Red Alert!!!

This just in (from the just catching up guy):

The NBA instituted a dress code this year, which in summation says players must wear business casual attire or better when on team business (arriving for the game, sitting in the stands, public appearances, etc.). I am all for this, as the NBA is a business and is simply trying to maintain its professional image. Now, I was just reading some player responses to this, and came across this one:

“I don’t see it happening unless every NBA player is given a stipend to buy clothes.” -Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 10/19/05)

Stipend? Are you frickin' kidding me? The average NBA salary is $3.7 million, and Marcus Camby is scheduled to make more than $8.5 million this year. I just did a little research – per Forbes, the most expensive off-the-rack suit for 2005 is $6000. Now, if Mr. "dress to impress" Camby were to buy a new one for every game (82), that comes out to $492,000 (+ tax). Um, that's only 6% of his salary! All the league is asking of its players (employees, it should be noted) is not to wear t-shirts, baseball caps and tennis shoes -- for crying out loud they are even allowing dress jeans!! I swear to GOD the next time professional athletes go on strike over salary disputes the associated league should be locked out for a whole season, and all the players' salaries scheduled for the year donated to charity.

My apologies to the vast majority of professional athletes who do not share such selfish and egotistical ideologies. I am a sports fan, and love to watch you guys play. But please remember first and always you are getting paid to play a game. And it's not even a year round job (I am not counting the physical training). Next time you want to complain, swap salaries with a school teacher.

OK, my blood pressure is now back to normal.