Top Ten Respectable Jerseys

All the time I see tons of idiots walking around Chicago with jerseys that suck. Every time I go to Wrigley there's a million Nomar Garciaparra jerseys because of his brief stint with the Cubs. People seem to be buying lame jerseys in bulk since they became so popular to own in the early 1990's. I myself owned a ton of jerseys, but when I started seeing kids at school wearing Steve Kerr jerseys I thought the line had been crossed. I mean Kerr's a nice guy and probably the best NBA player ever born in Lebanon, but he's a specialist! He doesn't deserve your money! What's next, people wearing Kelly Wunsch jerseys? Or Israel Idonije jerseys? I mean those guys are sweet, but spend your hard earned scrilla on these underrated jerseys. Guys like Walter Payton, Scottie Pippen, Dan Hampton, etc. have been not included due to the high volume of jerseys that are worn.


Note* I'm giving you a link to buy these jerseys instead of photos so you can stop looking like a tool.


10. Michael Jordan
Everyone and their Mom owns a Jordan jersey (especially the red road jersey.) Time to switch it up a bit. Go with this old school cursive writing Bulls jersey that really screams, “I can dunk on everybody!” The only other respectable Jordan jersey is the Olympic Dream Team one or his uniform from Space Jam.

9. Bill Buckner
Now is the part where I baffle the Cubs fans. “Bill Buckner played for the Cubs?” Yeah and he’s one of the most underrated baseball players in Major League history. Of course Buckner will forever be remembered for the error that “cost” the Red Sox the World Series in 86. Little known fact, Buckner wore a Cubs batting glove underneath his glove during the error. If you wear this jersey, you're tough and love to brawl. You know some idiot at Barleycorn is going to give you crap for wearing it, so knock his teeth in with some purpose and let him know that Bill had 2,700 career hits.

8. Bob Love
I’m really surprised this jersey hasn’t caught on with Omarion or whatever other R & B weirdos are coming out these days. Seriously, Bob Love could hold it down. He was a sick athlete, but more importantly he overcame a horrible speech impediment after his playing career to become a motivational speaker and community relations director for the Bulls. After he dominated the NBA, he held a job as a dishwasher making less than $5 an hour because his stuttering was so bad. But he overcame that and dominated the world again. Kudos to Bob Love, and if you own this jersey, you're just sweet. Also, the Bulls don't sell any Bob Love merchandise, but I can purchase Green St. Patty's Day Kirk Hinrich jerseys if I want. Step your game up Bulls marketing, and fix this problem!

7. Lee Smith
Lee Smith might be the funniest guy (and worst golfer) I have ever been around. I had the lucky chance to be around him for a couple days during a golf outing and he has many many side splitting stories and ways of making you laugh. Anyone that calls their girlfriend “woman” and means it is cool in my book. Lee was also a dominant closer who maintained an awesome haircut during his Cubbie playing days. He sure beats the hell out of Randy Myers or Ryan Dempster.

6. Gale Sayers
I’m a proud owner of a Gale Sayers jersey, and I still firmly believe he is one of the five best running backs to ever play the game. This was Devin Hester before Devin Hester. This is what Reggie Bush strives to be. Gale also had an uncanny way of being polite while talking down to his inferior competition. He always claimed he never worried about the first defender tackling him because it was impossible, so he always looked up field for the second or third guys. If you own this jersey you’re probably extremely arrogant and better than everyone else, or at least you think you are ( or your name is Scott Phillips and that description fits like a glove).

5. Artis Gilmore
First of all Artis wore the number 53. Who wears 53? I enjoy it when guys pick numbers nobody else wears. And I’m not talking about guys like Ron Artest or Dennis Rodman who are “crazy” and wear numbers in the 90’s to personify their character. Gilmore could rebound like no other, and averaged 20 and 20 in the ABA and 17 and 10 in the NBA. He also is Jacksonville’s only important graduate (that’s an assumption, not a fact).

As with the Bob Love jersey the Bulls have nothing on Artis Gilmore, and the only jerseys of his available on ebay are from the Spurs years. Once again, Bulls, I can buy a stupid Andres Nocioni jersey which will mean absolutely NOTHING in five years, or I can honor one of the best big men of a generation. Good call.

4. Billy Williams
Everyone always talks up “Mr. Cub” and Ron Santo lately because of how it’s such a travesty he’s not a Hall of Famer, but Billy Williams was a great ballplayer and a jersey I rarely see in the bad jersey mecca known as Wrigleyville.

3. Stan Mikita
Hawks jerseys are the best in sports, so if you don’t own one by now then you are not a true Chicago fan. If you choose to put a player on there (blank jerseys are respectable too because players change teams so much) then go with Stan Mikita. He’s the greatest Blackhawk of all-time, and also a badass (he was in the penalty box a LOT in his early days) that deserves your appreciation in the form of a jersey.

(Side Note: Is there anything more underrated on sports jerseys than the "A" or the "C" that comes with being a captain in hockey? I think this should be adopted in everyday forms of life. I'm going to start putting "A's" on all my suit coats as I defer being captain to one Matt Olsen.)

2. Shoeless Joe Jackson
There is nothing better than sticking it to the MLB. Shoeless Joe may be banned for life, but support him anyways and show how much you loved Field of Dreams (and hate Bud Selig). Also note that you will probably have to get this jersey custom made because he is banned from baseball. But would you rather drop some dough on the dough filled Jermaine Dye, or have a piece of baseball history on your back?

1. Brian Piccolo
There is no jersey on a Chicago fan I respect more than the Brian Piccolo jersey. Brian was a true gamer, working his way from undrafted free agent, to practice squad, to special teams, to backup tailback and finally starting fullback. His legacy however remains in his tragic death from cancer when he was just 26 years old. From this came Brian’s Song, one of the better sports movies ever made, as well as a very good biography about him. He is the epitome of the blue collar athlete and a player that will always be respected.


So there you have it folks, some true underrated Chicago jerseys that will get fans across the city respecting your ability to identify with true Chicago icons. This list was inspired after seeing my first Fukudome jersey of the year and realizing that Wrigley Field will be littered with morons wearing that jersey and chanting "F***-you-Do-ME" and laughing about it as if it's funny. As a public service announcement, unless you are Asian, a child under 12 years old, or a respectful, knowledgeable baseball fan, please do not buy this jersey. If you do chant "F***-you-Do-Me" I WILL spend $7 to pelt you with a beer.

Important Note* Top Ten Chicago Sports does not support these specific ebay lisitings. These were merely added in order for you to expand your horizons and move on from your Rex Grossman jersey. If you get had, or get a wrong jersey it is the fault of the ebay seller and you and not Top Ten Chicago Sports.