Something about professional basketball has bothered me for a long time.  What happened to the good ol’ days of seeing professional athletes in suits if they are on the sidelines not playing in the games?  It has sickened me to see ‘injured’ players sitting on the sidelines in T-shirts, hats, and gold chains.  This is NOT the street.  We are not representing our ‘hood.’ You are a professional athlete and a role model to kids (Like it or not).

This is issue finally was put in front of NBA Commissioner David Stern.  Mr. Stern obviously felt the same way I did as he implemented the new dress code for the NBA.  The new rule states that Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business.  Business Casual has been defined as,

• A long or short-sleeved dress shirt (collared or turtleneck), and/or a sweater.
• Dress slacks, khaki pants, or dress jeans.
  
• Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots, or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, or work boots.
• Some of the items banned from wear by any player while on team or league business are,
• Sleeveless shirts.
• Shorts.
• T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event (e.g., a basketball clinic), team-identified, and approved by the team).
• Headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance (unless appropriate for the event or appearance, team-identified, and approved by the team).
• Chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player’s clothes.
• Sunglasses while indoors.
• Headphones (other than on the team bus or plane, or in the team locker room).

I think this is great. I believe in situational dressing.  Sure I wear cutoffs and t-shirts, but when I’m conducting ‘Business’ I am always in appropriate clothing.  This players are conducting business that while in a different spotlight is still just that – BUSINESS… and they should act like it!

So of course you’re going to have player reactions.  I actually chuckled at a few. Stephen Jackson of the Indiana Pacers said, “I think it’s a racist statement because a lot of the guys who are wearing chains are my age and are black.” Why do I laugh at this?  Because his team-mate Jermain O’neal is one of the sharpest dressed guys in the league and he is black.  He obviously has no problem adopting the new rule, so why is Stephen causing a stink? 

One player that comes into the spotlight with this whole ordeal is Allen Iverson.  Iverson can usually be seen sitting the bench resting his bruised ego, or his inflamed hang nail with a du-rag, jeans, baseball cap turned side-ways, jeans, and tennis shoes…. Where in the world is this considered ‘business’ attire? It’s not.

My favorite NBA player, Lebron James, had this to say “Sometimes you feel lazy and you don’t feel like putting some clothes on, but this is a job. We are going to have fun, but this is a job and we should look like we’re going to work, that’s the way they feel.”  EXACTLY – it’s a JOB!  You do what your boss says – why can’t these guys get it through their heads?  If a 20 year old kid (Lebron James) can understand, why can’t the rest of the veterans in the league?

Marcus Camby – center for the Toronto Raptors – actually had the nerve to say that in order for the league to comply with the new rules that players should receive a clothing stipend.  ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?  Marcus Camby is set to make OVER $7,000,000 … that’s SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS next season… and you can’t afford a new wardrobe?  Well I guess if Latreel Spreewell can’t feed his family on $14,000,000 I guess you are correct Marcus… WOW!!!  Mabye I should get a raise… I sure as hell can’t buy  a jar of peanut butter this week on the little bit of nothing I make!!!

Well – I’m absolutely stoked about this new rule – it makes me VERY happy to see.