Caps Host Red Out
This " color out" business can occasionally get confusing. In honor of tonight's meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes--easily the biggest home game involving any pro D.C. team in calendar year 2008--Caps fans are being asked to wear red, which the team is calling a "Red Out." It's the second time this season Caps fans have been asked to wear red against the Carolina Hurricanes, who, coincidentally, also wear red, although the first game was called "Go Red," which was followed by a home game against Pittsburgh that involved a "White Out."
Unsolicited suggestion for the next such game: "Better Dead Than Red." No wait, actually, that wouldn't work. Anyhow, why call for a Red Out?
"Because that's the color of our home jerseys, that's what we wear when we're at home," chief marketing officer Tim McDermott said. "It's a powerful color and we want to get everyone out there energized and exciting. It's part of our brand building, and it's part of creating excitement."
Obviously with the playoffs at stake there's no time for bloggers to raise red herrings, but "Red Out" is kind of new to me, except in the context of Visine and illicit drugs. My concern is for the office drones who might not own a Sidney Lowe-style red blazer.
"Wear a red tie," McDermott advised.
I'm pretty sure that my own wardrobe is alarmingly red-less, plus both Carolinas are classified as red states, which briefly raised a red flag in the back of my well-read brain.
"We're gonna have to change that," McDermott said of my haberdasherific failings. "Red is the hot new in color. Red is the new black, absolutely."
(McDermott, I should point out, was dealing with some DMV nonsense this afternoon, which means he'll have to wade through layers of red tape.)
Of course, if the red-hot Caps manage to keep things going with a red-letter day against the 'Canes, their fans are liable to paint the town red in the next two days, even as the Wizards return home and roll out the red carpet for Biz Markie tomorrow night.
The Caps, I should point out, aren't the only team to engage in color-themed home games. Last Spring, the appropriately named Red Wings asked fans to "Join the Red Wave," while the Calgary Flames have long boasted a C of Red. The Thrashers gave away free t-shirts and held a white-out, which seems somewhat redundant for a hockey game in Atlanta, while the Winnipeg Jets were famous for their white-outs (see above), a tradition that continues in Phoenix, where the Coyotes actually have a copyright on the term. And who can forget the Flyers and their Orange Crush, or D.C. United and its blackout, which has also been used by every college football program in America.
Red Out, those, is all ours, as long as you don't count the University of Illinois at Chicago. And if I were in charge, the big screen would show highlights featuring Redd Foxx, "Red Dawn," and the Red Shoe Diaries; all entering fans would be given a Vodka and Red Bull, some Visine and a pack of Big Red while being subjected to some good old-fashioned red-baiting, and Mike Green would be forced to change his name to Michael Redd.
(And if you think it can't get any bigger than the Red Out, don't forget Saturday is Ovechkin bobblehead night. For that, I'd wear red.)
(And please, if I've missed any red-based sayings, have at 'em.)
By Dan Steinberg |
April 1, 2008; 1:34 PM ET
| Category:
Caps
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Posted by: jer | April 1, 2008 1:37 PM
Having a Red Out is no different than Miami with their White Out and Golden State last year had the Gold Out. I think it is pretty cool. It has been a while since the hockey team generated this much excitement.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 1, 2008 1:46 PM
My girlfriend joined the red wave the other day, and I can't tell you how relieved I was.
Posted by: Larry Bird Flu | April 1, 2008 1:56 PM
I can't believe I red this whole post.
Posted by: Icantfeelmyface | April 1, 2008 2:18 PM
Who can explain stuff like this? First impression is that its juvenile, stupid, and insane. Upon further review, one understands that it does provide an energy, a synchronization of people and a kind of mass hysteria that seems to help.
Posted by: Muddapucker | April 1, 2008 2:26 PM
At least you are already in town and don't have to catch the Red Eye flight.
Posted by: Gustafsson | April 1, 2008 2:34 PM
Better red than dead, I always say...or something.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 1, 2008 2:40 PM
St. John's sez quit biting their steez.
Posted by: StetSports.com | April 1, 2008 2:44 PM
Not crazy about the Caps red sweaters, but I am crazy about the Caps. I'll have my red on tonight for sure. It's been a LONG time since the Caps generated this much excitement.
Posted by: Joe | April 1, 2008 2:56 PM
Maryland had a "Terp Red Out" in 2001-02. I still have my T-shirt stating as much.
Posted by: Lindemann | April 1, 2008 2:59 PM
I've been wearing red all day(that guy was looking at me wrong).
I'll be at the game too.
Posted by: sitruc | April 1, 2008 3:59 PM
I've got my red tie on at work today. Doesn't matter that I'm in Vegas and no one would have any clue as to the symbolism behind my tie...
Posted by: Scott | April 1, 2008 4:38 PM
Consider this to be The Hunt for not a "Red October", but a Red April, and a Red May.
Posted by: Chris in SS | April 2, 2008 10:09 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
you'd think, "Red Line" might be incorporated, for obvious Metro/hockey tie-in reasons.