Amen, Brother!

Dear Sirs:

David Stern is quite possibly the best friend black, American-born professional athletes have ever had in the commissioner's seat of a pro sports league.Quit fighting David Stern. Quit complaining about the dress code. Work in partnership with Stern while he's around running the league.

Because you're young, because many of you didn't place a high priority on education, because you were handed lots of money at a young age and because most of your agents don't waste time explaining things to you they don't think you can comprehend, you have trouble grasping the big picture.

The owners and the commissioner have decided one of the main things standing in the way of growth is the negative, thug image NBA players have here at home and abroad. Now, if you like, you can blame the "racist" American media for this negative image. Besides being a copout, it won't change the negative image.

Too many young, black professional athletes have too closely aligned themselves with the hip-hop culture, which in reality is nothing more than prison culture. Shut up! You know it's the truth. Gun-toting, drug-dealing, full-body-tattooed, gang-repping rappers have overrun hip-hop music and hip-hop culture and have poisoned just about the whole scene.

It's comical to listen to you all call Stern's dress code racist when black-owned nightclubs have been enforcing similar dress codes (and using metal detectors) for years just to keep the hip-hop thugs out.The NBA wants this element/image out of its arenas for the same reason black nightclub owners want it out. It's bad for business. I'm not knocking everybody in the joint. But I can't find fault with the NBA for wanting to rid itself of prison culture. You guys should be asking yourself why you're embracing prison culture. You want to be 50 Cent?

I guarantee you that if you keep fighting Stern, the main person looking out for your best interests, the NBA will eventually quicken its importation of overseas players and you'll all get your chance to rap. Without your cooperation, the NBA will go the same road major-league baseball has taken.

Stern wants you to come to work dressed like a professional. He wants that image, and he wants you to come to work with a professional mindset. He's not asking a lot. He's asking you to protect the financial interest of the game you made great. If you won't do it, he'll be justified in finding players that will.

Jason Whitlcok, KC Star