NBA will now dress professionally

[RB]

None of these anymore:

- Sleveless shirts

- Shorts

- T-shirts

- Bling, chains, pendants

- Sunglasses while indoors

- Headphones, caps

- Tattoos??

I mean the NBA is appealing to an audience of hip hop culture that is “black and urban”.

The players themselves are predominantly black, I mean how are you going to police dress codes when your biggest seller is certain image.

The league is making a claim that players resemble folks in prison. Are you surprised; the overwhelmingly majority of people in prison are “blacks”.

[Black Dog]

Opinions on the NBA's Dress Code Are Far From Uniform

I mean the NBA is appealing to an audience of hip hop culture that is “black and urban”.

The NBA's audience (especially ticket-buyers) is predominately white. the dress code, IMO, is designed to tone down the gangsta/hip-hop image so as not to scare whitey away.

The league is making a claim that players resemble folks in prison. Are you surprised; the overwhelmingly majority of people in prison are “blacks”.

Where has the league made such a stetement? As far as I know, convicts where uniform orange jumpsuits, not Sean John and bling. The mode of dress sported by most players is a reflection of African American youth culture. Which is no surprise, given that most players are African American youths. Maybe if the league stopped bringing in high school-aged ballers, they could start toning down the hip-hop image.

Bottom line, though: these players are suppossed to be professionals, I see nothing wrong with requiring them to dress like profeessionals when they are "on the job".

[kimmy]

While I'm sure there's no end of people saying that this is about whitey keeping the black man down, or fear of black culture taking over suburbia (about 10 years late for that, isn't it?) or trying to appease the "red states," let's also keep in mind that the NBA has an actual crime problem.

There have been numerous cases of spousal abuse and drug arrests, sexual harrassment complaints, fights, Ron Artest wading into the stands to beat the crap out of some fans, the Kobe Bryant rape trial, and a murder case...

One team, the Portland Trailblazers, is so well known for off-court trouble that they're known as the Portland Jailblazers.

A book was written on the subject: Out of Bounds: the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime.

Now... do the players actually encourage this sort of reputation? It was widely speculated that Kobe Bryant's rape trial would actually help sell his merchandise. Before, he had a reputation as bland and straight-laced... the rape trial, it was believed, would give him the "street cred" that would increase his appeal to the fans.

The NBA players are "heroes" not just because of what they can do on the basketball court, but how they live when they're off of it. They live in a world where they have unlimited money, can use women like Kleenex, and can break the law with almost no fear of consequence. All of this sounds awfully exciting to the young males who buy their shirts and shoes and stuff-- it's the same appeal that makes gangsta rappers popular. I don't know if this will curb the off-court antics of the athletes, but if kids are going to emulate the off-court antics of the players, at least they'll look like grown-ups while they're doing it.

-k

[I Miss Trudeau]

Bottom line, though: these players are suppossed to be professionals, I see nothing wrong with requiring them to dress like profeessionals when they are "on the job".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But they're professional basket ball players, not professionals in the sense of lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Heck, garbage men are professionals too, but you don't see many of them dressing in business casual on the job.

[RB]

well I did not see the connection between players behaving badly and dress code - what really is fuelling this decision

I see and hear of lots of injuries i.e. bad behaviour in hockey. Its what the audience go to see and the players comply.

[kimmy]

Bottom line, though: these players are suppossed to be professionals, I see nothing wrong with requiring them to dress like profeessionals when they are "on the job".

But they're professional basket ball players, not professionals in the sense of lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Heck, garbage men are professionals too, but you don't see many of them dressing in business casual on the job.

Conversely, you don't see garbage-men on TV very often.

Professional athletes are representatives of their teams and they are public figures whether on the field of play or off of it. They are in an industry that depends on maintaining a good relationship with the public for its ongoing survival. There will be need for garbage-men week after week, whether you and I like them or hate them or are indifferent. But nobody needs professional athletes, and if people decide they don't care for professional sports anymore, the professional athletes could all be working as garbage-men too.

-k

[PocketRocket]

"They're targeting my generation -- the hip-hop generation," Iverson said in a television interview.

Oh, dear. Poor little multi-millionaire.

And the so called "Hip-hop generation", rich kids dressing like poor kids.

He added, "You can put a murderer in a suit and he's still a murderer."

Maybe, but at least he looks presentable.

Iverson, along with Denver's Marcus Camby, asked if the NBA would provide players with a clothing stipend to conform to the dress code.

Duh??? Like these guys NEED a clothing stipend???

Buy a bloody suit, that way the next time one of your relatives dies you can show up at the funeral looking respectable.

These guys make me laugh. It's like the NBA is committing cultural genocide or something.

No one is trying to dictate how the guys will dress on their own time.

But if someone throws a black-tie affair, you better show up in a tux.

Someone throws a gala dinner affair, at least wear some respectable slacks and a decent shirt, if not a proper suit.

When you go to your favorite bar, wear whatever the hell you like.

Bottom line, though: these players are suppossed to be professionals, I see nothing wrong with requiring them to dress like profeessionals when they are "on the job".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But they're professional basket ball players, not professionals in the sense of lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Heck, garbage men are professionals too, but you don't see many of them dressing in business casual on the job.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, IMT. I can't get behind this argument.

Garbage Men wear appropriate dress for their job. Firemen do not wear "business casual" on the job either (nor do mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, or most manual laborers), but when you get to the annual firemen's ball, they're all dressed quite nattily.

I'm sure if there was a garbagemen's ball, they'd dress up for it, too.

[PocketRocket]

But nobody needs professional athletes, and if people decide they don't care for professional sports anymore, the professional athletes could all be working as garbage-men too.

-k

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heh heh. Considering that this so called "hip-hop generation" looks like it gets its clothing from a dumpster, that would be quite apropos.

[Black Dog]

But they're professional basket ball players, not professionals in the sense of lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Heck, garbage men are professionals too, but you don't see many of them dressing in business casual on the job.

Obviously I'm not expecting them to dunk in Armani. But when you're off-court and are appearing in public in your role as professional representing your organization, I think the dress should reflect that. Leave the sweats and bling for the off days and off season.

Iverson, along with Denver's Marcus Camby, asked if the NBA would provide players with a clothing stipend to conform to the dress code.

I think this coment demonstrates how basketball players are probably the least mature of all pro athletes. Allan Iverson makes $14,625,000 a season, yet he can make a comment like that with a straight face? I guess that kind of sense of entitelment comes naturally for someone who has been treated like royalty for most of his adolescent and adult life by virtue of his ability to put a ball through a hoop. But I have to wonder if these guys are aware of the PR connotations of such remarks. I don't think they'll get much public support for their "plight".

In the words of Jay Z: "y'all ni**as actin' way too tough/Throw on a suit get it tapered up".

(Nevermind the fact that the hip-hp look these guys favour probably costs just as much, if not more, than a decent, well-tailored suit.)

And the so called "Hip-hop generation", rich kids dressing like poor kids.

You mean: rich kids dressing like poor kids dressing like rich kids?