(To the tune of "White Christmas")

	Brian Shaw wonders where the yellow went.

I'm dreaming of a white jersey
Just like the ones they used to wear
But this past year's lesson:
You don't go messin'
With fashion -- it ends up a nightmare.

The Lakers ignored a common 2002 trend: Alternative jerseys look hot, but teams' performances in them have been so "not." L.A.'s "white Christmas" was not as big a blunder as Notre Dame's season-destroying decision to wear "lucky" green against Boston College this fall or San Diego's slump since they wore the powder blues. However, it begs the question of why the swooning Lakers would choose a nationally televised game against their most bitter ... and talented ... and motivated rivals to don the look.

Alternative jerseys may fire up the fans -- and team merchandise sales -- but they also fire up the other team. Here's an early new year's resolution suggestion for teams: Give alternate jersey fashions the "Homecoming Test." As in: Debut radical jersey looks against teams of the same quality you'd schedule homecoming against, rather than, say, a good team.

For more on what's hot and what's not hot this week, check out the list below:

What's Hot, What's Not this week
Category	Hot	Not
Playoff tie-breaker	Record vs. common conference opponents	Strength of victory
Coaching-change announcements	NFL Week 15	After lame-duck loss to the 'Skins
Xmas hoops	Tracy McGrady	The Lakers
Female athletes	College-football kickers	Private-club golfers
Basketballs	Synthetic	Leather
Yankees' Cuban of choice	Jose Contreras	Orlando Hernandez
NFL QB	A.J. Feeley	Brian Griese
NFL playoff wannabe	Falcons	Saints
New York team on a roll	Giants	Jets
Bill Parcells	Come on, you know it's gonna happen	Stumbling blocks (temporary)
Texan most glad the season is over	David Carr	Dave Campo
Deion's limitation	Can't get through waivers	Can't cover anymore
Norm Chow	Assistant's life is nice	Kentucky in worse trouble than we thought
Worthy of retired jersey	Patrick Ewing	Charlie Ward
Stocking stuffer	"Gospel According to ESPN"	Yet another coffee mug
NCAA investigation a-brewing	Florida State football	UNC hoops
All-day Xmas marathon can't-get-enough	"A Christmas Story"	"Trading Spaces"
Johnson	Brad	Still not Rob
NFL game of the week	Miami-New England	Minnesota-Detroit
Alabama	Hoops	Football coach without issues
Holiday-weekend flick	"Catch Me If You Can"	"Nicholas Nickleby" (or is that "Nickelback"?)

A very special Hot 'n' Not New Year's Day bowl preview

What's Hot, What's Not for New Year's Day bowls
Category	Hot	Not
Outback	Rare steaks (and Rex Grossman)	Bloomin' arteries (and John Navarre)
Cotton	Home games (Texas)	Anymore Hail Marys (LSU)
Gator	Coaches of the year (Notre Dame)	Cupcake scheduling (N.C. State)
Capitol One	Best RB in nation (Penn State)	Best injured RB in nation (Auburn)
Rose	Non-traditional team (Oklahoma)	Fiesta wannabe (Washington State)
Sugar	No NCAA issues (Georgia)	Pick a problem, any problem (Florida State)
Orange (Jan. 2)	Heisman runners-up (Iowa)	Heisman winners (USC)
Fiesta (Jan. 3)	NFL prospects volume (Miami)	Lucky to be 13-0 (Ohio State)

Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "What's Hot, What's Not" trend-spotting list appears Thursdays.