If you look at fashion industry you can buy baggy army pants for like 300 $ or jeans for 700$. or you can get a chep suit from 130$.It's not about money or suit... the issue is personal freedom. I think we should be proud of Timmy.
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If you look at fashion industry you can buy baggy army pants for like 300 $ or jeans for 700$. or you can get a chep suit from 130$.It's not about money or suit... the issue is personal freedom. I think we should be proud of Timmy.
Screw each and every one of you who spews about how right it is the players have do this but are too hypocritical to say anything about the owners.
I think this is a very good read (as most of Cuban's blogs are). He explains a lot about how the dress code came about and a lot of other interworkings of his team/the league. This thread isn't for bashing of Cuban or the Mavs. (Or correcting Cuban's typos). I just thought it was a nice read that you all might be interested in.
http://www.blogmaverick.com/
The NBA Dress Code
Posted Oct 18, 2005, 5:03 PM ET
Im sure most people think I would be against a dress code of any kind in the NBA. Im not. I think every team should have the option of having one , or not. Every team has an image that it wants to present to its community and its customers, and that image should be cultivated on a proactive, rather than a reactive basis.
I also understand completely why Commish Stern felt the need to establish a dress code. Contrary to popular belief, the dress code wasnt in response to a problem with any players, it was in response to problems with owners.
Unfortunately we have gotten to the point where some, but not all, owners, or which ever executive is in charge of the team, have lost the ability to communicate with their players. In a nutshell, they dont talk to their players. Communication is a slap on the back if they see them after the game or at a team function. Communication might be a message via the General Manager asking him to sign something for a son or daughter of a friend. Its sad, but true.
Its awful hard to get to know a player if you have never spent any time with them. Thats not to say that every owner has to be best friends with the players, or the President of the team has to go out to dinner with them every week. But what does have to happen is that someone who represents the business side of the team has to be able to sit and talk to players and do their best to get to know the player at least a little bit. Only then can they come to an understanding of whats expected or needed from the player and by the player from the team.
Its amazing to me that this is really only a problem in professional sports. In “regular” business, even on the business side of the Mavs, I am very confident that I can trust my managers to maintain relationships with all of our employees. When there is a corporate initiative, we know how to work through any trouble spots and to learn as an organization how to overcome problems, whether internal or external.
Those skills dont exist everywhere in the NBA. For many teams, I dont even want to say most teams, if the team wants to try something different , they are truly afraid of how their players, particularly their stars might respond. Its the teams that are afraid of their players that forced David Stern into creating a Dress Code for players.
Its funny how the media likes to talk about the fundamentals of the players on the court being lacking, the real lack of fundamentals is in the teams’ executive suites. When a team is unable or afraid to communicate their message or iniative to their front office or players, or when they know they have a problem they are afraid or unable to deal with, they ask the Commissioner to create a league wide edict. This is a convenient out for the teams. Its not their fault that the players have to do this, its the league’s fault. To the Commissioners credit, he knows he can easily take the hit for something so simple in concept.
Unfortunately there isnt much the league can do to legislate against lousy team management. Its there and its not going anywhere. But as in any business, the business is only as strong as it weakest link.
Which takes us back to the dress code.
The league requires each team to do a business of basketball presentation. They give us a nice little powerpoint to work from. Its pretty good, but I prefer to have as open a discussion about the business of the Mavs and the league as I can.
For our meeting last week, I went over the basic economics of the team. All the way down to money we make from the arena, money I get from other sources and the tax benefit i get from the operating loss the Mavs show. I offered to sit down and go through the books in detail with any of them. As I have in the past with some of them.
I went through the economics of the amnesty from the luxury tax and why we did what we did with Fin.
Then we had the important discussion. We talked about how critical the relationship each of them has with our fans and our advertisers. That their financial success was directly related to our ability to connect to the people who pay our bills, the fans and our corporate customers.
We then discussed how that led to the upcoming dress code. I explained that a couple corporate customers of the league (this isnt a problem with our Mavs corporate customers) were uncomfortable with the appearance of some players. That unfortunately, in those cities, they didnt feel comfortable having a discussion like this and that their ownership didnt feel comfortable asking those players to work with the teams for the best of the league. Since the teams couldnt deal with it, they had asked the league to step in and deal with it.
At that point several players asked questions about what I thought the dress code would be. I told them that I was pretty sure that the league would prevent any jewelry being worn on the outside of clothing, but that beyond that it would be business casual attire. But not suits or sportcoats. I asked everyone if they were ok with that. To a man, every single one shook their head ok.
Then Josh Howard spoke up with a great idea. Why not go to a fashion designer that specializes in nicer clothes and ask them to work with us. Kind of give us a designer look that the team could adopt. We do it with sneakers, uniforms and workout gear, why not for this. Everyone would be watching, so it woudl be a great marketing opportunity for everyone. He threw out some names and all the guys were voicing their approval. So they put me on a mission. Hopefully I can come through. (Feel free to email me if you are a designer in case the current deal falls through :)
Then I asked the guys if they would be willing to spend an extra few minutes before every game, home and on the road signing some autographs. Jason Terry was all over the idea. He wanted specially made JET wristbands to hand out. Some guys wanted to be able to sign pictures in advance and hand them out right when they went out to shootaround so they could stay as close to their normal routine as possible. I was cool with that. Again, to a man, with Dirk and Stack and JET being the impetus they all got behind it
We discussed that the more we did as a team to establish a Dallas Mavericks identity, not only would it be better business for them and the team, but it also meant that the we could control our own destiny. That as the team that set the example, we could do things that we liked, rather than waiting for the league to tell us what to do.
The funny thing about the signing is that for our first 3 preseason games on the road, our guys signed pictures at the hotel, took pictures and sharpees in hand and went out on the court to hand them out. (yes, we want to do this on the road and at home). Unfortunately there was hardly anyone at those games 75 to 90 minutes before tipoff, so there were some lucky fans who got lots of signed pictures. We still have some fine tuning of the program to do, and there will never be enough time to make every fan happy, but I think its going to work out great.
But now I am here in Dallas and the guys are in Detroit. Im sure im going to hear about the sports coat thing. Hopefully the designers we are talking to have a line of sports coats. Or better yet, I will be able to show the league the Mavs dress code, and they will be fine with it. Thats going to be my job.
The reality is that sports coats on the bench sounds good, but its not a good idea. The league knows i feel this way. A minimum salary rookie makes more money than most of America, and we all have to buy our own clothes for work, but not many of us have to have specially tailored clothes because we are 6’8. Those arent cheap.
Not many of us have to work in an environment where what we where to work every day is going to be shown on TV, and now because of this dress code, commented on and discussed. Its going to be awful expensive for minimum contract players. And what are they going to do about the NBDL ? Sports coats there as well ?
While the lack of management skills may be the underlying problem that led to the dress code, its the inevitable discussion of the dress code by the media that makes it a wrong place, wrong time mistake.
Will the media in their “Lets talk about the easiest thing to talk about” approach, talk about anything other than the dress code for the forseeable future ?
I have already gotten more interview requests about this than i have about players, teams, games , entertainment or anything related to the product we put on the floor. This is ALL we are going to hear about for months.
How many cameras are going to be pointed to the bench area and not the floor when regular season games start ? how many plays are going to be missed in game as commentary goes on about what a player is wearing. And then as players get hurt durnig the year, every time its the first time out of uniform for a player, there is going to be a fashion watch.
Think it will be over by April ? Not a chance. Some reporter will be there with this question “A.I. , I know its April and the playoffs start in 2 weeks, but this is your first trip to our fair city. What do you think about the dress code”. Lets all hope that A.I. gives us a “Dress Code…. Dress Code.. its the playoffs around the corner and all you can talk about is a Dress Code ..” Hurt ‘em Answer.
But wait , there is more.
To compound the problem, when they probably thought they were going to mitigate it, the crack marketing team at the NBA puts out the release for what is unquestionably the best program the NBA has EVER introduced on the same day as the dress code is released.
The NBA CARES global out reach initiative. $100 Million Dollars to charity. 1 MILLION HOURS of hands on service by players for charitable causes. Its absolutely , positively brilliant. The first thing the NBA has done where I sat there and asked myself why I hadnt thought of it first and suggested it. Its an amazing program that had it been released without all this dress code nonsense, would have gotten loads of great coverage. Coverage that would have gone a long way towards helping those few sponsors who dont understand, that the NBA has great guys who really do care.
So why in the world release it today ? What is going to be written about tomorrow, the dress code or NBA Cares ?
In the questions I have gotten today, it was asked as a single … and oh yeah, what do you think about NBA CARES..by ONE reporter. Thats it. And what is talk radio talking about.. The Dress Code with all the speculation about whether racism or some other nefarious logic is behind it. Just what we dont need.
We have the worlds greatest game. The worlds best athletes. The most entertaining product in person and on TV. We are 2 weeks before the start of the season. What is everyone talking about ?
And finally, Im sure people will ask what Im going to wear to our games. Well I would consider wearing a sports coat, but i dont own one. So i guess the only way I would buy one would be if I could cover it with logo ads from sponsors. A lot of logo ads from sponsors. Think the 1 million dollar homepage covered. Feel free to post any and all bids in the comments section
Or maybe Ill just wear a speedo.. With a Mavs logo and an MFFL shirt of course
I liked this article....here are some excepts with my thoughts to go along with the text....
Not a fantastic post from me...but then again it is almost 6am.... :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Kori Ellis
I have to agree with that, and ask one question: who the fuck does the NBA think buys most of their shit? Hip hop has made NBA merchandising absolutely EXPLODE over the last 10-15 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by usckk
Manny, I kind of agree with you, but if you have a problem with a dress code, you can always got to another more casual company. As MB says, they are out there. The NBA players don't have that option.
Kori - any word on penalties yet? Monetary or possibly suspensions?
I wonder what Stern would do if EVERY player ignored this, or even dressed down, showing up for interviews in baggy jeans, jerseys, sandals and sunglasses?
meh, good read.
Say what you will Cuban knows whats going on.
^
Here I thought he was some rich, dumb jackass....But it appears he has a brain and uses it.
Great Blog.
I wish NBA Execs could be more transparent as Cuban is. At least try to sell what outcome NBA is expecting out of this dress code issue - fans deserve to know the logic behind all these.
Pathetic Owners. If you can't run your business with authority, then get the hell out of it rather than jacking up to Stern to solve your problems.
NBA CARES is truly a great initiative and it's sad NBA just offsetted ths positive thing with the dumb dress code enforcement.
Mark has always been an intelligent businessman. He is the one who has guts to stand up and speak if Stern and the NBA are imposing stupid rules. True some times he acts like a jack, but most owners don't even connect with players and fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by RashoFan
His blogs are truly awesome - Recently I liked his blogs on the decision to cut fin, katrina relief, investing in stock markets etc.
Tim is just protesting for his own rights on his own way, its not like there werent any dress codes before, but now they are just stupid and he is prepared to show that by not complying and staying in locker room. Its the matter of personal choice, which is taken away from the players and i think its plain wrong to do whatever it takes to please upper class bussines guys, but to please average fan, without who NBA wouldnt even exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kori Ellis
:lmao
I went through the thread before posting and I'm surprised nobody reacted to this! This is what got my attention! :lol
As for Duncan's comments...I, too, am surprised. Just suck it up already man. It's no big deal.
True.Quote:
Originally Posted by exstatic
Stern has to step down if that happens and higly doubt it - It's not gonna workout becauseQuote:
I wonder what Stern would do if EVERY player ignored this, or even dressed down, showing up for interviews in baggy jeans, jerseys, sandals and sunglasses?
1. some are okay with dressing up
2. some dumasses, wifebeaters, "pot"ters think their image goes up if they dress up
3. some are dumass idoits like sjax, rip who dress real ugly - the other end of the spectrum
4. Then there are guys like Timmy, Nash who are good role models who like to dress casual.
Since #4 are in minority Timmy might end up wearing a so called decent shirt and shoes OR he'd prefer wearing a mask when he enters/leaves the arena/team bus :lol :lol
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dario
Let Stern, owners and corporate america try to fill the arenas with white-collared people :blah :blah
Hope he said that stuff about staying in the locker room beacuase of the heat of the moment. It would be sad if he really did put it into practice.
Timmy will end up complying because he will realize that his presence on the bench if he is injured is more valuable to his teammates and the team than his hate of sportcoats.
But seriously this is BS.
How many people do YOU know that make 15 million + a year that are FORCED to wear something they don't want to to work?
I can't think of anyone.
All you people that say "well I have to wear such and such to work, i have a dress code they can get over it" are so stupidly replaceable its funny.
You have no pull because you aren't special. They HAVE pull because they are and you can't deal with it.
Dress codes in the NBA are stupid and unprecidented for people ANYWHERE making that kind of money.
ha ha hah a Timmy standing up to the boss is the most brave thing i have ever seen
Go TIMMAY!!! "free yo mind"
Right on. Walking around the University of Houston I can't count how many throwback jerseys I see on a daily basis. Do you really think those things would be bought if guys like Rip Hamilton and AI weren't wearing them all the time? I understand what Stern is trying to do, I just think that he's going about it in a senseless way. If anything, I think this is just going to alienate some fans. For as much as I hate the way Iverson dresses, I know there are plenty of fans out there who respect him for it and those of us who don't like it can go watch well dressed stars give their interviews. The appeal of the diversity is like that of a three ring circus. If you don't like the clowns then watch the elephants. Or you can attend Stern's Big Top and watch a bear on a unicycle for three straight hours.Quote:
Originally Posted by exstatic
Marcus Bryant has been seen many times this fall season wearing the latest blouse, skirt and man purse. Not that there's anything wrong with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus Bryant
Ya... timmy should just follow the company the line... don't speak up...Quote:
I am very disappointed that Duncan isn't cooperating.
What a load of crap... they play basketball! They aren't business execs in some high rise... I agree with dictating their oncourt dress - tuck in shirts, etc, etc... but when their on the bench? What a load of crap. I'm glad Duncan spoke up.
They DO have a dress code... Shorts, Jersey, Tennies, Socks, and an optional head band... why should they have a dress code when they aren't playing? Because some pen head thinks they should?Quote:
All you people that say "well I have to wear such and such to work, i have a dress code they can get over it" are so stupidly replaceable its funny.
I know I'm in the minority, but I *like* Mark Cuban, even if he does need a haircut and a new wardrobe. He made his money and went out and did what he wanted - bought a team, and wholeheartedly supports them.
I think he explains this very, very, very well. I had not heard of the NBA Cares initiative, but I think he's totally, completely 100% right. THAT is the sort of thing that will change the NBA image, and it's buried under the superficial dress code.
The NBA really is barking up the wrong tree.
So confusing how we assign virtue to expensive, uncomfortable clothing.
... Not to mention the utterly meaningless term "professionalism".
It's about time Stern put a stop to the "thug" look.It was getting out of hand and making the NBA look dirty.
Who started the whole "thug" look??? A.I. .... yes,Iverson!
If a company offers me a job that I love to do that will pay me around $6-10 million a year (9 months if you think about it), put me up in the best hotels this country has to offer when I travel, and pay me $6-10 million a year (9 months if you really think about) I am not going to complain when they tell me, "we need you to wear a suit for a few hours a day to keep this job."
Let's keep it real folks. If any of you were offered a job with the above-mentioned benefits, you would not complain one bit. If you would, you would be one of the dumbest if not the dumbest person on the face of this world.
Professional atheletes are spoiled. That's all it is.