Magazine Cover Derby Round 4.01 "Casey of the Mets" vs. "Armed Force"

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/magazines/MCD.png>



Vote for the cover that you like the best. Voting will run for seven days.



Casey of the Mets

Sports Illustrated, March 5, 1962.

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28076Round 1.01

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28377Round 2.02

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28505Round 3.01

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/magazines/19620305_SI.jpg>





Armed Force

Sports Illustrated, August 25, 1986.

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28286Round 1.26

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28465Round 2.16

Winner of http://thecranepool.net/phpBB32/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28555Round 3.08

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/magazines/19860825_SI.jpg>

[Edgy MD]

Fun Fact: The full-length shots from this cover shoot revealed Casey to be wearing ROOS.

[kcmets]

What are ROOS?

[Edgy MD]

ROOS (aka KangaROOS) were a goofy entry into the 1980s athletic footwear market, known for the kangaroo silhouette logo and pockets built into the shoe so jocks could hold onto their key, their change, or their jewelry while going at it.



In the US, they became something of a punchline as the Sneaker Wars progressed, but they managed to become the shoe of choice for such athletic big shots as Walter Payton, Ozzie Smith, The Fridge, O.J. Anderson, and our own Ron Darling.



https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/roos-2.jpg> https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/roos-1.jpg>



I was joking about Casey, of course. They probably weren't bad, but culturally, they became the Garanimals of footwear. Only LA Gear was more derided.



It ain't about the sneakers!

Turn up the speakers!

[kcmets]

Funny, I have zero recollection of that.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

As I recall ROOS they followed closely on the whole Australian-culture-is-hot thing that happened in the 1980s. (I think it started with Men at Work and progressed from there to Crocodile Dundee, ROOS, and Outback steak house.



Also Reeboks were super hot then though I think they were South African and not Australian but I'm not sure people knew the difference here.

[kcmets]

I definitely had a few pairs of Reeboks over the years.

[seawolf17]

I don't remember owning ROOS, but I definitely remember seeing them in stores. The first sneaker gimmick I remember buying were the Reebok Pumps.

[Edgy MD]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/28/3b/88/283b885612e5011a8158604383fd9657.jpg>



https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c0/46/63/c04663b6520a8ae03b107631c85e8827.jpg>

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I had one pair of Reeboks, when the white ones were totally hot.



As I recall they were really comfortable and looked great for about 5 minutes then got dirty and ripped. Summer of 85 was crazy times, I tellya

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

My friend Sean aspired to a yuppie lifestyle (and sort of achieved it in his own way) and really leaned into white reeboks as an element of his style. His dream was to mix these fairyboy white aerobics shoes with symbols of a tougher lifestyle (a Harley Davidson) but back then could only afford the sneaks.

[Centerfield]

I think I had a blue/gray version of these.



https://tellmehowilooknow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/roos.jpg?w=584>

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Your gym locker key is probably still inside

[Centerfield]

I don't know how others feel about 80's era sneakers, but for me, they were such a big part of growing up. I'll never forget coming to school one day and being told that my sneakers weren't the "cool" kind. Until that point in my life (I'm guessing 5th or 6th grade? Can't remember) sneakers were just sneakers. And as I tore through sneakers like they were made of papers, my mom started just getting me throw away pairs from the local department store. I remember having "Pro-Sprints" or "Pro Wings" and other brands that kinda looked like Nikes. My only nice shoes were baseball cleats (Nikes) and basketball shoes (Converse) but those could only be worn when playing in the games.



My first "cool" sneakers were these Reeboks. They weren't great shoes, and I thought they were ugly, but when you're in 7th grade, the last thing you can do is think for yourself.



https://assets.reebok.com/images/w_600,h_600,f_auto,q_auto:sensitive,fl_lossy/b17722a1edf44a3488a0a81000026ec0_9366/Freestyle_Hi_Grade_School_Black_50142_01_standard.jpg>



I wore them because I knew that the cool kids had stamped these as acceptable. Still kinda hate myself for doing it. God, middle school is such a shit time in a person's life.



By the time I entered high school, the 80's ended, people cared less about what you wore, and eventually I figured out what I liked. Started working, made a little money and suddenly I was free to buy any sneaker except the super expensive ones like Air Jordans. I loved the Nike Air Huaraches. I went through a few pairs of those. But my favorite shoes were Adidas blue high tops. Something kinda like these:



http://www.ericjamessmith.com/images/large/blue%20adidas%20high%20tops-925dep.jpg >



I bought my first pair of Jordans for my 40th birthday. I had always wanted a pair, and it was kinda fun to finally buy a pair without feeling super guilty about how much money I was spending. I even played in them a few times. At the time I was playing a weekly pickup game with other guys all over 40. Two and a half decades after the commercial, I was able to confirm to Spike Lee that it most definitely was not the shoes.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

You and your Adidas did the illest things

Like stomping on pimps with diamond rings

[dgwphotography]

I can't find a picture of them, but I used to get these sweet white Nikes with orange and blue trim. They looked so sweet with my parachute pants....



Before that, I was all about my blue suede Clyde Pumas...

[G-Fafif]

Before that, I was all about my blue suede Clyde Pumas...

I didn't give up my height-of-fashion Clydes (or their temporary fill-in Spaldings) until they were well, well out of style, though before they came back in as nostalgia kicks (Mariah Carey wore them in the "Dreamlover" video). Put on my first pair of Pumas while Carter was running against Ford and didn't take off my last one until after Bush defeated Dukakis. If I'm anything, it's brand-loyal.

[whippoorwill]

Honestly I thought you meant underoos

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/magazines/4_01w.jpg>

[Edgy MD]

Man, Casey's a great subject so I can't be too disappointed. But ARMED FORCE is what you want your layout staff to go for. Such perfect framing, with one of his toes tucked into the bleed corner and the other tucked into the corner above the UPC code. The head is laid in front of the logo, but only screens half of one letter. This allows an illusion that makes his gloved hand really come forward. Even the fonts don't look dated.

[Centerfield]

This is exactly right. A terrific cover.



But it was up against Casey.

[Guest 41Forever]

This is exactly right. A terrific cover. But it was up against Casey.

Wait a second. Willie's an "old man scratching his head" but you're cool with Casey over Darling?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Man, Casey's a great subject so I can't be too disappointed. But ARMED FORCE is what you want your layout staff to go for. Such perfect framing, with one of his toes tucked into the bleed corner and the other tucked into the corner above the UPC code. The head is laid in front of the logo, but only screens half of one letter. This allows an illusion that makes his gloved hand really come forward. Even the fonts don't look dated.

Keith would deduct points for Darling's misaligned racing stripes.

[Edgy MD]

That probably was the edge that Casey needed.

[Centerfield]

This is exactly right. A terrific cover. But it was up against Casey. Wait a second. Willie's an "old man scratching his head" but you're cool with Casey over Darling?

Ha. All kidding aside, the Casey picture is iconic. The look on his face is like "Well, I'm not sure what I got myself into, but what the hell."



I have nothing against Mays (or old men) but I didn't like that cover at all. It's such a nothing photo. He is either scratching his head, or adjusting his helmet, or something equally as uninteresting. It's not an action shot, there's no context to it. It's literally just a picture of Willie Mays. Looking a bit uncomfortable at that.



Unless you have that emotional connection to Mays, there's no reason to vote for that cover.

[seawolf17]

Completely agree. The Mays cover has no oomph at all; he's an young man who looks old. Casey is looking right at the camera; an old man who looks old and doesn't give a rat's ass what you think. He's going to make your babies not say "mommy, daddy," he's going to make them say "Metsy." Love it.