First impression:I like Wizards’ the new digs. I really like them. They were done with a style that lends itself to merchandise that people of various demographics would be proud to sport. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Sure, it’s partially about the money, gladly advertised by the team to‘Buy! Buy! Buy!’, but in order for that to happen, they must look good. People have to want them. I think people will want these.

I attended the unveiling and wrote an onlinearticle for the Washington City Paper. I urge you to check it out, it’s all about how the Wizard is not completely dead, not just yet. I halfway expected both home and away jerseys to say“Washington” on the front (the New York Knicks do this), but“Wizards” stays as a reminder to the home fans— that and the color replacement version of the old Wizards logo you see above on the official reproduction guideline sheet, which is just about the only place you’ll see it going forward, according to the team.

The new branding is modern, it’s retro, it provides the colors people expect. It also is a style that can happily adapt itself to further change down the road. Ted Leonsis will zip his lips slowly back out of a room when the topic of a name change now comes up, but it almost seems inevitable with this well-built foundation of color change success. Only not back to“Bullets.” Not reasonably going to happen.

Still, for those begging for change, this should be more than enough to keep you quiet, which Leonsis and his crew would gladly have you do. Changes to the court and other areas are forthcoming, please digest this phase slowly.

People everywhere will be soliciting all sorts of opinions from anyone with a voice, but I’ll throw up a poll for the readers of Truth About It.net nonetheless. To me, the navy blue at the top of the road jerseys looks a bit off, but expecting all to be perfect to everyone is a bit much. Aside from the particulars, I’m giving one thumb up and one thumb kind of up. So what do you think?