Doug Robinson: Forget tradition, it's all about the ad money now

That's what observers are saying about professional jerseys. They'll probably start with a sponsor patch or two that aren't overly intrusive — then eventually they'll take over the entire jersey.

For the younger generation, this is probably much ado about nothing, although we'll see how they feel about buying Kobe Bryant's jersey with a Dunkin' Donuts ad on it.

For the older generation, all this is another adieu to the game they grew up with. First, artificial fields and domes; now this. They will miss the simplicity of an unfettered Celtics or Packers jersey, which will soon give way to the Road Warrior look that has overtaken the University of Oregon (Nike has become the league's new jersey provider and promises dramatic changes).

An athletic field — a baseball diamond, a gridiron, a pitch, a track — is a beautiful thing to many, and something is lost with the intrusion of Madison Avenue. The baseball diamond that was carved out of a cornfield served as a forum for nostalgia, healing and love in the movie "Field of Dreams." It consisted of acres of pristine, emerald-green grass under a dazzling blue sky, bordered by corn. Is this heaven, visitors want to know? No, it's a baseball field in Iowa — SPONSORED BY DUNKIN' DONUTS

Email: drob@desnews.com