November, 2007:

• College of Santa Fe Unveils Athletics Nickname - "Prairie Dogs" (NAIA)
  November 30, 2007
  Drum-roll please! After a semester’s worth of voting by students, alumni, staff and faculty, the College of Santa Fe has selected a new name (and mascot) for the sports teams that will begin play in fall 2008: they will be called the Prairie Dogs. In the fall, eight new sports teams will begin NAIA competition at CSF. Men’s and women’s tennis, golf and soccer, as well as men’s baseball and women’s softball, will all take on the moniker of Prairie Dogs as they play against teams primarily from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. As the program develops and grows, and the Prairie Dogs begin to qualify for championships, they could go national.
   
• Fresno Grizzlies Unveil New Logo, Uniforms (Pacific Coast League (baseball))
  November 29, 2007
  The Fresno Grizzlies have ushered in an exciting era today as they unveiled the new logo, color scheme, and uniforms that will shape the team’s identity for the longevity of the franchise. After months of development that included strategic fan research and polling, the new Grizzlies look reestablishes popular elements in the team’s heritage while moving towards a dynamic and modern twist on classic baseball style. “We are thrilled to share the new Grizzlies identity and truly feel it reflects the vision of our fans, community, and staff,” said Mike Maiorana, Grizzlies Executive Vice President. “This new look symbolizes both fun and tradition, two things we definitely pride ourselves on.” The new primary logo features a grizzly bear poised atop a custom and stylized “Grizzlies” font. The bear’s menacing claws clutch the “G” and “S” of the team moniker, which is centered over a home plate that is highlighted with “Fresno” and anchored by a baseball.
   
• Philadelphia Phillies Unveil New Alternate Uniforms (Major League Baseball/National League)
  November 29, 2007
  A new alternate home uniform will be worn by the Phillies during the 2008 season in a tribute to the team's 125th anniversary. For all home day games, starting with the April 3 Citizens Bank Businessperson's Special, the Phillies will wear an alternate uniform, styled after the one the team wore in the 1940s. "It's a throwback uniform with a modern touch," said David Buck, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Advertising Sales. "It has been a while since we wore a uniform at home that didn't feature pinstripes. We believe the fans will love them. "Additionally, the alternate jerseys will be made out of a 'cool base' fabric that provides for better comfort for our players." The uniforms are manufactured by Majestic Athletic. New Era manufactures the red, white and blue caps. From 1946 through 1949, the Phillies wore a similar-styled uniform. Since 1950, the team has had red pinstripes as part of their home uniforms.
   
• New Hampshire Fisher Cats Unveil New Logos, Uniforms (Eastern League (baseball))
  November 28, 2007
  The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, today unveiled a brand new logo, uniforms and team colors during an afternoon news conference at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. The official team colors become emerald green, black, white and silver. “This new look allows us to freshen our image with some exciting new colors while staying true to our heritage by keeping green as our primary color,” said Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner. “We think our fans will enjoy this new look, and we are excited to debut it on the field.” The redesigned home uniforms are white with black piping around the arms and neck, down the front of the jersey and along the side of the legs. “Fisher Cats” will be displayed in script across the chest in emerald green lettering with a gold fill and a black outline. An emerald green “NH” logo will adorn the left sleeve with a silver Fisher Cat’s tail crossing the “H”. There will also be a home alternate white sleeveless uniform with the green “NH” logo on the left breast. Players will wear black undershirts under the alternate jersey.
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "Going Nose to Nose With  Nose Bumpers"
  November 28, 2007
  America loves football helmets. We obsess over their colors, their logos, their facemasks. We turn them into lamps, snack bowls, and alarm clocks. We collect miniature versions of them, and not-so-miniature versions. But there's one element of the football helmet that even the most rabid fan typically overlooks -- an element so inconspicuous that it's rarely mentioned, even though you see it hundreds of times whenever you watch a game. It's such a stealth element that most fans don't even know what it's called. And to Uni Watch's knowledge, it has never been the subject of any media attention. Until now.
   
• New York Mets Unveil Shea Stadium Commemorative Logo (Major League Baseball/National League)
  November 26, 2007
  The New York Mets today unveiled the commemorative logo celebrating the 45-season history of Shea Stadium in conjunction with the final year in their long-time home. The Mets will wear this logo as a patch on the right sleeve of their uniforms during all 2008 home games. Central to the design is a side-by-side artistic rendering of Shea's original and current exterior set against a backdrop of the New York City skyline from the Mets logo. The Mets will use the new graphic in many 2008 promotional and collateral materials, including schedules, tickets, the Mets Media Guide, Yearbook, and Mets Magazine. The Mets, in the weeks ahead, will announce plans for a season-long "Salute to Shea" that will include a series of special events and promotions.
   
• Yakima Bears Unveil New Logos, Uniforms (Northwest League (baseball)
  November 20, 2007
  Beginning in 1920, Yakima has developed a long and cherished tradition of professional baseball. Since that inaugural year, Yakima teams have played 46 seasons of professional baseball under 6 different nicknames in 3 different minor leagues. There is no disputing that professional baseball has been integral to Yakima's community life. Throughout the last two years, the Bears have taken steps to assure that long storied tradition continues. By investing in a new state of the art video board, purchasing property for a permanent downtown office, signing a 10 year lease extension that runs through 2015, and securing over 1.3 million dollars of State-financed Yakima County Stadium improvements, the Bears ownership has shown their commitment to the Yakima Valley.
   
• Cleveland Indians Unveil New Throwback Uniforms (Major League Baseball/American League)
  November 19, 2007
  Isn't this curious timing? Just weeks after PDQ asked readers to redesign the Cleveland Indians uniform, the Tribe front office unveils a new look for its alternate home jersey. Oh, Kurt Schloss, director of merchandising for the Indians, will tell you that the team started planning for this new look way back in April, at the behest of general manager Mark Shapiro. Perhaps it is just a coincidence, but PDQ knows the power and influence its readers wield. Regardless of its origins, the Tribe's "Sunday Best" -- to be worn only on Opening Day (March 31), weekends and holidays -- is a handsome return to the classic Indians uniforms of the early 1900s and 1920s.
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "What Happens When Uniforms Are Lost, Stolen or Destroyed?"
  November 19, 2007
  By now you've probably heard about the recent incident in which four Virginia Tech players found their jerseys missing just prior to kickoff and had to wear repurposed Georgia Tech jerseys, complete with handwritten nameplates. (For further details and additional photos, look here.) Entertaining? Definitely. Unique? Not even close. Sports history is brimming with similar instances of uniforms that have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, forcing players -- or sometimes entire teams -- to come up with makeshift solutions on the fly. Just two months ago, in fact, Taft High School in Cincinnati had its football uniforms destroyed in a fire, which led crosstown rival Colerain High to donate its uniforms for Taft to wear. (All's Well That Ends Well Dept.: Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby later bought Taft new uniforms.)
   
• Rapid City Rush Unveils Nickname, Logo (Central Hockey League)
  November 16, 2007
  Rapid City's newest professional sports franchise continues to move closer toward its premier. The Central Hockey League's Rapid City Rush unveiled its new logo and uniforms earlier today at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The color scheme includes white, black and gold with the logos in red. The main logo which appears on the front of the jerseys is the letter "R" with Mount Rushmore logos on the shoulders... Really with the logo, we wanted to get away from...so many Minor League teams have six or seven color logos, very busy. We wanted something that we can brand, so when they see this "R", they know it's the Rapid City Rush. You look at all the teams in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, their logos are rather simple. We wanted to get to where we name-branded and that's the thing with the "R", it's something that when people have a golf shirt on or a baseball cap, instantly people say, yeah, that's the pro hockey team in Rapid City. The Rush's inaugural campaign will hit the ice in 2008.
   
• Calgary Hitmen Unveil Special Petro - Canada Teddy Bear Toss Jersey (Western Hockey League)
  November 15, 2007
  The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club unveiled today a special Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss Jersey to be worn on Sunday, December 2nd against the Prince George Cougars. Game time is 2:00 p.m. The new uniform, designed by the Calgary Hitmen, is a Christmas red colour with the traditional Hitmen Logo. However, new features include the addition of a Santa hat on the front logo and snow banks on top of all numbers. "The Teddy Bear toss has grown into our signature game and with the support of Petro-Canada we want to take it to a whole new level," said Hitmen Director of Business Operations Kip Reghenas. "These jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds to be shared among several Calgary area charities through Toy Mountain and the Rainbow Society."
   
• Reading Phillies Unveil New Logo, Uniforms (Eastern League (baseball))
  November 14, 2007
  The Reading Phillies unveiled their new identity program on Wednesday at Reading Area Community College's Miller Center. The new identity is part of a six-month creative overhaul of the franchise. "Today marks the next era in Reading Phillies Baseball," Reading Phillies General Manager Scott Hunsicker said. "Our new look is part of our continuing effort to embody the spirit and heritage of Reading, while paying tribute to our 42 year affiliation with Philadelphia." A dynamic, modern evolution of the current Phillies identity, the new look features a titled polished "R-Phils" Primary Logo. Fans will also enjoy a new Dynamic Star and the Reading Pagoda makes its way into the R-Phils identity program. Phillies Red, Light Blue, Light Navy and "Bubble Gum" make up the club's new official colors, paying tribute to their Phillies heritage. The R-Phils are the first professional sports team to use Bubble Gum in their identity.
   
• Major League Soccer Official Adds Seattle (Major League Soccer)
  November 13, 2007
  Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber officially named Seattle the league's 15th franchise during a news conference Tuesday at the Columbia Tower Club -- an announcement 10 years in the making. The public funding package for Qwest Field that passed in 1997 stipulated that the stadium house an MLS franchise. Doug Logan, then the MLS commissioner, guaranteed the city a club if it built the stadium. That promise is now a reality. "I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be standing here in front of you today," said part-owner Adrian Hanauer, a Mercer Island native who has been an ardent soccer fan since watching the Sounders in the North American Soccer League in 1974. "This has been a dream of mine for many years." Hanauer, owner of the USL First Division Sounders, is joined by majority owner and entertainment mogul Joe Roth, Seahawks owner Paul Allen and comedian and game show host Drew Carey.
   
• Somerset Patriots Unveil 2008 Atlantic League All-Star Game Logo (Atlantic League (baseball))
  November 12, 2007
  The Three-Time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have unveiled the logo for the 2008 Atlantic League All-Star Game to be held at Commerce Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, July 16th at 7:05 pm. The All-Star logo was designed by Mint Advertising of Branchburg, NJ to incorporate the look of the Somerset Patriots logo and colors. The All-Star logo will appear in Somerset Patriots brochures, pocket schedules, website, and ads throughout the 2008 season. The 2008 Atlantic League All-Star Game will have the best players from the North and South Divisions- as voted on by the fans, media, and league representatives- compete in the mid-summer event.
   
• Carnegie Mellon U. Unveils New Athletic Mascot Mark (NCAA)
  November 12, 2007
  Carnegie Mellon University unleashed the graphic image of its first official mascot, the Scottish terrier, at its Nov. 10 football game vs. Washington and Lee University. The graphic features a profile of a distinguished, bold Scottish terrier sporting a plaid scarf. The dog is contained in a shield, representing Carnegie Mellon's Scottish heritage. Andrew Carnegie, founder of the university, owned a Scottish terrier. Carnegie Mellon formed a Mascot Identity Task Force in November 2006, which consisted of students, faculty, staff and alumni. The Task Force was co-chaired by Director of Athletics Susan Bassett and Dean of Student Affairs Jennifer Church.
   
• Wichita Wingnuts Unveil Nickname, Logos (American Association (baseball))
  November 9, 2007
  Wichita Pro Sports introduced the newest member of their family today, the Wichita Wingnuts, who begin their first season in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (AA) this May. Wingnuts was chosen from over 200 entries submitted during The Wichita Eagle’s name-the-team contest as well as input submitted from numerous leaders of the business community. “It has been a long process, but a thorough one”, said President of Wichita Pro Sports Chris Presson. “In the end we wanted a unique name and a look that would suggest fun, while still maintaining a tie-in to Wichita’s great history of aviation.” The logo, unveiled at today’s press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, was designed by Associated Advertising. It features a sinister baseball hiding behind the words “Wingnuts” and wearing a wingnut for a baseball cap. The team colors are red, silver and black.
   
• National Basketball League Unveils 2009 All-Star Game Logo - Phoenix (National Basketball Association)
  November 8, 2007
  Phoenix has been selected as the site of NBA All-Star 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today. The 58th All-Star Game will be played at the US Airways Center, home of the NBA’s Suns and 2007 WNBA Champion Mercury, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009. A worldwide television audience spanning over 200 countries will view the events. Fans in the United States will watch the action on TNT. Phoenix also hosted All-Star in 1975 and 1995. "Phoenix is one of the great sports and entertainment destinations, so it is only natural that it will once again become the basketball capital of the world," said Stern. "We appreciate the leadership of Jerry Colangelo, Robert Sarver and the Suns organization for inviting us to make their arena our home for what promises to be an exciting and entertaining All-Star."
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "Teams Across the Nation Ready to Rock the Frock"
  November 7, 2007
  Every so often there's a uniform everybody talks about. Thirty years ago it was Marquette's untucked jersey. In more recent years, the Golden Eagles' uniforms have become fairly pedestrian, but now the school is about to set tongues wagging again, thanks to this new design. Pretty cool, right? Uni Watch digs the checkerboard trim, although maybe they went a bit overboard with those faux shoulder straps (especially on the road jersey), and Uni Watch could live without the Big East logo on the back. Still, toss in the baby blue alternate and what looks to be an awesome throwback and you've got this year's must-discuss uniform set.
   
• IOC Approves Madrid's 2016 Logo (Olympics)
  November 7, 2007
  Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially approved the logo of the Madrid 2016 bid. The logo that will represent the Spanish capital's Olympic project has now fulfilled every necessary step for its official presentation, which will take place next Monday at the Satellite Pavilion of the Telefonica Arena Madrid. As it was announced in September, the design named "Corle", which was created by Joaquin Mallo, was the winner of the public contest to select the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid's logo. After weeks of work in which the author himself and several experts in design have carried out some changes to the winning logo, the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid is ready to officially unveil it.
   
• Tampa Bay Rays Unveil New Name, Logos, Uniforms (Major League Baseball/National League)
  November 8, 2007
  Now wearing blue, your Tampa Bay Rays. After months of speculation about coming changes, Tampa Bay's Major League Baseball franchise has unveiled its new name, new team colors -- navy blue and light blue -- and a new icon -- a bright yellow sunburst invoking the magnificence of life in the Sunshine State. Official news of the makeover came on Thursday at a launch party in downtown St. Petersburg with a large crowd watching. "We are now the 'Rays' -- a beacon that radiates throughout Tampa Bay and across the entire state of Florida," said principal owner Stuart Sternberg. "Tampa Bay and the Sunshine State are beautiful places. We want the Rays to reflect the best our region has to offer." Rays players and coaches, along with former Rays Fred McGriff and Wade Boggs, modeled the new uniforms and licensed team apparel. The festivities continued with a concert performance by entertainment star Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West. A fireworks show and a pyrotechnics display of the new Rays logo put an exclamation point on the event, which was presented by Champs Sports, The St. Petersburg Times and Bright House Networks.
   
• Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Unveils 2008 Game Mark (NCAA)
  November 2, 2008
  Kelly Madden, North Florida Region President of Wachovia Bank and this year's Chairman of the Gator Bowl Association, kicked off the Gator Bowl Committee meeting on Thursday, November 1, 2007 by welcoming Konica Minolta representatives on their first official visit as the new title sponsor of the Gator Bowl Classic. Symbolizing this partnership, Chairman Madden was joined by Kevin Kern, Vice President, Product Planning and Marketing, and Chris McMillan, Vice President, Dealer Sales - South, both from Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. (Konica Minolta), to unveil the official mark for the 2008 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl. The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl game mark was designed by Kurtis Loftus, President and Creative Director of The Kurtis Group, a Jacksonville Beach-based advertising and public relations agency. The Kurtis Group is the agency of record for the Gator Bowl Association, The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Game and the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game. This is the seventh Gator Bowl poster Mr. Loftus has designed. "Konica Minolta has provided an exceptional level of input and support throughout the identity development process," explains Loftus. He adds, "Working on the new game logo and sharing ideas on the final game mark was a rewarding process. Our painting depicts the games Tiffany trophy reflecting various colors amid large tropical palm fronds. We feel the simplicity and elegance of the mark for this year's game makes a strong statement."