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The thug mentality is not a place for the NBA; however the game appreciation value is diminished because of the fights and taunting of opponents of opposing team. I have been a long time fan of the NBA and they were more classier players. Willis Reed of the Nick's, Dr.J, The Big 0 , Bill Russell, Pistol Pete, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, just to name of few of the old role models that the present day players should be emulating. The dress code for the old NBA team where more sophisticated and required to dress in a suit or formal attire, was part of their job. Let face it you do not go to an interview looking and dressing like a thug or acting like one , so why would a NBA role model want to dress and think like a thug. This bring the level of th NBA down to a street brawl or gutter mentality. One must be honest their is no room at the top for thug mentality players, their aggressive play is enough to frighten court standbys. If one of the present players run into the crowded of fans and the fans tries to help him get to his feet, they are likely to get cursed out and a huge fist upside the head. The tone of the NBA has gotten rough and tough, that the referees must change the way they call technical fouls because play can get uncontrollable and this may lead to a fight. The vulgar language being used on the court is not warranted, the respect and dignity of the game has decreased. The thug mentality is not good for the sport and should be highly regulate that if this type of behavior persist that the players who chose to act like this be screen out of the NBA. They would be allowed back after several months until they attend modified behavior to an acceptable and appropriate standard of a professional Athlete. They should be required to attend classes to help with their interpersonal skills and overall public posture. I believe that since many players do not attend college for their four years in college; but leave in their first or second year, that they do not get the level of education and teaching of how to conduct themselves or what type of behavior is required of them as a professional. Many of the stars in the NBA do not attend college at all many come straight from high school, so their mentality is not mature and most of what they have learned is from the thug environment and therefore they take this thug mentality in the NBA. I would not like to play in the NBA of today for example; if you steal the ball from a player he looks at you with retaliation of physical violence or subject to hurt you on a flagrant 2 foul and perhaps end your basketball career, no the thug mentality is no place for NBA basketball.

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