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Basketball men in tights 04-02-2006
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BY MIKE DOUGHERTY | THE (WESTCHESTER, N.Y.) JOURNAL NEWS
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The Milwaukee Bucks unofficially lead the league in what has become a hot NBA fashion trend - players wearing full-length tights underneath their shorts to keep their muscles warm. The Associated Press / Morry Gash |
There were some anxious moments before Eddy Curry first climbed into a pair of high-tech black tights. He was fearful of becoming a locker-room punch line.
Where's your tutu, Spider-Man?
"I couldn't wait to get rid of them," the oversized New York Knicks middle man said. "And that was because I didn't really like the idea of me wearing tights. Now it seems like everybody is wearing them, so it's cool. As long as they help, I'm going to wear them."
Several of the NBA's trendsetters are venturing into a brave new world of visible synthetic undergarments in hopes of preventing injury and keeping warm. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade regularly are dressing up like Peter Pan.
Of course, that doesn't make it easier to face a mirror in ballet pants.
"Eddy was reluctant to wear tights at first because he thought they made him look soft or feminine," Knicks trainer Roger Hinds said. "There's not enough elastic quality in the fabric to support anything, but for keeping a joint or soft tissue warm, there definitely is some benefit."
The fashion trend was started a year ago by Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse, who was searching for a way to keep a problematic groin muscle warm during the playoffs. He turned a pair of runner's tights into standard equipment.
Positive word of mouth is helping a number of players overcome their fears.
Milwaukee unofficially leads the league in manly hose. Joe Smith began wearing tights after he came back from knee surgery. Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Mo Williams all followed suit.
Not everyone likes the look. Marcus Camby is careful to note that he's wearing only a long sleeve to keep a cranky knee warm.
"I don't wear pantyhose," the Denver Nuggets' forward said.
The practicality of tights usually outweighs that issue.
"You feel a lot better," Curry said. "They help you stay warm. Coming back out for the third quarter, I used to have to really get a good stretch, but now I'm fine. After I warm up a little bit and shoot a few layups, I'm OK to go."
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Vince Carter is also on board.
"I can't live without them," said the New Jersey Nets' showman, who isn't afraid to stand out in a crowd. "Most everyone else has the older ones, the shiny ones where you look like a guy running through the park. These are a little different."
Just like Allen Iverson's arm sleeve, the long pants are catching on down the line.
Derek Dennis began wearing tights during Peekskill (N.Y.) High's latest run to a state title, even though he didn't fully understand the benefits.
"As much as I work and I sweat, I figured it might help keep me dry during the game," the hulking forward said. "It's more comfortable. I saw a couple of NBA players and I liked it, so I figured it wouldn't look that out-of-the-ordinary."
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