Miami Heat superstar guard Dwyane Wade is preparing to take the court for an NBA game. He slips on his jersey, ties his shoes and adheres a decorative Band-Aid to his cheek.
That last step, at least, has been added to his pre-game routine since the Heat’s Feb. 8 game against Charlotte, when Bobcat forward Juwan Howard made contact with Wade’s face, causing Wade to get stitches under his left eye.
Wade has sported Band-Aids with designs ranging from an American flag to letters spelling out ‘Wade’and the word ‘Flash,’ his nickname, complete with a lightning bolt logo.
On Saturday, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported the NBA had contacted Wade regarding his personalized Band-Aids.
‘A player can wear a Band-Aid for healthcare purposes, but it shouldn’t have any name or identifications on it,’ NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
In banning Wade from wearing the bandages, the NBA has restricted Wade’s First Amendment rights. Americans are allowed freedom of expression under the U.S. Constitution, and this extends to the professional basketball court.
Granted, there are office rules and dress codes that must be followed in any business for it to run smoothly. But the NBA is one place where these rules can be more relaxed.
Distinct logos and uniforms serve the purpose of differentiating between teams on the court. Unless a player’s personal expressions give him an unfair advantage (which Wade’s Band-Aid doesn’t), the NBA should not regulate them.
The designs on Wade’s Band-Aids were not offensive or insulting. They are no more distracting than Dennis Rodman’s multi-colored hair designs or Brad Miller’s tattoos. NBA commissioner David Stern should focus more on matters that will actually affect the game (such as getting more fans into seats – according to The Times Picayune, eight NBA teams averaged fewer than 15,000 fans per game prior to the All-Star Break on Feb. 14) rather than nitpicking about players’ personal style.’
