The League Dress Code: Racist or just Good Business

Prop2 (originally posted November 11)

The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this. ~Mark Twain


The first time I heard about the possible dress code of the NBA during the summer, the first thing I said was, “About time.” Great for business, enough of these knuckle heads running around, missing practice and jumping into the stands attacking the fans. I don’t see any harm in a league that has a majority of Black men ditching the off-court jerseys, baggy jeans/sweat pants, and the all and all ‘hood outfit and following the lead of Mr. Shawn Carter, a crisp pair of slacks and button ups. Some people believe D Stern attempts to “clean-up,” is really an attempt to bleach a league becoming too “ethnic”. Others say the majority of these players barely finish high school and neglect further socialization that usually occurs in college; thus the dress code will assist in that process of learning how to conduct oneself as a professional. Let’s look a little deeper.

With players having kids to feed (like Mr. Sprewell), having issues with going to practice (after all, it’s just practice), attacking fans, coaches, and each other, I’m surprised Stern took so long. According to him, fans long for the good ole days of Jordan, Bird, Magic, and Isaiah. While games did turn physical, players always conducted themselves in a professional manner, attire and all. In addition, the league all ways had their bad guys, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Charles Barkley, and Greg Anthony to name a few. Even they found themselves in professional dress during and after their careers; it was time to grow up. Today, players behave as though they are going to play in the park. The National Basketball Association is a business, an institution. People and businesses are paying the salary of these players and, Surprise, the customers happen to resemble the power structure. So not only are the Allen Iversons affected but that goes for the Steve Nashs as well. If D Stern says the job description has changed, then you (the players) must follow suit (ha ha). If you refuse, then feel free to find another job that will pay a salary of over a million dollars and will not require a dress code.

Now for the power structure and their rules and regulations:

I seriously doubt people have a problem with players changing their attire from the hip-hop thug and dirty white boy look to official business attire. However, when you sit down and examine some of the proposed changes toward dress, it forces people to stop and think. Is it by coincidence some of the proposed changes effect the majority of the Black-American players? A couple of years ago, during All-Star weekend, D Stern welcomed the evening’s entertainment and told TNT how the NBA embraces the hip-hop culture. Mr. Stern soon discovered he embraced the good, the bad, and the ugly of hip-hop culture. In addition, there is an assumption, all Black players identify with hip-hop culture. Exactly what is being regulated and why? After last year’s brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, the world got a good glimpse of what the League wants to regulate, a big angry Black man from attacking a helpless white fan. In addition, to sex scandals and other questionable activity, D Stern hopes to, at least on the surface, polish the image of the NBA and its’ players. Does this change how the fans, the media views these players? Not At All!

When the clock hits triple zero, wearing a suit or anything else will not change anything. The presumption, “The clothes make the man,” and the rooted presumptions about Black people are at odds here, and who do you think is going to give?