Sun Sentinel July 23rd 1991

Dast I badmouth the Florida Marlins' logo?

No, it isn't a heavyweight issue. And yes, H. Wayne Huizenga, who spent $95 million for the privilege, is entitled to go with a brown toadfish bursting through a pumpernickel bagel if it suits his fancy. But that doesn't change the fact that the logo is drab. Blah, if you will.

Sure, the fish looks feisty, but it wouldn't be leaping like that if it weren't in big trouble. I've only seen the logo on white backgrounds but, off that evidence, it looks like the centerpiece on a tourist's souvenir that says "My Gramma and Grampa went to Florida and all I got was this lousy T- shirt."

The logo, which shows a billfish poking through a life preserver with some baseball stitches inside the preserver, was unveiled at a high-tone cocktail party last week. There is nothing wrong with the basic design. The main problem is the colors.

Weeks ago, H. Wayne had announced that Marlin colors would be pretty much like the aqua and orange of the Miami Dolphins.

That was a mistake, of course, best described by a British golf commentator's reaction to a shirt worn by Payne Stewart during a recent tournament.

During competition, Stewart likes to wear the colors of various National Football League teams. He likes to do that because he gets paid for it. On this particular day his outfit puzzled the telecasters.

"Whose colors are those?" one announcer asked.

"Whoever they belong to," the English accent observed, "they picked them in the dark."

Yep, they were talking about the aquasen in the first place?

I've been told Huizenga doesn't want his players to clash with the seats at Joe Robbie Stadium. That makes sense. An expansion team doesn't need any additional visual handicaps.

There are other problems with the uniforms worn by today's baseball teams and I hope the Marlins' owner uses his start-from- scratch opportunity to avoid them.

No. 1, no manager, coach or player with a waist measuring 40 inches or more should be allowed to wear the standard, trim-fit, stretchy outfits now in vogue.

Anyone who reports to spring training with a bulgy silhouette should have to wear an old-style flannel uniform, the kind that weighs 43 pounds after it absorbs an hour or two of sweat. This punishment should continue until they no longer resemble deformed sausages encased in Spandex.

No. 2, any player appearing on the field with pants that reach the ankles shoul The Marlins do have one sartorial advantage going in. They have no history. So, when things are going bad and they want to distract the fans, they shouldn't be tempted to dress up like the 1926 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Except for the fat guys who look silly in modern baseball's leotards.