New NBA Dress Code a Sign of Things to Come?

Brad Bowers · Oct 20, 2005

Has the pendulum swung even closer our way? With the NBA's new dress code set to take effect 1 November, it seems like it. Here we have major sports league demanding their trend-setting players to dress better or leave the NBA.

I don't follow basketball, but the story intrigued me. Basically, anyone on team or league business has to be appropriately dressed in so-called "business casual," with tucked-in shirts, dress jeans or better, and a required blazer. No t-shirts, baggy pants, etc. Some are calling the dress code racist, in that gold chains must be worn under the shirt. Some say the motivation comes from trying to cater to the wealthier fans who can actually afford tickets to the games, instead of people of street culture.

Regardless of the motivation, I think it's a gutsy and most welcome move on the part of the NBA, and it would be nice to see the NFL and other sports leagues follow suit (pun intended). Sports figures and other entertainers are the ones who seem to have the most influence on the youth of America, so this could be a good thing.

So, is this signalling a return to a more formal (though, not as formal as we would have it) manner of attire? Have people finally had enough of slobbery? Will this lead to an increase in civility?

Are you for this new dress code, or do you think it's too draconian?

Brad

jake431 · Oct 20, 2005

Brad Bowers said:
Has the pendulum swung even closer our way? With the NBA's new dress code set to take effect 1 November, it seems like it. Here we have major sports league demanding their trend-setting players to dress better or leave the NBA.

I don't follow basketball, but the story intrigued me. Basically, anyone on team or league business has to be appropriately dressed in so-called "business casual," with tucked-in shirts, dress jeans or better, and a required blazer. No t-shirts, baggy pants, etc. Some are calling the dress code racist, in that gold chains must be worn under the shirt. Some say the motivation comes from trying to cater to the wealthier fans who can actually afford tickets to the games, instead of people of street culture.

Regardless of the motivation, I think it's a gutsy and most welcome move on the part of the NBA, and it would be nice to see the NFL and other sports leagues follow suit (pun intended). Sports figures and other entertainers are the ones who seem to have the most influence on the youth of America, so this could be a good thing.

So, is this signalling a return to a more formal (though, not as formal as we would have it) manner of attire? Have people finally had enough of slobbery? Will this lead to an increase in civility?

Are you for this new dress code, or do you think it's too draconian?

Brad

I think when you are getting paid a kings ransom to play a children's game for a job, if they want you to wear a suit or nice clothes when you are doing job-related functions, there shouldn't even be a debate as to whether it's acceptable. Bravo!

-Jake

photobyalan · Oct 20, 2005

I agree, it's a welcome change. However, I doubt the players in general will set a good example by embracing the dress code, rather, many will grouse and complain and try to test the limits of the NBA's patience. I also doubt it will teach them how to play team basketball.

jamespowers · Oct 21, 2005

It is a good starting point though and think about it in the job sense. If you work for a business, they tell you right up front how you need to look when you show up for work. When you work in my office and show up for work in shorts and a T-shirt, guess what? I am going to send you home to get appropriately dressed to represent my firm to the public. When you leave or are on your own time then you can dress like a slob. I see no difference here. Just ask the people that work for McDonalds or any of the fast food chains. They can enforce a dress code if they want to. :hamburger
Its not going to kill them to sit on the sidelines looking business casual.

Regards to all,

J

gobler · Oct 21, 2005

My thoughts are Would they (NBA) really have the "basket"balls

to boot some one like Kobi out? I don't think so. Great idea and I fully support it. I hope more public sports teams do the same.

Cheers,
Jeff

Sefton · Oct 21, 2005

Since the players are role models it might be interesting to see what impact (if any) the professional attire may have on youth. Not going to hold me breath on that but.. who knows?

Biltmore Bob · Oct 21, 2005

I saw the Astros get off the buss when they returned to Houston. While not dressed in suit and ties, they were very nicely attired. They all suit jackets and dress trousers and what appeared to be some sort of 'dress' tee shirt. All had dress shoes.

I know they are not Baset Bawl players, but they are still sports figures.

farnham54 · Oct 21, 2005

Hockey players have had it right for years, guys

(OF course the Canuck throws THIS in the pot).

Most anytime you see a hockey team debarking from a bus/plane whatever, they will be very nicely attired. And it's NOT in their contract, either, they do it out of respect for how they look. When your missing so many teeth and are so scarred in the face, you have to compensate somehow

Cheers
Craig

Renderking Fisk · Oct 21, 2005

My greatest Pet Peeve is seeing people who can afford to dress properly wear attire that's fitting for a vagrant or common nightwalker. Case in point: Britney Spears?¢‚Ç¨¬¶ while at 8 or 9 months pregnant she still dressed as if she was a high-end call girl.

Another case-in-point: Marshall Mathers (Ails ?¢‚Ç¨?ìEmenem,?¢‚Ç¨? ails ?¢‚Ç¨?ìSlim Shaddy?¢‚Ç¨¬¶?¢‚Ç¨?)

You would think that with the world at our fingertips with access to any article of clothes from anywhere on the globe people would be dressed better. Since when has it been a sign of status to dress like a thug in an Adidas warm up suit?

photobyalan · Oct 21, 2005

Renderking Fisk said:
Case in point: Britney Spears?¢‚Ç¨¬¶ while at 8 or 9 months pregnant she still dressed as if she was a high-end call girl.

I object! High-end call girls dress MUCH classier than B.S. ever has. She dresses like a common streetwalker.

Sefton · Oct 22, 2005

Renderking Fisk said:
Since when has it been a sign of status to dress like a thug in an Adidas warm up suit?

Since about the last 15 years unfortunately...

And how about finishing your look with some diamond encrusted gold front teeth. [huh]

Angelicious · Oct 22, 2005

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would pass this on to the English soccer team?

Especially that awful Beckham boy. (If he wants to wear lavalavas and makeup on his off-hours, more power to him. But when he's wearing team colours, it looks more like attention-grabbing than a fashion statement. He should be representing his country at that time, not his sponsorship contract with some overpriced couture palace.)

Thankfully, NZ rugby & cricket have a dress code that "suggests" players dress well. In fact, I think that when on tour, etc., they are required to wear a team tracksuit, and not mufti.

Solid Citizen · Oct 27, 2005

Its been said that the head of the NBA in regards to fashion wouldn't know the difference between Snoop Dog or Deputy Dawg! Peter :rage:

Feraud · Oct 31, 2005

I appreciate the effort the direction the NBA is taking.
Spoiled children become spoiled adults because their parents do not do the right thing. The NBA has let players do their own thing long enough. The players should dress like they are professional athletes, not schoolyard kids. Appealing to the lowest common denominator should not be an NBA goal.

I just read an article about the new dress code and was truly offended. Someone had the audacity to say that enforcing a dress code of "slacks and a blazer" is racist! Is this "white man's clothing"!? What a thing to say. The person tried to justify this statement by saying that white people in surburbia(is the the only place we live?) are afraid of the African American "style"!!

What the person who made the quote is missing is that white kids in surburbia, far from being "afraid" of this look, love it!! What is racist is our continual portrayal of African Americans as one dimensional beings. Letting athletes dress like silly stereotypes is what is wrong with this policy.

jamespowers · Oct 31, 2005

Feraud said:
I just read an article about the new dress code and was truly offended. Someone had the audacity to say that enforcing a dress code of "slacks and a blazer" is racist! Is this "white man's clothing"!? What a thing to say. The person tried to justify this statement by saying that white people in surburbia(is the the only place we live?) are afraid of the African American "style"!!

Even more ridiculous is that anyone who has attended a Sunday service at a church knows well that they can dress better than white people in suburbia. It is not just a white thing to want to dress nice. I'm sure you can find some nice clothing in some of those closets. Whether they want to wear it or not is something else. Then again they would probably say that my remarks are racist because those are just people "dressing white."

Regards to all,

J

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