Over the years, I’ve read articles in fashion magazines like GQ that scoff at guys over the age of 25 that wear jerseys. “Jerseys are for athletes and children,” some snarky writer will claim. That has always hit a nerve, because at the age of 38, I have a decent collection of jerseys and I like to wear them from time to time. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, right?
Whether it’s my classic Mitchell & Ness Penny Hardaway jersey, or the CCM San Jose Sharks jersey I got in 4th grade, I like throwing them on once in a while to mix things up. Every jersey I own has a story – whether it’s a player I’ve always liked or a team I thought was cool.
Of course, I do have certain style rules for certain jerseys. My black Nike Philadelphia Brian Dawkins jersey I only wear for Eagles playoff games. For soccer, I generally only break out my USA, Korea, Argentina, or Italy jerseys during the World Cup (and European Cup for Italy). And for hockey, I got to go to my first San Jose Sharks game in San Jose a few years back and of course wore it to the game.
The basketball jerseys are a bit more flexible, as I like to break them out throughout the summer months. I’ve also been wearing the soccer jerseys on runs since they are lightweight and made of DRI-FIT material.
Overall, I agree, grown men should be careful about their jersey choices and how often they wear them. But, I’d argue that if you have a favorite team or jersey, who cares – break it out more often.
