NBA Dress Code - 3 Years Later (ESPN Bucher)

[garden of oden]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3898919

a pretty good read, there's one quick Blazers note, pretty funny.

I kind of forgot about the dress code, but the players do look sharp and it looks even better for the millions watching a post game presser on tv. when i roll into work, i have to look a certain way. if i was paid millions i'd not only wear suits, i'd wear whatever they wanted me to wear!

 

[THE HCP]

Best dressed Blazer by far is Bayless!

 

[JE]

Dress codes = fail

 

[Karl Malone's Elbows]

The dress code is racist and anti-American. I consider it the most disgusting of Stern's slimey dealings. The players union got bent over when they allowed this.

 

[noknobs]

The dress code is racist and anti-American. I consider it the most disgusting of Stern's slimey dealings. The players union got bent over when they allowed this.

So now it's racist to have wear nice clothes to work? Gee, guess every office building in America is anti-American. I learn so much from these boards.

 

[Nate Dogg]

One of the Knicks point guards was wearing baggy jeans, sneakers, baseball cap, and a baggy sweatshirt. He did look unprofessional. I somewhat agree with Stern because lots of these professionals have done community service and outreach programs. Why should they dress up like sloppy individuals.
At least wear nice jeans, button up shirt and a sportscoat at least.

 

[JE]

The dress code is racist and anti-American. I consider it the most disgusting of Stern's slimey dealings. The players union got bent over when they allowed this.

I don't know if I feel that strong about it, but I agree with the core point.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Heaven forbid an employer being allowed to dictate corporate dress code. But thanks for dropping the Race AND Anti-American card, Elbows.

The American military requires you to wear a specific uniform every day. For all races.

American manufacturing workers are required to wear prescribed safety gear every day. For all races.

My company (founded in America, now multi-national) dictates that "business casual" will be worn in the office. For all races.

Most banks require suits for their employees. Of all races.

If your sartorial tastes run afoul of the requirements Stern places on his business entity, sorry. You're not required to play basketball in the NBA for a living.

 

[Foulzilla]

The dress code is racist and anti-American. I consider it the most disgusting of Stern's slimey dealings. The players union got bent over when they allowed this.

Ridiculous. I think it's dumb personally, but there's nothing racist or anti-American about it. Most businesses have some form of dress code.

 

[BalancedMan]

It isn't that big of a deal honestly. It makes them look sharp, helps enrichen the brand image. Besides, there's a group at Nike entirely tasked with designing good looking and comfortable gear that fits under the NBA guidelines. I remember seeing an intern presenting her designs for Steve Nash and LeBron.

I'm not opposed to it.

 

[Karl Malone's Elbows]

Ridiculous. I think it's dumb personally, but there's nothing racist or anti-American about it. Most businesses have some form of dress code.

What business has a dress code when you're not working? It's absolutely racist. It was done because Stern didn't like NBA players looking like black people off the court.

You see Outlaw in HCP's avatar. He'd be fined for dressing like that before or after a game.

 

[garden of oden]

karl- are you dense?

they can wear whatever they want when they're not working. at home, shopping, at the movies whatever.

when they enter an arena or do a press conference, they're working. work isnt just 4 quarters of hoops.

 

[noknobs]

What business has a dress code when you're not working? It's absolutely racist. It was done because Stern didn't like NBA players looking like black people off the court.

You see Outlaw in HCP's avatar. He'd be fined for dressing like that before or after a game.

Well at least you admit you inhale frequently. May want to cut back.

 

[JE]

Minus the racial stuff, I'm with KME. I think a dress code for a basketball team is absolute shit. This isn't a bank, this isn't the military. These guys should be able to wear what they want, within reason. Obviously a hoodie with 'FUCK BITCHES' on the front would be over the top.

 

[BrianFromWA]

So it's just unamerican for you JE, rather than racist and unamerican? Or that only what goes on from opening tip to final buzzer is considered "workplace"?

 

[Tince]

What business has a dress code when you're not working? It's absolutely racist. It was done because Stern didn't like NBA players looking like black people off the court.

You see Outlaw in HCP's avatar. He'd be fined for dressing like that before or after a game.

When I show up to my work I'm expected to be wearing a shirt and tie. Anytime I could be seen by customers at the workplace, the expectation is the same. You do realize that NBA players are "working" when they are at the arena or answering questions at a press conference, don't you?

 

[JE]

So it's just unamerican for you JE, rather than racist and unamerican?

Missed the un-American comment.

Or that only what goes on from opening tip to final buzzer is considered "workplace"?

I think so. That's where they earn their paychecks, right?

 

[noknobs]

Minus the racial stuff, I'm with KME. I think a dress code for a basketball team is absolute shit. This isn't a bank, this isn't the military. These guys should be able to wear what they want, within reason. Obviously a hoodie with 'FUCK BITCHES' on the front would be over the top.

If wearing nice clothes to an arena is asking too much for a 20 million/year contract, I guess they can go work at McDonalds. Oh shit, they have to wear uniforms there too...

 

[Tince]

I think so. That's where they earn their paychecks, right?

Bonzi Wells and a lot of other NBA players wish this were true. Getting along with your coach, teammates, and media, along with interacting with the fans and representing the franchise well are all key elements in how much a player makes.

 

[blue32]

I have to agree with Brian from WA.

NBA players work alot more than just what you see on TV; thus they are required to wear business casual, which in my eyes are slacks, nice button up, nice shoes, and no hats.
You see it all the time in the workplace, but some of the younger guys around here probably don't work in, or around corporations to understand.

 

[JE]

If wearing nice clothes to an arena is asking too much for a 20 million/year contract, I guess they can go work at McDonalds. Oh shit, they have to wear uniforms there too...

The workplace is the court. Whether its 'too much' for one of these guys to wear a suit while at a press conference is completely irrelevant. Using the 'but they make so much money!' argument is ridiculous.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think so. That's where they earn their paychecks, right?

The time they enter the workplace (arena) until the time they leave the workplace seems well within Stern's purview to regulate.

 

[alex42083]

Hell, they even make high schoolers dress up in a collared shirt and nice pants to schools on game days. These guys get paid millions and should look professional. I see nothing wrong with it. It's Stern's product. He's the boss and can enforce a dress code if he wants.

 

[JE]

I have to agree with Brian from WA.

NBA players work alot more than just what you see on TV; thus they are required to wear business casual, which in my eyes are slacks, nice button up, nice shoes, and no hats.

Do teams negotiate contracts and fill out their rosters based on who looks the best in the press room?

 

[Karl Malone's Elbows]

karl- are you dense?

they can wear whatever they want when they're not working. at home, shopping, at the movies whatever.

when they enter an arena or do a press conference, they're working. work isnt just 4 quarters of hoops.

Do players get paid to walk into the arena? No. They get paid to play ball. Unless you are claiming that NBA players are actors and their entry into the arena is some kind of play, then the NBA has no business telling them they have to spend hundreds of thousands of their own money (which they are not reimbursed for) on high end clothing that David Stern likely gets a kick back on.

 

[JE]

The time they enter the workplace (arena) until the time they leave the workplace seems well within Stern's purview to regulate.

The workplace is the court, that's where they earn their paycheck.

 

[number 10]

This might be a first, but I agree with Karl Malone's Elbows. Stern is afraid that NBA players will dress like "gangsta thugs," scaring off the NBA's ridiculously white upper middle class fan base.

 

[Further]

I work in a lab, so I don't have any typical dress codes, but I have to wear masks, goggles, lab coat, etc. when I work with certain substances. But, when ever there is a speaker or symposium that I am going to attend, I, and everyone there, dresses in business casual. All races, all nationalities. But there is no code dictating specific attire. In the NBA, there would not have been required attire if the players used common sense to dress appropriately when interacting with cameras/press. The NBA has an image it needs to tend to in order to generate money. If the players are not going to do it on their own, it was the responsibility of Stern to impose a dress code in order to protect all the NBA stakeholders.

 

[Karl Malone's Elbows]

When I show up to my work I'm expected to be wearing a shirt and tie. Anytime I could be seen by customers at the workplace, the expectation is the same. You do realize that NBA players are "working" when they are at the arena or answering questions at a press conference, don't you?

comparing your job to that of an NBA players.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Personally I disagree JE, though if that's your take I understand your opinion better.

Their "Paycheck" is earned from their contract, which is with a team and under the provisions of the CBA. Stern has purview over arena operations (playing music during game play, court decals, ticket levies, etc.). He also has purview over media relations (fining people for talking about refereeing, etc.). He also has purview over abilities of referees to do as they wish off the court (no gambling, etc.). Having purview of the players' actions during the time they're at the arena is neither unamerican or racist, and IMO is in keeping with many corporate environments.