One popular item there is an NHL T-shirt of a former UND player. The front has the team logo, and the back has the name and number — the Devils' Zach Parise, the Blues' T.J. Oshie, etc.
Every time I see those shirts, I think, "Why doesn't MSU and the Verizon Wireless Center sell David Backes T-shirts?" Why not the Flames' Tim Jackman? I think they would be quite popular.
I figured it must be difficult to get those to sell in the team shop. No biggie, right? (Although it would have made a great Christmas present for my kid!)
But then I went to Bemidji this weekend and stopped by the Sanford Center's very nice team stor and saw Matt Read Flyers T-shirts for sale. And people were wearing them all over the arena. Matt Read! Read is a rookie (signed undrafted out of Bemidji State last spring) and having an outstanding season, even participating in All-Star weekend.
The point is this: If Bemidji found a way to get Matt Read T-shirts already, there's no reason MSU couldn't be selling tees representing its alumni. Backes is the Blues captain, a one-time All-Star and an Olympian in the midst of an outstanding NHL career.
Speaking of Backes, he didn't make the All-Star Game this year, but he sure did some good things over his break.
