Duncan sounds off on the dress code

[Spurminator]

I don't think the Players will put up much of a fuss beyond complaints and fines. But I do think the NBA will be forced to rethink once some prominent African American leaders get involved in the issue.

[easjer]

But my point is that it's not a dress code for the sake of safety or unity or professionalism. It's an attempt to spruce up the image of the league. Which is not going to happen because of a change in attire. You want a more professional league - address the REAL issues (you can see my list above).

They are not addressing the real issues. I don't have a problem with dress codes, in general, and if this were only a minor part of a league overhaul and were reasonable (I think the rules on to and from the buses and sports coats are dumb, as are killing sneakers), then I'd be infinitely less bothered by the whole thing.

Instead, they are trying very, very hard to ignore the real issues. They've stupidly stated they did this to appease nervous corporate sponsers (or so I understand, I could be corrected), which is what is giving rise to all the other bull .

[Obstructed_View]

And the labor union typically listens to the players with the most clout.

We're not talking about Mike Wilks and Mark Madsen complaining here.

It's a little late to complain after the fact. It's also not anybody else's fault that Duncan, Jackson and Iverson couldn't be bothered to find out what was going on in the labor negotiations of their own union before it actually was agreed. They are en led to about it, but it just makes them look stupid. They should know better than to even answer questions about it, but there's a lot that professional athletes should be smart enough not to do.

[ShoogarBear]

I think the locker room should be a free dress area.

WHAT? YOU WANT THEM TO WEAR DRESSES???

[MannyIsGod]

It's a little late to complain after the fact. It's also not anybody else's fault that Duncan, Jackson and Iverson couldn't be bothered to find out what was going on in the labor negotiations of their own union before it actually was agreed. They are en led to about it, but it just makes them look stupid. They should know better than to even answer questions about it, but there's a lot that professional athletes should be smart enough not to do.

A ing men!!!!

I'm willing to bet money - a whole buck - that Duncan coudln't be bothered to pull away from his xBOX to worry about any dress code.

[Kori Ellis]

because he doesn't want to wear a suit a few days out of the week for a few hours then that's his problem.

People keep saying this. And just for clarification, there's no suits involved in the dress code. And there is only sportcoats when you are on the inactive list on the bench. Otherwise, you just have to wear a button down or turtleneck shirt or sweater and dress jeans/shoes.

[PM5K]

A ing men!!!!

I'm willing to bet money - a whole buck - that Duncan coudln't be bothered to pull away from his xBOX to worry about any dress code.

Har, Har!

Get off Xbox Live and talk to your player rep dip!

[Obstructed_View]

But my point is that it's not a dress code for the sake of safety or unity or professionalism. It's an attempt to spruce up the image of the league. Which is not going to happen because of a change in attire. You want a more professional league - address the REAL issues (you can see my list above).

They are not addressing the real issues. I don't have a problem with dress codes, in general, and if this were only a minor part of a league overhaul and were reasonable (I think the rules on to and from the buses and sports coats are dumb, as are killing sneakers), then I'd be infinitely less bothered by the whole thing.

Instead, they are trying very, very hard to ignore the real issues. They've stupidly stated they did this to appease nervous corporate sponsers (or so I understand, I could be corrected), which is what is giving rise to all the other bull .

The thing is, the league is addressing every issue you mentioned. Players are being required to do more PR, The league is cracking down on profanity, they have the community service program they introduced, they cracked down on substance abuse last year. The dress code is a small, if ineptly handled, part of a collective effort to improve the NBA's image and it's blown up in their face.

[Spurminator]

You're going to compare the NBA to the US? OK. We're talking about a sport that is a BUSINESS that generates so much money it ain't funny. Not a country. Spare me.

It's Speech. If you can't wrap your head around the connection, spare yourself the humiliation.

If A.I leaves millions of dollars on the table because he doesn't want to wear a suit a few days out of the week for a few hours then that's his problem.

And the NBA's problem too. Which is why he is able to speak out about it and be heard.

If I work for a company doing what I love, get paid millions of dollars for it, work for only 8-9 months out of the year, travel all over the country for free, stay in the classiest hotels for free, fly in private jets when I travel, and am taken care of for life, I would not complain about dressing up.

If you were an irreplaceable asset to your employer, you'd be a lot more demanding. , if I was an "Allen Iverson" to my company, first I'd negotiate a raise, then I'd negotiate flexible hours and dress. What's wrong with that?

IT'S A BUSINESS.

But I really don't care about player inconvenience... I think some of you have pretty lousy arguments about why the players should suck it up and do what Stern tells them, but my main concern has more to do with what this says about our culture.

[Mixability]

David Stern doesn't care about black people.

[PM5K]

People keep saying this. And just for clarification, there's no suits involved in the dress code. And there is only sportcoats when you are on the inactive list on the bench. Otherwise, you just have to wear a button down or turtleneck shirt or sweater and dress jeans/shoes.

So basically the way he already dresses so long as he doesn't sprain his ankle again....

It must suck to have to wear slacks, a t-shirt and a sports coat, and make seventeen million dollars a year....

[PM5K]

David Stern doesn't care about black people.

LOL....

[Kori Ellis]

they cracked down on substance abuse last year.

How did they do that? As far as I know, there's random testing UP TO 4 times a year (which could mean none). And if you test positive for marijuana, you don't even get fined the first time.

[Spurminator]

It's a little late to complain after the fact.

Is it?

The issue is gaining momentum.

[Kori Ellis]

It must suck to have to wear slacks, a t-shirt and a sports coat, and make seventeen million dollars a year....

No t-shirt

[Marcus Bryant]

So 90%+ of people who watch basketball on TV, buy the shoes they wear, buy the jerseys they wear, buy all the gear associated with the NBA (shirts, caps, wrist bands, head bands, socks, shorts, and etc), go to the games, and so on are White and middle-aged?

Wrong. I live in a neighborhood here in town that has about 40% White residents. I would say 30% Hispanic, 25% African American and the rest Asian. When I go to the community park to play ball, all I see is the African American wearing the Jordans, Lebrons, and so on. I hardly see any White/middle-aged people wearing that stuff.

Who's buying the season ticket packages? Who's buying the suites? Who's deciding if they want to sponsor a team or the league itself?

Shoe companies aren't the only ones that advertise during games and sponsor teams.

[Spurminator]

Some of you sound so bitter about player salaries.

Hey, I'd give David Stern a blowjob for $17 million, maybe the players should be forced to.

[Marcus Bryant]

Some of you sound so bitter about player salaries.

Hey, I'd give David Stern a blowjob for $17 million, maybe the players should be forced to.

Exactly

[PM5K]

Exactly

I wouldn't blow David Stern for seventeen million dollars....




















I'd blow him twice!

[Marcus Bryant]

Why can't we pissed about the owners? , Holt Cat is making $$$ off public money that could've been used to improve the city/county in a more beneficial manner.

This is what I don't get. So many people are quite willing to take ownership's side of the argument. Stop being the Boss' .

[Kip Fanatic]

But I really don't care about player inconvenience... I think some of you have pretty lousy arguments about why the players should suck it up and do what Stern tells them, but my main concern has more to do with what this says about our culture.

It was probably Stern who introduced it, but remember that the Players Union or Association agreed to it. Its not like Stern said, "tell A.I, Stephen Jackson, and Tim Duncan to starting wearing sport coats or else."

It was part of the CBAgreement. Agreement means that two sides had to agree. Right?

[ShoogarBear]

Hey, I'd give David Stern a blowjob for $17 million, maybe the players should be forced to.

"Hmm, maybe I can work that into the next CBA . . . "

[MannyIsGod]

I'm not bitter than they make so much money, but I'm also not going to give them a shoulder to cry on or even feel bad for them.

@ Stern doesn't care about black people.

[Kip Fanatic]

Why can't we pissed about the owners? , Holt Cat is making $$$ off public money that could've been used to improve the city/county in a more beneficial manner.

This is what I don't get. So many people are quite willing to take ownership's side of the argument. Stop being the Boss' .

Please shut up. No one is mad. Its just dumb to be angry about having to dress up because your means of living says so (which your representatives agreed to). If you were to what was posted earlier, you would have read where I said that the owners should have to dress professional even more so. I am not on this side or that side. I was fine with the players wearing what they were wearing before. I just don't agree with the players making a big deal about dressing up when they are doing what they love and getting paid tons of cash to do so. That's all.

[Spurminator]

It was probably Stern who introduced it, but remember that the Players Union or Association agreed to it. Its not like Stern said, "tell A.I, Stephen Jackson, and Tim Duncan to starting wearing sport coats or else."

It was part of the CBAgreement. Agreement means that two sides had to agree. Right?

This isn't the first time a representative body has entered into an agreement that was not fully supported by those it represented.