Why do we care what they think?

[PlaneFast]

I don't know what's more ridiculous: People that have never had a real job and get paid millions of dollars bitching about a couple of rule changes, or the people that actually work for a living defending that behavior.

Very well said.

As non-fan-like as this may sound, how can any of us feel sorry for anyone being paid millions to play essentially a kid's game over changing of some rules? And get so worked up over it as if, in this case, Duncan "deserves" to wear his uniform untucked, or AI "deserves" to wear a head band, or Shaq "deserves" to pick which ball the NBA gets paid to use.

Why do you, the people paying $70 for really bad fashion, $35 to see 1 game in the nosebleeds, $4 for a soda, $6 for a hotdog, and will never even have a conversation with them, care what any multi-millionaire athlete thinks is unfair about some new rules?

Do they really represent "us" that you have to so vehemently "defend" them?
___

This came from the "Tim's a target of the new tuck rule" thread, but I thought this would be a more animated general topic. Feel free to move it back under if appropriate.

[Oh, Gee!!]

because we live very boring lives

[v2freak]

We'd like to think that we influence the outcomes in the NBA

[Trainwreck2100]

Cause it's the offseason

[td4mvp21]

The players can't wear headbands???

[T funk]

Won't somebody think of the billionaires!!!

[mikejones99]

Because in Nevada you can bet on games and if you can learn more about the players you can make some cash

[PlaneFast]

The players can't wear headbands???

Sorry, to clarify, AI can't wear a do-rag when sitting in the stands inactive. He can't wear a do-rag when playing either.

When I was working at Wendy's, I had to tuck my shirt in. I complained about the dress code, but no one seemed to care. And that was for $5.25/hr. For $5,250,000/yr, I'd wear whatever the hell you told me to, and tuck it in.

[SequSpur]

headbands keep the sweat out of your eyes, take that from a bald guy. If a coach does not allow headbands, then he should be pounded on.

i don't know about you all, but these guys listen to me. that is why i am here.

sheyitt.

[conqueso]

At first blush, PlaneFast makes a compelling point; why should we care about millionaires bitching about doing simple shit that the common man has to do every day? Why should we care about the gripes of the most ridiculously privileged members of our society? However, after further consideration, I think I can see where the players are coming from.

The league makes these rules haphazardly. They don't spend much time considering the players or the game, they just look at the bottom line. Take the new ball, for instance. That's a money thing. It doesn't have shit to do with the worldwide leather supply, or the slickness of the leather ball, or how long it takes to break in. It has to do with money. The ball makers make more money selling synthetic materials not only to the league, but to all the kids who buy "official" NBA balls for the same price they used to buy for the leather balls. Stern doesn't give a fuck about what the players think, he cares about making sure Spalding is appeased.

And the dress code. That shit is just to appease the public at large, to make the NBA seem less "thuggish" after the Brawl. But even if you put a suit on a monkey, he's still a monkey (I swear that wasn't a rascist comment). You aren't going to make people upstanding members of the community by forcing them to wear dress jeans. Jesus Christ, what kind of sense does that make? What's the point of this shit? I know other professions have strict dress codes, and I have to wear a fucking suit and tie every day, but I'm also working in a field where image is the primary consideration. No one really cares if a guy wears a suit or sweats on the sidelines or on the way from the bus to the locker room; it doesn't change anyone's perception. This general decorum thing makes no difference to the fans, it doesn't change anyone's behavior off the court, and it doesn't really fool anyone into thinking that some NBA players really aren't thugs. I don't care if AI or SJax wears a fucking suit, I still know they've got a gun tucked into their waist band, ya know?

If I had to put up with this bullshit in a working environment where either it really didn't matter or there were nefarious ulterior motives or whatever I wouldn't be happy at all. I don't give a fuck how much money someone makes; forcing them to jump through these hoops without any important reason is just wrong. Fuck the dress code, fuck the ball, and fuck the league for ignoring the REAL problems and trying to put a bandaid on bullet wound.

[Kori Ellis]

but to all the kids who buy "official" NBA balls for the same price they used to buy for the leather balls.

Just FYI the new ball is even more expensive to buy than the old one. I believe it's $90.

[Obstructed_View]

Just FYI the new ball is even more expensive to buy than the old one. I believe it's $90.
I never saw one of the leather ones for under a hundred. Even if the price stayed the same, I'm sure it's much cheaper to produce.