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Richardson against NBA's new dress code
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-21 11:01
OAKLAND, Calif. - Jason Richardson wants to keep wearing his gold chains, and
the Golden State Warriors guard believes the NBA's new dress code takes aim at
black players in the league.
2005 the NBA
announced in a memo to teams that a dress code will go into effect at the
start of the season which requires players on the bench who are not in
uniform to wear sports jackets, shoes and socks.
[AP] | He's calling for the players' association
to fight the new wardrobe rules announced this week that will go into effect
when the season kicks off next month.
"They want to sway away from the hip-hop generation," Richardson said
Wednesday night, before the Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game.
"You think of hip-hop right now and think of things that happen like gangs
having shootouts in front of radio stations."
Richardson, who describes his style as "different" and says he won't be
caught as a "copy cat," left the Oakland Arena wearing a camouflage zip-up
sweatshirt, a long necklace with a diamond-encrusted triangle at the end, and a
beige cap slightly tilted to one side.
"One thing to me that was kind of racist was you can't wear chains outside
your clothing," he said. "I don't understand what that has to do with being
business approachable. ... You wear a suit you still could be a crook. You see
all that happened with Enron and Martha Stewart. Just because you dress a
certain way doesn't mean you're that way. Hey, a guy could come in with baggy
jeans, a do-rag and have a Ph.D. and a person who comes in with a suit could be
a three-time felon."
Players will be required to wear business-casual attire when involved in team
or league business. They can't wear visible chains, pendants or medallions over
their clothes.
Some players already acknowledge they probably will face fines for breaking
the rules on occasion.
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