Dress Code Debate II (Need your quotes please)

I don't think this was about Stern trying to keep from losing an existing audience, but rather, trying to appeal to a newer audience (i.e. bring in more fans/revenue for the league).

 

Grown balls? Not even close. I don't think it's hard speak the mind of the majority. What would take real balls is to say "you know what? We have it very good. This is something we should not complain about." and face being ostracized by your peers.

I don't have contempt for all players, just the spoiled brats. I can admire someones abilty without liking their shallowness has a person. I'm not into sports btw, just Houston sports teams.

Players like Hakeem were above this.

 

Interesting post.

Its easy to listen to Iverson, Duncan and a few other big name players voice their concerns, but personally, I would be that most of the players have little problem with this.

 

You should also recognize that the players aren't holding news conferences about this. They are being asked direct questions, and giving their opinions. The juiciest ones get published.

"what do you think about this new policy"
"it sucks"

Does that make them whiney?

 

Good thing the NBA didn't force them to get a cell phone.

 

The ironic thing about the fact that they are clearly targeting young black male hip hop culture is that, according to the odds provided by the thread starter, a white guy has the highest probability of being the first to violate them.

but yeah, I definitely agree they're trying to tone down the hip hop image that has taken over the NBA. I don't know that I like that either, but I do recognize that it does alienate a large percentage of the market the NBA wants to attract. It's certainly a business dilemma. I don't know if you guys have taken a look around the lower bowls of most arenas, where the season ticket holders prevail, but it is NOT predominantly hip hop. It's mostly business men. I don't think this is necessarily racist either. In most sports we've always rooted for the athlete or team we identify with. If an American boxer (Rocky) is fighting a russian, we root for the American right? Is that because we hate Russians or because we identify with Rocky? The same can be said for why most people cheer on a team. Why do I love the Houston Rockets? Because I grew up a Houstonian! I recognize them as a symbol of pride in our community. Why do fans from elsewhere support the Rockets? Perhaps they identify with Yao or McGrady for whatever reason, but that's what it often comes down to. If your target audience can't identify with/relate to your players, you're in trouble if you're David Stern. And unfortunately, much of the target audience of the NBA no longer relates to the majority of the players. That's a serious problem. So to reiterate, I'm not sure the problem is so much people disliking the image of the NBA right now so much as it is them not identifying with it/relating to it, and that's definitely something the NBA will have to address somehow. Their choices basically come down to either changing their image so that their market does identify with their players, or embracing the hip hop image and seeking a new audience. Only one problem with that - How many hip hop heads do you know that can afford season tickets?

p.s. I don't have a problem with them having the players wear suits at the games, but I think requiring them to wear that stuff while traveling at night is ridiculous.