STEELE SPORTS

Growing up, I remember watching old highlights of athletes I admired, such as Joe Namath, Deion Sanders and Sean Taylor putting on a show between the boundary lines with their distinct play styles.
However, one thing about these athletes stood out almost as much as their athletic ability: their style.
Most sports fans have heard Sanders’ iconic saying, “If you look good you, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”
It’s hard to argue with that logic.
One thing that I’ve noticed from the sidelines this season, particularly on the gridiron, is how some “old school” trends are finding their way back onto the field.
While other sports, including volleyball and cross-country, have fairly strict codes about what can and can’t be worn, football offers athletes a great deal of freedom.
One style that has found its way to seemingly every team is the mullet.
While it’s hard to see the business in the front with a helmet on, the party in the back is definitely on display for spectators.
One mullet that stands out, in particular, is that of Blooming Prairie receiver Colin Jordison.
It’s hard to miss Jordison’s blonde locks flying around the field as he makes plays at wide receiver, defensive back and even kicker.
With the talent and platinum blonde locks, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to college football legend Brian “The Boz” Bosworth’s mullet back in his days at the University of Oklahoma.
I’ve also noticed Medford, NRHEG and Owatonna athletes and fans alike sporting the look.
As a former mulleted-athlete myself, I have to say that I am a fan of the style and hope that it is here to stay.
Another trend making its way back to the field is taping and spatting.In particular, I have seen a decent number of athletes go back to the no-gloves and taped fingers look that Sean Taylor popularized.
For those unfamiliar, Taylor used to take thin tape and wrap one piece around each small bone on his fingers to give himself added grip without having to wear gloves.
Gloves are notorious for getting wet and losing their “stick.”
Tape, on the other hand, will not lose its grip as the friction of the tape with the ball is what gives athletes the edge.