http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599


League would amend uniform code to ban tights

By Darren Rovell and Marc Stein
ESPN.com

After 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 wears tights to every behind-closed-doors practice and shootaround.

"They've really become important to me," Stackhouse said. "I've had a couple groin injuries and they help me get comfortable. 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."

The sight of tights on an NBA player has inevitably been mocked by some -- Denver's Marcus Camby chastised peers for wearing "pantyhose" -- but became more commonplace this season after Bryant unveiled his leggings in November. James wore them briefly as well in January after injuring his knee, but the Cleveland star hasn't been seen in spandex for more than 25 games ... in part because he grew weary of answering so many questions about them. Bryant has since decided to play tights-free in the Los Angeles Lakers' past five games.

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."

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/nba/2006/0322/photo/g_wade_195.jpg


Tight wearers

The following NBA players have been spotted wearing tights this season:

• Ray Allen, Seattle
• Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
• Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
• Vince Carter, New Jersey
• Eddy Curry, New York
• Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia
• Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
• LeBron James, Cleveland
• Toni Kukoc, Milwaukee
• Rashad McCants, Minnesota
• Michael Redd, Milwaukee
• Joe Smith, Milwaukee
• Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas
• Nick Van Exel, San Antonio
• Dwyane Wade, Miami
• Chris Webber, Philadelphia
• Bonzi Wells, Sacramento
• Jason Williams, Miami
• Mo Williams, Milwaukee

Frankly I think Wade looks like a woman wearing pantyhose in that pic.

I'm fine with banning tights. They look stupid.

Frankly I think Wade looks like a woman wearing pantyhose in that pic.

I'm fine with banning tights. They look stupid.

Right, ban something that is used to keep limbs warmed up during injuries, so these stars the NBA praise so much, can do their crazy shit night after night.

Who gives a fuck what it looks like, when guys start going out of games more frequently after they ban the next "black hip hop" fashion statement, they better not look up and say shit.

Next tattoos will become an issue and have to be covered, then cornrow's will be limited to a simple front to back design. Wouldn't be surprised if Stern opened a D-league on etiquette when speaking to the press.

The players union has no fuckin balls. Fire Antonio Davis! Sheed for prez!

Right, ban something that is used to keep limbs warmed up during injuries, so these stars the NBA praise so much, can do their crazy shit night after night.

1. Weak excuse.

2. Players can hand the NBA a freakin doctor's note and still be allowed to wear them.

3. They still look stupid.

4. Tights are a "hip-hop fashon statement" now? There are rappers that dress like bitches also?

I don't like the looks of them, but it's not really a big deal, certainly not enough to ban them. The issue is that looking at that provided list - a lot of those players are the fashion mavens of the NBA.

I recall reading where the NBA stepped in and told Ben Wallace he couldn't wear so many wrist bans that basically covered his whole forearm. Kander had to convince the league that it was beneficial medically and then they allowed him to put it back on.

I do understand that the line has to be drawn somewhere though, because you know the next step will be the similar long sleeved T-Shirt - then again, most won't want to cover up their ink.

I'd only allow one color - black, and no visible branding.

It's called a "uniform" for a reason.

Either have all of them wear them or none of them.

It's not like this is just a headband, wristband, or goggles, it's fucking pants!

Right, ban something that is used to keep limbs warmed up during injuries, so these stars the NBA praise so much, can do their crazy shit night after night.

1. Weak excuse.

2. Players can hand the NBA a freakin doctor's note and still be allowed to wear them.

3. They still look stupid.

4. Tights are a "hip-hop fashon statement" now? There are rappers that dress like bitches also?


1. You had no legitimate retort to that 'weak excuse' though.

2. Should they really have to have a doctors note to wear compression tights? Headbands? Those shits for the knees?

3. Who gives a fuck, they get paid to play, not to fufill your man-ball fantasies.

4a. Not quite. But try tellin' that to David "please The Man" Stern.
4b. Yes, (see reference of: Cam'ron, and 50 Cent.)

Any more dumb ass questions? [smilie=alpaca.gif]

Anybody else here old enough to remember when the Philly Flyers wore long pants in the 80's?
http://www.nhluniforms.com/1980s/FlyersPants.jpg

The White Sox even wore shorts one year, too.
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/pictures/timeline_1976.jpg

(bonus points if you can name the former Tiger sitting in the front row of this pic)

They're still wearing their uniform though. What I might do is say that the longer shorts were allowed to hekp keep players warm. If you want the underarmor tights, then you need to wear the short shorts...

Is that Chet Lemon Glenn?

Yepper, that's ol' Chet.

Good point Kilo, as fucked up as those ChiSox and Flyers unis were, they were still uniform.

what about Iverson's arm-tights thing?

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050429/iverson_83273.jpg

this is dumb. Headbands are more of hip-hop cultural statement then the tights.

If you wear any form of tights and you're not playing basketball you do not look tough and urban, you look like a homo.


And why the hell is the NBA so worried about having the presence of a cultural statement anyways? Isn't that a good thing for the league?

If you wear any form of tights and you're not playing basketball you do not look tough and urban, you look like a homo.

Exactly.

If you wear any form of tights and you're not playing basketball you do not look tough and urban, you look like a homo.

Exactly.
If you have an issue with the tights you're not in touch with shit. And dont think is a method against hip hop. its a method against youth. urban is irrelevent. mostly younger players are wearing these. And honestly if it helps them keep an injured hammy warm or whatever its use. I dont see the problem.

I'm starting to think these so called influences on the league are making up things to complain about just to see how far they can make the NBA(no balls association) go. I'm guessing head bands are next.

And for the record headbands big in the 70's. I dont really consider them to be hip hop.

If you wear any form of tights and you're not playing basketball you do not look tough and urban, you look like a homo.

Exactly.

So because a player looks like a homo with these tights on, it's grounds for a ban? You HAVE to have a better reason then that.

Uniform rules are uniform rules.

There is no debate. Conform, or pay fines/get suspended.


I support this just so Stack has to stop wearing them.

I support this just so Stack has to stop wearing them.
ROTLMAO

Marv Albert had to stop wearing tights so I think it's only fair that the players aren't allowed to.

Marv Albert had to stop wearing tights so I think it's only fair that the players aren't allowed to.

+1 lol

Let them wear tights, they do serve a good (and safe) purpose.


what about Iverson's arm-tights thing?

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050429/iverson_83273.jpg

Doesn't he have a taboo tattoo under it or something like that?

And for the record headbands big in the 70's. I dont really consider them to be hip hop.


were headbands big outside of gyms and arenas though? I'm too young to know, but whenever i watch 70's movies i see pimp hats, some mullets and shitloads of afros but no headbands.

And you'd have to be blind to not see rappers wearing headbands in their videos and stuff. Headbands are definitely accepted in urban style right now, if you rocked a headband with some cross colors and an 8-ball jacket back in 1991 you'd look awkward as hell.

I don't see a problem with them.

So some players wear them for health reasons.......others because they like the looks.

Big freaking deal.

So do you start allowing them to wear leather jackets if they want to? Those wallets with the chain attached to them would be nice as well.

Do you let Jake Tsakalidis wear a little pirate hat because it helps his confidence?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GlennDanzig/jake_pirate.jpg

So do you start allowing them to wear leather jackets if they want to? Those wallets with the chain attached to them would be nice as well.

Do you let Jake Tsakalidis wear a little pirate hat because it helps his confidence?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GlennDanzig®/jake_pirate.jpg

Yeah, thats the same.

I think Wade looks like a femanista wearing his hose but I could care less. There are plenty of stupid looking jerseys in the league, its not like these guys stand out. This "uniform" argument is weak as well since its not like the MLB or the NFL outlaws wearing long shirts on cold days. Of course, "if they make it a rule" then they can't wear them but that's not the issue.

As for Iverson. There is a panther under the sleeve but I don't know that it's the reason he wear's it (especially since the panther tattoo used to be a tattoo of the Grim Reaper so he may have started wearing the sleeve prior to the panther tattoo being there). http://www.pixeldesign.no/ai3net/tattoos.htm

I'm still waiting for Jermaine O'Neal to open his mouth about this and make an ass out of himself.

For an nba player to make himself look like peter pan, there must be some legitimate physical benefit to wearing tights. It's such a small thing and if they contribute in some small way to keeping the league's best players on the court instead of nursing muscle strains on the bench the league is stupid for opposing it.

I think they look stupid, but who cares? As long as they restrict the tights (ie only black or white ones) properly, I don't see how they detract from the NBA. It simply makes that one player look stupid.

On the flip side, if they require a medical note I have no problem with that either. As long as they allow people that really need them to wear them.

That picture of Wade only makes me dislike him/her that much more.

Nice job with the title Glenn. LOL.

Other than that, I don't care what they do. I just hope the amount
of people rocking them either stays the same or decreases.

Nice job with the title Glenn. LOL.


I was starting to think that nobody was going to pick up on that.

Glenn thanks you for feeding Glenn's need for acceptance.

Never a problem! Let me know if I can ever help you.

And for the record headbands big in the 70's. I dont really consider them to be hip hop.


were headbands big outside of gyms and arenas though? I'm too young to know, but whenever i watch 70's movies i see pimp hats, some mullets and shitloads of afros but no headbands.
Stop basing arenas on movies. Yes they were popular. Where do you think people got it from? That aint no original shit. There's always been headband players somewhere in the league. Hip Hop adopted from the NBA and the throwback era. so no i dont consider it to be of hip hop origin. but maybe its false things like headbands belonging to hip hop that has the NBA lost on what to ban.

That picture of Wade only makes me dislike him/her that much more.
you'd dislike wade in a suit that much more too. As would I. [smilie=arrgh.jpg]

I don't get it. What's so great about the title?

I don't get it. What's so great about the title?

http://www.nononsense.com/images/shophome/sept.jpg

Good. I hate that shit.

I don't get it. What's so great about the title?

http://www.nononsense.com/images/shophome/sept.jpg

I'm proud that I didn't get it.

I'm proud that I didn't get it.http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6793/robber2tt.jpg
"FUCK YOU!"

Fox Mulder (Washington DC): How do you feel about the ban on leg tights?

Bill Walton: (11:24 AM ET ) This is something the league is always on top of. There's a reason they call it a uniform. This is a business and you adhere to the rules. It's the same as any other job. Either convince the boss your point of view is better or quit. I've always felt it was better to be a part of the team but at the end of the day if you feel this strongly about wearing the tights then quit the NBA. I had dress-code issues in my day with the hair and beard, but I never let that keep me from being a part of the team. The NBA will do what's necessary to see the players are presenting themselves in the most positive light. But I admit right now I'm wearing a tie-dyed shirt and support stockings from the congenital defects that caused me so many stress fractures. The Jobst stockings are literally saving my life. Hakeem wore them on his entire leg. The NBA will never limit players enhancing health but will limit fashion statements.

Classic Walton.

I'm proud that I didn't get it.

Me too. While the title is very clever in retrospect, I wonder why people did get it so fast [smilie=anxious.gif]

Would it kill you guys to admit that it is at least better than "This has got L'eggs: NBA to ban tights"

Fox Mulder (Washington DC): How do you feel about the ban on leg tights?

Bill Walton: (11:24 AM ET ) This is something the league is always on top of. There's a reason they call it a uniform. This is a business and you adhere to the rules. It's the same as any other job. Either convince the boss your point of view is better or quit. I've always felt it was better to be a part of the team but at the end of the day if you feel this strongly about wearing the tights then quit the NBA. I had dress-code issues in my day with the hair and beard, but I never let that keep me from being a part of the team. The NBA will do what's necessary to see the players are presenting themselves in the most positive light. But I admit right now I'm wearing a tie-dyed shirt and support stockings from the genitalia defects that caused me so many stress fractures. The Jobst stockings are literally saving my life. Hakeem wore them on his entire leg. The NBA will never limit players enhancing health but will limit fashion statements.

Classic Walton.

I swear that's how I read it the first time.

Also, nice save on your street-cred Mola. Glenn is still on suspicion though.

Would it kill you guys to admit that it is at least better than "This has got L'eggs: NBA to ban tights"

It does make more sense, yes. I do remember the "She's got Leggs" commercials now that you mention it though. Couldn't have named a pantyhose brand off the top of my head though.

I was a TV commercial junkie as a kid, still am I suppose.

Also used to see all of those brands on The Price is Right growing up.

[smilie=escape.gif]

Donny (Ridgefield, CT): Why does the league care about players wearing tights? It seems foolish to ban an article of clothing that actually can prevent players from injuries.

Chris Sheridan: (1:12 PM ET ) It's primarily because there are a lot of very important people in the league office on Fifth Avenue who think tights look stupid. It's really as simple as that. I think from the players' standpoint, there are a few guys who might legitimately derive some benefit from the tights, but there's probably a few other guys using it as a silent anti-authority statement (a questionable one in a fashion sense) to the league office after all the hubbub over the dress code earlier this season. There's still a sense of resentment among some players over that whole episode. Some guys just don't like David Stern telling them how to dress.


Arthur (Silver Spring, MD): as a follow up question (to the tights query), can the league ban something because they think it looks "stupid"? I mean, what if I was an important person and I thought headbands looked stupid. Could I and more importantly should I be able to ban headbands?

Chris Sheridan: (1:21 PM ET ) The league office believes shorts that hang below the knee look stupid, and that's why they enforce their rules with fines. There also are people in the league office who played with Slick Watts, and they think headbands look cool. Bottom line: It's their league, and they can make up the rules any way they want.

Doesn't Rip wear them? I've seen something white and tight under his shorts everytime he jumps or falls. I'm sure those are the "tights" everyone talks about. Slack wears them as well.

I really don't see the big deal with them. The object of the game is to play basketball, not impress people with your style, so why ban it?

Doesn't Rip wear them? I've seen something white and tight under his shorts everytime he jumps or falls. I'm sure those are the "tights" everyone talks about. Slack wears them as well.



i don't think there is a problem with tights under the basketball shorts. I know they don't wanna see anyone hit the floor, have the shorts slide up and expose whitey-tighties or even worse yet nutsacks.

I'm pretty sure this only applies to the arms and legs.

Doesn't Rip wear them? I've seen something white and tight under his shorts everytime he jumps or falls. I'm sure those are the "tights" everyone talks about. Slack wears them as well.

I really don't see the big deal with them. The object of the game is to play basketball, not impress people with your style, so why ban it?

Not those. Players have been wearing those under the shorts for as long as I can remember. The NBA is talking about the kind that AI and Kobe have been wearing.

Doesn't Rip wear them? I've seen something white and tight under his shorts everytime he jumps or falls. I'm sure those are the "tights" everyone talks about. Slack wears them as well.

I really don't see the big deal with them. The object of the game is to play basketball, not impress people with your style, so why ban it?


As others have said those are not the issue. What Rip wears are compression shorts. They are for a medical purpose. Also they hold your junk in place so it dont flap around. [smilie=2thumbsup.g:



What are Compression Shorts?

Compression shorts are shorts that are used to separate groin and hamstring muscles. The shorts provide warmth to the muscles which makes them less prone to strains and pulls.

Compression shorts can also provide protection against chafing and rashes. High performance athletes often wear compression shorts to help eliminate chafing and rashes.

The dress code was back in the news this week when several players went on record saying the league is considering a unilateral ban on all tights worn by players because they don't conform to the uniform code.

What this really means: We can only hope this is just another case of the league floating a concept to check the temperature and doesn't carry this out. Some people may believe the tights don't look particularly great when some players where them, along with preventing all teams from having the same look. But really, who cares? With headbands, wristbands, socks and various pads for knees, elbows and any other vulnerable part of the body, why would tights be a problem?

Perhaps more importantly, the tights are therapeutic for all players with leg problems. Their tight fit helps keep tight or strained muscles warm and even prevents cramping and awkward stretching to a certain extent. If the "NBA dress police" are so concerned about the look, then at the very most they can assert the tights must be the same color as the uniforms. Certainly, they can get one of their licensed distributors to help take care of that, can't they?
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5469512