Cleaning Up the NBA Image?

For some unusual, but maybe not so unusual, reason the NBA has suffered a major decline in fan base and attraction to the sport in the past 10 or 15 years. Some of it has to do with the best player who ever played the game, Michael Jordan, retiring along with some other sports like golf and car racing becoming more popular. And although college basketball is still very popular, professional basketball's popularity has suffered. I disagree with some people's opinion that the NBA is full of thugs, however, I do agree with the popular opinion that it is full of overpaid, spoiled athletes.

I am a football fan and although I understand why professional basketball players get paid substantially more than professional football players, it seems extremely unfair that professional basketball players deserve the amount of money they make and that professional football players, who play a more competitive and more physically demanding game are paid so much less, and I mean a lot less money. I also don't understand why the NBA allows high school graduates to enter at the professional level. These kids are not ready or mature enough for the pressure nor the money and fame, and this is what has lead to the NBA having a bunch of spoiled players.

So in a quest to regain popularity to his sport, David Stern, the NBA commissioner, has tried to make some drastic changes to improve the negative image and declining popularity of his sport. The first one was the dress code. Even though a player is not playing for whatever reason but attends the game he has to wear a suit, no street clothes or urban style wear. Many popular players are upset with this rule and spoke out loud about their disdain for the rule. Now, in another attempt to improve the image, Stern doesn't want any of his players to carry guns. He does mention it is okay for the players to have one in their home for protection but carrying guns around should not happen.

I like to ask Mr. Stern what's next on his "Do not do" list? I understand he is desperately trying to clean up the image around the NBA, especially after isolated incidents, like the fights with fans, were blown out of proportion, but just because he pays these players very well doesn't mean he owns them - and a thug in a suit won't change his true self. Just because whoever puts on a suit doesn't mean their attitude or lifestyle has changed. Plus, it seems to send a message that urban wear or clothes depict a street life image, which is a stereotype that others need to overcome and accept as a style of a generation.

Some people would argue that professionals go to work in suits, so this should apply to the players. However, a NBA game is not corporate or professional in the same sense. Also, if the players are playing or showing up for work they are dressed in shorts and tennis shoes not suits and dress shoes. As far as carrying guns, well, there are plenty of people who carry guns and stopping NBA players from doing it is not going to make a difference in the world. I guess Stern's concern is that the players could get hurt or involved in an incident. Well, this can happen whether they carry a gun or not. I just think that is up to the individual player as to why and if they feel the need to carry a gun.

I think Stern needs to focus on not allowing kids to enter the NBA until after they graduate from college and perhaps think about lowering the salary, instead of trying to control personal issues involving the players. Anyway, the last time I looked this was still America and all Americans had the right of freedom and choice.