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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 18, 2005 16:18:02 GMT -5
Another bad idea from the commissioner's office... I don't follow the NBA closely at all, but that's not because Kevin Garnett doesn't wear a tie to post-game interviews. Or maybe he does. I don't know and I could care less. sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2195141 |
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 18, 2005 19:59:25 GMT -5
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Oct 18, 2005 20:54:32 GMT -5
I agree with AI on this one. The policy covers a lot of stuff, stuff that even Jordan would have violated in his time -- like no wearing headphones and no sunglasses indoors.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 18, 2005 20:55:24 GMT -5
Here's what Dave Kindred wrote in the article linked above: "The NBA ballers heard Daddy Stern say, 'Dress up,' and they all bawled their little eyes out. The league wants its players to dress for public functions in a style called 'business casual.' That doesn't include throwback jerseys and caps turned sideways. Being a white guy, I didn't want to jump into this briar patch. Then I heard John Thompson go all Bill Cosby on 'em. Thompson, a black man who did mighty work as the Georgetown University basketball coach, says the children need to understand they're millionaire businessmen. Besides, hip-hop ain't forever. Amen, brother." I wonder if this millionaire businessman's outfit would be acceptable?  |
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Oct 18, 2005 21:11:41 GMT -5
Why did Stern feel the need to jump into this snake pit? It has all kinds of racial undertones, and it just seems like a fight no one really needed. Was anyone really concerned about this issue?
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 18, 2005 21:18:12 GMT -5
Racial undertones are not what is driving this. It's a PR issue first and a generational issue second.
This wasn't a problem in the '80's because the players knew that dressing the part made the NBA more attractive to the big dollar corporate support (e.g., Michael Jordan). Stern realizes that this issue, whether it's Iverson or Mark Cuban, is impacting the league's ability to position itself for endorsement deals.
Important? Probably not. But it's also a statement on who's in charge.
And Coach Thompson speaks with some background on this one. He always made it a point that players always wore a coat and tie when in public en route to and from games...even Allen Iverson.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 18, 2005 21:46:17 GMT -5
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Oct 18, 2005 21:48:42 GMT -5
I don't accept any of your premises on marketability, but let's pretend I did. Certainly AI's "unprofessional" atire hasn't hurt his ability to sell his image. He's one of the more appealing figures in a league that markets itself in large part to young males. Whatever he's doing is working, and this is true of several other players. Why shouldn't they be allowed to do what they please?
Do you really want to argue that the NBA is suffering from too many players in jeans and throwbacks? Perhaps Stern has some compelling marketing data showing that Cuban's ratty tee shirts and AI's baggy jeans are turning off fans. I'd love to see it. But I doubt it.
Ultimately, as you say, I think it's a power play and a silly one at that. I obviously don't think Stern is doing this on intentionally racial grounds, but it will certainly be percieved that way by many players and some fans. It will be percieved as trying to take the street out of the league and make it "white." Already, Stephen Jackson has ascribed racial motives to the moritorium on wearing gold chains.
This isn't a huge deal. And I don't really care in any real way. But if this is simply a statement of "who's in charge",it doesn't befit a guy of Stern's lofty status.
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RBHoya
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Post by RBHoya on Oct 18, 2005 23:44:58 GMT -5
What is the penalty for not complying with the dress code? I think its a decent idea overall but I also think it would be a cool story if someone like Iverson just completely ignored it in favor of wearing what he wants. Would really further the individuality that has made him so popular to this point.
Like that time when that new Nets coach told his players that they'd be fined $500 if they didn't wear a suit before and after every road game, and Derrick Coleman walked onto the team bus in sweats and handed him a check for like 20,500 bucks (41 road games at 500 each). Or when Jordan was wearing the 23 jersey when he was supposed to be wearing 45, and the league kept fining him but everybody loved it. I imagine if AI completely ignored the rule then Stern would make the punishment more harsh for repeated offense (ie. suspension) to make him comply, but it'd still be a cool storyline while it lasted.
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Oct 19, 2005 9:02:39 GMT -5
Here is the kicker:
AI is probably the most beloved player in the NBA by young people in the country, black, white, hispanic, in the country. His influence is tremendous. His look doesn't scare the people with money who invest dollars into the NBA. I think his look moreso angers them. The league is getting younger and younger and it is mostly black. The uniform NBA players should be required to wear are the shorts and tank tops they wear on the basketball court. That should be where it stops. The NBA is a business, BUT it is also entertainment. Whats next? A dress code for Rock and Roll Stars. Stern is trying to do something that is hollow. Whoever he is trying to impress or whomever fears he is trying to allay , they are going to think what they think about the young players in the league anyway. Whether they are in suits or throw-back jerseys, their is certain mindset we are dealing with.
NBA doesn't have an image problem. Well it does for a segment of this country find it a huge problem that a league with high percentage of black males, particularly young outspoken ones, making a lot of money and dress how they want to dress. I also find it strange that the first name to always pop it is AI when this subject comes up. Tim Duncan will be affected by the dress code as well, but they stick a microphone and camera in AI's face 24/7 to hear what you already know he is going to say.
I also have a problem with Hip-Hop being mentioned as the cause of this, when it is further from the truth. Hip-Hop has been around since the early 1970's. Where was the influence on the NBA then?
An appropriate dress code is necessary for the appropriate job. The NBA does not need one, in my opinion.
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CTHoya08
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Post by CTHoya08 on Oct 19, 2005 11:18:38 GMT -5
I personally think this is great from a comedic perspective. Think about the absurd suits we see on draft day. Imagine seeing those suits every night of the season.  |
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Oct 19, 2005 11:41:41 GMT -5
Businesses love the male 18-34 demographic.
These people don't give a crap about suits. Only older folks do.
Even if true, once a dress code is relaxed, it is nearly impossible to enforce one with causing unrest. You can't go back. It is a pointless battle.
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TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Oct 21, 2005 19:31:35 GMT -5
Mourning's comments on the dress code: "Everybody has their own style and you've got a corporation that's asking you to present yourself in a certain way," center Alonzo Mourning said. "You've got to abide by it." ... "They pay us a lot of money to do it, so it's a no-brainer — go out and buy a suit," Mourning said. "You don't need but one suit. Go out, buy one and put it on." www.palmbeachpost.com/heat/content/sports/epaper/2005/10/19/a3c_heatnotes_1019.html |
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