The hip-hop movement has had a profound effect on the mainstream culture of the entire nation, especially in the areas of music, fashion, advertising, television and sports. This influence has ignited controversy over the last 10 years, and professional basketball is one of the latest flash points for such disputes. The National Basketball Association is unofficially associated with hip-hop, as both are entertainment businesses, and many NBA players align themselves with hip-hop culture.
Many basketball players were raised in urban areas of America, where hip-hop showed them how to walk, talk, dress, and be a man. These players were accustomed to looking the part of street soldiers. Since they joined the NBA, some urban-bred players such as Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Jermaine O’Neal have brought a hip-hop style and attitude to the game. Often players would come to games or press conferences dressed in baggy jeans, jerseys or T-shirts, sneakers, wave caps, baseball caps and chains -- looks that to many appear to be the same as rappers.
But to NBA Commissioner David Stern and other association members, this look was inappropriate, as it did not portray the professional image that the NBA wanted its players to project. In the real world, professionals dress in attire appropriate for the event they are attending, whether in formal suits or business casual: fitted khaki pants and tucked-in polos or button-down shirts, with no heavy gold chains showing. Seeing as the NBA is a professional business, it was only logical for the commissioner to want his workers to look the part.
So in October 2005, a dress code was put in place for official appearances off the court. This code requires players to wear dress shirts or sweaters; dress slacks, khakis or dress jeans; socks, and dress shoes or dress boots. Excluded items are: sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, jerseys or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event); shorts; headgear or headphones; as well as chains, medallions or pendants worn over clothing. Just like in any business, violating the rules results in disciplinary action.
When this dress code took effect, some players took offense, viewing it as a deliberate attack upon certain players who until then, had dressed in more of a hip-hop style. Although the NBA writes the checks, the players are the ones selling official NBA merchandise such as jerseys, as well as selling out arenas. The NBA may have a problem with certain players’ style, but they have jumped on the hip-hop moneymaking bandwagon right along with everyone else.
With the emergence of hip-hop superstars, the NBA, like many other organizations and businesses, took notice and began using hip-hop music and its creators in their advertisements. NBA players appeared in films reflecting the hip-hop culture, and even produced their own hip-hop music. Not only is Iverson a star point guard, but he is also now a rapper. His first single, “40 Bars,” spoke negatively about homosexuality (shunned in the hip-hop community). In light of this, comments by Commissioner Stern and homosexual NBA fans forced Iverson to not release his album.
In addition, some hip-hop artists, such as Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Cornell “Nelly” Haynes and Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, became part-owners of teams. They are part of the reason some teams are able to be successful in certain venues. They bring more fans to the stands. Hip-hop fans tend to follow their favorite artists, supporting them by attending games of the teams in which those artists have partial ownership.
“A lot of players are part of the hip-hop culture. And they bring many fans along with them,” said Otis White, a guard on the Barry University men’s basketball team. Just being associated with the hip-hop culture helps pro players bring in huge revenues.
Is the NBA biting the hand that feeds it by enforcing the dress code? New Jersey Nets guard Vince Carter was offended. In New Jersey’s Bergen Record, Carter was quoted as saying, "I just think people should be able to express themselves. I know they took out the doo-rag stuff; I understand that.” But, he noted that it shouldn’t matter to others what players wear when traveling. “We want to be comfortable on a flight just like everybody else in the world when they fly.” When NBA players are flying for personal reasons, they can dress however they please, but the NBA does not want them to walk off a plane for a league event dressed in anything that doesn’t meet the code.
Allen Iverson told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the dress code “sends a bad message to kids. If you don't have a suit when you go to school, is your teacher going to think you’re a bad kid because you don't have a suit on?”
NBA players affiliated with hip-hop are highly scrutinized, and sometimes with good reasons, including troubles on and off the court. For instance, the infamous 2004 all-out brawl between the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and fans, was attributed to thug-like behavior fueled by hip-hop culture in the league. The primary concerns after these altercations, and other related troubles, are the potential effects on youth who look up to NBA stars and aspire to one day play professionally.
During three years of working with elementary-school students in an after-school program that strived to help them with schoolwork and building character, I found that many urban male youth look at NBA stars like Iverson and Anthony as role models
Indeed, many would argue that the image that pro basketball players portray is not harming youth. Although their clothing may look like that of thugs, some players have foundations to make music education available in inner-city schools and fund recreation centers to keep children off the streets. For example, Carmelo Anthony founded the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in Baltimore, where he was raised. It helps children with their education and gets them involved in extracurricular activities.
Locally, Miami Heat superstar Alonzo Mourning and his wife Tracy have worked closely with the youth of South Florida for more than ten years through their non-profit organization Alonzo Mourning Charities. The Mournings have received numerous honors for their charitable work, including the 2007 Faith and Founders Award from Barry University.
While some of incidents that occur off-court still reflect on the NBA, and may have a certain relationship to the hip-hop culture, players apologize for such behavior and speak to children who look up to them about the importance of getting an education and staying out of trouble.
Hip-hop music itself can be a source of inspiration for players at all levels. Barry guard Gabe Lazo listens to hip-hop before games. He said, “When I hear music before and during the games, it gets me hyped.” Lazo is in good company: So do Anthony and Iverson. Asked at a press conference what he does to prepare for games, Anthony replied, “I listen to rap. I love Styles P and Jadakiss.” Part of a player’s performance is attributed to pre-game actions. Hip-hop music gets many players energized, and helps them perform at higher levels.
So the final questions are: Is hip-hop beneficial to the game of basketball? Or is it a disgrace that the NBA should be ashamed of? The answers are up to you.
Many basketball players were raised in urban areas of America, where hip-hop showed them how to walk, talk, dress, and be a man. These players were accustomed to looking the part of street soldiers. Since they joined the NBA, some urban-bred players such as Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Jermaine O’Neal have brought a hip-hop style and attitude to the game. Often players would come to games or press conferences dressed in baggy jeans, jerseys or T-shirts, sneakers, wave caps, baseball caps and chains -- looks that to many appear to be the same as rappers.
But to NBA Commissioner David Stern and other association members, this look was inappropriate, as it did not portray the professional image that the NBA wanted its players to project. In the real world, professionals dress in attire appropriate for the event they are attending, whether in formal suits or business casual: fitted khaki pants and tucked-in polos or button-down shirts, with no heavy gold chains showing. Seeing as the NBA is a professional business, it was only logical for the commissioner to want his workers to look the part.
So in October 2005, a dress code was put in place for official appearances off the court. This code requires players to wear dress shirts or sweaters; dress slacks, khakis or dress jeans; socks, and dress shoes or dress boots. Excluded items are: sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, jerseys or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event); shorts; headgear or headphones; as well as chains, medallions or pendants worn over clothing. Just like in any business, violating the rules results in disciplinary action.
When this dress code took effect, some players took offense, viewing it as a deliberate attack upon certain players who until then, had dressed in more of a hip-hop style. Although the NBA writes the checks, the players are the ones selling official NBA merchandise such as jerseys, as well as selling out arenas. The NBA may have a problem with certain players’ style, but they have jumped on the hip-hop moneymaking bandwagon right along with everyone else.
With the emergence of hip-hop superstars, the NBA, like many other organizations and businesses, took notice and began using hip-hop music and its creators in their advertisements. NBA players appeared in films reflecting the hip-hop culture, and even produced their own hip-hop music. Not only is Iverson a star point guard, but he is also now a rapper. His first single, “40 Bars,” spoke negatively about homosexuality (shunned in the hip-hop community). In light of this, comments by Commissioner Stern and homosexual NBA fans forced Iverson to not release his album.
In addition, some hip-hop artists, such as Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Cornell “Nelly” Haynes and Shad “Bow Wow” Moss, became part-owners of teams. They are part of the reason some teams are able to be successful in certain venues. They bring more fans to the stands. Hip-hop fans tend to follow their favorite artists, supporting them by attending games of the teams in which those artists have partial ownership.
“A lot of players are part of the hip-hop culture. And they bring many fans along with them,” said Otis White, a guard on the Barry University men’s basketball team. Just being associated with the hip-hop culture helps pro players bring in huge revenues.
Is the NBA biting the hand that feeds it by enforcing the dress code? New Jersey Nets guard Vince Carter was offended. In New Jersey’s Bergen Record, Carter was quoted as saying, "I just think people should be able to express themselves. I know they took out the doo-rag stuff; I understand that.” But, he noted that it shouldn’t matter to others what players wear when traveling. “We want to be comfortable on a flight just like everybody else in the world when they fly.” When NBA players are flying for personal reasons, they can dress however they please, but the NBA does not want them to walk off a plane for a league event dressed in anything that doesn’t meet the code.
Allen Iverson told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the dress code “sends a bad message to kids. If you don't have a suit when you go to school, is your teacher going to think you’re a bad kid because you don't have a suit on?”
NBA players affiliated with hip-hop are highly scrutinized, and sometimes with good reasons, including troubles on and off the court. For instance, the infamous 2004 all-out brawl between the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and fans, was attributed to thug-like behavior fueled by hip-hop culture in the league. The primary concerns after these altercations, and other related troubles, are the potential effects on youth who look up to NBA stars and aspire to one day play professionally.
During three years of working with elementary-school students in an after-school program that strived to help them with schoolwork and building character, I found that many urban male youth look at NBA stars like Iverson and Anthony as role models
Indeed, many would argue that the image that pro basketball players portray is not harming youth. Although their clothing may look like that of thugs, some players have foundations to make music education available in inner-city schools and fund recreation centers to keep children off the streets. For example, Carmelo Anthony founded the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in Baltimore, where he was raised. It helps children with their education and gets them involved in extracurricular activities.
Locally, Miami Heat superstar Alonzo Mourning and his wife Tracy have worked closely with the youth of South Florida for more than ten years through their non-profit organization Alonzo Mourning Charities. The Mournings have received numerous honors for their charitable work, including the 2007 Faith and Founders Award from Barry University.
While some of incidents that occur off-court still reflect on the NBA, and may have a certain relationship to the hip-hop culture, players apologize for such behavior and speak to children who look up to them about the importance of getting an education and staying out of trouble.
Hip-hop music itself can be a source of inspiration for players at all levels. Barry guard Gabe Lazo listens to hip-hop before games. He said, “When I hear music before and during the games, it gets me hyped.” Lazo is in good company: So do Anthony and Iverson. Asked at a press conference what he does to prepare for games, Anthony replied, “I listen to rap. I love Styles P and Jadakiss.” Part of a player’s performance is attributed to pre-game actions. Hip-hop music gets many players energized, and helps them perform at higher levels.
So the final questions are: Is hip-hop beneficial to the game of basketball? Or is it a disgrace that the NBA should be ashamed of? The answers are up to you.
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