Posted on 10/20/2005 6:41:50 AM PDT by WmCraven_Wk
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana guard Stephen Jackson believes the NBA's new ban on bling-bling is racially motivated, but says he will abide by the rules.
The NBA has announced that a dress code will go into effect at the start of the season. Players will be required to wear business-casual attire when involved in team or league business. They can't wear visible chains, pendants or medallions over their clothes.
Jackson, who is black, said the NBA's new rule about jewelry targets young black males because chains are associated with hip-hop culture, and he said the league is afraid of becoming "too hip-hop.'' In protest, he wore four chains to the Pacers' exhibition game against San Antonio on Tuesday night.
Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce agreed that the new rule targeted young, black players.
"When I saw the part about chains, hip hop and throwback jerseys, I think that's part of our culture,'' Pierce said. "The NBA is young black males.''
Philadelphia's Allen Iverson also was critical of the new rule, which the NBA made teams aware of in a memo Monday.
"I feel like if they want us to dress a certain way, they should pay for our clothes,'' he said. "It's just tough, man, knowing that all of a sudden you have to have a dress code out of nowhere. I don't think that's still going to help the image of the league at all.''
*snip*
Let me guess, a costume is anything you personally don't wear? Newflash pal, there is a practical purpose behind almost every article of clothing that I wear. If you want to talk about costuming, let's examine the necktie which serves no function whatsoever.
"Let me guess, a costume is anything you personally don't wear?"
Guess again.
"Newflash pal, there is a practical purpose behind almost every article of clothing that I wear."
Never having seen what you wear, I will not comment on that specifically. I will, however, make the general comment that there is practical, utilitarian motorcycling apparel and equipment that does not add up to an "outlaw biker" costume.
"If you want to talk about costuming, let's examine the necktie which serves no function whatsoever."
Okay. That is a costume that says, "I do feel morally constrained by society's customs and laws. I will not stomp you, shoot you, or rape your daughter. I accept my responsibilities as a member of society, and most likely have a productive job. Further, I have enough respect for you to communicate all that by wearing this costume."
As for this whole costuming thing, no, I don't dress to inform anyone that I'm going to rape their daughter. I dress the way I dress because well, I like it. I like the tattoos (and God knows being Japanacised you'll have opinios about tattoos)I have and may get more. I like the steel hoops in my ears. I like my beard. More importantly, my wife likes the way I look and that leads to much snoo-snoo.
"Out of curiosity, how long have you been in Japan? You certainly seem to have fallen head over heels in love with the Japanese love for uniformity."
You know what they say about assuming.
"Do school children still drill holes in the heels of their shoes over there in a desperate attempt to at least sound different walking down the hall?"
You're way out of date. The postwar generation's respect for social convention has been supplanted by an obsession with the outlandish.
"As for this whole costuming thing, no, I don't dress to inform anyone that I'm going to rape their daughter."
You dress in a way that inevitably does that, you do it voluntarily, and you do it knowing that it will communicate that message.
"I like...I like...I like..."
So, it's all about you, is it? No need to consider the effect it has on others? If your appearance strikes fear into the hearts of young mothers going about their daily business, that's just tough titty, eh? It's a free country, and you have a perfect right to go around scaring perfect strangers, that about it?
I hereby dub thee, "Captain Melodrama", patron hero of drama queens everywhere. I mean with all the heart striking fear and everything, sure I'm a monster of horrible proportions to hear you talk.
"I hereby dub thee, "Captain Melodrama", patron hero of drama queens everywhere."
And I hereby dub you "Captain Me," idol of the self-involved and inconsiderate.
"I mean with all the heart striking fear and everything, sure I'm a monster of horrible proportions to hear you talk."
To some people, you are frightening. Attempts to brush that off with prattle about "drama queens" doesn't alter the reality.
You choose to dress in a way that frightens people, and it seems that it doesn't bother you a bit to do them that injury.
Lol, you truly believe that and you can't see why you're a drama queen? Please, could your claims be any less spurious? Frighten people....give me a freakin' break.
Gee, of all your possible responses, for some reason I didn't expect denial.
Not just a river in Egypt, you know.
BTW, no, my claims could not be any less spurious.
Much like I would tell the thug-life wannabees, ill tell you.
What you experience from others for the way you look is because you dress in a method that may convey a message you are violent and will inflict damage if disrespected. Perhaps you are a big teddy bear but the biker image is not trying to convey a teddy bear image as you must know.
I have met many very good hearted bikers and good hearted nostalic-jersey wearing black and white folks but one thing is a constant; Many people fear the message instilled in the chosen apparel you and these NBA players have chosen to represent themselves with. Its just fact.
I dont think you are ignorant of the fact that Hell's Angels and other violent biker gangs have left a permanent mark of society as a whole. So why the suprise you are treated differently for the way you dress?
Many people are skidish around a group of 5 or 6 young black or white men wearing bling-blings, doorags and other gang inspired gear walking by you on a street. Its not even racism because a group of black bikers would frighten little old ladies and an all white group of thug-lifers would frighten little old ladies as well. Its human nature based on past experiences and how the rap community wants to be based on their videos, "music" and how they act in society. Its sad that they want to perpetuate this idea that being a thug or a playa or a gangsta, womanizer, druggy, etc etc etc is a good thing when its not.
The NBA has a right to take issue with the representation the NBA is giving itself to allow the "nonconformity" to continue.
Its their money, their profits and they want to increase them and the National Black League (as Pierce of the Celtics seems to think it is) isnt maximizing their profits.
Sorry for the rant but what you wear wouldnt be allowed here at my company and if they paid you 30 million for a 2 year contract, Im pretty sure conformity would again become a word in your vocabulary quite quickly.
I'm through arguing against the superficiality, some people just don't get it and never will. Clyde Barrows wore a suit and tie btw, as did John Dillinger
There was a reason they wore a suit and tie. Had everything to do with trying not to conveying a certain image. Which is precisely my point you are missing.
Tell your friend he's a moron, even if I agree on his choice of teams.....
Iginla ... Calgary.
'Nuff said.
ditto!
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