ISU shines in black uniforms

This column may upset more people than our endorsement of Kamala Harris, but I’m willing to take that chance. Here goes:

I don’t like the black uniforms that Iowa State University has been wearing at home in Jack Trice Stadium.

Before you Cyclone fans come after me with pitchforks and hot tar, let me explain that I am a fan of the great Iowa State football team this year. The Cyclones are off to their best start in history, undefeated in seven games and ranked as one of the top teams in the nation. Their coach, Matt Campbell, is one of the best teachers of the game in America, and I am so glad he has spurned what have to be many lucrative offers from other colleges to stay in Ames.

I love everything about the Cyclones except for those black uniforms. Their traditional cardinal shirts with gold pants look so great, why would they want to change?

I think I know the answer. The 18-21 year-old players probably think black looks cool, and the coaches want to fire them up. And college football coaches don’t take their style cues from 70-something old fogey fuddy-duds.

I feel that same way when my Notre Dame Fighting Irish occasionally wear green uniforms for big games instead of their traditional blue and gold.

Having said all that, I am also superstitious, So if wearing black uniforms helps jazz up the Cyclones to win, go for it!

Iowa State hosts 5-3 Texas Tech Saturday afternoon in Ames. I’ll be cheering for the Cyclones regardless of their wardrobe.

THIS WEEK was a throwback to my grade school days in the 1950s when the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers were frequent competitors in the World Series.

The Yankees were my favorite team and their centerfielder Mickey Mantle was my favorite player.

When I was a kid the games were played during the day, and the Presentation Sisters who taught at St. Mary’s School would let us listen to the games on the radio during class. The nuns were as invested in the games as we students.

Now the games are at night for better TV ratings, but young baseball fans, especially in the Eastern Time Zone where the games don’t start until after 8 p.m., have to go to bed before the games end after 11:30 p.m. — well after then, if there are extra innings. I think that is one of the unfortunate reasons baseball has lost its luster as America’s Pastime.

Frank Miller, the Des Moines Register’s Pulitzer Prize-winning front page cartoonist from 1953-1983, always had a cartoon featuring the Yankees during the World Series. His cartoons would always note that it wasn’t an official World Series unless the Yankees were playing. He’d always sign those cartoons, “Frank Miller, Yankees Fan.”

I don’t follow baseball much myself now, but I’d sure get excited again if we could get the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in the World Series. We can dream, can’t we?