Quote:
Originally posted by JRutledge
I think comparing companies is not relevant to this discussion. I agree that McDonald's is one of the most successful franchises, but I do not think it is just because of the dress of the workers. McDonald's is not marketing their uniform for sale to the general public. The NBA sells a lot of what is outlawed for the players to wear to the public.
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Which makes my point all the more relevant. The NBA players are equivalent to Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, and Fries. So what the NBA is trying to sell is the image that these players fit in with the mainstream folks.
Everytime I turn on an NBA game, I see the great majority of the guys in the league look like me, only taller. I have had the opportunity to talk to these guys in locker rooms or out of the public eye, and they don't sound like they just left a gang-banging session. The vast majority of the NBA players have some level of college education and maturity to handle themselves respectfully. But then you have the Carmelo Anthony incidents, the Quintel Woods incidents, and you see these guys dressing similar to the guys I see selling on the corners, and I understand where Stern would want to make the change.
Not saying I agree, but I understand. He has a business to run, and he is trying to make sure that the business sells to those that can buy. He is to blame for allowing the Baller Mentality to invade the league, so now he's trying to fix it.