Stern: Players will be 'pleasantly surprised' about dress code

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

So you're going to stop spending on the NBA if the dress code goes through?

I won't.

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Not me personally, but if this makes its way into the nation's political/racial discourse and some of the country's more outspoken leaders voice their opposition, the NBA may be forced to rethink.

I doubt the NBA is concerned with losing my total yearly spending on NBA tickets and apparel.

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But there are reasons why there are dress codes. there is a reason people go to weddings dressed a certain way, Congressmen go to Congress dressed a certain way a Supreme Court Judges dress a certain way.

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And there are reasons why a black guy wearing a Raiders cap and a throwback jersey will get stopped and searched on the sidewalk.

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Not me personally, but if this makes its way into the nation's political/racial discourse and some of the country's more outspoken leaders voice their opposition, the NBA may be forced to rethink.

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Then maybe they will.

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I doubt the NBA is concerned with losing my total yearly spending on NBA tickets and apparel.

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Nor are they overly worried about losing that of those who may be offended by the rules. Bottom line is they think they could make more money with the code -- if that's the case, the players will also make more money. So what's it really worth to them?

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Why are we perpetuating the perception that good people dress nice and bad people dress ragged?

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Is it even "ragged" or is it just about what some people perceive to be "ghetto" or "gangsta" style?

Expensive jeans and shirts that happen to be baggy .. or throw back jerseys and caps aren't exactly "ragged". And just because it's popular attire among young, black men doesn't make it "ghetto" or "gangsta".

Anyway, I can see them instituting an agreed upon dress code for interviews and other media events. But all that crap about "to and from the plane" etc was/is excessive.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Is it even "ragged" or is it just about what some people perceive to be "ghetto" or "gangsta" style?

Expensive jeans and shirts that happen to be baggy .. or throw back jerseys and caps aren't exactly "ragged". And just because it's popular attire among young, black men doesn't make it "ghetto" or "gangsta".

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That too.

I haven't seen (to the best of my memory) any NBA players dress offensively. I don't see what the big deal is to inforce a dress code on them. Are fans complaining? Do they really care?

Athletes become role models for children by their ACTIONS, their HARD WORK, and DEDICATION to what they do, their talent. Not by the way they dress.

When I said "ragged clothes" I meant it in a hypothetical way. "They could come out in ragged clothes . . .". I did not mean that this is what is going on.

I still fail to see what's so wrong about a dress code. We have them at work, from McDonald's to banks, to retail stopres, to Congress. Why can't we have it in the NBA?

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Originally Posted by TOP-CHERRY

I don't see what the big deal is to inforce a dress code on them.

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^^ Just to make myself clear... By that, I meant I don't see why the league is making a big deal out of how the players dress.

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I still fail to see what's so wrong about a dress code. We have them at work, from McDonald's to banks, to retail stopres, to Congress. Why can't we have it in the NBA?

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But there's no dress code on what bankers, McDonalds workers, etc wear outside their job (meaning off the court to NBA players). That's what a lot of people think the problem is.

On the court is not the only time NBA players are on the clock. It is a business trip, right? I mean, why else would you go to Cleveland?

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Originally Posted by smeagol

When I said "ragged clothes" I meant it in a hypothetical way. "They could come out in ragged clothes . . .". I did not mean that this is what is going on.

I still fail to see what's so wrong about a dress code. We have them at work, from McDonald's to banks, to retail stopres, to Congress. Why can't we have it in the NBA?

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McDonald's workers wear uniforms while they work and while they're doing their job to get PAID. So does everyone else. NBA players wear their jerseys while they do what they're getting paid for: which is playing basketball.

When they step into a conference room, or for an interview, they are done doing what they get paid for. I just don't see how it's necessary for them to wear suits when they're already wearing uniforms. Let them dress however they want; they're doing no harm to anyone. Seriously. Can you tell me how they're harming anyone?

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By that, I meant I don't see why the league is making a big deal out of how the players dress.

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Their thought is that they are trying to clean up the public image.
Many believe that the brawl, off the court artests, etc. have led to a poor image of NBA players. So they are trying to make a neater "appearance" to the public. It's a quick imaginary fix. If you see a player in the suit, maybe you won't notice that he got caught for marijuana or beat up this girlfriend. *shrug*

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On the court is not the only time NBA players are on the clock. It is a business trip, right? I mean, why else would you go to Cleveland?

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So you think players should have to wear a suit to and from the plane?

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Originally Posted by tekdragon

On the court is not the only time NBA players are on the clock. It is a business trip, right? I mean, why else would you go to Cleveland?

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They're doing a service getting interviewed for fans' entertainment. This isn't an obligation, nor is it why they get paid for.

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This isn't an obligation, nor is it why they get paid for.

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Yes it is an obligation. They are required to give interviews. It's in the collective bargaining agreement.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Their thought is that they are trying to clean up the public image.
Many believe that the brawl, off the court artests, etc. have led to a poor image of NBA players. So they are trying to make a neater "appearance" to the public. It's a quick imaginary fix. If you see a player in the suit, maybe you won't notice that he got caught for marijuana or beat up this girlfriend. *shrug*

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Yeah. I just haven't seen an NBA player dress offensively. I just don't get it.

It's not "offensive" that they are worried about. The clothes that a lot of young black players wear are perceived to be "gangsta" by some people.

Will the way they dress change your perception of them? Do you think it will change others?


Carie

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Yes it is an obligation. They are required to give interviews. It's in the collective bargaining agreement.

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Alright. What I'm trying to say is that the main focus is the on-the-court work. That's the reason they're here, why they get paid. It's an obligation, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that it's for fans' entertainment and enjoyment, besides watching them play. I don't see how it's fair for them to dress in suits for that. I say they're fine just they way they are.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

It's not "offensive" that they are worried about. The clothes that a lot of young black players wear are perceived to be "gangsta" by some people.

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Well then it's perceptions that need changing. This isn't the players' fault; and they shouldn't be punished for it.

The McDonalds uniform analogy works better with the actual team uniforms. No one is disputing that the players should have to wear team uniforms during games.

Smeagol, my issue is that it strengthens cultural misperceptions about clothing and behavior. I think it is much more valuable to society to have role models who dress LIKE the people who look up to them and do good deeds in the community than for those players to dress in a way that confirms to some people that generic clothing and good behavior go hand in hand.

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I say they're fine just they way they are.

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I don't have any problem with how players dress. I'm just explaining to you that their time on the court is not their only time "working". And that's where some people are drawing the line. Players are required to do publicity appearances, interviews, etc. And so if their employer can tell them how to dress on the court, they can tell them how to dress in those things too. And, as has been brought up several times in this thread, they agreed to this in the collective bargaining negotiations.

I don't think a dress code is really necessary or useful, but it's definitely in the right of the employers to implement one.

Anyway, some teams already have very strict dress codes and require shirt/slacks/coats during interviews. Some teams have no facial hair rules, no headband rules, etc.

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Originally Posted by John T

Will the way they dress change your perception of them? Do you think it will change others?


Carie

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People should be smart enough to not judge people by the clothes they wear. It's culture.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Some teams have no facial hair rules,

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really??? WTH is the point of that?

now I feel bad. I just went to a meeting at work and haven't shaved in 1 and 1/2 weeks! I'm shaving tomorrow :oops

The way I see it is, I can completely understand and agree with other jobs requiring dress codes in interviews, business trips, etc. to important things... The NBA is entertainment. I guess I'm just not taking it as serious as others are.