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*
I think it is about time that Professional Sports gets serious about their image problem and require their very public 'employees' to be a positive role model instead of the poster child for immature excess.
there is nothing wrong with asking professional atheletes, in ANY sport, to appear as anything other than professional when representing their team in public.
THEY never understand what grownup means.
Someday they'll integrate the NBA.
Stupid is as stupid does!
We have a dress code at my office but the company does not pay for our clothes.
The NBA players are young black males but the NBA paying audience is white. Money talks.
Right after they integrate the NHL.
Well, couldn't that be said of any NBA rule?
in the mindset of professional atheletes, screw the fan, we're GODS...
When I was in high school (many years ago), even our football team had to dress up on game day. They all had red blazers and they looked very nice. You could tell they took pride in being a member of the team. Professional (and I use the term very loosely) athletes have become a disgrace over the past few years. I don't think it's asking too much for these overpaid, spoiled brats to wear decent clothes when representing their team.
The people asking for this dress code are anal retentive.
Well said!
What do facts have to do with anything? (sarcasm)
"Everybody has their own style and you've got a corporation that's asking you to present yourself in a certain way," center Alonzo Mourning said. "You've got to abide by it.""They pay us a lot of money to do it, so it's a no-brainer go out and buy a suit," Mourning said. "You don't need but one suit. Go out, buy one and put it on."
Boo hoo now these spoiled millionaires will have to buy a couple sets of presentable clothes instead of buying a $20,000 piece of "bling bling"
I never followed tennis but there are times I miss Arthur Ashe.
"The people asking for this dress code are anal retentive."
Really!! Then it would appear that 90% of Coperate America is 'anal retentive' when they require their employees to dress as to reflect positivly on their employer while on company business. While I may not always agree with the practice of a dress code but I certainly understand the logic of management.
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