NBA Dress Code

One of the hottest topics that have recently emerged from the NBA has been the NBA’s dress code. It has been the cause of some controversy debated by NBA analysts, fans, coaches, and most importantly its players. Players seem to think that they should be able to wear what they want to express their certain kind of style. They feel that it does not matter what they wear before or after a game, but rather it is more important how they present themselves on the court. One of the most influential players in the game right now is superstar Allen Iverson. He gave his two cents on the debate saying, "I don’t think it’s good for the league. I really don’t, because it kind of makes it fake. The whole thing is fake. You’ve got all these guys with different personalities. Tracy McGrady is different from Kobe. Kevin Garnett is different from Tim Duncan. And I’m different from those guys. Everybody has their own style. It’s just unfair when you take that away from people."(Juliano, Joe. Philadelphia Inquirer.) Players argue that they have worked hard to be in the positions they are in. Many players worked their way up to the NBA by persevering through the 5 am workout schedules and rigorous lifestyle that goes along with college basketball in a Division One or even a Division Two school. They feel that they have earned the right to dress as they wish. However, a dress code is deemed necessary in order to command a certain level of respect to the NBA organization.
David Stern, commissioner of the National Basketball Association, has implemented a "business casual" attire on November 1, 2005. In the business casual dress code, the NBA bans sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, sports apparel, headgear, displayed jewelry, sunglasses, headphones, sneakers, sandals, and work boots. ("NBA to employ fashion police in Arenas.")
The players who play in the NBA are considered professionals. "A professional is someone engaged in for money, as opposed to amateur; one who makes a livelihood in sports." (Ailee, John Gage. Webster’s Dictionary.) If players want to be professionals and be paid like professionals, then they should dress like professionals to complete the package. Allen Iverson has stated that, "I feel like if they want us to dress a certain way, they should pay for our clothing."( Juliano, Joe. Philadelphia Inquirer) Although it is a clever idea, and paying for the appropriate clothing for the dress code might set these millionaires back a few bucks, the fact of the matter is that they are not the only ones with a business casual dress code. In fact, sixty-four percent of full-time U.S. workers, who are considered professionals, are required to wear some type of business casual clothing and only twenty-six percent of full time workers are allowed to dress casually to work. ("NBA’s new dress code is business standard.") So although players disagree with the dress code, almost three fourths of America’s population goes to work on a forty plus hour’s a week schedule, dressed in some type of business casual clothing.
The normal U.S. worker in the business setting spends roughly eight hours in his or her business casual clothing. Compare that to the NBA players who are now required to wear this type of clothing on the way to and returning home from both home games and away games. This includes any bus trip, plane trip, or any type of public press conference. At the most, these players are in this type of clothing four to five hours every other day because the games are almost every other day. Those four to five hours dressed up is going to be tough for these guys. However, it is a good thing they are making millions of dollars because that should help to ease the pain.
Some people have also believed that racism could be part of why the dress code was put in effect. Douglas Hartmann, a sociologist who teaches a course called "Sports and Society," at the University of Minnesota stated, "Part of the league’s appeal is its blacks, urban culture. Not only is the league dominated by African-American athletes, but the proposed regulations seem so directly targeted at styles that are associated in the public imagination with inner-city black culture. The leagues new dress code for players, who are predominantly black smacks of racial implications." (Levy, Paul. Minneapolis- St. Paul Star Tribune.) If the dress code is attacking the "inner-city black culture" then why haven’t these "racial implications" been brought to the attention of the business world? Rarely do you see African Americans that come from the same type of inner city black culture complain to businesses about the dress code because they are not able to express themselves. They also have not done so, because this has nothing to do with racism or the attacking of "inner-city black culture" but simply it is a means to present professionalism and class to millions and millions of people across the country including kids who watch them on a daily basis. Charles Barkley, one of the NBA’s fifty greatest players, stated, "Young black kids dress like NBA players. Unfortunately, they don’t get paid like NBA players. So when they go out in the real world, what they wear is held against them." (Stewart, Larry. Los Angeles Times.) This might not be fair but it is a fact that presentation is everything and whether players like it or not, they are important role models who are looked up to and even imitated by kids.
One other dimension in this argument is respect. Respect in the dictionary is stated as, "to esteem; to relate to; consideration; expression of esteem." (Ailee, John Gage. Webster’s Dictionary.) As a person, when you love something or someone, you have a certain respect and you give that respect. Everybody is able to relate to this, because everyone has had something or someone that they have loved and that is important to them. Often the NBA players seem to show a lack of respect towards the game because in professional sports, it seems as if it is all about the money. Maybe they have forgotten what it has actually done for them. It has turned some players, and even their families who have come from absolutely nothing, into millionaires over night. It has altered their lifestyle forever, and they never have to worry about certain things ever again. Just the fact that they are turning this in to such an issue shows how respect for the game has dwindled to almost nothing. Really, is a shirt and tie for four or five hours really going to kill them?
Not too many people have the opportunity to have the talent that enables them to reap the salary of an NBA player. Just as with every other job, there are rules that need to be followed. When such high profile people as sports figures have the ability to affect so many young people, it would seem only right that these athletes uphold the highest of standards. The fact that the youth of America will observe NBA players abiding by the dress code that is now in affect, sets a fine example in itself. That simple gesture alone has the capability of sending a powerful message. It would seem that people would give an enormous amount of respect to the NBA organization and its players.





MLA Documentation
Works Cited

1.) "NBA’s new dress code is business standard." 124 words. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=84ed87aa08e759beca0410b65514d020... Accessed Dec. 8, 2005.
2.) Levy, Paul. "NBA dress code stirs passion." Minneapolis- St. Paul Star Tribune. News; 1078 words. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=659f98bf6aa620126c0fc7996c59f12d... Accessed Dec. 8, 2005.
3.) "NBA to employ fashion police in Arenas." 256 words. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=659f98bf6aa620126c0fc59f12d... Accessed Dec. 8, 2005.
4.) Juliano, Joe. "Rules don’t suit A.I." Philadelphia Inquirer. News; http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12948662.htm. Accessed Dec. 14, 2005.
5.) Ailee, John Gage, ed. Webster’s Dictionary. Baltimore, MD: Harbor House Publisher Inc. 1985 Edition.
6.) Stewart, Larry. "Barkley fully supports NBA’s new dress code." Los Angeles Times. News. http://www.nba.com/news/dresscodereaction_051019.html. Accessed Dec. 14, 2005.

Steroids

Steroids have been an ongoing problem in the Major Leagues for quite some time. Rumors have been going back and forth stating who uses steroids and who does not. Sports figures have been required to take various drug tests. Some players have tested positive for taking steroids, one notable player is Rafael Palmero. People have argued that players caught taking steroids are ruining the face of America’s most precious past time. However, the biggest argument that steroids propose to us are the well-being of the young athletes of our society. The question is, is the use of steroids in the Major Leagues, affecting the younger levels of sports? I mean after all, millions of kids who play baseball and other sports, and want to be "just like them," look up to these major league players. The problem is when are kids taking it too far with wanting to be "just like these athletes?"
Statistically, National surveys have been taken where they have shown that 3%-3.5% of our Nation’s high school students today, take steroids at some point in their life. It might not look like a huge figure, but take California for example. There are currently 700,000 California high school students, and it is estimated that 20,000 of these students are or took steroids at some point in their life. California State Senator Jackie Speier accompanied the use of steroids among teenagers with the fact that "they tend to do what they think propelled their role models to professional sports stardom." Jim Rear, a drug and alcohol resource teacher for his district and also a basketball coach at Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, stated, "kids aren’t stupid. Everybody tells them about the negatives associated with steroids, but the fact is they work. When Mark McGwire set the home run record and it came out that he was using androstenedione (then a legal over-the-counter supplement), andro sales quadrupled, and a lot of that was because of teenagers." (Moore, USA TODAY)
Up until now, steroids have not really been at the top of the too do list for Congress. That was until a House of Energy and Commerce subcommittee held some hearings on this matter. Some of baseball’s brightest stars were in attendance including Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. Along with them, were the parents of kids, who after taking steroids, committed suicide. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Garibaldi and Donald Hooten spoke on this steroid subject regarding their kids. (Neuman, Los Angeles Times) After hearing their statements, "a California Representative and ranking Democrat on the U.S. House of Committee who conducted the MLB hearings," (Moore, USA TODAY) stated, "it impressed on me and everyone else that this is a public health issue as much as an issue of restoring credibility to athletics." This is a testament that the use of steroids in the major leagues is in fact influencing our youth. (Neuman, Los Angeles Times)
The choice to take steroids could also tie in with the fact that sports have become so demanding. In order to keep up, kids are taking enhancers to "stay in the game". Under this kind of pressure, they think it is the only way to increase their ability. One of my personal experiences with kids taking steroids was during a high school basketball game. I actually played against a kid who had taken steroids. It was a known fact. He was distinctly bigger, stronger, and psychologically unstable. It is bad enough for me having to play bigger and stronger kids on a daily basis with my 5’8,155 pound frame. We lost the game and that night I remember lying in bed questioning myself thinking, "how can I possibly compete with someone like that? It would seem that the only way someone like myself would be able to come close to a kid like that would be to take steroids and be just like him." Although I would be able to compete with him and be a step above everyone else, it would negate everything I stand for like hard work, honesty, and my respect for the game. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like that, and it could be part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in right now.
Thanks to the efforts of people who have brought this topic out in the open, it is clear that the youth of our country is effected by steroid use among professional athletes. Because of the emphasis that is placed on competition, and the ‘bigger is better mentality,’ it is important that society continues to investigate this hot topic and use its findings to educate parents and their children. The youth should be encouraged to recognize the negatives of steroid use and the long term effects, not only the short term gains.


















MLA Documentation
Works cited
1.) Moore, David Leon. "As steroid use doubles, a school fights back." USA TODAY.
News; pg.1A. 2047 words. http://web.lexis.nexis.com/universe/document?_m=2357aef918cd059ef0c0792e25bdeb2.. Oct. 10, 2005
2.) Neuman, Johanna. "Politicians Expect Testing Bill to Pass Easily." Los Angeles Times. Sports; Sports Desk; Part D; Pg. 3. 1099 words. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=07db2d647287b78254d30d6d973c47... Accessed Oct. 10, 2005.

Sports and War

One of the most competitive activities in our society is sports. These competitive sports are essential components in the equation of our human nature. We admire the finest and most fit athletes who compete with others who have the same qualities to see who will be "crowned" the champion. We are always trying to satisfy our hunger for competitive games. It is something handed down for thousands of years traced back to the Ancient Greeks. Even now, everyone looks forward to the Olympic Games.
Often, sports are compared to war. There are many war terms used in sports. In personal experiences, I have heard specific references made regarding war. For example, you hear people say before a game, "Its time to go to war." Another reference said to me was, "You need to battle in the trenches if you want to be successful tonight." Like war, people acknowledge the sports players as "warriors." They see view men and women athletes people who are full of heart and possess a strong passion for what they do. It is true that athletes work hard and put in much time to become successful. However, can we make honest comparison between an athlete training for a particular sport and a soldier who is training to go to war? This comparison might be a stretch. After all is said and done, there is quite a big difference.
In sports, you have players who push themselves to their limits and beyond. They must strive to be in top physical form, and mentally prepared for a long, tough season. The players put in long hours working out so they can meet the challenges of the upcoming season. They pride themselves on execution and perfection so that they will be ready for anything on the field, court or any other place where the game takes place. The soldiers of war also push themselves to the limits. They sweat in the boot camps for weeks, even months to prepare for war. Boot camp for soldiers is certainly not the same as working out in a first class training facility those athletes are provided. Soldiers are also challenged physically and mentally, so that they are prepared for any kind of war.
Another comparison that can be made is that of teamwork. Both athletes and soldiers are embedded with the concept of teamwork. They teach the soldiers that if they do not move as one unit or one team, the battle will be lost. The soldiers are taught how to survive on their own, but at the same time, they are taught how to trust each other. They are taught how to use teamwork to overcome the obstacles of war. This is very similar to sports. Each player has his or her own talent. They have the skills to play one on one or succeed individually, but if they want to win the game, they will have to play as one.
At the end of a sports competition, there is most likely a winner and a loser. That is one of the reasons why people are so drawn to watching sports. They want to see who is the most skilled and who "wants it more". Although there is often a loser, the loser will always get another chance. The loser gets to go back to the drawing board to fix the problems. In the end, it is all just a game. That certainly differs from war. Yes, there is usually "winner" and a "loser" in war as well, but to be the "loser" in war is much more serious than in sports. The losers rarely get the chance to go back to the drawing board, and things in their life are ultimatly changed forever. There is also the suffering and loss of lives that accompanies war. That is very different from a sports competition.
So, I ask again, is this a fair comparison? No, it is not. However, I do understand why sports are often compared to war. I have been pushed to the limits in drills to prepare for the season, but in the end, it is just a game. That concept is often lost in our competitive nature and although everyone would love to say that war is just a game, it is not. The fact is people’s lives are changed and real people suffer real consequences. There are no "winners" in war, just chaos and lost lives. Even though sports deserve their kudos, there really is no comparison. The hardships and ultimate sacrifice of life for one’s country is over and beyond what athletes do. I wish there was a fair comparison and we could say that war is a game, but the fact of the matter is the seriousness of war far outweighs the competitiveness of sports.

South Jersey Water Allocation

Everyday, communities are faced with problems. Although some are bigger than others, each one requires its own individual attention whether it is drug abuse, unemployment, or even domestic abuse. However, sometimes even the best communities can overlook problems, which result in the problems growing. Like many other communities in South Jersey, Vineland is seeing a rapid growth of housing developments. They are spreading all over Vineland like wild fire and consequently could cause the same type of effect if the Vineland Water Department and Mayor Perry Barse do not take the right approach.
With Vineland having an area of sixty-nine square miles of land, it is the largest city and/or town in the state of New Jersey according to The United States Census Bureau (Vineland, New Jersey. Wikipedia Encyclopedia). The fact that Vineland has so much suitable land for housing equates as a key ingredient for contractors to produce housing developments. The Cohansey aquifer supplies Vineland with the best water resource in the region and has been well maintained over the years (Saffioti Sr., Frank J.).
"The major problem that has resulted from the rapid growth of these housing developments is that the City of Vineland Water Department and Mayor Barse did not properly prepare for this influx in housing. If they continue with these developments, the city will be fined" (Saffioti Sr., Frank J.). There are water allocations that the city must follow. "The Bureau of Water Allocation, operating as an arm of the Water Supply Administration, is responsible for ensuring that the surface and ground water diversions do not exceed the sustainable yield of available water resources and do not adversely impact the existing users of the resources" (United States. Bureau of Water Allocation). This translates that the WSA distributes the water equally among the cities or towns of one particular area.
The poor planning is evident as there is only a small amount of allocation left for the up and coming housing developments planned for Vineland. This is approximately one percent of allocation (Saffioti Sr., Frank J.). In the past year, there has been a number of six hundred and fifty plus houses planned for housing developments. This is twenty times the amount of houses proposed five years ago (Giselle, Sotelo).
Some people tend to think that the lack of water allocation is actually a good thing because it will slow down the housing boom and the suburban sprawl that is apparently happening in Vineland. However, if the continued growth of Vineland is to be put on hold, naturally it would impact our community’s economy. For example, contractors such as builders, plumbers, electricians, and other workers would not have steady work. It would also affect the local stores because not as many people would purchase necessary materials for their home. In addition, increased housing developments provide more taxes for the city from perspective homeowners. Therefore, putting a halt to the current planned developments could have a domino effect on the overall positive growth of the city and the well-being of its economy.
New Jersey as far back as 1999 has been working to ensure that the water systems in its communities are properly maintained. " In accordance with section 1420© of The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, each state is required to develop and implement a strategy to assist existing systems in acquiring and maintaining capacity. The United States Environmental Protection Agency approved New Jersey’s Capacity Development Strategy on September 28, 2000" (United States. Bureau of Safe Drinking water).
The first obvious approach to resolving the water supply problem would be for Mayor Barse to apply for increased water allocations to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. "The DWSRF serves as the primary source of funding for implementing the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s capacity development strategy. The NJDEP is allowed to set aside up to ten percent of each capitalization grant for state program management activities, which includes funding the Capacity Development Program. In addition, the NJDEP is allowed to set aside two percent of each capitalization grant for small water system technical assistants and fifteen percent of each capitalization grant for activities to assist development and/or implementation of source water protection, well head protection, and capacity development" (United States. Bureau of Safe Drinking water).
Ultimately, the city of Vineland must maintain a balance that permits new construction to meet the state requirements regarding the water allocation set by the NJDEP. If they do not abide by the water allocations, they will have to face stiff penalties. More importantly, continuing to build at such a rapid pace knowing that the water supply is at stake is a serious matter. Therefore, Vineland needs to take a good look to see if the continued rapid housing growth will adversely affect our water supply. If so, builders should not be permitted to construct too many more housing developments in Vineland.


MLA Documentation
Works Cited
1.) Vineland, New Jersey. Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Updated November 15, 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vineland,_New_Jersey . Accessed Nov. 30, 2005.
2.) United States. Bureau of Water Allocation. Water Supply Administration; About Water Supply; Water Allocation. Trenton, NJ. Updated August 18, 2005. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/alocatin.htm . Accessed Nov. 30, 2005.
3.) Giselle, Sotelo. "Vineland Searches for an Oasis." The Daily Journal. News. 984 words. Printed November 17, 2005. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=thedailyjournal&f_site=thedailyjournal&f_sitename=Daily+Journal%2C+The+%28Vineland%2C+NJ%29&p_theme=gannett&p_product=VDJB&p_action=search&p_field_base-0=&p_text_base-0=water+Department&Search=Search&p_perpage=10&p_maxdocs=200&p_queryname=700&s_search_type=keyword&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=-3qzM. Accessed Nov. 30, 2005.
4.) United States. Bureau of Safe Drinking water. Report to the Governor Status on the Implementation of New Jersey’s Capacity Development Program. New Jersey. September 2005. www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/index.html . Accessed Nov. 29, 2005.
5.) Saffioti Sr., Frank J. Licensed Master Plumber, #5578.
Personal Interview. 27 Nov. 2005.

Basketball

I like basketball.