New NBA Dress Code

[foolishmortal]

So they want to represent their humble roots? Their poverty? Their harsh upbringing? I don't think wearing all that bling represents true poverty do you? Designer rap wear doesn't represent poverty either. What do you think they represent? I mean really, people who can afford those things in the urban poor areas you are talking about are doing illegal things for the most part right? So what is the image they are trying to represent, and why is it a good image for our youth?

They are representing who they are & where they came from. I have a great family, a great job, but I still dress that way and listen to that music..I will never forget where I came from and what helped shape me into the person I am today.

It's the same as a millionaire walking up to me and saying hey look at this 15 grand watch I just bought it realy isn't much is it....No I don't understand that because to me 15 grand is more than a drop in the bucket.

These nba players never had money in thier life so now they do they are getting the things they have always dreamed about but could never afford.

So they are not reprsenting the the poverty of the situation, but the are staying true to themsleves and showing young kids in the same situation that it can change!

Again unless you have lived in the shoes you can not understand. And to change the way they represent themselves is to try and hide the situations in which they came from...just by hiding the person on the outside doesn't mean the problem will go away on the inside!

 

[foolishmortal]

Agreed. With the recent explosion of players coming from Europe, it's not really about race in the NBA either. Many of the young great players having to change the way they dress are white. The Sonics' Vlade is notorious for showing up like he just got out of bed.

not a good example at all. The dress code is forbiding the wearing of hats and visible chains...this is an urban style that the likes of Vlade does not dress.

 

[MICKEY88]

If you think the major draw to the NBA is the way the teams play...wow, I am sorry you don't understand the main fan base of the NBA!!! Maybe you should read up a little onto the urban/rap/nba lifestyle. If the kids don't see someone much like themself on the court (and off) then how are they going to relate to it. Why do you think Hockey/soccer/lacrosse doesn't have a bigger "urban" fanbase...they don't relate to the players.

Lets look at some of the best selling team appearal. Knicks, Sixers, Cavs, Lakers....wow those were some great teams last year weren't they?

Now about my apperence and my job...could I do it more conservativly...sure I can, but you missed my point. People look at they way someone dresses/acts before they look at performance of work. If you think I should get my work done the same regardless of having my piercings visible or not then what does "business casual" matter???? I get the job done...my work knows and understands this so I get to show my true self as long as I get my job done.

Maybe the companies were the ones forcing a change from Stern....but you know what, what will happen when the ratings drop off?

I think it is really funny how you don't think it will make a difference, but why do you think he waited until after and agreement and the big bucks have been pouring in to make the change?

if your theory is correct why is it that the biggest selling jersey for years, and still one of the best sellers, and the player with the biggest fan draw, was Michael Jordan, who always wore a suit....when traveling, /arriving and leaving games.....

you are basing your opinion on personal feelings rather than good sound business practice..

 

[foolishmortal]

He may have gone to a Catholic school with a uniform, but we're not talking about someone who grew up in a "good home". His mom was an single teenage mom and his dad was in prison. He grew up in what was essentially the projects.

For me, it's not about race. I'd think the same thing if we were talking about the NHL. But since I am a middle class white guy, I guess my opinion must be biased.

It's not the same thing at all though...the problem with the dress code is not in the NHL because they do not have the use of urban culture trying to push the sport forward.

It doesn't mean your opinion is biased but at the same time I think it is a little harder for some to understand because they do not know the meaning of the culture and how important the dressing is to it.

Like I said in an earlier post. Sports like NHL, Soccer, lacrosse they have a certain "suburban" appeal, while in the urban schools you see basketball and football. You dont have as much as diversity of charatcer in those sports as you do in the other 2. Not to say there isn't but it isn't has much as in basketball.

 

[MICKEY88]

They are representing who they are & where they came from. I have a great family, a great job, but I still dress that way and listen to that music..I will never forget where I came from and what helped shape me into the person I am today.

It's the same as a millionaire walking up to me and saying hey look at this 15 grand watch I just bought it realy isn't much is it....No I don't understand that because to me 15 grand is more than a drop in the bucket.

These nba players never had money in thier life so now they do they are getting the things they have always dreamed about but could never afford.

So they are not reprsenting the the poverty of the situation, but the are staying true to themsleves and showing young kids in the same situation that it can change!

Again unless you have lived in the shoes you can not understand. And to change the way they represent themselves is to try and hide the situations in which they came from...just by hiding the person on the outside doesn't mean the problem will go away on the inside!

if they want to show kids that it can change then wear expensive suits instead of urban styles....

 

[foolishmortal]

if your theory is correct why is it that the biggest seloing jersey for years, and still one of the best sellers, and the player with the biggest fan draw, was Michael Jordan, who always wore a suit....when traveling, /arriving and leaving games.....

you are basing your opinion on personal feelings rather than good sound business practice..

why is it that Boston Red sox, New England Patriots and Detroit Pistons gear is sold higher now than a few years ago...THEY ARE/WERE WINNERS.

The public doesn't go out (as a whole) and pay for clothing of losing teams.....except for basketball jersey's.

Why did the 49er's sell alot in the 80's but you can'tgive away the stuff now?

Jordan respresents winning and that persona will never change of his...BTW, Who buys most of the jordan appearal...oh yeah urban youth! But notice they buy his shoes shirts jackets...not his suits, cologne or restuarants products.

Now for Business Practice.....smart business practice to let them wear whatever they want when trying to get a collective barginning agreement and also a broader fan base, but now the league has those..oh no that's not good practice anymore!

 

[lesroi]

I agree with the new rule. I also agree with the poster who mentioned the North Stars.
When my husband was playing hockey (not pro), and when he was coaching, they ALWAYS wore suits to travel to and fro. It was just part of the deal.
I think it's a nice touch. They certainly make enough money in the NBA to afford the dry cleaning!
And what gal doesn't like to see a nice-looking guy in a suit?!?!?!


Tracy

 

[MELSMICE]

Again unless you have lived in the shoes you can not understand. And to change the way they represent themselves is to try and hide the situations in which they came from...just by hiding the person on the outside doesn't mean the problem will go away on the inside!

A person doesn't change the way they are on the "inside" by what they are dressed in.

I don't think having a dress code will change a person. It won't make them forget where they came from.

JMO, but I only see a positive in having these gentlemen dress is a more business casual fashion.

 

[foolishmortal]

if they want to show kids that it can change then wear expensive suits instead of urban styles....

But the suit doesn't convey that to youth.

In the urban culture the suit is "the man" who is trying to stop them from moving ahead. Do I agree with that NO, I am older and wiser , but at the time I fully believed that.

 

[cardaway]

not a good example at all. The dress code is forbiding the wearing of hats and visible chains...this is an urban style that the likes of Vlade does not dress.

You obviously have no idea, that is exactly the way he dresses. Not just the black thing as you are trying to make it out to be.

 

[MICKEY88]

But the suit doesn't convey that to youth.

In the urban culture the suit is "the man" who is trying to stop them from moving ahead. Do I agree with that NO, I am older and wiser , but at the time I fully believed that.

then the players need to reach out to the youth and educate them, let them show that by hard work and education one can better themselves and join the professional world and buy nice things...

I must wear a dress shirt and tie to work, if I don't I lose my job, is that racist....no it's a professional work environment..

 

[MICKEY88]

why is it that Boston Red sox, New England Patriots and Detroit Pistons gear is sold higher now than a few years ago...THEY ARE/WERE WINNERS.

The public doesn't go out (as a whole) and pay for clothing of losing teams.....except for basketball jersey's.

Why did the 49er's sell alot in the 80's but you can'tgive away the stuff now?

Jordan respresents winning and that persona will never change of his...BTW, Who buys most of the jordan appearal...oh yeah urban youth! But notice they buy his shoes shirts jackets...not his suits, cologne or restuarants products.

Now for Business Practice.....smart business practice to let them wear whatever they want when trying to get a collective barginning agreement and also a broader fan base, but now the league has those..oh no that's not good practice anymore!

OK so you just beat your own argument..youth will buy the apparel of winners no matter how those players dress travelling to and from work..yu just said so yourself...


but I must disagree with your point that they won't buy clothes of losers.....

the RAIDERS Merchandise has consistently been one of the top selling lines for decades...whether they were winning or losing...

 

[lyeag]

They are representing who they are & where they came from. I have a great family, a great job, but I still dress that way and listen to that music..I will never forget where I came from and what helped shape me into the person I am today.

It's the same as a millionaire walking up to me and saying hey look at this 15 grand watch I just bought it realy isn't much is it....No I don't understand that because to me 15 grand is more than a drop in the bucket.

These nba players never had money in thier life so now they do they are getting the things they have always dreamed about but could never afford.

So they are not reprsenting the the poverty of the situation, but the are staying true to themsleves and showing young kids in the same situation that it can change!


Again unless you have lived in the shoes you can not understand. And to change the way they represent themselves is to try and hide the situations in which they came from...just by hiding the person on the outside doesn't mean the problem will go away on the inside!

Like you said, it somehow represents where they came from right? How does 5 huge gold chains represent their past if they never had it? Who did they see have it so they could dream of it in the first place? I guess that is my point. Who were the people they were looking up to that were sporting this look? I am talking even before the rappers went heavy into the look.

Great they want to show that situations can change, but I don't think this is the message they are sending...

Wouldn't it be nice that they could send more than one message? Great to have roots, but business is important also, and that sometimes a suit is a better choice?

 

[foolishmortal]

OK so you just beat your own argument..youth will buy the apparel of winners no matter how those players dress travelling to and from work..yu just said so yourself...


but I must disagree with your point that they won't buy clothes of losers.....

the RAIDERS Merchandise has consistently been one of the top selling lines for decades...whether they were winning or losing...

BEACUSE THE RAIDERS ARE PART OF THE GANG AND RAP LIFESTYLE.

THIS IS MY POINT!!!!!

If you knew about the culture then you would have known that and not said it.

I never said the youth will buy the winners, I said the public as a whole..the youth buy all jersey's...like I said earlier, why did Sixers, Knicks, Nets, etc have high sales... because those area;s are highly populated by urban youth who support where they are from!

It's an arguement you obviously cannot see from the other side.

I never said That I don't think the dress code will make them look better...of course it will make them look better on the outside. The problem I have with the dress code is the no jewelry hats, throwbacks, etc....that is the urban lifestyle, but to say it doesn't discrimante THAT IS WHERE I HAVE THE PROBLEM. Fine have a dress code but don't tell me it is not a discrimantion..the league should acknowledge it and take the punches.

The didn't make this dress code for Manu Ginobli, they made it for Iverson, Stephen Jackson, etc....

 

[foolishmortal]

OK so you just beat your own argument..youth will buy the apparel of winners no matter how those players dress travelling to and from work..yu just said so yourself...


but I must disagree with your point that they won't buy clothes of losers.....

the RAIDERS Merchandise has consistently been one of the top selling lines for decades...whether they were winning or losing...

Oh man this one really got me...lol

If the FANS are making them a hot seller then how come they cannot sell out a home game and they are blackedout AT HOME!!!!!!!

Because the "fans" don't make them a hot seller, the urban youth does.

 

[MICKEY88]

BEACUSE THE RAIDERS ARE PART OF THE GANG AND RAP LIFESTYLE.

THIS IS MY POINT!!!!!

If you knew about the culture then you would have known that and not said it.

I never said the youth will buy the winners, I said the public as a whole..the youth buy all jersey's...like I said earlier, why did Sixers, Knicks, Nets, etc have high sales... because those area;s are highly populated by urban youth who support where they are from!

It's an arguement you obviously cannot see from the other side.

I never said That I don't think the dress code will make them look better...of course it will make them look better on the outside. The problem I have with the dress code is the no jewelry hats, throwbacks, etc....that is the urban lifestyle, but to say it doesn't discrimante THAT IS WHERE I HAVE THE PROBLEM. Fine have a dress code but don't tell me it is not a discrimantion..the league should acknowledge it and take the punches.

The didn't make this dress code for Manu Ginobli, they made it for Iverson, Stephen Jackson, etc....

I know a lot about the culture, I also know that raiders stuff is a gang thing, but argue all you want, youth do not spend the most money,,,

just as it's not kids that make Disney so successful it's the adults with money to burn...


as far as seeing the argument from the other side..I already told you I must wear a tie for work, did I grow up wearing one, heck no,,,I grew up in a very redneck rural area, gun rack in the back of every pick up truck...LOL

do I have a problem with wearing a tie, heck no, I chose to work here.

there was an incident this summer where a group of younger employees was stretching the bounds of work attire . a memo was sent out, defining proper and improper dress, they were told the first incident of improper dress they would be sent home to change and be docked pay for the time they missed, the second time they would be sent home to stay....

this is the way it is in the real world


the basketball players chose to work in the NBA

 

[mrsltg]

The new dresscode is a great idea. If it "disconnects" the players from their urban fanbase, all the better. Maybe the young fans will see some value in dressing appropriately, having a boss, doing what you are supposed too, etc etc etc. This is not a black/white issue and it's not discrimination, either. These men are being paid in excess of one million dollars per year to play a game. The owners of these teams have the right to expect decent behavior off the court, and yes, proper attire is part of behavior. Wearing a sports jacket and slacks is hardly the end of the world, nor is it the end of "black culture". Funny how we don't hear minority baseball players complaining of dicrimination when they have to wear a suit to travel. The NBA seems to be a league of children in grown-up bodies complaining because they have to have decorum. Cry me a river!

Erin

 

[va32h]

They are representing who they are & where they came from. I have a great family, a great job, but I still dress that way and listen to that music..I will never forget where I came from and what helped shape me into the person I am today.

They can still "represent" on their own time, in the off season, at home, etc.

The dress code applies to team events; press conferences, travel time, games - all occasions when they are being paid to "represent" somebody else - the team for which they play.

I am not true to myself on the job - I am paid to be much nicer to the general public than I would ever be on my own.

And as for loser merchandise not selling as well as winners - hah! Just visit the home of any Cubs fan.

 

[cardaway]

They can still "represent" on their own time, in the off season, at home, etc.

Exactly. It's ironic that Allen - Me, Myself, and - Iverson is in the middle of the protest. As one of the guys who has just as much going on outside of basketball as on the court, he knows full well he has plenty of time to do whatever he wants. And just like many of them, more discipline is a good thing.

The other Sixers are probaly thrilled, get your head in the game Allen.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I think its a great idea. The NBA needs to clean up its image.

I agree!