Washington Times July 12th 1997

 Washington basketball fans can say goodbye to the days of red, white and blue, and hello to blue, black and bronze.

Yesterday, the Washington Wizards removed the last remnant of any connection to the Bullets when they unveiled new uniforms in a fashion show at Union Station.

Star forward Juwan Howard, Wizards second-round draft pick God Shammgod, world flyweight champion Mark Johnson and Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes modeled the complete Wizards' clothing line.

In his first-ever walk down a runway, Howard, who shouldn't be confused with Tyra Banks, came out last and showed the lunchtime crowd what the Wizards will be wearing this season. In Howard's opinion, the uniforms signal a new basketball era in Washington.

"As years start to increase, the past is going to be the past, no matter what," Howard said of the Bullets' 33-year legacy. "Sometimes, we all get settled on the past and don't want to see it change. This is the 1990s now, you're going to see some changes throughout anything in life. We just left the Bullets' tradition behind. Tomorrow is a new era. It's going to take a little time for the fans to adjust to it."

Washington's road uniforms are blue with black stripes down the side and bronze trim with descriptive white lettering across the chest. The Wizards' logo is displayed on one side of the trunks and a trendy "D.C." insignia is on the other side. The home uniforms are white with blue lettering and wide blue stripes down the side with bronze trim.

The Wizards' new color scheme matches the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals.

Yesterday's crowd was evenly split on the Wizards' new threads.

"I like them, and I like the white ones {home} better," said Suitland's Deonna Walker, an administrative officer. "The colors are better."

"I like the road uniforms better, but nothing can touch the Bullets' throwback uniforms of the 1970s," said Fort Washington's 26-year old Corey Payton. "These uniforms surprised me. I'm happy with the color scheme, but I'm a Bullets fan forever. I grew up on the Bullets' red, white and blue with the stars and stripes going around the uniforms."

Everything from T-shirts to warmup jackets were on display. Golf shirts, denim buttonups, and sweatshirts in various colors were also shown. Dawes made the best entrance when she cartwheeled and backflipped down the runway in a blue long-sleeve T-shirt. Local television sports personalities also helped the athletes model the new line. Crowds jammed Union Station's restaurants and main hall for just a glimpse of the future. Still, not everyone was completely satisfied.

"They kinda of look like the {Vancouver} Grizzlies uniforms," said Gonzaga high school student George Alafoginis, who walked two blocks down North Capital Street to check out the uniforms on his lunch break. "They were more flashy than plain. The colors are fine, but they are OK, nothing great.