Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 10:17 am | 49 responses
Video: David Stern Talks in Harlem Barbershop
Some of the things talked about: dress code, age minimum rule and losing players to Europe. Oh, and this — “Who’s going to win the NBA Championship?” David Stern: “I know I just can’t tell you.”
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I loved the way he says to the guy “You’re right, you’re right” and then proceeds to explain why he’s wrong.
I don’t like Stern, but I respect his business savvy, and he’s just too damn smart to be stumped on any question that can be thrown at him.
even if this was planned it’s good to see it done what other commissioners have seen go into the streets to talk to the fans.
Your comments on the NBA make it sound like you got something against the United States.
Z: Stern explained the dress code insanely well, dude. I mean, I don’t like the dress code, and Stern had me convinced.
Just cause a top flight lawyer was able to convince you of something doesn’t mean Z is wrong.
Stern basically said that changing the dress code was all about projecting a certain image. However, instead of talking about the League’s “thug” image and needing to counteract that, he mentioned some mythical beach dude. Sure, Nash, Dirk and some others may have dressed like beach bums, but they weren’t the problem. Nobody cared that John Stockton only wore ratty polos and slacks, never suits. In fact, people loved him for it.
Nope, the problem was young black cats in sweatsuits with chains and earrings. Stern just didn’t say that because he ain’t stupid. He knew if he constructed the mythical beach man, it would make it easier for that all black crowd to accept.
Like I said, Stern ducked the real issues the same way he always has. The real issue is that the NBA is selling a league full of young black millionaires from the hood to a fanbase of wealthy white people who drive through the hood as quickly as possible. Stern has to fit his audience and that’s what the dress code was created to do. He just won’t talk about that because most folks hate discussing racial realities.
Why do you have a problem with this? He didn’t dodge the question. His answer was correct: he wanted to project the image that these guys DID work hard and were professional. You’re angry because he didn’t want to defend an angry crowd he was talking to?
Sure, Stern could have been ‘real’ and said “the world doesn’t understand and doesn’t accept the urban lifestyle and both as a business move and an image move to our athletes, we added a dress code so they could be imaged properly while not taking the heat the media was giving them” but why? That would just piss off either a) urban youth and/or b) the media.
And, as I said, Stern is a downright business GENIUS and would never do that.
Stern wasn’t dodging anything.
So, you admit that Stern could have been “real” and instead he decided to take the corporate route.
And you don’t understand why I said he dodged the issue?
No, you do I understand, you just disagree with me and think that was a smart decision. Cool.
The only point I disagree with is that Stern isn’t a good commissioner. Given the realities of the NBA’s image, I think he does a masterful job.
But, his main job is PR and making sure revenue streams stay high. That’s it.
1)Expansion and thinking the NBA should be global.
2)The reffing situation, which will probably get worse. Nothing tarnishes a brands reputation worse than corruption and gambling, especially considering the NBA is subject to a bigger magnifying glass than any other organisation.
3)His continued unwillingness to overrule bad league rules.
I think he only has so much power on the ref issue. Honestly, I think NBA refs get held to an impossible standard that no other league struggles under. Do they have issues, sure. Could Stern be more upfront, sure. But, are the NBA refs the Devil, nah, they do a tough job fairly well.
I agree on expansion. Not sure what you mean about the league rules.
the dress code was probably primarily to do with ‘gangstas’ however if you go to any office up and down the country or any truly professional outlet you have to dress smart, just because half these players earn more money than the league itself doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t adhere to the rules. Even if it is to do with the people wearing tracksuits and earrings the same does apply to everyone else no matter who you are.
So now you know what I’m going to say? Come on now, when have I not spoken my mind on this site?
I said exactly what I would have said, and what I have said for some time.
Jukai and Izzo get it, even if Jukai didn’t say it.
NOBODY wants to talk about the black/white issue of the dress code anymore. Particularly not Stern who realizes that all he will do is confirm the worst fears of black folks and accuse his fanbase of being racists. That isn’t good for business, so he doesn’t do it.
My thoughts are, fine. Cool. Notice I didn’t say he had to do that
What I said was that this interview was NOTHING SPECIAL. It wasn’t illuminating. It wasn’t groundbreaking. It was David Stern at a photo op giving the exact same answers he always gives and dodging the underlying racial issue.
Read what I wrote from the beginning.
As I said, he answered the question given to him honestly, he just avoided some details about it. That isn’t dodging to me, it’s being careful with word choice. He DID admit it was for image, to portray people in better light. He just didn’t say it was for the black players (and Jason Williams).
Allen’s right though, the interview isn’t very groundbreaking at all. I just think (if it isn’t all set up) that Stern was pretty cool for doing this.
I actually DO think Stern is a bad commissioner going forward. He was AMAZING for the NBA. He was probably the best commissioner that basketball ever had. But I think his ego is far too big, and he sort of thinks he can do no wrong.
I actually think Stu Jackson needs to be fired, hardcore.
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