The Future Of The NBA Has Been Inked
by: Staff | Views: 6,455
Dear Mr. Stern
It appears you have a clouded vision on how to clean up the leagues image and boost ratings. In the past you made quite a stink about how the players were representing the NBA off the court and implemented a dress code while increasing “community relations appearances” and media availability. Interesting solution to a problem that’s more than PR related. Fans like myself are not likely to see an NBA player wandering around in public. With that in mind, why not address how the players coming into the league represent themselves, their teams and the NBA in general?
I can’t help but get distracted at times watching a game and trivializing over some kaleidoscope of skin art scaping the arms (and legs) of so many players these days. So much so that it’s merely impossible to view the NBA as anything more than a felons refuge for the marginally talented. It hits rock bottom though when announcers calling the game begin to point out a players ridiculous hair cut while another commentator picks up with what “Joe-Blows” tattoos mean only to have the entire off-topic conversation interrupted by some spectacular dunk.
As entertaining as Barkley is, he’s not going to fix the ratings problem. We are talking about the one guy who publicly instructed young people during his career not to consider him, or professional athletes in general, as role models. This was reiterated Saturday night by him discussing his gambling issues while covering the game, albeit in fun, not helping the image. Unfortunately, no sports icon past or present will ever change the fact that young boys and girls look up to professional athletes for one reason or another, which should prompt even more urgency for you to get this image mess cleaned up.
The players look like thugs, you are asking them to mimic Wall Street Brokers between the locker room and bus while doing nothing about their appearance and antics on the court where millions of fans are actually seeing them. If there is a prerequisite for talent to play in the NBA, shouldn’t there be an equal prerequisite for appearance?
So before you allow the NBA to get completely swept under the rug by Hockey and NASCAR, I ask you to get off your ass and implement an image code, allow it 4 years to take full effect by making those eligible for the 2012 draft to appear professional and ready to work. Professional Basketball players have some of the most bloated salaries with the most casual attire, and yet, they are allowed to clown themselves up with little to no accountability regarding the image and constant failure of the sinking ship known as Today’s NBA.
As it is, “I Love This Game”. But don’t let me hear you bitching about an image you helped create by simply not taking control of the matter before it went to far.
In closing, you can thank yourself for further damaging the NBA’s image by aiding in the demise of the Seattle Super Sonics and placing them smack dab in the middle of Nowhere USA and calling it Thunder!
Sincerely,
The Fans
The Future of the WNBA?
Photo Credits: AP
