Originally Posted by VRGNCD5
Moral of story, tell Ron Artest to put on his Armani suit next time he decides to run into the stands to start a fight, he'll be better respected
The only part I don't understand about your post is why you are ignoring the fact that if the person in the clothes doesn't change his attitude, it will do nothing for changing the image of the league. The only people who may percieve a change are the one's who rarely watch the sport, and on the rare occassion when they do see players on TV, they are dressed nicely. If fans are gathered to greet the players as they arrive to the arena and ask for autographs and get the cold shoulder, they will be percieved as azzes no matter if they're in a custom made suit or baggy jeans and a T shirt. A prick is a prick no matter how he's dressed. Get it? Cleaning up the image of the league is a matter of character, not clothes. You act like people are gonna be impressed more by these guys looking good versus being good.
The more professional you feel and the more professional you're treated, the more professional you'll act. If these players are given guidlines just like any other business, the likelihood that they'll start treating the NBA like a business rather than a pickup game at Wicker Park.
If these players are basically allowed to dress anyway they want, they translate this lack of restriction into a lack of responsibility and are thus less likely to obey common business practices of restraint and leadership.
This is all psychological, and it has been proven in the business world. I don't see why it would be any different here.