In the scheme of things, it's much ado about nothing. David Stern knows what's best for the NBA. I think this was an issue not on cracking down because players were wearing dirty bib overalls, Birkenstocks, and ripped undershits to-and-fro. This was an issue of too many players dressing up like gangsta rappers (like Fiddy Cent), thus projecting an image that is counter-current with mainstream America, i.e. - the people that can truly buy things advertised during televised NBA games (even though young dudes in suburbia dress like that too). But it's like the saying, "You can dress him up, but you can't take him anywhere." Ron Artest is just as unstable in a 3-piece suit as he is wearing extra baggy jeans and a retro Mitchell and Ness tank top. I feel people who are in the public eye, like actors and musicians, should also consider how they dress. Britney Spears abominable dress is disgusting, and a bad influence to impressionable young girls. In general, people dress utterly horrible anymore. I remember boarding an airplane as a child in the early 1960s. All the men were in suits and the ladies in nice. dresses. Board an airplane today, and it's a freak show. I had a teenage girl sit next to me in pajamas. She smelled like she slept the night in them. How did I get from the NBA to yucky teens in jammies on airplanes?

(Dennis Rodman cringes)

Don't deny it. You're going to miss those shots of Shaq wandering around arenas in purple leisure suits and top-hats before games. I simply don't see the link between off-court dress and respect for the game. If you actually watch the game every once in a while, you know that respect for the game is something a player demonstrates on the floor. Anyone who tries to tell me that Allen Iverson doesn't care for the game of basketball because he showed up to the arena in sweats and a pair of Tims has never seen him play the game.

Hardly merits a sports story. . .everyone is making far too much a big deal out of this. NBA players whining about expression forget that their salaries are paid by those who pay over 200 dollars a seat and are tired of seeing players act with complete apathy and have no respect for themselves or the game. If those ticket-payers start to leave, the league suffers financially. The NBA is in a PR crisis- is a dress code the proper response? Perhaps yes or perhaps no- but it is clear that that in the most sucessful league (NFL) the aslyum isn't run by the prisoners. Wear the freakin' suit or pay stiff fines and suffer suspensions- there are 10 guys out in the street that can almost play as well as you do and will wear a potato sack if asked. . .

** Let me just reiterate, this policy is an abomination. It's as ridiculous as forcing golfers to wear fireman uniforms when traveling to and from PGA events. There's nothing "business casual" about the NBA. These are big, strong, tough men playing an extremely physical and demanding game. To force these guys to conform to an artificial corporate setting is bogus, and in my opinion, horrific marketing policy. You really think it's the corporate CFO who is buying the $65 AI or Ben Wallace jerseys? From what I know about AI, he's going to take a stand on principle on this one. As he says, "just because you put a guy in a tuxedo doesn't make him a good guy." I hate to see the loss of liberties and individuality in any setting. And this one reeks of something foul. And I won't comment on the review below, as you guys can read between the lines as well as I can. ** Ridiculous story, and awful policy. Part of the appeal of the NBA is the individuality of the players. I for one don't want to see Allen Iverson show up to a game in a suit. It would make me uncomfortable.

Believe me, I am rarely one to support dress codes (but I do think in schools, a dress code solves a lot problems), however, on this one, I respectfully disagree with Magellan. I don't think that most of today's players respect the game at all. They see it as their personal stage and they see it as cash. I think that a dress code would help "civilize" (at least in the fans eyes) some of these animals (many with criminal records and a desire to appear thuggish). Just my opinion, but I do like the idea...it might get me to watch a game or two again...since I personally see the league as being a criminal's game. Oh yeah, David Stern might like to consider telling the stadiums/arenas to stop playing the gangsta rap and play more rock music. I get a headache going to NBA games from all that rap...just a bunch of ridiculous noise.