(by Michael C. Lewis sltrib.com 8-7-10)
For the first time in its history, Real Salt Lake will follow the example of countless other teams in a variety of other sports by unveiling a new “alternate” uniform.
It just won’t do it at home.
Instead, the team will debut its new bright yellow outfits when it plays at Kansas City on Saturday night, in part because it superstitiously fears that switching uniforms at home could jinx its 20-game regular-season unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Of course, team officials played coy on that point, with coach Jason Kreis saying the decision was made “above my head” and that uniform colors have had little to do with constructing the second-longest home unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer history.
“We had more flexibility of introducing a third kit on the road,” general manager Garth Lagerwey insisted.
Yet the team has had the uniforms all season, spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald said, and still has no plans to wear them at home — at least until it loses there again.
The team had considered breaking out its new uniforms for the opening game of the CONCACAF Champions League at home later this month, but won’t be allowed to wear them in that tournament because there is no room on the short sleeves of the jerseys for an official Champions League patch.
Yellow jerseys will go on sale at the stadium when RSL opens its inaugural trip into the Champions League against Arabe Unido of Panama on Aug. 18, but the team still will be wearing its usual red and white uniforms on the field.
“If you’re winning and doing well, it’s a nice uniform,” said defender Chris Wingert, who used to wear yellow regularly as a member of the Columbus Crew. “But if you’re not doing well, I don’t think you want to be out in bright yellow colors.”
Several other MLS teams have introduced “third kits” this season, most notably the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC.
While Toronto has played in pink jerseys to encourage breast cancer awareness, the Sounders have used a garish neon yellow-and-lime-green kit nicknamed “Electricity.”
The yellow RSL outfits made by adidas are known as “Victory Gold,” and the defending MLS Cup champions will wear them at Philadelphia next week, in addition to the game in Kansas City.
“Obviously, we hope that fans like the jerseys and will buy them,” Lagerwey said, though the team is not expecting an overwhelming consumer demand.
Meanwhile, the team is hoping for a strong start to its rugged stretch of 14 games in the next 56 days.
It lost its last road game last month to snap a franchise-record 10-game unbeaten streak, but beat the Wizards 4-1 earlier this season and is coming off a 3-0 home victory over last-place D.C. United last weekend.
It remains the highest-scoring team in the league with 32 goals, with one of the stingiest defenses.
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