I caught this on espn.com and I could not stop laughing (Raja Bell talking about the NBA Dress Code). http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2194537 "I understand they're making it out to make us look better to corporate and big business. But we don't really sell to big business," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "We sell to kids and people who are into the NBA hip-hop world. They may be marketing to the wrong people with this." I can't wait to go the Ms. Johnson's 5th Grade Class Arena instead of the Toyota Center. Is this guy serious.
It may be inaccurate, but I don't think it is quite as dumb as it sounds. It'd be next to impossible to trace back revenues to population segments, but including tv and merchandising, he may be somewhat right. Plus, yes almost the whole lower bowl is corporate types, but how many of those are snooty corporate types who care what the players wear? Well...clearly the man isn't a marketing major, though.
Sorry, but that statement is the theory of relativity compared to Marcus Camby's request for a stipend to pay for clothes to meet the dress code...
I see his point to a certain extent... You dont neccessarily have to market to big corporations, they are there for the money. The kids, the "homies", the fans are the ones all going out buying caps, jerseys, and the other merchandise. As long as they still have the fans, there will be money to make by the big corps.
I agree. That was the absolute dumbest thing anyone has said on the topic. Do you know how much a lawyer's firm would laugh at him if he billed the practice for his suits? Of course, Camby probably wants the stipend 'cause all the time he spends on the injured list would probably give him a bananas dry cleaning bill.
He is mostly right in regards to corporations vs. fans. The corporations are there for marketing - marketing exists only if there are "everyday fans". You go appeal to the everyday fans, and the advertising and corporate sponsorship will be there, whatever the image may be. You appeal to corporations and lose your everyday fans, and the corporations will leave too. Corporate types don't care about the "hiphopness" of the game. Look at Nike ads, for example - they completely market to that target audience. What the NBA is really doing, whether intentional or not, is trying to appeal to the average suburban white mom and dad - a populace they've been losing as they go more hip-hop and appeal to youth. The corporate aspect has nothing to do with it.
I didn't think what he said was dumb. Corporations go wherever there is money. The kids aren't just buying AI jerseys because he's a great ball player, they're buying the fact that he's a rebellious guy that's part of the hip hop culture. Obviously, corporations and the average fan doesn't like to see Ron Artest flying into the stands, but the youth that buys jerseys, merchandise and drags their parents to the games are into the styles of the players. NBA attendance was reportedly at an all-time last year. The biggest artists in music now are hip hop artists. McDonald's, Microsoft, etc. all are willing to put money into that culture because that's where the kids spend money.
Season tickets and naming rights are just two parts the NBA marketing equation. Raja Bell is right when it comes to merchandise.
What Raja Bell said actually the most insightful opinion I have seen from any player or NBA official. His objection to the dress code doesn't stem from his unwillingness to wear those clothes, but rather what he perceives to be a negative impact on the NBA's abilty to generate revenue. GOAT, instead of posting about your laughing habits, post an opinion. Raja bell had an opinion and you didn't. If I had to pick a dumb person in this thread, it wouldn't be Raja Bell
agreed. how is this a dumb comment? players sign contracts to sell shoes/caps/shirts/etc to young urban kids. i mean, they make extra cash with these contracts to sport those kind of clothes... they get zero extra cash from the nba to wear a suit and a tie.
Nah, his argument doesn't make any sense. I don't see pool saleswomen dressed in bikinis. And what if you were a telephone repairman? Would you have to throw on a suit when you worked in an office building, but then you could change into jeans when you went to a residential customer? It doesn't matter who you think you're marketing to. In the real world you either have to wear a uniform or comply to some corporate dress code. The dress code isn't tailored to you're immediate market, per se. It's a way for the company to show some professionalism and a little class.
I thought it would be obvious to most people how ridiculous his comments were, but for you folks that don’t understand, let me lay it out for you. Bottom line, big business is most valued cash cow to the NBA and its owners. TV contracts, arena naming rights, luxury suit sales, commercials, courtside seats, etc are what drive NBA profits. While the hip hop world and kids do influence executives, by in large they are not who is spending the most money on the NBA. While I am almost sure the NBA is making more money today than it was back in the glory days of MJ, Larry and Magic, it would like to get back to that more “professional image”. An image that would probably make them more profitable today. MJ went to games in suits, carried himself in a very professional manner, and nearly all of America, Hip hop or not, could identify with him. The same cannot be said for the Allen Iverson’s of the world. Why not try to capture a larger more profitable market instead of appealing to one segment. Kids and Hip Hop folk didn’t turn the other cheek with Magic because he wore suits instead of Sean Jean or Fubu. And let me say this, I’m a guy that loves rap, is a big fan of AI, and I have no problem with the way the player currently carry themselves. But why not try to tap that bigger, more profitable market that is outside of the hip hop world. There aren’t that many Jay-Z’s in the world, but there are a whole lot more Donald Trump types. And besides, what idiot would not want to market to big business. That is what make Raja Bell borderline r****ded.
I am on the players side with this one. Im all for them looking presentable and such but these guys aren't kids in a private school. AI is thirty years old he doesnt need to be told how to dress. He is who he is. Sterns idiotic comment about "im sure the guys have the resources to afford it" Has to make him the dumbest person in this arguement. Of course they have the money. They make more money by doing there thing by influencing the kids and the fans. Its not like Starbucks is going to come down and cut LeBron James a check because they like his attire. Alot of these guys have there own market of clothing. Why does Stern's opinion of there wardrobe, style, or culture make it right to try to change these guys.
the t.v. execs aren't handing out t.v. contracts for themselves, so no you are not marketing to them. you are marketing to the people who will be watching. watch a t.v. commercial during an NBA, you have commercials geared towards kids and "hip hop" audience and you have commercials geared towards working adults, insurances, financial services, and you have commercials geared towards everyone in between. do you really think more people watched the NBA because Jordan wore a suit. That's just flat out stupidity. People watched Magic Jordan and Bird because they're three of the greatest ever, and they played an appealing brand of BBall. I suspect most people who are turned off by Iverson are turned off by 50 shots a game at 40%. That's why I don't watch many of his games, I don't give damn what he is wearing.
It is Raja Bells "perception" that makes his comments ridiculous. He is part of a multi-billion dollar industry and he thinks trying to appeal to big business will have a negative impact on the NBA's ability to generate revenue. And as far as dumb people go, you may want to take a look into this.
