« Uncle Woody Sullender | Main | Number One »
March 05, 2005
Project Runway: Go Heels!
I never imagined that my life would start imitating the plot of a reality TV show, but during the last week I've spent countless hours feeling like a character on Project Runway. It all started when my graduating friends hit the jackpot and scored these:
Now I've been a big Tar Heel basketball fan for about a quarter century, but I've never actually attended a UNC/Dook game. Much less sat in the courtside riser seats! Once I realized that my friends and I were going to be in the constantly-on-TV section of rabidly cheering fans, I started thinking of how I might decorate myself (aside from my usual "Jackie Manuel Has A Posse" t-shirt, clearly a must for Senior Day).
I briefly considered painting my dome light blue, but after seeing how nasty those Cameron Crazies looked last month with paint-colored sweat running down their arrogant faces, I decided to avoid paint entirely. My friend Chris half-jokingly suggested that I wear a Mexican wrestling mask, which struck me as a pretty brilliant idea. I started looking online for a Carolina blue-ish mask, but offerings were slim and the colors and sizes weren't exactly right. So I started discussing the idea with avid Tar Heel basketball and Mexican wrestling mask fan Chip Hoppin of Merch Headgear & Design. Chip had actually been wanting to make a Mexican wrestling mask for years, but the right opportunity just hadn't presented itself - until now.
Chip sketched out a basic idea for the mask, and the next step was to buy some Carolina blue and white fabrics that had a little bit of weight and stiffness to them, as simple cotton would be far too flimsy for a mask. I got to pay my first-ever visit to Jo-Ann Fabrics, where I scored a couple of yards of light blue felt with embedded glitter and a half yard of white vinyl/pleather that wound up being perfect for the eye/nose/mouth holes and the racing stripes. A thin cotton shower curtain from Target would serve as the soft inside liner protecting my face from the scratchy felt. Little metal eyelets and a Carolina blue shoelace would allow the back to be laced up.
|
 |
|
On Monday night, we measured my head, cut out pieces of fabric, tested the pieces of fabric against my head, adjusted our design, attempted to figure out how to use this old sewing machine that Chip had been given by his Mom, and even cut out some vinyl/pleather versions of the "NC" logo. A couple nights later we paid a visit to the amazingly talented and very helpful Slade family, who not only got Chip's sewing machine working but also offered hours of good company and invaluable sewing assistance/advice. Since we already had the initial design specs down, we went ahead and cut parts for three different masks. When we finally called it a night at around 1:30 am, we had the first mask totally finished and the second one about 95% complete. The whole mask-making process took way longer than I thought it might, but I don't regret a minute of it.
Yes, these scary-looking guys really do hate Dook this much!
The limited edition UNC Mexican wrestling mask will be officially unveiled on national television tomorrow afternoon at 4pm. Of course the real show is the game itself, and once that gets going I doubt that I will be thinking too much about the uncomfortable felt contraption on my head. I'll just be peering through those teardrop eyeholes as Jawad Williams goes on his last-ever Dean Dome scoring spree and Jackie Manuel completely shuts down JJ "not a factor" Redick. And hopefully Melvin Scott will even knock down a bunch of 3's like he did a couple weeks ago at NC State.
¡Muerte a Dook!
Posted by Tim at March 5, 2005 08:07 PM
Comments
timbo,
not only did you score tickets to The Game and have delightful headwear to boot, but you mentioned Project Runway in a post, atypical for your usually music-heavy prose, yet right up my alley. i knew there was a reason i liked you.
Posted by: yonni at March 5, 2005 09:20 PM
Tim, that's the greatest thing I've ever seen. Go Heels!
Posted by: John at March 5, 2005 10:40 PM
I hate basketball, BUT YOU RULE!
Posted by: Dav at March 6, 2005 12:42 AM
dude, you just got featured over at the real paul jones: http://ibiblio.org/pjones/wordpress/index.php?p=342
Posted by: justin at March 6, 2005 11:53 PM
perfect.
Posted by: brian at March 7, 2005 02:20 AM
Goddamn I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner and looking for you on TV!
And how did I watch this entire game and miss seeig the guys in Carolina blue wrestling masks???
Posted by: Ruby at March 7, 2005 09:56 AM
Freaking AWESOME! I want a mask like that!
Posted by: Brian R. at March 7, 2005 10:34 AM
Awesome! I think it must have been the mask that caused Reddick to miss that foul shot in the first half!
Posted by: Paul at March 7, 2005 01:51 PM
Thanks for all the mask love, here is the post-game report:
http://www.tubafrenzy.org/weblog/archives/2005/03/unmasked.html
Posted by: Tim at March 8, 2005 09:14 AM
Hey Tim!!!!
I was just sitting here...back in Barcelona (that's why I haven't run into you no mo) and Christian started reading this page outloud...I'm not sure what he was looking for but I'm glad to see you've got this up and running... . .the internet still amazes me. Go HEEEEEELS!
Posted by: Marcela at May 8, 2005 07:00 PM