I’ve been in the process of moving this past week, which everyone knows is a pain. As I was packing up things I found a couple pairs of shin guards. They are these tiny little pieces of plastic that cover about three inches of shin. Which inevitably led me to think back to the days of when shin guards protected the entire lower leg region. I’m talking shins, ankles, top of feet, etc. See picture above for reference.

I had these monster style shin guards when I was a youngster. They required that once you put them on, they were on for the day. Hours before my game they would be put to service. I would watch cartoons pregame with them underneath my socks, head to the pizza shop post game, still tucked neatly underneath my socks, never thinking that there was any other way to go about it. The shin guard game has changed, just as society and the game has. More streamlined, an after thought to everything else that is going on.

I have no idea what the point to this post is, just an observation. However, the old school joints remind me of orange slices and juice boxes (stay tuned on that note) and that makes me smile. So there you go.