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notorious jtb touched up on it, but you knew that there was more to be said.
Most may avoid this topic, but it cannot be ducked from when there was a press release about it.
You may sit on one side of the fence or another, but how does it really affect you?

I'm about to hold this down in the words of my brother, "like a fat lady on a see-saw".

I cannot remember such a non-issue becoming such an issue in the sports world since... well, screw it. There are many things in the sports world that have been ballyhooed and hyped beyond measure. The Annual Joe Torre Watch brought to you by our fine friends in Bristol, CT. as a prime example. And there are things that aren't talked about enough in sports. As in how the White Sox are actually a damn good baseball team. Yet, we are at a crossroads where we are left with no choice but to keep this in the news.

David Stern and the NBA Commissioner's Office has imposed a universal dress code for all players that participate in league play beginning November 1, the start of the season. Thoughts have been that this dress code will enhance the overall image of the NBA, its teams and staff and the players that represent the league. This will combat the "thug", "hip-hop" image that the league has to many consumers.

Fine...

Before discussing this at length, let me say this. It has been said that during the labor negotiations at the end of last season, this was something that had been brought up at one of those meetings. No matter if one agrees or disagrees with the policy, this has turned out to be true. Yet, if anyone paid slight attention to the NHL negotiations that went on to create a new CBA, many players apparently were ill-informed of several specific details that went into the new CBA. Much of this could play into the ice of union team rep Trevor Linden or former union head Bob Goodenow, but nonetheless, it's how union negotiations tend to work no matter if it's sports, airliners or welders. Those who are happy to reach a deal care so much about just having a deal that keeps them working that many of the seemingly small tweaks are just accepted, if at all mentioned to the general populus.

That being said, I have a huge issue with the dress code. Though it sounds as if it is repetitive, there are some things to truly consider.

Take for instance the method that this became known. Why did Stern decide to send a memo to the media instead of keep this in-house? When I say in-house, I don't mean have a seat with each player like this is rookie introductions. Yet as some teams such as Portland and New York already have dress codes that were done internally with league approval. Ah, internally as it was normal business. This did not have to be done with such attention, but quitely and something that the media would have taken notice of without the sting that exists right now.

Continue with the thought that this is to combat the "hip-hop" image that the NBA has taken hold of. Allen Iverson, possibly the qunisessential player of this NBA generation, has been defiant of this policy. Stephen Jackson calls the note regarding jewelry a racist statement. Ho hum, right? But Tim Duncan, who did not play in Tuesday's preseason game against Indiana, wore an untucked shirt and baggy jeans that could result in a fine in a couple of weeks. Yes, even the Quiet One disappoves. This image problem is not the fault of these players. In fact, these players have done nothing but enhance the image of the NBA around the world, and dare I say, in this country.When Larry O' Brien served as commissoner from 1975-1984, he took over a league that was blacked-out and tape delayed because of the fights and brawls of the teams, the much-discussed drug use of players and the uneasy transistion from a predominantly white league to a predominantly black league. Even if this code came about during those years, there may not be such a backlash because the league's image was terrible. To O'Brien and Stern's credit, they were the captains of a ship setting a new course thanks to the influx of talent, the promotional innovation of owners like Jerry Buss and finally, legal and business knowhow. After "The Brawl" last November, the public truly got to witness the wrath of David J. Stern. It seems as if he has been responding to that ever since. The image is poor, so said by detractors and analysts. Yet, did the league lose its grip in the sports world? Not at all. Did the NBA lose its core fan? Nope. Did these proverbial ratings drop because of the brawl or because Steve Nash was anti-war or because there happens to be a couple of shady characters? Not the ratings that matter (local ratings that is). This image of the NBA that's so bad was the first to shine nearly two months ago after Hurricane Katrina washed away the Gulf Coast. Who broke down thinking of this tragedy? Stephon Marbury. Who put together Kobe, KG, T-Mac, Marbury, JO and other star players for a charity game for the victims? Kenny Smith, a former player who gives a damn. Who reacted without question? The most charitable league there is, this very league with an image problem. So I wonder, what's this negative image that folks see? WHO sees this image is an even more stirring question.

Well, here's an answer to who. This post was inspired by a SportsNation poll that actually showed something that is disturbing about us. If you take this poll, you should pay particular attention to Questions 4, 10 and 11. As of 4:22 PM, 58.7% approved of the dress code (Question 4), however 55.1% felt that the other major leagues here in the States should not have a need for such a code (Question 10). Sounds a little funny to you? Even with question 11, we come in different styles to our own professions and schools. Think about this.

I think there should be a dress code on most people's fashion sense, but since we are free to look as GQ as Kevin Garnett does in that photo or as fashionably-questionable as Kanye West (yeah, I said it) or the Queer Eye cast that is so "trendy", we should leave this be. This is their place of work, one might say. The players must have a professional demeanor like we everyday folks do. Okay, well, let's think about that for a moment. If Kenyon Martin can't show up to the Pepsi Center in a Chinchilla and a Gaye Sayers throwback, then you shouldn't show up in that type of attire either. You should wear elegant gala as if you are going to Carnegie Hall. Why? Because if you showed up to a meeting at a client's office dress abnormally to the rest of the people there, then you'll be frowned upon for your lack of attention and proper attire. When you attend a game, you are in the player's office. You can feel entitled to all you want because you think you're paying the players' salaries (by the way, that's far from true), but you are still in the office of these athletes. So there can still be scantly-clad 18-year old girls roaming around the tunnel trying to get a player's attention at game's end, but he can't wear a Jesus-piece over his sweater that professes his faith (and shines like the Pearly Gates)? Come on.

As a member of the press, I can speak a little further on why I dislike the dress code. In my short time as a freelance sportswriter, I've seen the writers looking like accountants and looking like Toxic Crusaders. I've switched up often from slacks and a dress shirt to dark jeans and a dress shirt to a sweater and slacks, so long as they were presentable to those that I may make an impression on. Each sporting event I have attended does not make known of an uniform dress code for the writers. Writers have slacked up just as much as the players over the years. Back when the journalists entered sports, it used to be that all of the writers looked more like the Untouchables than now. Slowly, as business casual entered the American workplace, the styles varied. I've seen the fat slob guy writer and I've seen the woman in Levis. Look for the press box at your next live event and you will see that we writers should borrow the player's wardrobe. Remember, we are the ones that are telling you about the game. We are the ones that shape the image of the game. Why should we not be held to a similar standard in order to serve that purpose?

Hey, I don't like much of the clothing that many people wear. I like my hats kept to team colors only. I prefer real throwbacks to these so-called throwbacks most cats wear. I sometimes wear the chain my mother gave me over my shirts, sometimes tucked in. I can't stand pink or lavender on men OR women. Yet, it does not mean that they fit this negative image that David Stern works to avoid. It doesn't always fit any stereotype that we (including myself) may have about players or just plain folks. But beyond the racial waters that we are shoulder-deep in, we need to think about the business side as well. Stern may want to listen to Suns guard Raja Bell: "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. We sell to kids and people who are into the NBA hip-hop world. They may be marketing to the wrong people with this." *

Damn right.

Say What?!?!: For those who don't think that the NFL should impose its own code, think about how the league denied 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan permission to wear a suit when coaching in an actual game as his father, Dick Nolan did or Tom Landry or the late Hank Stram? Why? Because of the league's exclusive contract with Reebok requires all personnel to wear teamwear created by Reebok. So, as my brother thought, what if the players actually showed up in their uniforms, ready to go to work as their football bretheren? What could Stern do? He'd promote the league, the equipment provider and the team all at once? What, Carmelo Anthony is going to rob me because he's flossing HIS OWN JERSEY?!?! And how can that be fined if he's ready to play?