October, 2005:

• New Orleans Times-Picayune - "NFL Wants Saints to Stay"
  October 31, 2005
  Saints owner Tom Benson has balked at making a firm commitment to keep his team in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. On Sunday, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue did it for him. Making the strongest pledge yet to the storm-ravaged area's weary fans, Tagliabue said the Saints plan to be a part of a rebuilt Louisiana, albeit perhaps as a remodeled franchise that represents the entire state and Gulf Coast region.
  Source: www.nola.com
   
• Phoenix RoadRunners Unveil Suns Sweaters (ECHL (hockey))
  October 28, 2005
  The Phoenix RoadRunners unveiled their Phoenix Suns-themed sweaters that will be worn on Friday and Saturday to celebrate “NBA Weekend” at America West Arena. The sweaters are in the Suns purple with orange and grey stripes and have Phoenix across the chest and Suns patches on each shoulder. Phoenix Suns guard and National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Steve Nash will be honorary captain and drop the ceremonial first puck for Friday’s game against San Diego.
  Source: www.echl.com
   
• Pittsburgh Pounders Unveil Logo (Continental Professional Hockey League)
  October 28, 2005
  The Pittsburgh Pounders of the Continental Professional Hockey League are excited to unveil their team logo. After much thinking and going through many design ideas Chris Schweitzer came up with the winner.
  
  
  
  Source: www.localsportsreport.com/stcatharinesicecatsnews/
   
• Greenville Drive Unveil New Nickname, Logo (South Atlantic League (baseball))
  October 27, 2005
  When Greenville’s Class A minor league baseball team takes the field in its new, downtown stadium next April, the ballclub will also be sporting a brand new name announced today: the Greenville Drive. “Greenville has an incredibly entrepreneurial, forward-looking spirit, and we wanted the name to reflect that enthusiasm,” said team president Craig Brown. Its remarkable success on so many fronts has been the result of individuals who had a vision and made it a reality through perseverance and hard work. It is that unique quality and experience we wanted to capture in the name of this community’s team."
  Source: www.greenvilledrive.com
   
• Salt Lake Bees Unveil New Nickname, Logo (Pacific Coast League (baseball))
  October 27, 2005
  Owner, Larry H. Miller, announced today that the Salt Lake Stingers have officially changed the teams name to the Salt Lake Bees. The new logo, colors and uniforms were also unveiled. The change brings Salt Lake baseball back to its original franchise name and look when the states first Pacific Coast League team was named the Bees in 1915. "We are excited to bring Salt Lake baseball back to its roots," said Miller. "The Bees are a significant part of baseball history in Utah and its our hope that the change will bring with it the nostalgia baseball is known for."
  Source: www.slbees.com
   
• Carthage College Unveils New Athletic Marks (NCAA)
  October 22, 2005
  During its Oct. 21 meeting, the Carthage College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to continue the traditional nickname for men's athletic teams. Reconnecting with the original intent of the nickname, as well as its actual usage for a generation during the early 20th century, the College will emphasize that the name refers solely to "Red Men." There will be no association with Native Americans, whatsoever. The nickname will be spelled with a capital "M" as two words.
  Source: www.carthage.edu
   
• LaGrange College Unveils New Athletic Mark (NCAA)
  October 21, 2005
  This morning the LaGrange College Board of Trustees was shown a redesigned rendition of the school’s mascot, the Panther; moments later, shirts emblazoned with the new official trademark were being offered for sale in the College’s bookstore. “We had to rush to get a few dozens shirts in, but we wanted to make sure we had something to offer our customers on the day the new Panther was announced,” said Anita Laney, Bookstore Director. Today’s unveiling comes after students were given a sneak preview of the new logo during an event Monday evening. College officials have been working with a design firm since June to come up with the updated look.
  Source: www.lagrange.edu
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "An Interview with Chris Willis"
  October 20, 2005
  Editor's Note: The following is a transcript of Paul Lukas' interview with decal-maker Chris Willis.
  Paul Lukas: How'd you get into this business?
  Chris Willis: About 20 years ago I was working at a screen-printing shop in Alabama, and we kinda backed into making football-helmet decals. We weren't doing that originally, but someone came in and asked if we could do it. It was one of those deals where we said, "Sure!" And then, as soon as he walked out, we looked at each other and said, "How the heck are we gonna do that?"
  Source: www.espn.com
   
• Reno Silver Sox Unveils Nickname, Logos (Golden Baseball League)
  October 20, 2005
  The Golden Baseball League announced today that it has finalized business negotiations with the University of Nevada to field a professional baseball team at Peccole Park, beginning in the League’s 2006 season. The lease agreement with the University will be the eighth facility agreement for the GBL and the fourth with a major collegiate organization. The team will be the League’s first franchise in the State of Nevada.
  Source: www.goldenbaseball.com
   
• Cincinnati RailRaiders Unveil New Name, Logo (American Hockey League)
  October 20, 2005
  Gardens Hockey Inc. announced at a news conference today that the new name of its American Hockey League franchise is the Cincinnati RailRaiders. The previous name of the franchise was the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. The team played eight seasons at Cincinnati Gardens from 1997-2005 as the top affiliate for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Hockey Company, a division of Reebok Inc., worked with the RailRaiders staff to design the new team logos. Team colors are blue, silver and black.
  Source: www.theahl.com
   
• Connecticut Defenders Unveil Name, Logos (Eastern League (baseball))
  October 14, 2005
  The announcement was made Monday afternoon at the Hard Rock Cafe in Foxwoods Resort & Casino as the new name and logo were unveiled to the public. “The ‘Connecticut Defenders’ refers to state industry both current and historical”, DiBella said. “I think the logo is one of the most powerful in all of Minor League Baseball and conveys the immense pride citizens of Connecticut have for the state based defense industry, especially recently. The process of changing the name was not something we did lightly. It was through personal conversations with countless fans, civic leaders and advertisers. The result is inspiring. And I was especially energized by the participation of the thousands of fans from all over the region, affirming this really is Connecticut’s Hometown team.”
  Source: www.ctdefenders.com
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "Pennant Race"
  October 10, 2005
  If you watched pro or college football this past weekend, you had plenty of opportunities to see the American flag, which appears on the back of NCAA and NFL helmets (plus there's Jeremy Shockey's tattoo, although that wasn't visible yesterday because the Giants had a bye). But if you flipped channels over to the baseball playoffs, there were several flags on display there, too -- you just had to look a bit harder to see them. Uni Watch is referring to the small but growing number of MLB players who send shout-outs to their homelands by wearing their flags of national origin somewhere on their equipment. It's an interesting trend, and it makes sense because baseball is an increasingly international sport, as opposed to football, in which almost all players are American. Flag-clad participants in the divisional playoffs, all of whom are Dominican, have included David Ortiz (who wears the Dominican emblem on his wristbands), Vlad Guerrero (on his glove), Ervin Santana (also on his glove) and Albert Pujols (look closely -- it's on his shoe tongues).
  Source: www.espn.com
   
• Sacramento Kings Unveil New Gold Alternate Uniforms (National Basketball Association)
  October 9, 2005
  Some things are just wrong. New York Yankee Jason Giambi - a steroid-using tub of goo - is actually named American League Comeback Player of the Year by so-called fans? That's wrong. World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Diego Corrales gets knocked out Saturday for trading punches with a motivated brawler while Corrales had nothing to gain? Wrong.
  Source: www.sacbee.com
   
• Houghton College Unveils New Athletic Logos (NCAA)
  October 7, 2005
  Houghton College’s new – and first official -- athletics brand identity made its public debut Friday at the conclusion of the annual Homecoming Campus Store Fashion Show. The event, which was attended by students, fans, alumni, faculty, and staff, featured the unveiling of the primary Highlander logo displayed on a large banner, student-athletes modeling new uniforms and team apparel, merchandise from the Campus Store, and Houghton President Dan Chamberlain donned in full Scottish regalia, while waving a five-by-eight-foot logo-emblazoned flag.
  Source: www.houghton.edu
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas -  "The NHL Dresses Up Again"
  October 5, 2005
  Hmmm, players with unpronounceable French names, fights breaking out every few minutes, fans tossing octopi onto the playing surface … ah yes, we remember this game. Welcome back, NHL. Uni Watch has missed you. Uniform-wise, the big story during the NHL's hiatus has been all the chatter about the league switching to more form-fitting uniforms. But that's not happening this season, at least not for most of the players. Goalies, however, may be wearing slim-fit jerseys at some point this season, although it's not clear when. Initial reports indicated that the new jerseys might be ready for Opening Night, but that's not going to happen.
  Source: www.espn.com
   
• Kansas City to be Newest Arena Football League Franchise (Arena Football League)
  October 5, 2005
  The Arena Football League Board of Directors approved last night in a unanimous vote via conference call to add Kansas City as an expansion team for the 2006 season. The team will be stocked with players formerly under contract to the New Orleans VooDoo, who suspended play for 2006 because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Kansas City will join the Utah Blaze as expansion teams for 2006.
  Source: www.arenafootball.com
   
• Uni Watch by Paul Lukas - "Out of the Loop"
  October 3, 2005
  It was a veritable smorgasbord of uni-related details this past weekend, starting with Johnny Damon wearing an Astros cap during Boston's wild card celebration, instead of the Red Sox cap everyone else was wearing. Was Damon, who's eligible for free agency after this season, sending a subtle message about where he'd like to play in 2006? Let the uni-based negotiations -- or at least the conspiracy theories -- begin! Meanwhile, over in the NFL, there was that green helmet decal that everyone was wearing in honor of the Cardinals-49ers game, which took place in Mexico City (where the Cards and Niners also wore a jersey patch, for good measure).
  Source: www.espn.com
   
• Montreal Canadiens Unveil 100th Anniversary Logo (National Hockey League)
  October 3, 2005
  Exactly four years, two months, and a day ahead of the 100-year anniversary of their founding as a franchise, the Canadiens unveiled a series of ambitious initiatives tied to their 2009 Centennial. At a corporate luncheon for suite holders and partners held Monday afternoon at the Bell Centre, team President Pierre Boivin laid out several bold plans and projects that will carry the team through its Dec. 4, 2009 anniversary.
  Source: www.canadiens.com