Welcome to KRIBZ!
Not too long ago, I was contemplating an idea about showcasing homes of there.com residents. I thought it would be cool to regularly feature houses and their owners, and that you guys would enjoy reading about them. It would also give me something new to drone on about, of course. lol
I would be remiss not to mention the origin story of "KRIBZ." Many of you remember the groundbreaking MTV show in which celebrities gave guided tours of their homes. It was fun and cool to see where they spent their downtime when not entertaining audiences.
To kick off KRIBZ on my blog, I have chosen to feature a sky box that is some 800 meters off the ground. Think of it as an entertainment space, with a bar, seating area, and video games to keep the party going.
The owner is Vanilla Dutch, and we have known each other for several years on there.com. We were supposed to meet up for Crimecon a few years ago in Orlando, but Covid-19 sank those plans, unfortunately.
Dutch has created some pretty cool places over the years, one of my favorites being his infamous Galaxy Lounge in outer space. Last year, I wrote about his Laguna Beach space, a beachside relaxation spot complete with pier and several jet-skis. There were even waves that slowly made their way to shore.
One thing that always brings a smile to my face is Vanilla's maniacal attention to detail. For his Laguna hangout, Dutch wanted a logo for one of the trash cans on his pier, as well as a one-of-a-kind bottle of suntan lotion in the spa. Kudos to BABS for making them both.
Dutch warned me about the Zoltar machine at his place giving out less than flattering fortunes, but curiosity got the best of me. You can see my fortune above, and I was pretty much satisfied with it. However, maybe I'll need to start working a second job in the future. lol
The sky-box space was designed by Flygirl Dani. Dutch told me that Second Life was his primary influence in putting one in the sky, so I guess these are commonplace on SL. It also gives him a nice space to display his impressive collection of 1980s video-game consoles.
PART 2: The Era of Zubaz
The Zubaz Era: Unapologetic Fandom and Pure '90s Energy
Nothing captures the loud, rebellious spirit of late-1980s and '90s football fandom quite like Zubaz.
The Origins: Built for Big Guys
Born in 1988 out of a Minnesota gym, Zubaz pants were originally created by Bob Truax and Dan Stock. Hardcore bodybuilders and athletes needed baggy, flexible pants that could fit massive thighs without ripping at the seams. The creators gave them an elastic waistband, a comfortable tapered leg, and—most importantly—eyeball-searing zebra stripes designed to "Dare to Be Different."
The NFL Explosion
What started as gym wear quickly hijacked tailgate lots across the country. By 1990, the NFL took notice and officially licensed Zubaz in team-specific colorways. Almost overnight, the striped pants became the ultimate uniform for die-hard fans.
The Superstars: Legends like Dan Marino and John Elway wore them with pride.
The Tailgates: Stadium parking lots turned into seas of bright green, yellow, black, and orange zebra stripes.
The Peak: At its height in the early '90s, Zubaz was selling tens of thousands of pairs a week, generating well over $100 million in sales.
A Lasting Cultural Icon
While the initial hype cooled off by the mid-1990s, Zubaz never truly left the culture. Today, they remain a legendary badge of honor for classic football fans—a vibrant reminder of an era when game day style was maximum effort, maximum comfort, and zero apologies.
Shout-out to Rowdi-Designs for her Zubaz creations...she has designed them for at least three NFL teams!
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