# Black stripe on jerseys

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stripe-on-jerseys/4762
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 16, 1999, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stripe-on-jerseys/4762 "1999-11-16T04:01:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)
#### Post date: [November 16, 1999, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stripe-on-jerseys/4762/1 "1999-11-16T04:01:00Z")

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I notice while watching basketball that some of the teams’ uniforms have a black stripe on the top left part of their jersey. Why do they have that?

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### Author: ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [November 16, 1999, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stripe-on-jerseys/4762/2 "1999-11-16T05:37:00Z")

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Its a memorial for a person closely affiliated with the team. Similar to a foolball team wearing a patch or sticker to commemorate the death of a coach, player or owner.

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### Author: ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)
#### Post date: [November 16, 1999, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stripe-on-jerseys/4762/3 "1999-11-16T14:57:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> … a foolball team…

One of the most apt typos I have ever seen.

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“Don’t take life too serious, son – it ain’t nohow permanent.”