On January 23rd, the United States Olympic Committee and the Ralph Lauren Corporation unveiled the official Team USA 2014 Winter Olympic uniforms on NBC’s Today Show. Reviews have been unkind at best. Criticism directed toward the centerpiece of the outfit, a patchwork all-American made cardigan, has been especially harsh.
Understandably, the sweater would like to address this issue…
Listen. Sit down. I know you have been talking smack about me. Shut up. Did I ask you what you think? I know what you think of me. You think I’m ugly. You think I’m tacky. You think I’m unfashionable. I ignored it for a while because real men don’t acknowledge that kind of garbage but I have to take exception because it’s our country’s honor on the line and that is sacred. Don’t deny it asshole, I know what you said. What was it? Oh, oh yeah, you said I look “like a teacher sweater.” You said “this is what happens when they take the gays out of the Olympics.” You said I look like “something my grandma was buried in.” I’ll bet you thought that was funny. Well excuse me dickbag, it sounds to me like your grandma was one lucky broad, because I am Team USA’s 2014 Official Winter Olympic Storybook Sweater, the most fearsome thing to tear through Mother Russia since Gorbachev’s birthmark.
You’re welcome.
Okay, I get it. I get it. I know you see me in the spotlight, okay, and you have feelings about that. I mean, I’m there holding up the Olympic torch, running through the streets, people high-fiving me all over the place all winner-winner-chicken-dinner. Next Friday I’ll be there with every member of the Team USA at the opening ceremony, circling the stadium track in a giant parade of champions, looking fine with my matching hat and gloves, singing along to the songs, waving to the millions of spectators, wiping away the tears of mothers whose twenty year dream has finally come true….and there you’ll be at home in your dirty bathrobe eating corn chips and wondering why your mother never put you in bobsledding class.
It’s no wonder you are so bitter.
So, as long as we are setting the story straight, pal, I am not tacky, okay, I am designer. You got that? Designer. Ralph Lauren, okay. No, not Ralph Lauren as is Lauren like your minimum wage babysitter; it’s Lauren like la-wren. Emphasis on wren. It’s European, not that you would know, what with your renowned expertise in international fashion. Oh, what’s that? You’re not a highly celebrated clothing designer? Oh wow, that is funny. The way you were talking smack about my weave weft and wool count I assumed you were some kind of aficionado. My mistake. I’m sorry.
Not sorry.
I suppose if things were up to you everyone would be running around in Brooks Brothers, right? Let me guess – navy blue turtlenecks? Some slim-cut trousers? Some red and white striped hats you saw on sale at The Gap? Some rat-face tasteful garbage that nobody will look twice at, right?
Right.
You’re like, let these athletes shine on their own merit, and I’m like, let these athletes look like some festive sh*t, this is Russia. Have you seen this place? Have you seen a James Bond movie? These assholes fight dirty. Broken bottles. Molten tar. Bad. Ass. Last year some man-ballerina got so jacked up on competition he threw acid in another man-ballerina’s face. For real, okay. This happens every day in Russia. How are you going take on that kind of crazy? How are you going to get the upper hand? I’ll tell you – Team USA’s best battle tactic is this: Distraction.
I mean seriously. How are they going to look at a giant pack of white people dressed like this and keep their mind on the game.
They can’t. That reaction you just had…that momentary loss of sight – that is the competitive edge we need.
So here we are, my friend. Now you know. No hard feelings about before, you can’t help that nobody told you about me. Moving forward you understand – I am not a sweater, okay, I am a battle strategy. I am the difference between winning and losing. I am what’s keeping the cold war cold. I am everything you hate. Everything you fear. I am your Talbotts catalog nightmare. And if I catch you talking crap about me again one more time I will come back after my 16 days of glory and I will haunt your waking dreams. I promise you this, every rat-face son of a bitch will be wearing me until Mother’s Day. Why? Because I can. I am Team USA’s 2014 Official Winter Olympic Storybook Sweater. Don’t mess with me.
Now hurry up and go get your rainbow ring mittens, we got ass to kick.
Sorry I won’t be able to leave a comment on this essay, cuz I DIED about halfway through.
!!!!!!!
I want one!
This is the best.
Ooohhh…Am I the only one who sees this as the foundation for Ugly Christmas Sweater, 2014 edition? Add some red & silver tinsel garland, and bedazzle every star with multi-colored rhinestones, and buh-wang: you’ve got yourself some holiday attire that could last for years.
You took the words out of my mouth. It’s going to look like an Ugly Christmas Sweater parade at the Olympics.
Cracking post. Love it!
my sister wants one sooooo bad. i think it’s just remarkably ralph lauren. there is no denying that ralph lauren designed it. (even if i still feel a seizure coming on just by staring at them.)
lol!!! Oh my.
I can’t stop laughing. I hope the RL people see this. They must be getting crap left and right. People are so fucking judgemental.
I think this sweater is the perfect aesthetic to go along with the Winter Olympics in Russia. You want something that is unique. I think it’s exactly how it should be. I like it, but, what do I know – I love Ugly Sweaters. In fact, my husband called it an ugly sweater. It looks fun and it’s not boring. I love that there are matching hats and mittens. It’s exactly what winter gear is supposed to look like. Those whom say otherwise apparently haven’t been to a ski resort – which is exactly what the Winter Olympics are like. They must be jealous.
OMG! Nominating you for a (Lilly)Pulitzer in Journalism.
AWESOME reading, yet again! You had me BLINDED with the picture.
Auntie Peaches! your language! oh my! Totally Kick Ass – and btw, I want one of those sweaters hun
I wear shit like this. Dare I think at 65 I am finally “in”?
YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Tell it Peaches! YEAHHH!!!!! U S A U S A U S A !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
omg this is why i love your blog so much. i had never seen the sweater before, and here was my very first thought — oooooh that’s cool! I personally love it! But yes, after seeing that group photo of many people wearing the sweater, yes it’s a battle strategy and a ^%%#@-ing good one at that. Pure epic brilliance, both the post AND that sweater.
is it possible to want to be friends with a sweater? my answer is FUCK YES IT IS!! one sassy S.O.B! i like it!
BWAHAHAHA! *snort* You’re so effing hilarious!!!