NBA bullying memo, With the Miami Dolphins hazing/bullying saga grabbing so much of the sporting world's attention right now, the NBA is making sure it stays out of the spotlight.
The NBA's typical rookie hazing includes things like forcing a player to get food, carry a Dora the Explorer backpack, or a giant teddy bear. There really haven't ever been reports of anything more significant.
Still, the league is getting out in front of anything sending out a memo to all teams reminding them of the NBA's anti-hazing policies, according to ESPN.com.
The lengthy list of violations, sources said, includes: any physical abuse or threats of violence; verbal abuse focused on an individual's race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, sexuality, etc.; destruction, defacement or theft of a fellow player's personal property; engaging in any activity that intimidates or threatens fellow players with ostracism or inflicts extreme mental stress, embarrassment, humiliation or shame; and forcing an individual to engage in any activity or perform any task that violates federal, state or local law or NBA rules and regulations.
Also prohibited, sources said, is requiring an individual to unreasonably pay for meals, travel, entertainment expenses, goods or services that are being solely enjoyed by others as well as imposing physical activities on a fellow player — such as exposure to weather, confinement in a restricted area, or consumption of food, liquid or substance — that leads to unreasonable risk for the individual or adversely affects their mental or physical health or safety. …
Added another team official from the West: “I've been around for a while and I've never really heard any crazy stories.”
The NBA and NFL are very different in terms of locker room culture, but with what's happened with the Dolphins drawing so much attention to locker room etiquette, it's worth paying attention to.
The NBA's typical rookie hazing includes things like forcing a player to get food, carry a Dora the Explorer backpack, or a giant teddy bear. There really haven't ever been reports of anything more significant.
Still, the league is getting out in front of anything sending out a memo to all teams reminding them of the NBA's anti-hazing policies, according to ESPN.com.
The lengthy list of violations, sources said, includes: any physical abuse or threats of violence; verbal abuse focused on an individual's race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, sexuality, etc.; destruction, defacement or theft of a fellow player's personal property; engaging in any activity that intimidates or threatens fellow players with ostracism or inflicts extreme mental stress, embarrassment, humiliation or shame; and forcing an individual to engage in any activity or perform any task that violates federal, state or local law or NBA rules and regulations.
Also prohibited, sources said, is requiring an individual to unreasonably pay for meals, travel, entertainment expenses, goods or services that are being solely enjoyed by others as well as imposing physical activities on a fellow player — such as exposure to weather, confinement in a restricted area, or consumption of food, liquid or substance — that leads to unreasonable risk for the individual or adversely affects their mental or physical health or safety. …
Added another team official from the West: “I've been around for a while and I've never really heard any crazy stories.”
The NBA and NFL are very different in terms of locker room culture, but with what's happened with the Dolphins drawing so much attention to locker room etiquette, it's worth paying attention to.
