The Uniform Controversy

Am I the only person who thinks Congress should worry about more important things (like actually running the country) than what country our Olympic team's Opening Ceremony uniforms were made in?  They were made in China.  So what?  Why is this suddenly some massive national controversy?

Some senators tossed around words like "ashamed," "embarrassing," "dumb," "self-defeating" and "appalling."  John Boehner went so far as to say, "They should know better."  One of the reasons given for this criticism is that the uniforms were outsourced at a time when "so many Americans are unemployed."  How is that Ralph Lauren's problem?  Ralph Lauren, an American company mind you (it's not like they were designed by Li Ning, which happens to be based in China), has a contract with the USOC to produce the team's Opening Ceremonies uniforms.  Ralph Lauren does much of its production in China.  Now, I agree that the uniforms should've been made in America, but I'm not getting all bent out of shape about it.

America's athletes don't seem to share our lawmakers' outrage.  From what I can tell, they really couldn't care less.  Runner Nick Symmonds jokingly said, "Thanks China" on his Twitter account.  Beach volleyball player Todd Rogers pointed out that we live in a global society and there are much bigger issues out there.  Swimmer Missy Franklin, who figures to be one of the stars of the Games, won't be marching in the Opening Ceremony because she's competing the next day.  Regardless, she loves them.

And something that I think is being conveninetly forgotten here is that, unlike virtually every other National Olympic Committee, the USOC doesn't receive any government funding.  None.  The USOC gets its funding from the IOC, donations from private citizens, and, most importantly, corporate sponsors.  Ralph Lauren is one of those corporate sponsors.  As a part of the agreement, Ralph Lauren provides the U.S. Olympic team with its Ceremonies uniforms, as well as casual clothes to wear around the Olympic Village.  Without this relationship, the USOC would spend into the millions trying to outfit more than 500 athletes, as well as all the coaches, officials and other members of the delegation.

Six senators went so far as to introduce a bill requiring the USOC (which, again, is basically a private entity and doesn't fall under the federal government's umbrella in any way) to have all future Ceremonies uniforms produced in America.  While the bill is designed to take effect with the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, some are even calling on the USOC to "do the right thing" and scrap this year's uniforms entirely in favor of something made in America.  (Senate majority leader Harry Reid wants to burn them and replace them with t-shirts that say "USA" across the front.  Classy, Harry.)  It evidently is irrelevant to them that, with the Olympics two weeks away, it would be completely impossible to do that at this point. 

The USOC is under no obligation to use any specific manufacturer for anything.  In fact, the USOC has so many agreements out there it's hard to keep track (Ralph Lauren designed the Ceremonies uniforms, but Nike designed a lot of the competition uniforms, as well as the outfits to be worn at medals ceremonies).  That includes equipment.  Would Congress rather the U.S. team have the best equipment available, regardless of where it's produced, or the cheap stuff that's Made in America?

To Ralph Lauren's credit, they didn't just ignore Congress' "concerns."  The company, which is under contract with the USOC until 2020, has said that the 2014 uniforms will be American-made.  Maybe that will calm down this ridiculous controversy that only became one because Congress decided to make a big deal about it.

In my opinion, if Congress wants to criticize anything about these uniforms, it shouldn't be the fact that they're made in China.  It should be those stupid hats!  Or the giant Ralph Lauren logo on the left breast.  Or the giant gold buttons on the blazer.  Or that the entire team will look like preppy snobs having tea at their yacht club.  (This might be hard to believe, but, outside of the berets, I actually do kind of like them.) 

As for where they're made, who cares?  We'll still know what team they represent, and that's the most important thing.  The "USA" on the front.  Not the "USA" on the tag.