When you see M apparel in other countries
So I was in a Wisconsin airport coming home and I saw someone walk down the terminal with a "Strike a Pose" t-shirt. Since part of it was blocked, I asked him if that was the Desmond Howard shirt and it indeed was. We proceeded on our ways with a short "Go Blue!"
I usually reserve a casual "Go Blue!" only when I see Michigan apparel far from home (i.e. not in the Midwest or Florida, which is essentially Michigan South). But I had to compliment this choice of wardrobe since it clearly was diehard fan to own this shirt.
That being said, I've also worn Michigan apparel in Europe and in Asia, and have been "Go Blue'd" before. When do you guys say, "Go Blue," and when do you just pass by with a smile because it's not unexpected to see our colors in a given location?
(edit)
I was walking up to the Dead Sea in Israel this January wearing an M hat and a Bo "The Team, The Team, The Team" shirt, and the guy walking in the other direction was wearing a Michigan Basketball t-shirt and M hat. We exchanged Go Blue's and a handshake. It was quite terrific.
this story would be improved if you included the fact that you are jewish and he is palestinian.
Can't say either one would be true.
I've been living outside the midwest for the last decade (San Francisco), so I always reserve an enthusiastic Go Blue for anyone I seeing wearing the maize and blue. Although, you'd be surprised how many midwesterners congregate here.
I've been traveling in other countries (SE Asia & India) for the last 4 months and plan to continue for the next five, and I've seen the block M a few times so far. Unfortunately, I have only received confused looks so far when I shout out the Michigan greeting.
Hopefully, I'll get some reciprocation at some point.
It depends. For example, probably not a MICHIGAN MAN:
Looks like officially licensed gear to me...
or is that a subliminal message?
You guys are looking at the SHIRT?!
Move along.
I would have said a bit older (in the Korea pop video sort of way). But you're probably unfortunately right. Though I wasn't alone...he didn't get +9'd for the shirt...
because the first thing that I thought of was that some unlicensed factory overseas still had this screen print on the machine, but they ran out of navy t-shirts and ran this, unaware of just how WRONG it is to have this USC-colored M gear. So, I found that kind of funny.
Don't get me wrong, if he had posted a pic of a smoking hot 20-yr-old nicely filling out that shirt, I would've +1'd it for that instead...
The model is actually 19 if that makes anyone feel better about posbanging her.
I'm in enough trouble. But thanks. I feel
a little less dirty.
First time seeing an Asian woman for some of you guys? Sanctimony.
that would be what I was thinking.
I’ll +1 her for rocking the chuck taylors
Other than she has the whole gender thing going against her, I would guess not.
I got friendly recognition in both Tennessee and Ohio. Those count as foreign countries, right?
3'rd world countries yes.
I've been living in China for two years and have on several occasions seen Chinese rocking some Michigan gear. I always give a Go Blue! shout out, but it only frightens people. Only once did someone know what I was talking about, but that was in Hong Kong.
That made me chuckle, hopefully UM wil strike that same fear into opponenets this season.
I guess it was a good call on not going with the Go Blue / Running Chest Bump combo.
I don't go out of my way, but if I'm not at school and make eye contact with someone wearing Michigan stuff, I'll acknowledge it.
There was a guy playing piano on the street in Ft. Worth last night wearing a Michigan sweater. I being the passionate Michigan student/fan was wearing a Michigan hat. I was ready to give him a dollar until he started playing the victors as I walked by... That man earned himself an extra 2 dollars.
A local guy in Cozumel last year tried to buy my Michigan hat from me because he said he loved Michigan. It was very strange.
I went a cruise 12 years ago and one of the stops was Cozumel. I was wearing a Michigan shirt when I got off the ship, a group of vendors started saying things like "Yeah Michigan!" and "Go Blue" and "Hey Mr. Wolverine". I was around 10 at the time and it creeping me out.
In footage of the Chilean earthquake, I saw someone wearing a Michigan sweatshirt.
and see UM gear all the time. Most of it is worn by the Gypsies and bums (see avatar). EuroSpartans would call them Tesko Wolverines I guess.
That's implying that anyone outside of the state of Michigan knows who the Spartans are, which is a bit of a stretch, if you ask me...
I was in Boston with a high school friend from MSU. None of us were wearing school colors one day and one girl asked us where we go to college. My friend replied, "Michigan State," and the girl said, "That's the one in Ann Arbor, right? Good school."
In the parking lot of a Metro supermarket here in London, ON, there was a car parked next to me with a Michigan State Alumni Sticker in the back window. I was pumped and primed for a suitable "little brother" comment. Sure enough the shopper was wearing an MSU sweatshirt, but dang it was a chick, and me being 42 and married and she being like barely beyond co-ed stage, I let it go...
I live in England and spent lots of time in India and Dubai and have only once offered a 'Go Blue' only to receive a blank stare
Whenever I see a Michigan fan who isn't a member of my family, its like 2 daywalkers seeing each other out for coffee at noon. I always then yell "GO BLUE" to see if I get an appropriate response. I usually get a smile, thumbs up, or the preferred "GO BLUE."
Seriously, it's just good to see someone not talking about Tide, Seminoles, or Gators....
I live in West Florida and I get sick of hearing/seeing Gators stuff everywhere.
With Tebow gone and the coach with his problems I think they are in for bad patch for a while.
Outside the Accademia in Florence waiting to get in to see Michaelangelo's David. It's the Saturday of the 2006 MSU game, I've got on an M sweatshirt, a guy with an M polo shirt comes up to me in line wondering if I've found a place that will have the game on TV. Inside the museum, a guy with an OSU shirt starts up a conversation about how great it would be if both teams were undefeated when they meet in November and how that's the way the Big 10 should be. 2 days later I'm getting ready to hop on my bike in Pienza when a couple walks out of their hotel and seeing my M cycling jersey offer up a hearty "Go Blue".
I "Go Blue"'d a guy wearing a Michigan sweater that I passed in the hall at work yesterday. I work at a company with about 12,000 employees in St. Louis, MO and it was not inappropriate in any way. And yes, I was sporting a Michigan hoodie.
and yet, the block M is a rare sight. It's always worth a "Go Blue" to see a fellow Wolverine around these parts.
I also got "Go Blue'd" about 10 times in Puerto Vallarta on my honeymoon over New Years.
I don't know what you are talking about. I see a Michigan fan around South Bend allllll the time. Maybe not on campus, but just like at the store or in a restaurant I see someone several times a week.
I don't get to SB too often (maybe once a month), but when I do, it's not uncommon to see Michigan gear there. I'm in Benton Harbor and due to the number of Whirlpool engineers here, you see lots of M attire, and a surprising number of Bucks sweatshirts and license plate holders.
in the lodge at Snowbasin, Utah.
In the summer when i was working as a security for a hotel here in Albania i saw this guy pull up front with a big ass limo and Michigan flags all over. I wanted to go up to him and talk a little football couse i miss talking football with someone but i didnt couse i was still at work. I did tell the guy that carried his luggage to tell him GO BLUE couse he would get more tips.
I was watching this show on really remote Alaskan villages one time. They were showing the village waiting for the fishing harvest to come in, and they're all standing there on the beach near the Arctic Circle freezing their asses off. The camera pans across the crowd, and there's a kid in a Michigan Starter jacket right there in the front row. We're everywhere.
Lots of Michigan fans in Alaska. For whatever reason, it seems like Michigan is one of the popular states to leave to come to Alaska. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I usually compliment the garment selection - "nice hat!" or "great shirt!". Unfortunately I've gotten the blank stare on a couple of Go Blue! attempts, so I have switched my approach. The third world/out of region apparel selections are made by budget decisions more often than out of loyalty, I have found. So since you can get college logo stuff at a Dave and Barry's for tree fitty, there's a lot of Michigan gear worn in upstate NY by folks who have no earthly idea that the word on their shirt represents an institution of higher learning and its affiliated athletic squads. I'm guessing that some of the developing nations get UM gear similarly to how they get Indianapolis Colts 2010 Super Bowl Champs!!! gear.
BUT, I do love when the compliment on attire turns into a quick chat about Michigan football. Sporting a Michigan wrestling shirt to the gym the other day got me a great half-hour conversation with a fellow fan, plus a referral to another fan who attends the same gym. Bonus!
I live in Louisiana and on two occasions when wearing my HAIL shirt some idiot has said hell yeah brother and raised there arm like Hitler. I shave my head so I guess I can see the confusion but its made me think twice before walking out of the house with it on.
That's so demented. On the other hand, I'm sure they love black people when they play for LSU.
My best "Go Blue" was in St. Thomas. I was wearing some Michigan gear and as I was walking an elderly Indian gentleman gave me a "Go Blue" asked if I was a student? We talked for a while and I learned he was an engineering grad from the 60s.
I also found that it seems like UM gear is the most prominent college apparel for sale outside of the states.
That's odd. I would have figured osu with all their failed bcs games would have the most leftover gear to sell overseas.
The school with the most apparel for sale overseas = us.
The school with the most apparel donated to clothe the homeless in Third World countries = OSU.
just got back from St Thomas USVI and i was doing an unoffical count of all the universities i saw represented. i think M gear was in the top three most seen. I yelled go blue at a guy wearing a michigan shirt but he just ignored me. i also saw a buckeye hat and sand "i hate Ohio State cuz its a do nothing party school" as i walked by him