The new shirts will be manufactured by Honig's (those who produce the USTA shirts for a mere $36.95 plus shipping) and the price will no doubt be the same or very close to it. Add shipping in and you are paying about $42-$45 per shirt.
Here are some things to contemplate as you are feverishly holding on to your wallet:
* Before the infamous USTA decision outlawing USTA shirts for ITA events, you could purchase a great dryfit ITA shirt for $23.00
* If we are lucky, the new ITA shirts produced by Honig's will be made out of that delightful nightgown material that they use on the USTA shirts.
* If you think the shirts are expensive, wait until you see the price tags on the ITA bags, jackets, and windbreakers--if they even carry them.
* If you live in Texas and do ITA work, you should be alright since we can continue to use the black shirts that are mandated throughout the state.
* Since we don't know the color of the new shirts you could be in a dilemma if you are a new official in Texas. We won't be allowing anything but the black shirt.
* A mid-March date is projected so that means you can't order one and get it by the first of April so you are already missing most of the ITA season.
* If you are busy blaming God and everyone else for this mess you can stop doing that and blame the USTA and their attorneys because that's where the blame belongs.
6 comments:
I just do not get it, the USTA gives the ITA a great big FU and then the ITA goes out and uses the same supplier, this does not make sense creating a monopoly. Feel bad for Bear Cotton as their stuff was nice and inexpensive, thankfully got 3 shirts and 2 hats before they were unceremoniously kicked to the curb.
Just pathetic, also why were the coaches notified, but not the actual officials who must wear the equipment? Just another slap in the face.
Oh well it is Tennis Officiating at its best.
Also the UIL shirts look slick and nice.
Actually, I disagree on who was at fault here. Although the USTA did officially start the ball rolling, the ITA was the entity that made the vendor decision and negoitated Bear Cotton out of the picture. That would be DAVID BENJAMIN of the ITA who wanted a big-fat royality!! Which he could have gotten from Bear Cotton; who was just going to add-on the ITA royality fee to their current low cost.
So now, the ITA officials will have to wait---and you can bet wait much longer than mid-march---to get a much higher priced uniform shirt. Bear Cotton was already running orders and was positioned to scale up pronto. Bear Cotton had a quality product at a very fair price and had great service too.
Amazing how things can get all clustered up!!
The ITA had a going concern vendor already in operation. They chose to use someone else who has to start-up from scratch in the middle of the collegiate season. Makes sense to me!! Boy aren't you glad you don't live back East. It all really boils down to not what you can do, but who you know & blow.
I am GETTING MUCH CLOSER TO WEARING A HALTER TOP! And VERY skinny JEANS!
BACO
Please post a picture of that BACO!
Randy, the headline of this blog should read "Grab Your Ankles!"
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