Workers of the world unite! Our NBA brethren are being oppressed. Let's join them in opposing the tyranny of David Stern...
In case you haven't heard, the NBA has adopted a "business casual" dress code for all players. Starting on November 1st, sport coats and collared shirts will be rule of the day. Chains or medallions worn over clothing will not be permitted. Ditto for sunglasses or headphones worn indoors. The new code will be in effect when the players "are engaged in team or league business."
In other words, if Allen Iverson is injured, but sits on the Sixers' bench during the game, don't expect to see him wearing a throwback jersey. But he will be wearing a frown. The fashion police have spoken, and dammit, Iverson isn't happy!
"I feel if they want us to dress a certain way, they should pay for our clothes," Iverson, the King of Bling, said yesterday. "It's just tough, man, just knowing that all of a sudden, you have to have a dress code out of nowhere."
Are you kidding me? Is he really this out of touch? A multi-millionaire wants the NBA to purchase his wardrobe? This rich prick doesn't have enough scratch to buy a sport coat? Well, I'm sure he could find some good sales at Men's Warehouse if he's hard up for cash.
The next time one of our local journalists points to how mature the now 30 year-old Iverson is, I hope someone reminds them of A.I.'s desire to have the NBA foot the bill for his clothing expenses.
"And, actually, I don't think it's good for the league," Iverson continued, "because it kind of makes it fake; the whole thing is fake. You've got all these guys with these personalities and different games: Tracy McGrady is different from Kobe Bryant. Kevin Garnett is different from Tim Duncan. I'm different from those guys, and that's what makes the league what it is. Everyone has their own personality; everyone has their own style, and I just think it's unfair when you take that away from people."
Waaaaaaaaaa, it's unfair! Are these the arguments of a child? He sounds like an 8 year old throwing a tantrum. Welcome to the real world, Allen. I have a different personality from my co-workers, but my company instituted a dress code, and everyone abides by it - and I'm mature enough to know that following a regulated dress code doesn't detract from my sense of self. Apparently, Allen still clings to the childish notion that his wardrobe defines who he is as a person.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Bob Zany said that David Stern wants all the NBA players to look like they're on Court TV.
2 - Matt
Ha! That's funny.
3 - Mark Sahm
The Tim Duncan comments on this issue were pretty funny too. And that guy needs some fashion tips!
4 - Temple Stark
Is David Srtern really their employer? Who pays the salary?
It's an odd thing to enforce or start, really and I'll ponder it a little more. But if I was being paid millions, this is a small price to pay.
- Temple
5 - Sterfish
The dress code to me is less about being a dress code and more about a complete makeover of the image of the NBA. Even though most viewers will only see an NBA player out of uniform in their arrivals before a game and in sound bites after a game, apparently the NBA feels that those few seconds of us seeing a basketball player with headphones on his head are detrimental. Frankly, I could care less about what an athlete wears when he isn't on the court whether it's dressy, comfortable, or casual.
One thing I have to wonder about is what the fine will be for breaking the code. If it's only a couple thousand each time, you might see some players eat the costs in order to dress how they like.
6 - Nancy
I think the point of this is the bad example the players are setting kids. If the NBA thinks cleaning up these guys' images will help (and oddly, studies show that kids who are required to wear uniforms to school do better, have less disciplinary problems, & have a better success rate after graduating) then what could it hurt? And as pointed out above, these guys are getting paid enough that being "forced" to wear halfway adult/decent looking clothes instead of looking like a slum pimp or a jailhouse convict isn't exactly a hardship for them.
7 - Guppusmaximus
AMEN!! If I have to wear a uniform and I get paid shit, then these motherf*ckers should have to as well. You would think that when you have money like the NBA stars have then you would want to dress nice... But, I guess A.I.'s personality was a thug before the NBA so why change it?? Just keep looking like a f*cking slob you overpaid asshole!! I'm suprised he didn't make it a "Black Thang"....Oh, yeah, that's right... The whiteies have to abide by the same thing. Now, he can only revert back to an 8 year old to make his point...LOL!!
8 - kimie
Let me say this Allen Iverson is so right, it really should'nt matter what they wear when their at a nba event. if you going to an ass hole your still going to be one in a suit. for the person who said A.I. is a asshole is really trippin. i agree with A.I 100 percent. go sixers
9 - shaundior
I agree with A.I. Saying that Iverson is being childish because he doesn't want to dress up, is childish. When was the last time you heard of Iverson or any other player on the sideline distracting someone? Must be hidden because i've never heard it. And to be real, I like looking at Iverson w/ the flashy chains on. It shows his personality. It should just stayed how it was and let it be.
10 - Johnson
You're Right. David Stern does not pay their salary and is NOT their employer. It's the guys that own the NBA franchises. They paid for the arena,the player's contracts and they're the reason why this league is up on its feet. If anybody should decide the dress code, it should be them. David Stern has the nerve to fine guy's like Mark Cuban for criticizing a ref when Cuban is one of the guy's that put Stern in office. Can you imagine that? An employer fining his boss. Stern is lucky that the owner's didn't group together and thrown his ass into the trash heap.