Our
View: NBA should enforce appropriate
dress code
Individuality is expressed through what people wear, but self-expression is not
confined to appearance. It is also shown through character
and personality.
Some professional basketball players have been stigmatized as flamboyant and
unprofessional because of their appearance. Dennis Rodman is well-known for his
on and off the court antics, but also for his crazy hair, numerous tattoos and
piercings.
The National Basketball Association is cracking down on its dress code for players
on all teams. The policy makes business casual attire mandatory for all business
interactions. Players must dress professionally while on league business and
players on the bench need to wear a sportcoat. Jeans, shorts and sandals are
not permitted when any player or coach is doing business within the NBA or on
behalf of the organization.
The dress code also forbids chains, headphones and sunglasses to be worn on the
floor. Coaches and trainers must also wear professional attire during games and
during team business.
Referees must come to the game in at least a sportcoat and dress shirt. The NBA
is trying to project an image of professionalism in the league from the coaches
all the way to the players.
With the implementation of dress codes, conflicts of freedom of expression arise.
In general, professionals are held to a higher standard because of the label.
A corporate professional is expected to abide by a dress code, most likely a
sportcoat, shirt and tie.
Why
not enforce a dress code in the NBA where
millions of people look to players and
coaches as role models and important
figures? NBA players display themselves
on television for fans and viewers and
should have an acceptable appearance.
All players should look uniform because
they play as a team. Therefore, they
should look like a team.
As
a professional anything, there should
be a higher standard.
When making a couple million dollars a year, people should not complain about
wearing business casual when conducting business. Players are whining that
the “race card” is being pulled on them, but this is not true.
Players believe it is their choice to wear what they want and a dress codes
inhibits that freedom.
Executives and managers in the NBA have a business to run. Who can blame them
if they want to do it in a professional way? How can someone take a player
seriously if they walk into a conference or business transaction with cut-off
jeans and a head bandana?
The NBA is trying to change its image – this is a good thing. The image
is about having respect for the profession and the career. To be considered
a professional, there has to be a higher standard because not everyone is considered
a professional.
There should be guidelines on how to carry and conduct themselves. Players
have a responsibility to their employer and their fans. Just like any job,
executives want to make money and increase business and they believe a clean-cut
and professional image will do just that.
The players’ concern is really laziness, not individuality. It takes
more effort to look professional and when it comes down to it, they are just
downright spoiled. Wearing a suit to maintain an image of professionalism is
not too much to ask.
If they can slam dunk for the game-winning point, they ought to be able to
slam dunk a respectable image.
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