Halloween is now over, and for many it's time to celebrate all saints that aren't from New Orleans. For me, I would like to stay within the sports realm and rather celebrate the best sports-related costumes from the weekend.
I must preface these rankings by admitting that I did not make it all the way down to State Street Saturday night, so I'm assuming there was some guy out there you could have sworn was actually Charles Barkley, or a girl who matched the sexiness of Danica Patrick perfectly.
Nonetheless, I was out on the streets of Madison long enough to fully appreciate some of the best sports costumes out there:
No. 5: Bret Bielema
If you haven't noticed, UW football head coach Bret Bielema has worn the same jacket to every game this season—the same jacket you could pick up at Bucky's Locker Room. That means you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to come up with a Bielema costume, but I have to give credit to the kid I saw dressed as the rookie head coach because he managed to pull off the hair and the patented Bielema half-smile perfectly. Not to mention, if he really bought the jacket at Bucky's Locker Room, he spent more on the costume than most did.
No. 4: Brian Urlacher
Those who dress up as their favorite athlete never really impress me, because most could throw on any jersey they own and say, ""Whoopdy freakin' do, it's Halloween."" Just looking at my closet, on any given day I could be dressed as anyone from David Beckham to Julius Peppers from his Tar Heel days. But the guy dressed up as Brian Urlacher had the full football ensemble and actually played the part. Maybe I was just excited to see a Bears player, because I did hug the guy.
No. 3: Average Joe's
The movie is old by now, but ""Dodgeball"" is a classic, and those who found actual Average Joe's dodgeball jerseys have some class. Honestly though, if someone had been dressed as White Goodman, that would have been very impressive—especially if it had been the Goodman featured during the credits.
No. 2: Duke lacrosse team
I must admit it wasn't in good taste, but the Duke lacrosse costume was a great idea. I probably saw three or four people do their best Colin Finnerty impersonation. Sometimes the controversial stories in sports make the best costumes.
No. 1: Miller Park sausages
When I crossed Dayton and saw the Italian sausage sprinting down Park Street I took a Beeline straight to the race. I confess that Bad Santa racing alongside the Miller Park sausages doesn't make much sense, but even as a Chicagoan, it has been a dream of mine to race these guys. Not only were the traditional four sausages there, but even the new Chorizo was in Madison over the weekend. By far the best costume I saw all weekend.
Missing Costumes
But what about those great sports costumes that could have been out there, but weren't? My original costume idea was to be Rick ""Wild Thing"" Vaughn from Major League, but things just didn't work out. If anyone actually pulled that off with the hair and everything, then you are a much better man than I.
Where were the UW Band members? I thought for sure that would have been a popular costume, but I never saw any hazing that involved a trumpet and a sex toy. Again, in bad taste, but easy.
Then there is the steroid scandal—the biggest story in sports right now! But where was Barry Bonds over the weekend? Where was Bill Romanowski when you needed him? I couldn't even get a late Shawne Merriman costume?
And have you seen Tiger Woods lately? Apparently, he's a groupie of the Backstreet Boys now with his frosty-top hair, but no one could even pull that easy costume out of the bag?
Finally, if only Bill Belichick had sported his new sweatshirt a week earlier. If you didn't see Monday Night Football this week, it looked like a five-year-old with some pre-school scissors took some anger out on the sleeves of the New England head coach's traditional sweatshirt.
Luckily, no one dressed as Miami football players because then we probably would have had riots again.
Send Adam an e-mail at hoge@dailycardinal.com if you saw any other good costumes or want to dress up as the Cleveland Indians from ""Major League"" next year.
