|
 LeBron James' call for #23 to be retired in recognition for Michael Jordan's contributions to the NBA have set about a flurry of discussion. On LBJ's motivation for the change...and on whether Jordan deserves it. And the thing is, that whilst His Airness may have been the most prominent face for the rise of the NBA, the motivating force behind this increased prominence is Commissioner David Stern.
I'm about to do something I never thought I'd ever do: make a piece praising David Stern.
It's pretty much become a blogging pastime, deriding David Stern and his seemingly heavy-handed outlook on how the NBA should be run. But to be honest, it's not entirely fair. Yes, sometimes he's draconian, even machiavellian in the way he manages the game, but on occasions that's just what is needed.
In 1984 when David Stern took over the NBA, he took over a league that was very much the little brother of MLB and NFL, having a somewhat secular audience - lacking the broad appeal of the other two codes.
Under his tenure, it has made massive grounds, and without a doubt has the greatest international appeal of any US-based sport.
There's no doubting that Stern's been lucky. Having Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton start the same year he took over certainly was fortunate. Stars of that caliber to add to the bright lights of Magic and Larry Bird made the promotion of the league a helluva lot easier.
The NBA reached new heights popularity-wise, and Michael Jordan's contract with Nike began the now massive association that NBA stars have with endorsements. This in turn fed an even broader audience to the Association.
And the money rolls in...
The NBA's rise under Stern hasn't been without controversy. There have been allegations of match-fixing, and rigging the draft... and the ruination of the NBA's image after the "Malice in the Palace" brawl in 2004, post which NBA players were grossly blanketed with the image of being little more than tattooed thugs. Stern and the NBA have responded adroitly and swiftly to each of these hurdles,quickly dismissing anything they regard as being not worthy of response... and implementing suitable changes and guards against repeat offenses in an effort to restore equilibrium.
 Not all of these changes have been met with smiles. Most notably the introduction and implementation of the NBA's dress code was met with fairly vocal opposition from a number of players. The basic gist of the code declared: Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business.
"Business Casual" attire means
- A long or short-sleeved dress shirt (collared or turtleneck), and/or a sweater.
- Dress slacks, khaki pants, or dress jeans.
- Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots, or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, or work boots.
More than a few players felt that these changes were oppressive. Allen Iverson summed up their opinions when he stated,
"the dress code is not who I am and doesn't allow me to express myself."
Stern & co. didn't flinch, and the dress code remained. Now, it's impossible to measure the impact that this change had upon the perception held by middle-America, but it's probably a safe bet that it's had at least a part to play in at least making the NBA more accessible.
Under the stewardship of David Stern, the NBA has done well. More than well. The growth has included another 7 franchises (New Orleans Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats - listing them at their current locations), a massive 28 new arenas, and a host of changes aiming to make the NBA more 'patron-friendly'.
 Additionally, the NBA is a far more international game than ever before. Within the 2009/10 season, there are a record 83 players from outside the US taking part in the NBA. There are 11 NBA offices internationally, and plans to increase this number substantially over the next few years.
Whilst we may not always agree with the changes, Stern deserves our patience. It's been proven time and time again that the NBA's in good hands.
And all obvious puns aside, those hands are Stern's.
 |
Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics. 
The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.
The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account! 