Olympians will look good ... well, maybe
Polo Ralph Lauren unveiled Team USA’s Olympic parade uniforms Monday, and socialmedia haters can leave the uglysweater jokes back in Sochi.
Roundly mocked in 2014 for a chaotic, patchwork cardigan sweater, the brand went classic red, white and blue this time for the Opening Ceremony and white for the closing parade of athletes in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Both have a cozy bit of technology built in to keep athletes extra warm.
Athletes will be treated to stretchy skinny jeans and a far less busily designed sweater for opening, with a stretch knit pant — think structured sweat pant — for closing. The jeans have motoinspired seaming. Accessories include a navy wool ski hat and USA-themed navy bandanna. On the athletes’ feet will be brown suede mountaineering boots with red laces for the outdoor opening.
And then there are the gloves. They’re more Ralph than Ralph himself, a Western style in suede with fringe in rawhide brown and decorated in hand-beaded Olympic rings and an American flag. They’re lined in white and fit over the wrists.
ELSEWHERE Replay will be used in World Cup
Replay is coming to World Cup soccer for the first time, and talks are under way with potential sponsor branding to appear when the technology is used, a FIFA executive said. Soccer’s rule-making panel met to assess recent trials ahead of video assistant referees (VAR) being officially approved by FIFA this season for use in Russia in June and July. “Definitely, VAR will happen,” FIFA chief commercial officer Philippe Le Floc’h told the Associated Press. “It’s great to have technology in football because this is also a (fairness) thing.”
Kevin De Bruyne has signed a five-year deal with Manchester City, tying him to the English Premier League leader until 2023. The Belgium midfielder joined City in the summer of 2015 from Wolfsburg and has set up more league goals — 38 — than any other player in that period. Baseball: Left-hander reliever Brian Duensing and the Chicago Cubs finalized a $7 million, twoyear contract. Duensing gets $3.5 million in each of the next two seasons. His 2019 salary can escalate by up to $1.25 million based on pitching appearances this year: $250,000 for 50, $333,333 each for 55 and 60, and $333,334 for 65.