Seattle Sounders Taylor Graham Models Longshot Apparel’s Winter Shirts

By Sally Bjornsen on December 18, 2012 5:18 PM


Tall Shirt for Tall Man

Taylor Graham Models the Longshot Apparel Shihadeh

Seattle Sounders Taylor Graham looks great in the new Longshot Apparel Shihadeh (named after one of our best customers).  We were super pleased to work with our friend and tall man Taylor Graham (6’4 and  195ish pounds). Taylor is the perfect Longshot Apparel guy, not only is he tall and lean but he’s athletic with a rich professional soccer pedigree.

Taylor Graham in a Sounders Match

Taylor is currently a marketing executive with the Seattle Sounders but prior to that he played on the Sounders Team.  His soccer career is a long and successful one.  The story goes like this. Graham, 31, signed with Sounders FC on January 21, 2009 after spending three seasons (2005, 2007-08) with the USL-1 Sounders. Graham made one league appearance in his three seasons with Seattle and started nine of his 10 appearances across all competitions, logging 822 total minutes. He started four matches during Seattle’s three consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title runs and started five CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage games in 2010.

Prior to joining Sounders FC, Graham played four MLS seasons for Kansas City (2003-04) and New York (2006-07), appearing in 34 games. He was a member of the 2005 and 2007 USL-1 Seattle Sounders championship teams. Graham was named USL-1 Defender of the Year in 2005 and first team All-USL-1 in 2005 and 2008. A graduate of Stanford University, Graham was also named the club’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2009.

Graham attended Rio Americano High School and played five years of college soccer at Stanford University, registering as a walk-on his freshman year of 1998, and only appearing in two games in 1999. After appearing in 18 games his sophomore season, Graham started every possible game his final two, winning first team All-Pac-10 his senior year, as he led the Cardinal to an appearance in the NCAA College Cup.

After graduating from Stanford, Graham was drafted 33rd overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. Graham was signed to a developmental contract, making two appearances and playing a total of ten minutes. In his second season Graham was given significantly more playing time, playing as both a right back and central defender. After a season in the USL First Division when he played every minute for the Seattle Sounders, led his team to the title, and was named USL Defender of the Year, Graham was acquired by the MetroStars, now New York Red Bulls. He was released midway through the 2007 season and signed with his former club Seattle Sounders. He then signed withSeattle Sounders FC, a continuation of the Sounders in Major League Soccer. On May 26, 2010 he had his first appearance of the 2010 season in a friendly against Boca Juniors of Argentina, playing the full 90 minutes and putting up a solid performance.

Graham announced his retirement on December 2, 2011, after he was dropped from the roster by the Seattle Sounders.

Tall Shirts

Taylor Graham at Retirement Ceremony with Seattle Sounders

Graham represented Puerto Rico in three international friendlies (including the team’s first win in 14 years) during early 2008 before theFederación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol modified its eligibility requirement. All U.S. citizens used to be eligible for Puerto Rico national teams, but now the player pool is restricted to players who have lived on the island for at least two years, meaning that Graham is no longer eligible for the Puerto Rico national team per federation rules.[2

Fun Trivia

Graham appeared on The Price is Right on June 24, 2009. In the showcase he spoke on one of the prizes which was a vacation to Seattle, to go to any 2 home games of Seattle Sounders and watch them play.[3]

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Blake Griffin and the Tall Humor of Selling Cars

By Susan Clare on February 2, 2012 8:51 AM

Blake Griffin has been pushing this for a while now with some funny TV spots. Am I the only one who think he looks like Little Orphan Annie made over for hoops? There, I said it. It would be different if he wasn’t wearing the iconic red sweatsuit. How do you guys feel about driving KIAs? There’s a few on them on the road these days and I’ve stared a few minutes too long to see if it was maybe a Hyundai. But I wouldn’t drive it.

 

Perhaps the Hyundai 3-door Veloster is more your style. One tall person, laying at a diagonal – now what a concept if you really want to fit in it.

 

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Blake Griffin Dunk is All The Talk Today

By Susan Clare on January 31, 2012 4:40 PM

This is the dunk unleashed from Blake Griffin last night. I don’t even think I can do the splits like that on the floor.

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Upping the Ante

By Susan Clare on January 6, 2012 6:16 AM

Here’s some tidbits on the latest tall guy happenings we’ve seen this first week of the new year:

1.  Oh joy. Sahq has become an NBA analyst. I’ll admit I’m a little slow to watch much more than a few of the games on Christmas day, but after seeing this promo on TBS last night I might have got the gentle nudge to get my NBA hat on.  I couldn’t resist watching all of his promos for the debut and making the big transition. He might be the funniest tall guy in the biz. I also love how Shaq makes Barkley look tiny.

What more? Here’s one of him doing a little song and dance number. Click to watch.

2.  The Palm Springs International Film Festival starts today with a screening of  Salmon Fishing in the Yemen featuring Ewan McGregor.

3.  What ever happened to Kwame? Remember when Kwame Brown was drafted as the first superstar to go direct to the bigs from high school? This piece on ESPN by Jay Caspian Kang is an interesting read about when players don’t live up to their legacies.

4.  Funny things from Conan this week – I did not know that Gary Oldham was not Old like his character Tailor Tinker Soldier Spy. Pathetic I know. But check out this clip. He might be short but what a set of pipes.


5.  Conan joined Chris Isaak last night in a stirring rendition of Ring of Fire. Stirring you ask? Okay that’s embellishing but the tall red-headed Johnny Cash wannabe was playing the guitar pretty fierce. By the way – maybe the tallest country duo happening with Chris Isaak at 6 1/2″ and Conan at 6’4″.

6. A new record for the largest sushi-grade bluefin tuna was set this week in Japan. The friendly fish fetched $763,000 and weighed 593lbs. One tall fish – in some instances this fish is the weight of three tall & fit guys. Appreciate the fanfare and tradition but I wouldn’t want to eat it BBC


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Charles Barkley Approved: A New Big and Tall Store Concept

By Susan Clare on January 5, 2012 4:08 PM

Tall men, take note. Charles Barkley has a new big and tall store concept. We’ve been waiting for inspiration here at Longshot Apparel and maybe he’s found the winning combination. Click on the below image to see the skit from SNL – it’s the one with the chicken wings – appropriate huh? It was a great way to kick off the first SNL show of 2012 but let’s hope that big and tall guys style (especially tall) is not going back to the late eighties.

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Baron Davis Looking to ‘Challenge’ Men’s Fashion in Documentary

By Sally Bjornsen on November 16, 2011 1:42 PM
Baron Davis Documentary

Baron Davis Documentary "American Schlub."

Reprinted in this blog from Slam Online.

The NBA’s pre-eminent hipster has spent his lockout time working on a documentary, which he says is aimed at exploring what he sees as the steep fall of men’s fashion. The WSJ has the details: “Baron Davis is normally driven to distraction at this time of year by swarming defenses mustered against him on the courts of the National Basketball Association. But Mr. Davis, a 32-year-old point guard with a salary of $13 million, has other things on his mind, specifically the dismal state of men’s fashion. Mr. Davis has spent much of his time during the NBA’s lockout developing a documentary about the decline of style in the U.S. Now that the players have rejected the league’s latest offer and say they plan to file an antitrust lawsuit against the league, he may have a lot more time on his hands. The documentary, ‘American Schlub,’ is in pre-production. It takes aim at the poor sartorial standards of the American male, says Mr. Davis, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. ‘We used to be fashion forward,’ he laments. Now, ‘We’re more of a sweats and Ugg boots type of society,’ he says. ‘We wanted to challenge men, from that perspective.’”  At Longshot Apparel we commend Baron Davis’s effort and hope he will discover Longshot Apparel as a remedy to the American Schlub trend. 

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Gift Ideas for the Tall and Skinny Man

By Sally Bjornsen on November 15, 2011 12:35 PM

Racking your brain trying to think of Gift Ideas for the Tall and Skinny Man?  Give the noggin a rest and check out the gorgeous, Italian shirts from Longshot Apparel.  Made in theUnited States from renowned Italian fabric company Thomas Mason, these tall shirts enhance a tall, lean body rather than detract from it. Great Gift Ideas for the Tall and Skinny Man.  While other brands such as Tommy Bahama, Cutter and Buck and Facconable make shirts that fit the “big and tall” man, at Longshot Apparelwe make shirts for guys who are simply tall–not big.   This season Longshot Apparel is offering $45 off on all their plaids and patterns.  Now stop pondering and get a shirt that fits.  He will thank you.

Gift Ideas for the Tall and Skinny Man

Gift Ideas for the Tall and Skinny Man

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Tallest Wave Conquered in Portugal

By Susan Clare on November 11, 2011 8:03 AM

It seems that Garrett McNamara just broke the world record for largest wave surfed by successfully navigating this 90-foot wall of watery death. This tallest wave is 13 feet taller than the previous record—77 feet—that was set by Mike Parsons in 2008. Amazing style and fortitude.

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Love Letter to David Freese

By Sally Bjornsen on November 8, 2011 5:22 PM

 

Dear David,

We love you.  Your game 6 walk-off home run during the world series was really something.  The photo ops after the game, the one in your street clothes, not-so-hot.  In fact I’d say off the diamond your a fashion disaster—I’m just sayin’ cause I love you man.

Women’s Wear Daily, the arbiter of all fashionable and faux pas gives you a D- in the apparel category (without the home run who knows what grade they would have given you?).  Ouch! Now that you’re a national hero people are going to be watching.  We suggest you step it up.

To your credit what the WWD editorial staff failed to mention in their review is your height and slim build.  At 6’2”, 220lbs. we understand that you have few options when it comes to apparel that fits your fine, chiseled build.  Given your tall stature, strong shoulders and perfectly sculpted pecs you’re probably buying XL from other brands.  Most of those companies design their XL shirts like a square box, it’s no wonder you look like a small boy wearing a sumo wrestler’s  shirt in the image below.

David, David, David.  It’s time you found Longshot Apparel.  We’ve got your back.  We make shirts for guys just like you.  Tall, fit and studly.  There is no reason a guy with your income and well honed bod should have to suffer the fashion tragedies foisted upon you.   Just say no to fat, oversized clothes and treat yourself to some shirts that fit!  Your fans will thank you! Stand Tall.

Love the girls at Longshot Apparel

David Freese

David Freese
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David Freese Home Run

By Sally Bjornsen on October 28, 2011 4:04 PM

The David Freese Home Run will go down in the history books as one of baseball’s greatest moments. The Cardinals third baseman is another tall guy making us proud this season. At 6’2″ and weighing in at 220 David is the perfect candidate for a Longshot Apparel shirt.

Last night’s game was phenomenal as this guy lit up the field, not once, but twice.  David Freese Home Run and Triple will become synonymous with the 2011 World Series.

Here’s a little update of his 2011 Season thanks to Wikipedia.

Freese was projected to start the 2011 season and did so. He started off the year batting over .320, but was hit on the left hand by a pitch and missed 51 games (approximately two months) recovering from the fracture. After returning to the starting lineup, he finished the season with a .297 batting average, 10 home runs, and 55 RBI. He recorded hits in eight of the final nine regular-season games. Freese credited his improvement in power hitting to hitting coach Mark McGwire, who helped him refine his hitting stroke.

In his first playoff series, he drove in 4 runs against Philadelphia in Game 4 to force a fifth game. In the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against Milwaukee, Freese had a .545 batting average, hit 3 home runs, drove in 9 runs, and scored 7 runs. He was named the NLCS Most Valuable Player. Through Game 3 of the World Series against Texas, Freese had a 13-game postseason hitting streak, a Cardinals record and just two short of matching the all-time National League record. The hitting streak was snapped in Game 4.[16]

In Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, with Texas leading, 3 games to 2, Freese came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, with two out and two men on base. With a count of one ball and two strikes, Freese hit a two-run triple to tie the game and send it to extra innings. In the eleventh inning, Freese then hit a game-winning lead-off, “walk-off”, solo home-run to deep center field, to send the World Series to its first Game 7 since 2002.

We’re looking forward to tonight to see if this tall guy gives us more of what he’s got.  Stand Tall!

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