It would seem that this is the appropriate time to be thinking about specialty items we may want to prepare for the relays. I've been thinking about this a bit.

When college basketball teams win the final four or do something like that they usually have T-shirts ready to go, saying something about "National Champions". Sometimes they have hats too. When they are cutting down the nets or being awarded with the trophy they all show up in their matching T-shirts. Eventually the same T-shirt designs go on sale to the public and someone makes a lot of money.

We may want to get T-shirts made up ahead of time.

Another thing that would be nice to have is a write-up on the teams. At the '99 WOC, USOF or the team, or someone got organized and prepared a little pamphlet that had pictures and short biographies or interview questions of each team member. They make a very nice souvenir and become collectors' items. There is usually a page reserved for autographs so that fans can get a "personalized" pamphlet. They are good to sell, but are also nice for team members to keep. (Unfortunately the '99 WOC pamphlets were misleading and had a lot of misquotes etc. in them. That was a disappointment, but the idea was a good one.)

It would be fairly easy to write a pamphlet, especially if each team member were willing to answer a few questions, etc. I could do it if there is interest.

What do other OKers think?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 29, 2000

Answers

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves!

Let's keep our focus on orienteering well -- I'll be happy with whatever place we get if we all run well. I wouldn't be satisfied with a win if we didn't run well.

We can worry about the souveniers after the event.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), March 29, 2000.

Well, I would enjoy a win even if we don't all run well. If we manage to win with less than great runs, then that means we still did better than all the other teams. Of course I'll be happier if we all have great runs and win. I'll be able to deal with all having good runs and not finishing in the top 3, because that's just a good honest competition. I like the idea of tee shirts and pamphlets, but I agree that we must focus on the orienteering first, and not on the possible outcome (I'm pretty sure Mook is indeed focusing on the o' but enjoying thinking about what might happen).

-- Peggy (Pdickison@aol.com), March 29, 2000.

If we have T-shirts made up ahead of time then we can wear them at the awards ceremony. I think it would be just great for other clubs to see that we had T-shirts ready to go before the relays were even run!

Of course, if we don't win then we don't wear the shirts. A lot of teams have shirts already made up and don't get to wear them. That's part of life.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 30, 2000.

A shirt that said something like "Orienteer Kansas Relay Team 2000" would certainly be pretty cool. It would probably become the envy of all fashion concious orienteers. It wouldn't surprise me if places like "The Gap" and "The Limited" started copying the style.

So, who is taking charge of getting these T-shirts?

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 30, 2000.

I had rather naively assumed that Mary was already busily embroidering them as we speak. However, given Spike's question, now I think it's safe to assume that that is not the case. If we want T-shirts we should get them. Maybe there's someone out there willing to take on this thankless task. I don't know who that would be. Who was it that suggested T-shirts in the first place?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 30, 2000.