My new perspective on Rickie Fowler's apparel

[TheMackDaddy]

Today I show up to my high school match, dressed head to toe in orange complete with black shoes and a black belt. Why? Because my high school colors are orange and black.

So I hop out of the van and immediately hear some snickers. No biggie, I can handle it. It does occur to me that Rickie must hear a lot of the same stuff I am hearing. So throughout my match I do not say much, and I am beating my opponent bad. I hear him crack some jokes to his playing partner but I did not know if they were about me. But then on hole 8... I stripe a 3 wood from 240 to literally 10 feet... And that is when the kid takes a picture of me walking with my bag, unbeknownst to me.

 

 

An hour after the round, I get a text from my buddy saying "is this you?" Attached is a picture of me on twitter with the caption "what a d-bag #rickiefowler #cantpullthisoff"

 

Wow. I wasn't really angry because things like that no longer get under my skin. But what it did make me think about is my view on Rickie fowler. Before, I thought the orange was over the top. But not anymore.

 

The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem: ridiculed for having pride in our schools. And it is pathetic that people will attack you for this! For the first time, I was in awe of how lame it is when people gossip about you for having pride in something.

 

Finished the day at 37 while that kid shot a 42.

 

I fully support Fowler's Sunday outfits and I can't wait to see him wear it this Sunday at Augusta!

 

 

 

[Sean2]

Personally I like the way Fowler dresses. It suits him (pun intended).

Congratulations on your victory, and congratulations on wearing what you wanted to and not letting what anyone else thinks bother you.

[QMany]

Congrats on a great round.

 

Personally, I think Rickie's all-orange getup is a little much for the PGA Tour. You have some school fanatics out there on Tour, Horschel comes to mind, but he just has grips done. No need to go head-to-toe orange for Rickie is support a school he went to for two years. It may be his favorite color but it is for some attention, too.

 

I think an all-orange getup for your HS match is awesome. Don't sweat that dude. Even better that you just smoked him.

 

[SadTrombone]

I had pride in my school when I played HS Golf, too. I wore the school's red shirt and either khaki or black pants. I think head to toe red would have been....just a bit much.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Sucks dude, My HS colors were orange and black as well. I am also a SF Giants fan so my bag colors are orange and black etc. I have one orange polo that I almost hate wearing now because people think it is the Fowler effect.

[TheMackDaddy]

Sucks that a "fowler effect" even exists. It is a round of golf, not a fashion show. You should not be judged on what you wear as long as it appropriate attire.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I agree especially since I am not a Fowler fan so it bugs me even more when people think I am a Fowler fan for wearing orange. There certainly is an interesting relation to him and the color orange. I hardly ever hear any wanna be Tiger comments when someone wears a Red Nike polo. DJ also rocks the monotone look quit a bit with the grey or navy not much backlash there.

[PedronNiall]

Depends on the attire. My school had polos in our main color with lettering in our secondary color, and standard khakis of your choice. If I showed up in some neon version of that with a similar style cap I'd feel like I was up to a little d-baggery, but honestly if someone is wearing whatever just because he enjoys it then it's all gravy for the most part.

I can only extend courtesies so far, because when I see a "tuner" car with a gaudy paint job and striped to hell it's just as ridiculous.

[MarkFromTheUK]

The Guantanamo bay look is a bit OTT. Even Fowler seems to be breaking it up a bit by wearing white trousers now.

With any other colour you would be fine. You see players every day dressed head to toe in one colour. Unfortunately, that colour being orange automatically turns you in to a Fowler wannabe, and you have to have a lot of game to make people think otherwise!

[fatboyj711]

I think it's clear that you knew you were wearing a polarizing outfit so you have to expect the bad along with the good. Fowler knows exactly what he's doing when he wears his sunday "uniform" (pushing the status quo). On the whole, I'd say his image is being enhanced from his style choices, although it may not be the case on this site.

[rgk5]

I believe it is far worse for a grown man to wear another grown man's game jersey with his name on the back, along with the backwards hat. On a 40+ man, it is uber lame. Wear your school colours proudly.

[Kuz013]

Let me first preface by saying this isnt an attack at your nor am i trying to disparage you.

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365565396' post='6798173']
The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem:
[/quote]

First off, you and Rickie do not "face the same problem". Rickie chose his outfits most likely to be different, gain popularity, and im sure to some extent rep is school pride. While I understand young people wanting to emulate him, I can guarantee that no one "mocks" him for what he wears, most people are smart enough to realize the marketing dollars and fame he has gained from it (I equate this phenomenon similar to the boy band theory, sure being in a boy band is lame, but in the end those guys made a nice chunk of change in a short amount of time, and in the end you have to respect them a little for that).
Now people who dress like him, thats a little different, for one, I believe the mockery is solely because of the person being unoriginal, because they are copying someones overthetop style. You will garner alot more respect and less sneers if you be yourself and choose your own style. thats not to say you cant wear orange (especially if its your school colors) but by you going "full Rickie" of course your going to get the jokes, especially being a high schooler, like I said now is the time in your life when you should be finding your own style. The reason the over 30 crowd wearing the Rickie outfits is ridiculous is because after a certain point, people should know better.

[KMeloney]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365566898' post='6798367']
Sucks that a "fowler effect" even exists. It is a round of golf, not a fashion show. You should not be judged on what you wear as long as it appropriate attire.
[/quote]

Even YOU made the association between your outfit and Fowler -- so why wouldn't others? Incidentally, Rickie and others DO make it a fashion show ALONG with it being a round of golf, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I don't think you should dress some way that you don't like. I just don't think you should expect everyone else to like your style. Your self-expression doesn't trump everyone else's. The others just shouldn't be acting on their first impressions like they did.

[OUZO Power]

Did you reply to the tweet that his candy-a** got smoked? Please tell me you did.

[QMany]

Sucks that a "fowler effect" even exists. It is a round of golf, not a fashion show. You should not be judged on what you wear as long as it appropriate attire.

 

OK:

 

MAYBE NOT OK:

 

I'm glad you smoked the kid. I have been known to push the fashion envelope. If you do that, you have to know that you will get some snickers made at your expense. Dude posting it on Twitter is BS though.

[SethO]

I wear what I want. I wear it with swagger. If people don't like it, that shows their own insecurities. I come from the paintball world which makes Ricky's dress look very normal.

[DieHard519]

[quote name='Kuz013' timestamp='1365598631' post='6799521']
Let me first preface by saying this isnt an attack at your nor am i trying to disparage you.

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365565396' post='6798173']
The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem:
[/quote]

First off, you and Rickie do not "face the same problem". Rickie chose his outfits most likely to be different, gain popularity, and im sure to some extent rep is school pride. While I understand young people wanting to emulate him, I can guarantee that no one "mocks" him for what he wears, most people are smart enough to realize the marketing dollars and fame he has gained from it (I equate this phenomenon similar to the boy band theory, sure being in a boy band is lame, but in the end those guys made a nice chunk of change in a short amount of time, and in the end you have to respect them a little for that).
Now people who dress like him, thats a little different, for one, I believe the mockery is solely because of the person being unoriginal, because they are copying someones overthetop style. You will garner alot more respect and less sneers if you be yourself and choose your own style. thats not to say you cant wear orange (especially if its your school colors) but by you going "full Rickie" of course your going to get the jokes, especially being a high schooler, like I said now is the time in your life when you should be finding your own style. The reason the over 30 crowd wearing the Rickie outfits is ridiculous is because after a certain point, people should know better.
[/quote]

I fully agree with this, and I'm sure others (coughTDOcough) have a different opinion. The way I see it is if you want to pretend to be somebody or emulate them, go right ahead, that's your prerogative. But don't sit there thinking that other people aren't going to comment on your style, especially if it is as flamboyant as Fowler's. They have every right to think you look stupid, just like you have every right to think my style (being far more subdued than Fowler's....or even Poulter's for that matter) is ugly. I tend to wear Nike golf shirts with a ball cap (not flat brim) and some flat front shorts. I like the way I look because I think it looks respectable. That doesn't mean other people think that, but that doesn't bother me. Like Kuz said, just do you. This is the time in your life when you can really be an individual.

There is no lying when it comes to clothing...we all wear it to look that certain way, that in our eyes seems acceptable or respectable. IMO

[smackygolf]

If it really didn't bother you, who cares? You wore it, now WEAR IT. Guess what? Jordan gets made fun of for dressing like a tool. Dress like a tool, you're going to get made fun of. Either know it, and accept it, or quit. If you REALLY don't care that you were being mocked for looking like a d-bag, why the screed?

"The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem: ridiculed for having pride in our schools."

I hate to break it to you, but that's not why you were ridiculed. I think you should post a pic so we can see for ourselves. Not only that, Rickie does it to make money. Without the over the top clothing, he's just another shaggy haired dude that might win once every 2 to 3 years on tour. Hard to get endorsement deals like that.

[KMeloney]

[quote name='SethO' timestamp='1365601517' post='6799857']
I wear what I want. I wear it with swagger. If people don't like it, that shows their own insecurities. I come from the paintball world which makes Ricky's dress look very normal.
[/quote]

That's the bottom line. YOU have to be secure. You can't expect others to be.

[tembolo1284]

Just respond on twitter #kickedyourazzbyfivesuckit.

Or however you would do that to get the point across. Needling him would be fun.

[QMany]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1365602044' post='6799921']
Just respond on twitter #kickedyourazzbyfivesuckit.

Or however you would do that to get the point across. Needling him would be fun.
[/quote]
I would go with a "YOU MAD BRO?" and leave it at that.

[chrisday83]

Wear what you want. To be frank, in the UK you would probably raise eyebrows wearing a football team cap.
That's just how it is here, golf is conservative. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy wearing some pretty bright outfits when I feel like it.

The whole putting it on twitter thing, can't pull it off?
"good enough to beat you".

[kellygreen]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365565396' post='6798173']
Today I show up to my high school match, dressed head to toe in orange complete with black shoes and a black belt. Why? Because my high school colors are orange and black.
So I hop out of the van and immediately hear some snickers. No biggie, I can handle it. It does occur to me that Rickie must hear a lot of the same stuff I am hearing. So throughout my match I do not say much, and I am beating my opponent bad. I hear him crack some jokes to his playing partner but I did not know if they were about me. But then on hole 8... I stripe a 3 wood from 240 to literally 10 feet... And that is when the kid takes a picture of me walking with my bag, unbeknownst to me.


An hour after the round, I get a text from my buddy saying "is this you?" Attached is a picture of me on twitter with the caption "what a d-bag #rickiefowler #cantpullthisoff"

Wow. I wasn't really angry because things like that no longer get under my skin. But what it did make me think about is my view on Rickie fowler. Before, I thought the orange was over the top. But not anymore.

The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem: ridiculed for having pride in our schools. And it is pathetic that people will attack you for this! For the first time, I was in awe of how lame it is when people gossip about you for having pride in something.

Finished the day at 37 while that kid shot a 42.

I fully support Fowler's Sunday outfits and I can't wait to see him wear it this Sunday at Augusta!
[/quote]

Personally I don't care for the way that Fowler dresses, but to each his own.

Bottomline, is that you beat the other kid like a drum...and this (rather pitiful) gesture was his only way of hitting back at you and trying to salvage his pride.

I grew up playing baseball and we used to call this kind of crap, "[i]If we can't win on the field, then we'll win in the parking lot."[/i] It's childish, petty, and mean-spirited. A form of bullying when you can pull it off with some credibility... when you can't (like this guy) it just comes across as pathetic.

At the end of the day, be yourself. But remember that chosing to do so always comes with a price. Usually the hostility of narrow-minded or insecure people who can't stand anyone who isn't conforming to THEIR notions of how things should be done. That nail that sticks out, gets hammered. So before you make this your "trademark", make sure that THIS is the hill you're willing to die on before you take on this battle.

Because if the kid you beat like a drum was still willing to lash out at you in this way....[u][i][b]You haven't seen ANYTHING like how bad its going to get when you show up for a match dressed like this, and you are on the recieving end of the beatdown. It'll look and feel like an Old Testament stoning compared to what happened this time.[/b][/i][/u]

If this is important enough to you to be willing to put up with that kind of abuse....go for it. I tip my hat to your determination.

If not...I'd stop and think about it. You WILL get a fight over this from your peers as they try to hammer you back in to conformity. So make sure that this is the hill you are willing to die defending before you take on that fight. Because there are other ways to pay respect to your school colors without looking like The Great Pumpkin, and [i]INVITING [/i]accusations of "Rickie Fowler wannabe" (true or not) down on your head.

[Willie Malay]

Only a matter of time before the word swagger was used. When you guys grow up you will say "what were we thinking". I remember a pic of me on vacation with shorts and tube socks way up over my calves. If you wore tube socks then you were considered "an athlete". Now all I say is "what was I thinking"? LOL.
Have fun with it but understand you are gonna get some ribbing and later on you will come to "the realization". Just remember I said it.

[Greyboy]

It was originally such a bold move/color by Rickie, that unfortunately hes changed orange on the golf course (at least for the time being) whether any of us like it or not. Orange on the golf course is associated with Rickie Fowler.

Anyone that does anything that bold, will draw fans and critics. Depending on what side of the fence youre on will alter how you feel about wearing it obviously.

What your opponent did was obviously a childish act of revenge, since he couldnt beat you on the course.

With that being said, if you're showing up to the golf course in any one bright color, you'd have to be crazy to not think theres not going to be people that will make wise remarks. It comes with the territory. Show up in all bright blue, green, red, yellow, orange, purple, etc... you're going to get attention. Some of it will be bad, some of it might be good - regardless, you knew what you were getting into.

[CCUgolfer23]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365565396' post='6798173']
Today I show up to my high school match, dressed head to toe in orange complete with black shoes and a black belt. Why? Because my high school colors are orange and black.
So I hop out of the van and immediately hear some snickers. No biggie, I can handle it. It does occur to me that Rickie must hear a lot of the same stuff I am hearing. So throughout my match I do not say much, and I am beating my opponent bad. I hear him crack some jokes to his playing partner but I did not know if they were about me. But then on hole 8... I stripe a 3 wood from 240 to literally 10 feet... And that is when the kid takes a picture of me walking with my bag, unbeknownst to me.


An hour after the round, I get a text from my buddy saying "is this you?" Attached is a picture of me on twitter with the caption "what a d-bag #rickiefowler #cantpullthisoff"

Wow. I wasn't really angry because things like that no longer get under my skin. But what it did make me think about is my view on Rickie fowler. Before, I thought the orange was over the top. But not anymore.

The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem: ridiculed for having pride in our schools. And it is pathetic that people will attack you for this! For the first time, I was in awe of how lame it is when people gossip about you for having pride in something.

Finished the day at 37 while that kid shot a 42.

I fully support Fowler's Sunday outfits and I can't wait to see him wear it this Sunday at Augusta!
[/quote]

Should have tweeted back that the orange must have looked good while you were winning.

[J5isalive]

So where is the picture? Post it up....

[Titleist1455]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1365565396' post='6798173']
Today I show up to my high school match, dressed head to toe in orange complete with black shoes and a black belt. Why? Because my high school colors are orange and black.
So I hop out of the van and immediately hear some snickers. No biggie, I can handle it. It does occur to me that Rickie must hear a lot of the same stuff I am hearing. So throughout my match I do not say much, and I am beating my opponent bad. I hear him crack some jokes to his playing partner but I did not know if they were about me. But then on hole 8... I stripe a 3 wood from 240 to literally 10 feet... And that is when the kid takes a picture of me walking with my bag, unbeknownst to me.


An hour after the round, I get a text from my buddy saying "is this you?" Attached is a picture of me on twitter with the caption "what a d-bag #rickiefowler #cantpullthisoff"

Wow. I wasn't really angry because things like that no longer get under my skin. But what it did make me think about is my view on Rickie fowler. Before, I thought the orange was over the top. But not anymore.

The point of this is that Rickie fowler and I faced the exact same problem: ridiculed for having pride in our schools. And it is pathetic that people will attack you for this! For the first time, I was in awe of how lame it is when people gossip about you for having pride in something.

Finished the day at 37 while that kid shot a 42.

I fully support Fowler's Sunday outfits and I can't wait to see him wear it this Sunday at Augusta!
[/quote]


My school colors are orange and blue. I have never felt the need to dress "head to toe" in orange to support my school.

You were obviously TRYING to make a statement. Which is fine...but when you dress EXACTLY like a flashy tour pro (who is know for wearing exactly that) and play as an amateur, you leave yourself open to scrutiny. You just need to learn to deal with it and if you can't deal with it, change clothes.

[_MS22_]

First off good on whipping that kid. You should have sent a response with the scorecard or something.......

Now wear what you want but please do not expect to show up in full traffic cone attire and not have people bust on you. Especially HS age kids.

Is your school color orange? Plain orange and nothing else?

You only "face the same problems" as you choose to emulate his style. I highly doubt if RF never came along you'd have the gall to choose the attire you did. If so, I stand corrected but really be honest.

As for "school pride" I've often wondered how a kid from Cali that spent how many semesters in Oklahoma (while travelling and playing for the team), who now lives in Florida, have real school pride. I'd have at the very least finished out my degree through a distance program to support and show my school pride.

[larrybud]

I would have him DQed for using a device that is able to measure things other than distance during a stipulated round! lol

Fact of the matter is if you don't conform, don't be surprised to be called out, good or bad.

Now, I would advise not doing this again because it's clearly going to get in the way of golf at one point or another, like it or not. So keep with your colors by changing the orange pants into black, which is also your school colors, and keep beating your opponents by 5 shots.