Yes. It has finally arrived. I had my inclinations that the Netherlands home kit would hit the stores just in time for their friendly against Bayern Munich after the away kit made its debut in a glorious win over England (in which my boy Robben had a pair of goals). Anyway, according to a worldsoccershop.com you can now buy the home kit. Here it is.
I wish I had more time to write about it, because it’s probably my favorite Holland kit. But, I don’t. So, we’ll take this up at another time.
As many of you already know through my constant, almost freakin’ annoying blogging about it * ( HERE, HERE, HERE TOO ) * my goal in life had been to get my hand on the new Netherlands Football Kit which launched earlier this month. I hadn’t had a chance to visit NikeTown in San Francisco until yesterday and, poor as hell, I caved in and bought it.
IT IS P H E N O M E N A L >>
It’s glorious. But, that isn’t why I’m writing this today. Take a look at the top of picture, in the center, at the size of the jersey: L as in LARGE.
I’ve raved and hyped about this jersey because it is beautiful, but to July!, having the new Netherlands kit was always more about the journey, and a symbol of accomplishment. As some of you may know, I’ve lost a little weight over the last 12-14 months. It’s been a loooonggg, hard, physically grueling and emotionally handicapping experience for me. Here’s what I looked like say, in late 2009, early 2010. At my heaviest, I was 315 pounds and was very close to some very serious health problems as the ripe old age of 26-27.
It was a very happy time in my life actually, but it was very much full of complacency. Too much of a great thing is great until that great thing keeps you from wanting to be greater. It’s taken me a while to realize that, and to be honest, it’s something that I still work on today. Even right now. Anyway, this is me now. Earlier this year, in January, at 207 pounds, for my 29th birthday.
Sorry, can lose all the weight in the world, but the ugly mug stays the same.
Quite the improvement, I would say. I get asked now if I FEEL better … of course. You don’t really know how miserable you are as a bigger person until you become a smaller person. But the process hasn’t been the funnest. I’ve had to lose a lot more than weight to get here. AND THAT is where the Holland kit comes in. The 30-day HUP HOLLAND HUP challenge revolves around NikeTown’s return policy.
My goal throughout this whole weight ordeal was to, not only fit the new Netherlands kit, but to ROCK it. A couple of months ago, say 6, I was out with a friend talking about this jersey, when I said something to the degree of, “yeah, and I’m going to buy the L(arge) because I was to trick my brain into working harder and losing more weight.” To which she replied, rather defiantly, “Noooo, there is no way you’ll fit a L(arge).” I don’t think my friend meant it in a bad way, and, it’s been my goal to prove said person wrong.
I tried on the jersey in the fitting room and surprisingly, it fit. And while the weight loss may look significant, I assure you that when I look at myself in the mirror every morning, I know that there is STILL a lot of work to do. I’m hoping to finish these next 30-days of hard work, put on the shirt and keep it. If I’m unsatisfied, NikeTown will take the jersey back (with a receipt) no questions asked, for the next 30 days.
So, that’s where I’m at. I feel like a bride who’s trying very hard to lose weight to fit into a wedding dress. Jesus, pretty sad analogy, but it’s the first that came to mind. I challenge you too, OhMyJuly-er. Find something that is too small for you to wear (not TOO small) and work your butt off with me and if you don’t end up rocking it. Let me know how you do.
And good luck.
Before we begin, a little history lesson, courtesy of our friends at Wikipedia: The Netherlands national football team famously plays in bright orange shirts. Orange is the historic national colour of the Netherlands, originating from the coat of arms of the Dutch founding father William of Orange-Nassau. The top red band of the current flag was originally orange. The current Dutch away shirt is white, with two thin lines outlining a chevron containing the colours of the Dutch flag. Occasionally, orange socks are worn instead of light blue socks, such as in the qualifier against Scotland on March 28, 2009.
Well, it’s no longer white. And as you’ve seen me post a couple times on July! already, THE FUTURE IS HERE …
That of course is Wesley Sneijder, midfielder of the Oranje, sporting the 2012 kit, to be released on Feb. 29, just in time for EURO 2012. It’s a thing of beauty, the away kit, and I’m assuming the home kit will follow shortly — it’s my understanding that it’ll be out sometime before the friendly against Bayern Munich in May. I’m sure this will hold us Dutch fans over until then. I’ve combed the internet for information on this shirt, and to be honest, most people are picking from the same news source, mostly about how technologically advanced the jersey is. That’s all good. And from what I can gather, most people actually like it and are saying it’s Nike’s best looking new kit.
Here’s what Holland has done before.
For a much more detailed look, the link will take you to the boys at OldFootballShirts.com, they have a collection of, well, old football shirts. It’s pretty sick to go through all of them. But the sakes of this post, notice the away kits. Some person somewhere said this was the first time Holland has gone with a black touch, and obviously that isn’t the case. 2002-2004 we got black. Closer look.
That’s my boy’s, Ruud (I have his Real Madrid shirt, TY, B). Anyways, It’s bulky, trash-bag like and there’s too much orange. Which sounds weird coming from a team who’s color is orange, but, it’s trying too hard, let’s just put it that way. The 2012 version doesn’t shy away from the black. The thing is intimidating. But it stays true, and is taken to that OTHER level by the orange half-sash on the right side. Totally loving the look. I liked the white, but the black screams bolder. Check out the No. pattern on the back.
There are a lot of great details, and for the sakes of time and not wanting to copy all the cool features from other sites that have had them posted for a while now, here are some places to visit if you wish to learn more about the shirt. First, a video from the release party in the Netherlands. My only complaint is that stupid song with Pitbull. Stupid.
And here are the other links … ONE … TWO … THREE … FOUR … (you’re going to have to trust me and click).
Yes. I did indeed check ahead to see if NikeTown San Francisco will launch the jersey on Feb. 29th as promised by the people at Nike Soccer. This is what they replied.
Great news because it totally saves you money on the shipping charge. Anyways, so, I’ll be at 278 Post St. San Francisco at 10 a.m. to buy my shirt.
Can’t wait. HUP HOLLAND HUP!
RELEASED TO THE PAYING PUBLIC FEB. 29TH 2012. MORE ON THIS LATER.
Oh My July! 