MuthaFunka said:

In 1993 - 94, the PA at the Summit played Prince at some point every game of the year.

In 2008 - 2009, the PA at the Toyota Center (a markedly inferior arena to the Summit, IMHO) plays Prince every game.

Coincidence?!?

.
[Edited 5/7/09 14:12pm]

Also, someone needs to tell the Nuggets they are the Nuggets and cannot win the NBA title.

Because if no one tells them that, they just might win it all.

Graycap23 said:

That means you realized the contradiction: "Let's HEAR them but not SEE them" - the classic view of the Black man in society.

RodeoSchro said:

When I lived in H-Town, THEY LOVED PLAYING PRINCE! The WHOLE city did!

MuthaFunka said:

Great rule.....that A.I. look was played about 10 minutes before it began.

Graycap23 said:

How come no one points out that the black men far outdress the white men? Until this rule came along, Pat Riley and Chuck Daly were the best-dressed guys in the league.

But now, no one can touch LeBron James.

Besides Mutha, check around and you'll see the players that hated this rule at its inception like it now.

RodeoSchro said:

Yeah, brothas can get down with their shit...but it was the fear of the whole "hip hop" image that caused that dumb ass dress code.

And yeah, now dudes are cool with it...but why did it have to be forced upon them to begin with? It's like saying "You're not intelligent enough to know what's good for you, so I'm gonna tell you for you".

MuthaFunka said:

Pretty much.....

MuthaFunka said:

I think Kevin Garnet looks pretty sexy in his suit at the games. I like the dress code rule.

MuthaFunka said:

I'm sure it was money-driven, in that the NBA was not afraid of hip-hop per se, but of an outflow of advertising dollars from non-hip-hop related companies.

For instance, if you are a big advertiser with the NBA, and you sell a product not used by the hip-hop society, but you see the NBA becoming associated first and foremost with the hip-hop society, you're gonna say something about it. My guess is enough advertisers said something, and that gave the NBA the idea to make the change.

On the other hand, if the hip-hop society was the largest marketing segment in America, and all your advertisers marketed to it, you'd be encouraging every player to dress hip-hop.

But at the end of the day, I agree with Graycap. If you're going to be a professional, then dress like a professional when you're on the job. That includes the after-game interviews.

MuthaFunka said:

so why can't a black man dress professionally and still listen to hip hop music? why is that a contradiction? I don't see anything wrong with having the players wear suits even though they blast hip hop at the games.

JasmineFire said:

Oh lawd!

MuthaFunka said:

It's the truth! A man in a well fitted suit is so damn sexy. Me likey!

RodeoSchro said:

Of course it was money-driven...with the undertone of this "Oh my! My little white son wants to be a thug after he saw what Marbury had on!" fear.

And what's the professional attire for a basketball player?: Answer: Tennis shoes, shorts, and tank top. THAT'S what they go to work in, does anyone else HERE dress like that for work? Fuck no!

JasmineFire said:

Never said that can't happen. Where are you getting that from? Show me the part where I wrote that?

MuthaFunka said:

the "see them but not hear them" response to GrayCap's post about agreeing to disagree. Perhaps I'm interpreting it wrong but your posts up to that point read to me as if you think that it's not "black" to wear suits and look professional. It also seemed like you think that having a black basketball player in a suit at a game where they are blasting hip hop music is somehow contradictory. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted you but that's what your posts read like to me.

uPtoWnNY said:

Those were the days!!! I missed those days, even though I was a young hoops fan back then, I just remember Maurice Lucans when he played for Portland, he would tell opponents before the game even started, that he was going to hurt them, just so they could prepare for the pain. Awwww those were the days.

JasmineFire said:

No, my point is, let them wear what they want - whether that be suits, jeans or sweats. They're in a damn gym for Christ's sake. And as far as the music, m point was - why is it ok to play the music from the people their dress style emulates?

MuthaFunka said:

aaahh! I understand what you're saying now.

MuthaFunka said:

Every arena I've been to plays Prince that's never changed.

RodeoSchro said:

The problem with this is that the "hip hop society" is largely made up of teenaged to twentysomething white boys with substantial discretionary income. So from a marketing standpoint it makes more sense to use hip-hop influenced imagery because it is now synonymous with America's youth culture and not restricted to the "urban" (read: black) market anymore.
[Edited 5/7/09 15:13pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

The NBA got pussified when they ban hand checking. THIS alone took all the fun out of playing defense. And it also made defense assignments against Kobe Bryant more difficult because of it.
[Edited 5/7/09 21:32pm]

MuthaFunka said:

Have you ever seen a pick and roll play during the Utah Jazz's Malone/Stockton era? There were always contact when someone was pick.

Graycap23 said:

no....some one HAS to, so to be fair it should be a no-name player

RodeoSchro said:

Isn't The Summit now Joel Osteen's megachurch?

JasmineFire said:

SCNDLS said:

I've been to Staples here in L.A. a few times and ain't never heard that skinny muthafucka with the hiiiiigh voice played.

TonyVanDam said:

Yeah, to call hoops a non-contact sport is bogus.

MuthaFunka said:

Really? I've heard Kiss playing on TV at Laker games.

SCNDLS said:

Then again...I haven't been to a Laker game...just Clippers