The question may sound a bit stupid but...

it was because he wanted the team to focus on basketball, not looking cool.

one could argue that headbands have some utility (taking the sweat from your fronthead for instance…) and some hairstyles and tatoos (though it might be hard to take take them off before games) are allowed, and they have less utility than headbands (not saying it’s THE ultimate basketball accessory, as shooes…).

Enact that policy when the NBA announced that throwing your headband would be an automatic Tech. Remember, Randolph ALWAYS threw his headband.

I don’t think Nate hates headbands. As OCB said above it’s a focus issue, an issue of looking the same and being a unit (much like the military), and an easy way to reinforce that there are standards that everyone has to measure up to. Remember when Nate came this team was spraying all over the place as far as focus and discipline. This was one of the first things that got them together.

If and when the Blazers become really good or win a championship I wouldn’t be suprised if Nate said, “Now you’ve grown up enough to be able to handle yourselves” and let some of the restrictions ease.

—Dave

Why the %#!$*?¢ doesn’t Shaq wear one?!?

I mean, have you seen that dude’s dome during a game? Looks like freaking Haystack Rock in January!
I mean, if he can get by without one, who can say they NEED one?

Hey, on the other hand, maybe Shaq should be required to wear one, before anyone else is required to abstain, y’know?
Maybe he could use one of those souvenir Rasta Monsta dread-wig thingies from ‘99—throw a mop on that spill, puh-LEEZ!

Looks like Brando as Kurtz sometimes, I swear . . .

When Nate met with our players for the first time, he wanted to know their commitment with Blazers, so he said them:

1 .- You must hate L*kers, perhaps you should hurt someone.

2 .- It is forbidden to use headbands.

When someone asked why he couldn´t use headbands, Nate write beside his name: “one of ours”.

I wear ‘em when I play basketball, when I walk/run with the dog, when I watch basketball even. Headbands are part of the Blazer legacy because our team made them cool again.

Plus, the ladies love headbands. It makes them wonder what we’re hiding under that stretchy 1.5 inch of headbandy goodness! The mystery is what keeps them coming back for more. And a fake accent like Sergio’s.

I don’t like Nate’s ban, since I feel headbands are a functional addition to a player’s wardrobe. It does keep sweat out of your eye. However, I see where Nate is coming from and he wanted to keep the focus less on how you look and more on how you play.

The ban supposedly started when he coached the Sonics, and they had a turn-back-the-clock game. Before tip off, everyone was getting all dressed up and olde tymey, really enjoying themselves. Then when the game started, they got blown out and Nate said it was because the players spent more time caring about how they looked and less about the game they were about to play.

So no headbands, forever more!

I think with the current group Nate can relinquish this rule, but it’ll probably have to wait till our team has really accomplished something—and even then, some of the players really gotta wanna wear a headband.

Outlaw did before I think. Maybe he’ll hold out on his new deal in a few seasons unless he can have his headband back. I remember reading in a medical journal that excessive forehead sweat that isn’t absorbed by a stretchy fabric can cause asthma problems, so maybe Outlaw does NEED to wear a headband! His potential to play big minutes depends on it!

In general, I do not like rules that prohibit the self expression of our favorite players. That is one of the elements that makes the NBA, the NBA.

!Viva la headband!

Mortimer

didn’t mandate that the players MUST wear headbands.

is to take the individual out of team. Headbands are an individual statement. This team dresses alike on the floor and plays for each other.

The word you are looking for in English is dictatorial. And all coaches are dictatorial is some ways. Nobody will be a coach for long if they tolerate late for practices and games, failure to learn the plays, yelling at the coach in public, etc. The methods of discipline might differ about some of those things but they are still dictatorial in that they are not determined by the players and they are not negotiable. I have no problem with Coach Nate enforcing a “no headbands” policy. It is not a big deal to a young team player. For years the Yankees have not allowed beards and long hair. You want those things you don’t want to play for the Yankees. Dictatorial? Yes but successful marketing of team brand as well. You get paid to play the game and as in any occupation there are constrictions to your employment.