"The Rise of the NBA Nerd" Commentary

According to Wesley Morris, the 90s and 00s styles are coming back. However, what is the significance of the return of bow ties, sweater vests, and dorky glasses that were once the attire of a typical nerd? For basketball players, such as Kevin Durant, they want to portray a professional look, which deals with fitting in with the rest of the community. Many have started to realize that, sometimes, the only way to receive respect is to be someone different from who they were. That plays a huge toll on our society today, meaning that racism is still alive in the United States. The “Carlton look,” which was once the look of nerds, is now the essential style for many athletes’ role models, as well as artists and rappers.

The effect of the “Carlton look” is the minimizing of racial stereotypes. In society today, there are several typical stereotypes, and people of these groups are well aware of them. Because of the reality of peer pressure and judgment, it is more likely that people, especially celebrities, would do anything to satisfy the public. Plus, many of these basketball players have stylists; they do not get to choose what to wear. It does not make them any more unique than actors, singers, etc. They all dress similarly in magazine shoots, interviews, and even in everyday life. Do you ever wonder whether they enjoy wearing such attire or being told what to dress in. Although I love some of the outfits they wear, I believe that athletes, as well as other people, should be entitled to wear whatever they like.

Morris uses an informal tone, but affectively brings understanding to his argument. He uses several examples with basketball players dressing up for press conferences, as well as those similar styles from a decade or two ago. However, I think Morris uses too many examples in this article, making it more confusing to stick to the point. What is interesting about the article is that it brings a different side of sports; this situation becomes more social and political since it also influences people in other aspects.