals which have provided the foundation of the
country.
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