<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>League would amend uniform code to ban tightsAfter instituting a "business casual" dress code and cracking down on the length of uniform shorts, the NBA has identified its next fashion crusade.League and team sources have told ESPN.com that the NBA, starting next season, intends to ban the tights sported at various points this season by several players, including three MVP candidates: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.Although NBA officials are not publicly commenting on the issue, sources say that the league simply does not like the look of players wearing visible hose. It's believed that the league office, which already has regulations in place to curtail short lengths, can unilaterally outlaw tights by simply amending its uniform code before the 2006-07 season.Sources say that the NBA informed its 30 teams at last month's competition committee meeting in Houston that tights would be banned immediately after All-Star Weekend. But the league wound up holding off on that ban, perhaps to avoid a new controversy after the initial furor sparked by the off-court dress code faded quickly and quietly.Players who wish to wear tights are required to send the league a written request from a team doctor detailing a "medical need" for the leggings. That's because the league, according to sources, believes that some players are merely wearing them because they like the look.Yet there are numerous players who insist that wearing full-length spandex under their uniform shorts keeps limbs warmer and looser than anything seen previously in the NBA. Dallas Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse is widely seen as the pioneer of this practice, relying on a pair of runners' tights throughout last season's playoffs to combat a longstanding groin injury."I'm a 100-percent advocate," Stackhouse said.That's why the 11-year veteran felt compelled to call NBA vice president Stu Jackson directly after learning of the forthcoming ban upon returning from the All-Star break. Stackhouse bristles at the notion that he's merely trying to be fashionable, pointing out that he has worn tights to every behind-closed-doors practice and shootaround until expectedly shedding them in Dallas' past three games."I've had a couple groin injuries and they help me get comfortable," Stackhouse said. "I wear thigh sleeves, too, and the tights also help keep them from sliding down my legs. They just hold everything together."When I talked to Stu, he was sympathetic. They don't want to be the ones causing guys to get hurt. But I don't know what the end result is going to be. I get the feeling they think it's some fashion statement or culture statement. It's really not. I'm just trying to take every preventative measure that I can."Said Mavericks team physician T.O Souryal: "The tights provide compression. Compressed muscles fire efficiently, especially if injured. Players with muscle strains benefit from the improved circulation and support."....But Wade still wears them in Miami and so does New Jersey's Vince Carter. The team most devoted to the concept is Milwaukee, with five everyday tights-wearers after Joe Smith tried them first: Andrew Bogut, Toni Kukoc, Michael Redd and Maurice Williams in addition to Smith.Bogut recently told the Associated Press: "I don't like how it looks, but I don't play basketball for looks."Smith told the AP: "It's something to keep you warm. It keeps my knee from swelling up, keeps some tightness around it so it won't blow up on me when I'm out there. It's meant a lot to me."More than five percent of the league's players have worn tights at some stage during the season, including five of its top 10 leading scorers. At least eight players that have worn tights this year -- including Bryant, James, Redd and Carter -- are Nike-sponsored athletes, and the shoe giant now sells a "pro basic" pair of tights for $35 and a "pro thermal" pair for $50.Stackhouse, though, supplies his own tights and has been since he came up with the idea almost a year ago."If they ban 'em," Stackhouse said, "I'll find something else."</div>espn.comSome players who have worn them sometime during the season? Ray Allen, Seattle? Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers? Vince Carter, New Jersey? Allen Iverson, Philadelphia? LeBron James, Cleveland? Michael Redd, Milwaukee? Dwyane Wade, MiamiIn my opinion I don't think its right for the NBA to do this and its just another move on the NBA's part to try to get rid of "hip-hop influences on the game. Its also surprising they would make it so players can't wear them when so many big named players do.
I think this is just dumb, how many people really pay attention to those tights when they get out on the court anyways? I don't, i am too busy actually watching the game to realize the tights. Those tights seem to make the players play better also, or most of these guys would no wear the tights. In cold weather places like Boston or someplace, it could be quite cold in the arena also, and the tights keep the muscles warm if the players have to leave the game. I really think this is just the NBA front office people power tripping.
I don't see how you say this a hip hop thing NBA is trying to ban. Wearing tights is hip hop eh?I don't see the big deal either but oh well, and I don't see the point in trying to make this a bigger thing then it is.
This is stupid.Who cares really? Not me I could care less if they wear them or not but if the players say they make them play better I dont see the problem.Somebody is power hungery
What is the opoint of banning tights? What would this prove? What use would it be?I agree though, they don't lok good but I don't understand the reasoning for this.
Guys complain that back in the day the shorts were to short. Now they are whining to wear tights. C'mon guys :g:
First the dress code and i can understand that but come on this is out of hand. I heard somewhere that they were gonna ban headbands too because "it interferes with the players playin?" WTF? Soon u'll only be able to wear specific types of shoes. This is just being stupid.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Dallas Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse is widely seen as the pioneer of this practice, relying on a pair of runners' tights throughout last season's playoffs to combat a longstanding groin injury."I'm a 100-percent advocate," Stackhouse said.That's why the 11-year veteran felt compelled to call NBA vice president Stu Jackson directly after learning of the forthcoming ban upon returning from the All-Star break. Stackhouse bristles at the notion that he's merely trying to be fashionable, pointing out that he has worn tights to every behind-closed-doors practice and shootaround until expectedly shedding them in Dallas' past three games."I've had a couple groin injuries and they help me get comfortable," Stackhouse said. "I wear thigh sleeves, too, and the tights also help keep them from sliding down my legs. They just hold everything together.</div>There's one reason why they wear tights. The tights will fade away after a few seasons though.Ballaholic is definately right. David doesn't have a tight enough grip on the reigns of the NBA. Time to change things up a bit, eh?
Tights doesn't influence hip hop. Stuart Scott was saying in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine that they wear tights for comfort and stability, not for looks.
In my opinion that's BS, tights don't cause a problem, and like Jerry Stackhouse said they help the players feel comfortable. and there wasn't any logical reasoning to try to ban it either.
I think this is really stupid. Banning tights? Stern is just being the powerhungry NBA commissioner that he is and is using his power to take away the image of a real basketball player. Pretty soon he'll ban headbands, sweatbands, and shooting sleeves because he'll find some reason to get rid of them. All in the sake of making the NBA more "professional."
NBA probably has a better reputation now than the NFL and MLB now anyways. With the NFL salary cap problems, and the MLB steroid allegations. the NBA cares thing was a good way to increase the nba's good rep, and so was last years' tsunami relief and the hurricane katrina relief. the dress code was okay, but you're right david stern is just trying to make the NBA look more like the NFL and MLB and i think Stern is just stupid for doing so. Maybe he's been around for too long, he became commisioner in 1984, back in MJ's rookie year.
I don't like the ban on tights because they do serve a purpose. However, the NBA will allow players to wear them if they submit a letter from their doctor saying they should wear it for medical purposes (i.e. if they have a knee injury, calf injury, etc.) I'm sure the players who really want to wear them will get creative with that.
David Stern and MavsFan have a lot of things in common ( :biggrin: ) I think this over the top, I don't like the tights but I don't really care much if they are banned. The NFL is 70 times worse with uniform issues and fines.
When I read this I thought: "What problem is it really causing?"Stern needs to ask himself this question.And tights not professional? C'mon - they were used in Shakespeare's time! That art doth proffesional if not sophisticated... and don't forget JOUSTING!!!
