Making a circular logo work...

I suppose this is a good time to respond to Phil's comments...Someone out there took one of the better looking logo updates (that has been around for awhile) and turned it into a reality. Critics may dislike the simplicity, but our president George W. Bush once said that "Good solid simple democraticative logo design should be simple...This ain't rocket surgery you know." To answer that, look at how Boston subtly updated their uniform and created one of the best looking of the Edge jerseys on the ice this season.

This concept logo takes original elements from each logo set, the original bison and adds updated larger swords that we got from the shoulder emblem and the red alternate thirds of the goat head era jerseys. Too simple and yet so difficult to grasp by professional trained marketers and designers. It does a good job of incorporating elements from the teams history unlike the current logo which offers the same claim by management. I simply do not see what the hell they are talking about. They stole the Bills' logo, gave him jaundice, hacked off his legs and told him to slither or "charge" to Toronto and be "stylish" while you do it.

I'm more than puzzled that the Sabres think tank and brick layers either #1 Didn't have the collaborative brain power to come up with this on their own and avoid Logogate all together or #2 Let Reebok's design bullies railroad them into the ground with the slug and early Edge System friendly logo.

Wow, an updated variant of the vintage logo "working" on a uniform like I've never imagined. Do you see how much more balanced in color the dark blue looks in the middle of a white uniform instead of the slugster below? However to me, it still looks like an modern and stylish updated uniform with the newer sleeker design elements on the sleeves and front numbers. (a couple things RBK and the Sabres did right in my opinion) Even with this updated crest, it still gives plenty of room to the hardcore vintage lovers out there in keeping the vintage as a distinctively different and profitable 3rd jersey to sell to fans. Peas and Carrots. All along, that jersey above is what I envisioned with excitement back in 2006 as I waited for the return to the blue and gold and long before the slug leaked out and signaled the beginning of the managing partner's brilliant Guerilla marketing campaign to kick in. All the while angry and outraged fans failed to get angry, outraged, and organized enough to matter before a hypnotic complacency kicked in as a result of the Sabres surge to a 10-0 start to the 06' season. Not to mention the managing partner throwing 15 games worth of vintage eye candy at the fans. The only thing clinically proven to keep a horrible logo around...Winning. Most fans including myself would prefer winning more than the Sabres looking good. But I still argue, any professional sports teams should have the right to do both at the same time. (I'll omit my obvious "Office Space" reference here)

Maybe I'm looking at that beautiful thing now hanging in my closet above with rose colored glasses. I'd prefer rose than piss colored glasses any day of the week.

A challenge

I know it's been a while since I've posted last, but bear with me.

I was at work last night, pondering the Slug while basking in the glory of a Leaf raking yet again. I know all you crest-faithful out there hate the Slug, but there is something to be said about it. While the body is butt-ugly, the face of it provides some interesting details that could actually be the basis for a solid logo. Seriously. Turn it forward, so the only visible part of the image is the face. The detailing around the eyes, the horns, the sharp angles - place that face over a pair of crossed sabres, and imagine how nifty that logo would look. Kinda scary, kinda cool, and most importantly not the Slug. It would be a return to the concept we all love - a buffalo and swords featured prominently, proudly displaying our city and team.

I know it sounds like heresy to find a silver lining in that joke, but hear me out. I would love to see some designs by fans out there who want to get rid of this embarassing logo. I don't exactly know where they would be submitted to, but I'm sure something would work. Alright everyone, get to it!

Great News on Richard Zednik...

A couple days removed from his gruesome injury, news is that his condition has been upgraded to Good, that he is out of the Intensive Care Unit of Buffalo General and his discharge is possible within the next 48-72 hours.



Many Buffalo fans have had the displeasure of seeing such a brutal injury happen twice in front of their eyes over the years. I am in no way trying to connect what fans in person and on television witnessed live to even remotely relate to what Malarchuk and Zednik went through on any level. It was no doubt tough on everyone and especially for those two brave men who were within seconds of bleeding to death and the sharp quick acting medical staff who saved their lives.

I hope the press backs off these two men and seriously doesn't try to egg on some public meeting of these two with the notion that it would be good for hockey and their still healing minds from the incident. Leave each of these men alone, let them both go on with their lives and careers. If they choose to meet, respect it, be decent, and let it be done in private with little attention and fanfare. But each man will probably continue to heal from this for the rest of their lives in their own ways and nothing should be forced on them.

Lesson Finally Learned: The NHL should seriously consider getting all players used to wearing face and neck protection, starting at the Junior level.

After doing some research...

I was disgusted to find out that round thing isn't exactly the slug's mouth...it's the "genital opening."


Photo taken by Paul Nicholson.

A Lack of Identity

Charlie's last post reminded me of something that I had been thinking about for quite a while, particularly in the early days of the slug's sad existence. Not only is it aesthetically crippled, but it's not even original or unique in any capacity.

Take another look at this hat...



And tell me it's not a blatant rip-off of this...



Or even this...



Say what you will about the black and red era, but at least the angry goat logo wasn't a blatant ripoff of more successful sports teams' intellectual property and brand identities. Likewise with the third jersey crossed-sabres logo.

And most certainly, the original Sabres logo was unique. There was no mistaking it for anything else. It invoked civic pride, as well as the team name, all at once. Yet it remains on the shelf in favor of a blatant swipe job.

A lot like the team on the ice this year, the slug has no identity. And just like the team on the ice, we have management to thank.

Subtle change to the Sabres home page header.

Maybe this was done because the NHL now runs all the web pages and realize some of the aesthetic error with this atrocious logo...or like Brian Campbell, the slug chose to not negotiate his contract now and he hopes to be traded by February.



The soon to be worst logo in the NHL now has to hide its pointed torso behind the Sabres wordmark.

We here have answered, a site touting Sabres should sport a Sabre or two...Such an oversight on my part. Thanks Drew.



AND

I'm embarassed and can't believe they try to sell slug crap like this featuring RBK's exclusive Ass-Hat fabric technology:



It makes me want to bust out some Zubaz pants, pinch roll them suckers, and kick some ass to Milli Vanilli.

The Slug is penciled in as early Vegas favorite to win worst NHL logo...EVER.

Installed as a very lukewarm 7/2 favorite. Its predecessor, the Angry Goat Head also was nominated and looks to compete with the other shitty logos that have been designed in NHL history.

ESPN's Hammerin Hank says: "The chalk talks in this race."

Chris has done a hell of a job on his site over at the NHL Tourney of Logos, so if the owner of the Washington Capitals chose to personally acknowledge his work, then RBK, the NHL, and hopefully every single one of the managing partners of all NHL teams in Western New York are peeking at this contest as well.

So fecal smear, best of luck to you old friend in this contest. It won't be easy matching up with the Corporate Disney's Mighty Ducks or the brutal Dallas Mooterus but we think you are God awful enough in your own way to finish in the money, complete your legless destiny, and make your uninspired creators ashamed you were ever born.