Ed Hochuli - SI Cover!
 

Just when you thought you saw it all........

https://subscription.si.com/storefro...storeCode=SUBS

Hopefully, someone will post a better picture.

I'm an SI subscriber and when I was reading through the digital version on my iPad the other night, they had a poll up asking to pick this week's edition's cover story. The NFL replacement referee controversy led th poll by a pretty wide margin. Didn't know they were going to put the gun show on the cover though.

I find it interesting that Ed's wearing a plain mesh (mesh?!?) hat in the photo instead of his usual one with the NFL shield.

Taken before the lockout ended?

Could be. But mesh? Mesh?

(Said in the "Playoffs?!? Playoffs?!? voice...)

Doubtful. Besides, he IS wearing the correct jersey with the NFL logo (barely visible, but it's there) on the left front. It is rather odd...

But isn't wearing the correct hat for whatever reason...which is weird.

The caption on the left side of the cover, near his right wrist, reads:

GUNS BLAZING
The iconic ref
Ed Hochuli
restores order
to the NFL

Maybe his old white NFL hats were nasty and his new ones hadn't arrived.

I did find that odd.

My edition came in the mail today.

I was thinking this as well. He probably replaces the hats at least every off-season, but the shirt lasts longer.

I'm just a HS referee and I buy a supply of hats every year - I do not take the field with a hat that isn't pristine on a Friday night. First impressions and all that...

Seeing the hats (and other gear) of some people here, you'd think we don't get paid anything for what we do not to mention how much some officials make for varsity here based upon the gate. :rolleyes:

I just counted up my hats. I have about 10 of each hat (white and black -- I wear white on Fridays and black on Saturdays) that are game quality. At least 5-6 of each have never been worn (I blindly ordered some this season and didn't really need to). I have a couple of each hat I would wear in rain/mudders, too.

Thank goodness for black pants. You would probably laugh at how many pairs of Northwestern stripe socks I used to go through in a season.

I used to have an umpire whose knickers could best be described as brown. He once showed up at a game with his belt and flags still in his pockets from the previous Friday. It was that night that I decided to fire him from the crew at the end of the season.