Off the collar ...

An inside look at sports with R & H

Nathan Rode / Sports Editor

Justin Hite / Assistant Sports Editor

The NBA recently adopted a dress code for players when they are not in game uniform. Many players object to this new policy saying it is racist and unnecessary. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs even went far enough to say "It's basically retarded." We think differently.

R: My basketball experience is limited to the 7th and 8th grade team but even then we wore a shirt, dress pants and tie to school and on the bus for away games. If 12 and 13-year-olds can dress nicely without complaining then so can so-called grown men. If I'm the owner or general manager of a professional team then you WILL wear presentable clothes when representing me. These players are paid millions of dollars. The least they can do is follow a simple policy. Also, to say that such a policy is racist is a desperate attempt at defending simple ignorance. Play the game, present yourself with professionalism and no one gets hurt.

H: I haven't played basketball since I could spell the word basketball, but that doesn't mean that I don't know the meaning of a job. The phrase "professional athlete" begins with the word professional, not gangsta. This is their job and in the real world people can dress up for their work week. The white collar workers of America who are required to wear dress shirts and ties are being slapped in the face by the NBA stars. Professional basketball players, for some reason, feel that they are better than your average joe. I know that on casual Fridays I will never show up to my job in baggy sweatpants , a hooded sweatshirt and "bling" that hangs down to my belt. Look at players like Shaq and LeBron James. They wear suits and ties every gameday and actually look professional. I will never forget when Michael Jordan walked on the stage of the ESPYs in a platinum suit. But now NBA players have changed. Allen Iverson even had the audacity to say the NBA should pay them more if they want them to wear suits and ties. I'm sure NBA players can afford to drop even $10,000 on a nice suit. In the words of Tim Duncan, any NBA player who isn't willing to wear a suit is "basically retarded."

Topic submitted by: Raphael Garcia, senior

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