It has been found that some of the companies that sell items with the pink ribbon, etc. on the packaging who promise to donate so much to cancer research are not following through on their promises. It has become a scam in some cases.

Well, actually, since you asked.

If they weren't wearing pink, this thread would not exist.
And breast cancer has been mentioned several times already. The mere existence of this thread and the fact that we might talk about pink (and thus think of breast cancer research) on the field has accomplished their goal.

On top of this:

I had a crew member ask me about this a couple of years ago. I thought about it for some time. Finally, I said, "Sure, we'll do this, but I'll only do it if we do it as a crew and put together a donation at the end of the season."

One of my crew members doesn't contribute. I don't pressure him -- rather, I quietly contribute his share myself. I remember what it was like when my boss tried pressuring me to give to the United Way years ago. I didn't and it was uncomfortable.

Without the conversation of wearing pink, I doubt any of this happens. Next year I plan to take this association-wide (I'll pay for the whistles/lanyards from my association budget) and see how much money we can raise for the BCRF.

I know a few FB officials who wear pink. Most of the basketball officials do it locally, and we have a drive to donate. Before basketball games, we have the PA announcers explain why we're wearing pink (sometimes necessary as the shirts some folks wear just look like a bad day in the laundry). I change my shoe strings and use a pink whistle.

I haven't seen such a concerted drive in FB here locally, though. But it was my first season and I missed a couple of meetings.

What would you do? On a night when many players are wearing many pink items, you saw a player wearing several fluorescent lime green items. You approach him and tell him he can't wear those items and he responds, "My dad died three days ago of pancreatic cancer. If those players can wear pink to raise awareness of breast cancer, I am going to wear this color to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer!"

I doubt I would even approach him. But then again, we have fewer uniform rules in Canada.

I'd ask him if he had something I could wear, too.

One player dressing different for some reason is completely different from an entire team, UNIFORMLY, dressing for that same reason.

Why would this be a problem, as long as he's wearing the items in the proscribed manner?

This is the EXACT reason the rule makers clamped down on what is permissable to wear. It's real easy for smart officials; either it's a plain white towel or an absorbent sweatbad worn as specified. Nothing else is allowed, unless someone with the proper authority authorizes an exception.

The rule makers, thankfully realized, that the American teenager can come up with far more reasons for violating rules than rule makers can think to specifically prevent, so what is allowable is a really short list. At some point we all have to learn that life isn't always exactly fair, and sometimes it's "us" who have to make the adjustment.

Of course the player can wear whatever his team allows on the sideline, we only control on what is allowable within the game. There are always other venues to highlight a worthy cause.

Eh, it just doesn't matter that much to me. Don't see it as some kind of crisis.

There is no rule for sweatband colors, just towels. We have no standing to tell him he can't wear snot green shoes, socks, undershirt, chin strap, mouthpiece, handwarmer, or shoelaces.

Is it all overdone- yes. Do I care- no.

This.

Exactly what goal has it accomplished? Over-saturation runs the risk of turning people off this stuff. And don't forget the black eye Koman got and still has when it was revealed they support a particular organization.

You cannot really be asking this question. It has obviously made the color pink synonymous with the disease. And it has certainly raised awareness with the average public of research and getting tested for the signs of the disease. I get that this is such a manly sport and it bothers some to use sport to raise awareness for things (God Forbid) but does it really matter if for one day the crew uses a color not yellow for something? After all we have changed bean bag colors in the last couple of years and I do not see the tragedy in that fact either. Just the fact that some have objected to this the way they have objected makes me really support these things now. Yes I agree there are some things that are overkill, but I would do anything to have my aunt back if there was awareness there is now. If it saves someone from early detection I am happy. I do not want anyone to go through what my family went through and my two cousins in losing their mother to that disease. Is it really that bad to deal with and now it will be over when November comes?

Peace