Players can afford to follow ‘professional’ dress code
Published 6:00 am Monday, November 7, 2005
As the curtain comes up on the new National BasketballAssociation season, the brouhaha over the league’s new dress codeappears to be much ado about nothing.
While a few may have skirted the rules, the vast majority ofplayers have complied with the new code that calls for businesscasual attire as they arrive for games and when involved in team orleague business. There are some exceptions for other times, such aswhen players may be participating in basketball clinics.
Gone are sleeveless shirts; shorts; jerseys; headphones andsimilar gear and sunglasses indoors. Also banned are chains,pendants and medallions, which are often collectively referred toas “bling”.
Seldom are any of those items associated with a multi-billiondollar a year industry, which is what the NBA is – thus the reasonfor the new dress code and a desire by Commissioner David Stern topromote a more “professional” image of the league. While there hasbeen some controversy over the new dress code, Stern is to becommended for his efforts.
Moreover, many businesses have dress codes for employees tofollow when working or on the premises. Despite the protestationsof some players, professional sports should be no different.
One of the most ridiculous suggestions about the dress code camefrom Denver Nuggets’ star Marcus Camby, who said players should begiven a clothing allowance if they are expected to follow the dresscode. Basketball players and other athletes make millions ofdollars a year for playing a game.
They can certainly afford a few dollars to look a little moreprofessional and presentable. And fans don’t have to be blinded bybling when players head to the court.