Why were Sampras' Nike clothes sooooo ugly????

[v569Nestor]

You hush! Sampras dressed with the subtlety of a dude who would quietly come trash you in beer league 6-1, 6-0 and refrain from talking smack. Class is not the right word... but restraint (compared to Agassi's Nike and modern Nike)

White and grey/blue... a pop on the collar. Oscillates would complete this picture. 100/100

see that was a look fr. The super baggy stuff was criminal i'm positive it permanently damaged his image

 

[jackie.tan]

It's good to note that when Pete started with double-handed backhand. It was changed to single back hand to suit the fast court. Hence, not surprising that his backhand was his weakest link, but I have to say it is still good. He is one of the best ever!

And I'm surprised no one talk about his running forehand.

 

[jackie.tan]

It's good to note that when Pete started with double-handed backhand. It was changed to single back hand to suit the fast court. Hence, not surprising that his backhand was his weakest link, but I have to say it is still good. He is one of the best ever!

And I'm surprised no one talk about his running forehand.

 

[airchallenge2]

And I'm surprised no one talk about his running forehand.

Wait, what? This thread is about his outfit....

 

[pabletion]

Ugly is his kit at the '96 YEC. His '01 Wimby one is fine.

GAWD yes, those type of kits! The 96 YEC and all those similar ones. Even the fabric looks CHEAP......

I actually really REALLY liked some of his later gears for Wimby. I was just checking out pics, I remember that '97 Wimby outfit, specially his white polo w black stripes around the collar, that one was cool. I think thats the year where his outfits improved, but Im not sure. Im just not a fan of those tan/olives/light grays, plaid patterns Nike used to dress him up before that year...

When he retired it seems like clothes were way better, Feds polos were always more modern, sleek, but w a more modern twist and fit. I read somewhere that, early 90's, Nike just made clothes to position the brand, and somewhere in the late 90s they took on the task of making top of the line clothing w innovative material. Surely that is what turned things around for Pete's clothes as well....

 

[wangs78]

Pete was simply not a stylish guy. Still isn't. But he won 14 Slams, so who cares?

 

[pabletion]

Pete was simply not a stylish guy. Still isn't. But he won 14 Slams, so who cares?

Well, he didnt MAKE his own clothes, or designed them neither (I'd guess!), and I just wonder how Nike could make such ugly clothes for him during some of his earlier Nike years. But maybe that's me, maybe ppl liked those faded colors they chose for him: tan, beiges, greys, olive green......

Im not saying he had to be flashy, like I mentioned, during his latter years, clothes looked way sharper, and as I mentioned in my previous post, I've come to learn that Nike dindnt see themselves on the clothes selling business until later on (mid 90's maybe), when they started developing top of the line, innovative fabrics (dri fit) and went on to develop top of the line sporting gear. Now Im pretty sure thats one of the reasons of such a change from say, 96, to 97-98 and onwards.

 

[wangs78]

Well, he didnt MAKE his own clothes, or designed them neither (I'd guess!), and I just wonder how Nike could make such ugly clothes for him during some of his earlier Nike years. But maybe that's me, maybe ppl liked those faded colors they chose for him: tan, beiges, greys, olive green......

Im not saying he had to be flashy, like I mentioned, during his latter years, clothes looked way sharper, and as I mentioned in my previous post, I've come to learn that Nike dindnt see themselves on the clothes selling business until later on (mid 90's maybe), when they started developing top of the line, innovative fabrics (dri fit) and went on to develop top of the line sporting gear. Now Im pretty sure thats one of the reasons of such a change from say, 96, to 97-98 and onwards.

I understand your point. Having grown up in the 90s (I’m 42), I have to say that from a style/fashion standpoint, that decade was just BAD. Loose/baggy fits, ugly patterns, etc. I don’t think it was Sampras or Nike. It was the entire apparel industry struggling to find a new direction. Agassi’s outfits were different, but equally bad in my view.

 

[King No1e]

Under pressure it was not great? The thing I love most about Pete is how he thrives under pressure. Yes he has big serves and was an absolute magician at net but his baseline game was solid. The one handed backhand wasn’t as strong as other aspects of his game but I don’t recall his backhand crumbling under pressure. I can’t say the same for Shapovalov. Kid is super talented but I don’t think it’s slander to say his game crumbles under pressure. Often I see him play spectacularly only to crumble at crucial points of the game. That whippy loose playing style doesn’t work very well when his muscles get tight. His backhand is very stylish but more consistent than Pete it is not.

Don't know if it's his technique that lets him down under pressure, all his shots are very technically sound except his slice, but even that is much improved. The problem just seems to be his mindset; he's just constantly redlining when sometimes he should be grinding (under pressure).

 

[Deleted member 777746]

lol I think you are overrating Pete's bh by a lot. The way his shoulders pop up during the follow through is not what you wanna do.

He also switched to that one hander as a teenager

 

[Deleted member 777746]

Flat BH? But Sampras was all about looping that topspin BH.

only to troll Agassi

 

[blink1111]

There are two important reasons for Pete's clothes being "ugly" or "plain". The main reason

Oh I remember that and him wearing US flag over the Nike logo at AO 2002 (but later was back with the swoosh). Basically his contract had expired and dispute was over the amount of money Nike wanted to invest in him to renew his contract. From rumors of the time, Phil Knight himself stepped into the dispute and resolved it all..pistol retired at the USO that year wearing the Nike logo..

The reason Pete rocked the US flag where the Nike logo would usually be was as a tribute to the 9/11 victims. The shirt and shorts were actually sold on TW.

Also, there are two main reasons Pete's clothes were "ugly": He felt comfortable wearing traditional polo shirts/shorts, even if it meant a few disputes here and there with Nike (which also meant his paycheck would suffer), and he also had no intention of developing a specific brand like Agassi or Federer did. He just wanted to focus on tennis. He was not a ***** when it came to people, but he is a very reserved/shy person, so he would mostly stay away from fans and the limelight. Like Paul Annacone once said; he could have made a lot more money had he been more outgoing and flashy like Agassi, but that just wasn't him.

 

[Slicehand]

Was watching that classic Federer-Sampras Wimbledon match and wonder why o why were Sampras' clothes so ugly, if not ugly then definitely DULL as can be... In that particular match, Federer had a cool looking white Nike polo, not flashy at all, wouldve bee great for Pete to play on.
But instead he had a fugly weekend dad golf-looking polo..... was it....... BECAUSE of Pete? Did he almost always have an input on his Nike collection?

It just seemed he chose khakhi and weird gray-greens way too often......

Why did this happen?????

They were made for petes personality, dull as can be, god doesnt give you all, he had best serve ever, he had to fall short in other area

 

[Pistol Pete]

There are two important reasons for Pete's clothes being "ugly" or "plain". The main reason


The reason Pete rocked the US flag where the Nike logo would usually be was as a tribute to the 9/11 victims. The shirt and shorts were actually sold on TW.

Also, there are two main reasons Pete's clothes were "ugly": He felt comfortable wearing traditional polo shirts/shorts, even if it meant a few disputes here and there with Nike (which also meant his paycheck would suffer), and he also had no intention of developing a specific brand like Agassi or Federer did. He just wanted to focus on tennis. He was not a ***** when it came to people, but he is a very reserved/shy person, so he would mostly stay away from fans and the limelight. Like Paul Annacone once said; he could have made a lot more money had he been more outgoing and flashy like Agassi, but that just wasn't him.

Hopefully this was a joke. Factually wrong. The reason Pete had the American flag was because Nike was not going to offer Pete what he wanted at contract renewal time and he had the American flag on from 2002 Aussie till I believe the Franklin Templeton Classic in Arizona right before Indian Wells. They eventually got a figure $$ that they both agreed on.

Also, I grew up idolizing Pistol and I thought the clothes from 94,95,97,98,99 were awesome.

 

[Subway Tennis]

There are two important reasons for Pete's clothes being "ugly" or "plain". The main reason


The reason Pete rocked the US flag where the Nike logo would usually be was as a tribute to the 9/11 victims. The shirt and shorts were actually sold on TW.

Also, there are two main reasons Pete's clothes were "ugly": He felt comfortable wearing traditional polo shirts/shorts, even if it meant a few disputes here and there with Nike (which also meant his paycheck would suffer), and he also had no intention of developing a specific brand like Agassi or Federer did. He just wanted to focus on tennis. He was not a ***** when it came to people, but he is a very reserved/shy person, so he would mostly stay away from fans and the limelight. Like Paul Annacone once said; he could have made a lot more money had he been more outgoing and flashy like Agassi, but that just wasn't him.

Pete did develop a specific brand for Nike, though. It wasn’t a personal named brand like Federer, but neither was Agassi’s.

Agassi had Challenge Court and Pete had the Supreme Court clothing lines.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Hopefully this was a joke. Factually wrong. The reason Pete had the American flag was because Nike was not going to offer Pete what he wanted at contract renewal time and he had the American flag on from 2002 Aussie till I believe the Franklin Templeton Classic in Arizona right before Indian Wells. They eventually got a figure $$ that they both agreed on.

Also, I grew up idolizing Pistol and I thought the clothes from 94,95,97,98,99 were awesome.

I honestly think if Nike did a new version of Pete’s gear from the 90s it would sell like crazy. But it would cost a lot to produce, and I wonder if they are that bothered about how much tennis gear they sell when they are doing such incredibly high numbers elsewhere.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I honestly think if Nike did a new version of Pete’s gear from the 90s it would sell like crazy. But it would cost a lot to produce, and I wonder if they are that bothered about how much tennis gear they sell when they are doing such incredibly high numbers elsewhere.

The 94 stuff, I would buy. 95 kits too. I really wish they would put out the Air Max Sweep 2, his first nike shoe he wore at Wimbledon 1994.

 

[Subway Tennis]

The 94 stuff, I would buy. 95 kits too. I really wish they would put out the Air Max Sweep 2, his first nike shoe he wore at Wimbledon 1994.

Do you have any pictures of those shoes he wore in 1994? They sound very cool. And as far as years…. Yeah I would love some of the 94 and 95 gear but I admit I liked some of the later stuff, too. The Nike air oscillates in the Jordan bred colourway.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Do you have any pictures of those shoes he wore in 1994? They sound very cool. And as far as years…. Yeah I would love some of the 94 and 95 gear but I admit I liked some of the later stuff, too. The Nike air oscillates in the Jordan bred colourway.

Google Pete Sampras Wimbledon 1994 and click images.

 

[PBODY99]

@Subway Tennis
Jim Courier was the face of the Supreme Court Tennis line as I recall. Nike contrasted the consevative SC line vs A.A. Those denim shorts were design for Mac, but he went on his "vaccation" so Andre wore them .
As I recall, Pete stuff wasn't named, just what I brought when it was released
The cotton plaid / striped /checker shorts held up for years since I air dried mine.
The fairly plain shirts worked for my group of Jr Vet players BITD.
The later Dri Fit shorts were ok.
I wish they would re-release his final US Open shirt in both the blue & Green striped versions.
Thanks for the strolled down memory lane.

 

[Subway Tennis]

@Subway Tennis
Jim Courier was the face of the Supreme Court Tennis line as I recall. Nike contrasted the consevative SC line vs A.A. Those denim shorts were design for Mac, but he went on his "vaccation" so Andre wore them .
As I recall, Pete stuff wasn't named, just what I brought when it was released
The cotton plaid / striped /checker shorts held up for years since I air dried mine.
The fairly plain shirts worked for my group of Jr Vet players BITD.
The later Dri Fit shorts were ok.
I wish they would re-release his final US Open shirt in both the blue & Green striped versions.
Thanks for the strolled down memory lane.

Great comments. Thanks for the correction on the Supreme Court line.

 

[Robert F]

I honestly think if Nike did a new version of Pete’s gear from the 90s it would sell like crazy. But it would cost a lot to produce, and I wonder if they are that bothered about how much tennis gear they sell when they are doing such incredibly high numbers elsewhere.

I think if they de-bagged the shorts a little and brought back a l lot of the polos, you are right. Many of those polos were classic. Not overdone and at the same time not boring.
Outside of the one color shirts Nike makes (whether it is a polo, blade polo, v neck or tee), most of the patterned tops are just weird and awkward.

 

[Bambooman]

Look at Tiger Woods in the 90s. His nike clothes were big and baggy.

What he wears now fits him much better which I think looks nicer/classier.

It's the same clothes but Tiger is much fatter.

 

[TennisMD]

You hush! Sampras dressed with the subtlety of a dude who would quietly come trash you in beer league 6-1, 6-0 and refrain from talking smack. Class is not the right word... but restraint (compared to Agassi's Nike and modern Nike)

White and grey/blue... a pop on the collar. Oscillates would complete this picture. 100/100

 

[TennisMD]

You hush! Sampras dressed with the subtlety of a dude who would quietly come trash you in beer league 6-1, 6-0 and refrain from talking smack. Class is not the right word... but restraint (compared to Agassi's Nike and modern Nike)

White and grey/blue... a pop on the collar. Oscillates would complete this picture. 100/100

so true, the 90’s were the 90’s
so funny on perceptions
I was at a friend’s country club and after a brutal match went back to the club house for refreshment as you may recall
ldepending upon age Sampras popularized and Nike sold at decent prices denim
pair or shorts so I left these on ,changed to clean pressed white polo still nike shirt and the attendant was almost not going to seat me. re denim shorts, so so much for fashion and acceptability. I can only imagine his reaction to an Agassi sponsored outfit( and I am not talking smack on Agassi , one of my alll time favorites

 

[Quaichang]

The problem was that Sampras alway wore his clothes really baggy and loose-fitting and it never looked like it fit him properly - maybe he wanted to be an OG. Don’t know if his rapping skills were like Ice-T or Shapovalov!

Everybody wore baggy clothes back then.

 

[socallefty]

Everybody wore baggy clothes back then.

Only in the US.

 

[bluetrain4]

Edberg's clothes could be pretty bad at times. Not always, but there were some terrible misses.

 

[Sudacafan]

I don’t know if ugly, but they were so loose and comfortable.
I don’t like slim fit.

 

[brinkeguthrie]

I liked the Lendl IL and the argyle; but that wavy one with a face was awful. then the Mizuno big huge bird? Ugh.

 

[TennisHound]

Weird thread to resurrect

 

[brinkeguthrie]

Weird thread to resurrect

Agreed. "Why were they so ugly?" "Ugly" is simply a matter of perception. Others might call them "conservative." Agassi might be "ugly;" while others saw them merely as "flashy."