Gear Madness 2023

March 16, 2023 131

It is officially March Madness which mean it is once again time for Gear Madness! The yearly tournament to decide which sports uniforms are the best of the best. The four categories chosen to represent the 2023 tournament are: Reverse Retro 2.0, 3rd/Alternates, Spring/Summer Sports, and Defunct Teams. All sorts of chaos will ensue as the defending champion Connecticut Whale Pride sweater looks to defend against all comers.

THE WINNER

THE FINALS

FINAL FOUR

This years Final Four has for the first time ever, complete chalk. There’s been upsets along the way but all the 1 seeds have been able to claw their way in, including the defending champion Connecticut Whale Pride sweater.

1- Vegas Golden Knights vs 1 – Quebec Nordiques

1 – Connecticut Whale Pride Sweater vs 1 – Charlotte FC Crown Kit

REVERSE RETRO 2.0

The Gear Freaks podcast at it’s heart is a hockey sweater pod and since that is the case, why not put the entire new line of Reverse Retro sweaters against each other? Will it be a cakewalk for the glow in the dark Vegas Golden Knight 1 seed? Can Johnny Canuck continue his uptrend and make a few upsets? You help decide.

ELITE 8

SWEET 16

2nd ROUND

Vegas Golden Knights vs Montreal Canadiens

1ST ROUND

DEFUNCT

We all have teams that had uniforms that we loved that have folded, relocated, or been apart of a league that no longer exists. This is where those teams go. The Quebec Nordiques have reentered the tournament looking to plow their way through competition but XFL version 1.0’s Memphis Maniax might have something to say about it.

ELITE 8

SWEET 16

2nd ROUND

Quebec Nordiques vs California Golden Seals

1ST ROUND

1 – Quebec Nordiques v 16 – Las Vegas Outlaws

2 – Houston Oilers v 15 – Atlanta Thrashers

3 – Montreal Expos v 14 – Jacksonville Bulls

4 – Seattle SuperSonics v 13 – Denver Gold

5 – Hartford Whalers v 12 – Orlando Rage

6 – Memphis Maniaz v 11 – Spirits of St. Louis

7 – Michigan Panthers v 10 – Houston Gamblers

8 – California Golden Seals v 9 – New Orleans Breakers

3RDS/ALTERNATES

Most teams have a home and away uniform. Sometimes that ain’t enough. There are alternate takes on a color scheme, different designs, specialty nights or games. This is the region for all of those. Our defending champion Connecticut Whale Pride jersey comes in swinging as the one seed, can they go all the way again? Can baseballs City Connect jerseys have a strong showing? Or will nostalgia reign supreme with one of the throwback uniforms?

ELITE 8

SWEET 16

2ND ROUND

Connecticut Whale Pride vs San Diego Padres City Connect

Dallas Stars Blackout vs TWolves Statement Edition

New York Giants Throwback vs New Jersey Devils Jersey Jersey

1ST ROUND

1 – Connecticut Whale Pride v 16 – Milwaukee Bucks Classic

2 – Phoenix Suns Classic v 15 – Washington Nationals City Connect

3 – New York Giants Throwback v 14 – Houston Astros City Connect

4 – Golden State Warriors Classic v 13 – Minnesota T-Wolves Statement

5 – Dallas Mavericks City Edition v 12 – Dallas Stars Blackout

6 – Miami Dolphins Throwback v 11 – New Jerseys Jersey Jersey

7 – Cincinnati Bengals Orange Alts v 10 – Carolina Hurricanes Alts

8 – San Diego Padres City Connect v Kansas City Royals City Connect

SPRING/SUMMER SPORTS

We have a little of everything here. Some majors like MLB, but also the MLS, PBLA, XFL, and USFL. Charlotte FC’s brand new Crown Jewel Kit is poised at the one seed to dance all the way to the title but could the 5 seed Trenton Terror of the PBLA shock the world?