NBA Dress Code- Racist?

**min0 lee** · 10-20-2005, 08:21 PM

Some claim rule
rings of racism

Nerves jangle on ban

BY CHRISTIAN RED
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

LeBron James better lose cap and grab jacket if he wants to travel with Cavs.

Thanks to David Stern, jackets are required for NBA players, much to the chagrin of Allen Iverson.

The bling is dead. At least, that's what NBA commissioner David Stern is advocating.

On Monday, Stern announced a new dress code that he hopes will improve the league's public image. Caps, bandanas and other headgear are history, replaced by a "business casual" policy required during all "team or league business."

But critics have already surfaced, and one stipulation in particular has invoked league-wide anger, including an accusation that the NBA is racist. The rule in question says that there will be no "chains, pendants or medallions worn over players' clothes."

Think the commissioner had Allen Iverson in mind for that one?

"I have no problem dressing up . . . because I know I'm a nice-looking guy. But as far as chains, I definitely feel that's a racial statement. Almost 100% of the guys in the league who are young and black wear big chains," Indiana guard/forward Stephen Jackson told the Indianapolis Star. "So I definitely don't agree with that at all."

Added Nets guard Vince Carter: "I just think people should be able to express themselves."

Getting a player like Iverson - who's often wearing enough precious metal to fill a jewelry store - to put it away may be about as easy as telling Charles Barkley to keep his mouth closed. Stern, however, doesn't foresee long-term resistance.

"If (players) are really going to have a problem, they will have to make a decision about how they want to spend their adult life in terms of playing in the NBA or not," Stern said, adding that the rules are "quite liberal and easygoing."

Richard Lapchick, the Director for the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, said the league's initiative will only help restore its image, especially after some recent embarrassments - with year's Pacers-Pistons brawl at the Palace the most glaring.

"First of all, the policy is not racist. The intention is to make the league image more corporate rather than hip-hop, which has been the going trend for years," said Lapchick, who is the son of Celtics great and former Knicks coach Joe Lapchick. "It's a natural outcome of what happened last year with the brawl. As for the NBA, it's probably the most progressive league with regard to its diversity practices. There may be some resistance to this policy, but (the NBA) needs to just stick to its guns."

Somewhere between the Michael Jordan era of the early '90s - when his Airness was seen off the court in nothing less than an impeccably tailored suit - and the last decade, NBA dress codes have largely gone the way of baggy jeans, work boots and jewelry displays that would make Mr. T proud. A few teams, including the Knicks, already had strict dress codes in place before Monday's announcement, but now every player must abide by the same rules. For returning Lakers coach Phil Jackson, the changes are long overdue.

"I think we've noticed a number of situations in the playoffs, when the full attention is on the NBA, when it reaches its pinnacle. And you'll have a player step to the podium wearing a do-rag and sunglasses and holding a child on his lap and it sends out an image, I don't know, of prison garb or thuggery or smells of defiance in a way," said Jackson. "I think a (dress) code is necessary. We see hockey now in a much different light. You see players in sport coats. The NHL is appealing to an audience. We've taken our audience for granted for a long time. We do need to pay attention to the paying customer and the people who fill the seats."

**lnvanry** · 10-20-2005, 08:26 PM

no...He is trying to make the appearance more professional...which happens to ironically oppose the dressing style of anyone who like ghetto urban fashion

Honestly for the millions of dollars they shoudl wear a fucking tie...He is trying to clean up the NBA's image. I like the last reform of banning all high school players. I like thi commissioner

**cheesegrater** · 10-20-2005, 08:46 PM

i wouldn't say its racist so much as it's a fear of the culture of hip hop or whatnot.....that said, i wear do rags-i'm white-but more in a biker way, and never wear suits, so i'd be pissed.

i hope AI pisses on this rule.....the stupidest part is the no headphones when coming from the bus to the court....what the hell is wrong with that?

**tucker01** · 10-21-2005, 05:16 AM

Fuck those spoiled fuckin asshole atheletes. This is a job, you don't like it find another one. We all have rules to play by at our jobs.

**The Monkey Man** · 10-21-2005, 05:36 AM

If a stock broker or a computer engineer, can have a dress code

So can these bozo's

**P-funk** · 10-21-2005, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Fuck those spoiled fuckin asshole atheletes. This is a job, you don't like it find another one. We all have rules to play by at our jobs.

I agree. I hate the NBA and feel bad for the coaches. It is like they have to babysit a bunch of spoiled brats instead of coach. The NBA is full of pre-madonnas.

**CancerNV** · 10-21-2005, 07:14 AM

The NBA has SOOOOOO many more problems than this dress code thing.

**PreMier** · 10-21-2005, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Fuck those spoiled fuckin asshole atheletes. This is a job, you don't like it find another one. We all have rules to play by at our jobs.

Hell yea! The thing they dont understand is you always dress the part. Like the article said, look how MJ dressed. Always suit and tie, and he was the best one to ever step on the court.

**PreMier** · 10-21-2005, 08:08 AM

Oh, and it being racist? Fuck them. So many Black Americans try and pull that card it makes me sick. Where is my White Entertainment Television, or my White Miss America.. or even my White Affirmative Action?

**CancerNV** · 10-21-2005, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by PreMier

Oh, and it being racist? Fuck them. So many Black Americans try and pull that card it makes me sick. Where is my White Entertainment Television, or my White Miss America.. or even my White Affirmative Action?

You do realize every black person in America was owned a mere 400 years ago. The average person lives to around 80 years of age. Thats really not that long ago.

You have to be an idiot if you think your average 30 year old black male has had the same oppertunitys as your average 30 year old white male.

**Doublebase** · 10-21-2005, 08:43 AM

I totally agree with this. I think they should have to dress nice when they are on TV or with the team. They are role models and should act that way. They should all be gentleman. Now we need to clean up rap music. Its hurting our youth.

**CancerNV** · 10-21-2005, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Doublebase

I totally agree with this. I think they should have to dress nice when they are on TV or with the team. They are role models and should act that way. They should all be gentleman. Now we need to clean up rap music. Its hurting our youth.

Whats worse rap music or white power neo nazi rock?

**god hand** · 10-21-2005, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by CancerNV

The NBA has SOOOOOO many more problems than this dress code thing.

YES IT REALLY DOES!!!!

**god hand** · 10-21-2005, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by CancerNV

You do realize every black person in America was owned a mere 400 years ago. The average person lives to around 80 years of age. Thats really not that long ago.

You have to be an idiot if you think your average 30 year old black male has had the same oppertunitys as your average 30 year old white male.

Well black people do pull the "race card" to damn much. And hella no we dont got the SAME oppertunitys.

**The Monkey Man** · 10-21-2005, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by PreMier

Where is my White Affirmative Action?

Dat's a good vun

**The Monkey Man** · 10-21-2005, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by god hand

Well black people do pull the "race card" to damn much. And hella no we dont got the SAME oppertunitys.

Every time someone pulls the race/gender card, they cry wolf...
And partially discredit any legitimate person(s) who are earnest in seeking personal growth.

**god hand** · 10-21-2005, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Doublebase

I totally agree with this. I think they should have to dress nice when they are on TV or with the team. They are role models and should act that way. They should all be gentleman. Now we need to clean up rap music. Its hurting our youth.

You are an idiot! Dress nice? Who says they doesnt dress nice now? Role models? I went from a high school striaght to the NBA and said fuck college because the white men gave me a 9 figure contract? Do u see all those damn tatoos on them? Those are not role models

**god hand** · 10-21-2005, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by CancerNV

Whats worse rap music or white power neo nazi rock?

**Big Smoothy** · 10-21-2005, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by P-funk

I agree. I hate the NBA and feel bad for the coaches. It is like they have to babysit a bunch of spoiled brats instead of coach. The NBA is full of pre-madonnas.

I use to like following the NBA; now it's a bunch of spoiled brats.

**CancerNV** · 10-21-2005, 09:16 AM

What needs to be done to turn around the NBA then?

I for one would love to see garanteed contracts gone.

**Doublebase** · 10-21-2005, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by CancerNV

Whats worse rap music or white power neo nazi rock?

Name one "white power neo nazi rock" band. Without looking it up on the internet.

**Doublebase** · 10-21-2005, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by god hand

You are an idiot! Dress nice? Who says they doesnt dress nice now? Role models? I went from a high school striaght to the NBA and said fuck college because the white men gave me a 9 figure contract? Do u see all those damn tatoos on them? Those are not role models

David Stern says, and I agree with him. Along with my Dad and other people that I work with. You should look upstanding and be a role model. That comes with the contract and the big bucks. Just because they have tattoos doesn't make them bad people. What is your point about getting a contract and going straight to the NBA? What white men gave you the contract? This is probably pointless argueing with you judging by your previous posts.

**CancerNV** · 10-21-2005, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Doublebase

Name one "white power neo nazi rock" band. Without looking it up on the internet.

Cant do it.

**Doublebase** · 10-21-2005, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by CancerNV

Cant do it.

Neither can I. The only people listening to that crap are the people making it.

**Dale Mabry** · 10-21-2005, 09:58 AM

I don't think it is racist, I think it is a band-aid to put over the wound caused by the malace at the palace. It doesn't fix the underlying problem so it is worthless to me. I don't see why they can't wear their bling, that is stupid. Also, if you think about it, it will prolly cause a hit to the players who get paid endorsement money for wearing that crap after the game. Doesn't the NBA make mad cash from the hats teams wear after winning their conference/the championship? These should go too, as far as I am concerned. I saw about 100,000 NFC Championship Eagles hats on the street the very day after they won the NFC Championship, but I am sure they would have bought those hats whether the players were wearing them or not, I did see about 3 knockoff style hats.

Personally, I think you should be dressed up before games, but after games I think you should be able to wear whatever you want. How comfortable can a suit be after just running up and down a basketball court for an hour.

**slider** · 10-21-2005, 02:54 PM

Yes Yes Yes they are role models and it is a shame how they use there power to hold themselves and there people down in the public eye. It is wierd anyone from the ghetto no matter how far away they get from the gheto keeps one foot in the gheto. Big Props To P-diddy and hova. They maintain there african american heritage while presenting themselves in the most profesional way possible. At the same time what can you expect from someone with no formal education that spent pretty much there whole life on a basketball court. Do really expect them to know how to act in public??? Bam Magera is the same way dropped out of high school became a pro skater and now is the biggest dumb ass on the planet in front of a camera. The man doesn't know how to act, he is an uneducated fool that gets payed to skate board. We latch onto it cuz it the true american Dream Uneducated, no rules, fun, 24/7, and more money than he can spend in his life. I am not above the law cuz I am jealouse as shit of HIM!!!

**BoneCrusher** · 10-21-2005, 03:16 PM

Drivel ... complete and total drivel. No one single ethnicity is being blasted ... bling is one of those multi-cultural cool methods of expression. Eight year old white boys in Ripley WV (pop 347) wear bling now. This is nothing more than a diversionary attempt to deter liability on the part of the pricks in the front office. No profound changes are going to come from any of this bull$hit.

**MyK** · 10-21-2005, 03:28 PM

as long as they wear the proper uniform on the court, I dont see why they cant wear what they want off it!

**P-funk** · 10-21-2005, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by MyK

as long as they wear the proper uniform on the court, I dont see why they cant wear what they want off it!

most of them wear what they want on the court anyway so off of it they should be dressed up.

**min0 lee** · 10-21-2005, 03:35 PM

Nice to hear from you BC.

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