In the past 24 hours, there has been a lot of discussion about the image of chess players. Is there a link between this and major sponsorship for chess?
How many chess players have endorsement contracts? How many tournaments have multimillion dollar sponsorship deals?
Some gave the examples of athletes in other sports. Let’s examine that. Do people like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova dress in jeans and T-shirts and look like they have not showered in 3 days when they make appearances at public events?
I agree that male chess players do not always have to wear suits and ties. Slacks and blazers are fine. They do not have to wear their jackets while playing. They can take them off and put them on their chairs. But I do not agree with the idea of players coming to some of the most prestigious chess events in the world with jeans and T-shirts.
The players have the right to wear anything they want unless the organizers set their rules in advance and many do. However, do not expect to potential sponsors to line up waiting to give you money if the players are not marketable.
In addition, the dress code is just a small aspect of it. There is also the ability to communicate properly, the ability to interact with the fans and the ability to work with the sponsors, etc. All of these aspects are important when it comes to attract sponsors to our sport.
What is your take? Let’s talk sense please. Let’s not use the typical rhetoric to make an argument.
If you feel that it is better for the players to look sloppy, please tell us why?
If you feel that it is better for the players to look proper and clean, even without suits and ties, please tell us why?
If you own a multimillion dollar company and you are looking for chess players to be spokespersons, which would you choose? And why?
Are you serious? Of course a clean cut, well groomed and well spoken chess players.
No sponsors in their right minds would give big money to sloppy players. No way!
Let them be forced to wear formal attire for the opening and closing cereminies only. During the game, let them weare whatever they want as long as it is “decent”. A “cool” image might actually help in promoting the game versus stiff ties etc.
If reference is being made to the present Elista matches, I would be interested to know what the temperature in the playing hall is. If it’s very hot and there is no air conditioning, I think T-shirts are forgivable.
Glad to see you wouldn’t recommend the full suit/tie deal either. Business casual should be the appropriate dress code.
Another important point is the personality of the players. You mention Michael Jordan etc many of these guys often appear in public dressed like a dog’s dinner – always wearing sneakers etc. But they all seemed to have larger than life personalities.
I think chess players are probably more introverted by nature so its harder to make stars of them.
To be honest one of the biggest enemies to chess in the afluent western world is the advent of X boxes/PS3/Wii etc and kids would seem to want to spend their time playing these rather than chess and other sports/games. Wonder if you could get some sort of basic chess game (with appropriate blood and gore) for one of these consoles?
Chess is already identified to people with social and mind problems with obscure and weird/nerd personalities, (look at the most part of the movies we have, except “In search of Bobby Fischer” and “Knights of the South Bronx” in the general messege). Every time you talk about chess wiht someone that is not related to it doesn´t have any positive attitude and you have to explain and convince them that it has a lot of good things to give.
So it is important, as Susan says, that players do their part, being the most beneficiated of all.
As an organizer I don´t like anything related to that bad image at all…
players are here to play not to sell themselves as marketable images .. of course as a sponsor i would like to have better images in the professionals i sponsor ..but that should hamper the game..if in pursuit of sponsorship contracts u loose site of the game thats no good.. if that phenomenon becomes widespread as it has in other sports the whole game is degraded .. chess unlike soccer, baseball has never enjoyed that much popularity or fans … key reason it is not TV-marketable .. how many channels would broadcast matches live? i think therefore it not really important to have good image while playing .. of course endorsements,advts are altogether different matter
Why don’t you call Judit and ask what is going on?
But at any rate it is pretty clear looking at the back of those t-shirts that they have the tourney logo on them, and they were probably given them, and asked to wear them for publicity sake.
But more importantly, please end this rant. A simple statement of position is clear enough. We know what you believe. But rancor and rabble rousing is definitely not what the sponsors are interested in. And there is plenty of evidence of that.
It definetely should have dress code. At least player should dress in business casual. For female player, dress should be modest.
Nearly all scientific studies on the matter point to conservative dress as conveying a professional appearance.
The swim suit issue was not being silly, that gets money in advertising as well, so to answer the question right, money is not the only consideration in this pertinent question.
BTW – I noticed the dress down right away from the photo, so it is significant.
IMAGE IS EVERYTHING… especially in public relations and marketing. Each and every Grand Master ought to think before putting on any article of clothing and showing up for a public game.
Maybe they believe in a jacket shirt and tie? Maybe they believe in something more trendy? Whatever it is the decision will either help or haunt them (and the game). It is incredibly naive to blow off a decision about public wardrobe and not think about it.
A DRESS CODE is usually enacted when people don’t make a thinking decisions about what they are wearing. Having everyone show up in a shirt and tie might be considered over the top by some but it sure beats a a five year old, food stained, Bart Simpson t-shirt.
Sorry to say this… but Judit was coming off the plane in jeans and t-shirt being greeted by representives of a culture dressed very traditionally and very thoughtfully. I thought there was a mismatch there that was not respectful of her position as a visiting dignitary and one of the top 20 chess players in the world.
People notice!!!
all IMHO 🙁
the image is all!!!
Dress code should not matter. The top players of our sport should be more concerned about their character. Integrity and humility are key factors. If the outside world sees these traits in our top players then they will gain respect for our wonderful game.
You rather beg the question by suggesting that players look sloppy in their T-shirts. They obviously do to you, and they don’t look the smartest to me, but there might be thousands of children out there that you’re trying to encourage into chess who think the Ts are cool.
There’s no impediment to chess sponsorship: the sponsors can say what dress-code they want, just as Elista have done so.
Besides – would you argue with the Elista organisers? If you want to leave the country, have a choice of bus or plane, and the buses don’t sound too hot.
Neko wa kawaii desu ne!
I would sponsor someone who is quietly competent and dignified. This would imply that they were modest and clearly didn’t take themselves too seriously.
Bobby Fischer had a point when he said chess players should wear suits and ties. He always did.
If you own a multimillion dollar company and you are looking for chess players to be spokespersons, which would you choose?
I would be happy if I could found a top10 player who looks like Dennis Rodman!
Notice Kramnik is always dressed nice. He gets money.
Topalov is always dressed nice. He gets money.
The problem is putting the cart before the horse. The players will all say.
“Give me a big dollar contract and I will dress nice. Until then I choose to be my normal slob.”
The sponsor says.
“Find me a well dressed chess player and I will give him a contract. Until then I will avoid chess player. They all chooxe to be their normal slob self.”
Guess who has to change first if they want the money. It is the same with an education. You are not allowed to be a brain surgeon until after you get the education.
Of course up to now the USCF does not want sponsors because they will want a little control like making the players dress in clean cloths. Then the EB of the USCF will have to hang up its dirty jeans and put down the cheap beer. So what else is new.
I wonder if someone made the EB dress nice then they will get frustrated with the players and make them suffer too. haha. “Make those player wear clean cloths,we have to.” instead of the present. “Don’t make the players wear clean cloths or else I will have to.”
Now on Michael Jordan he is paid multimillions of dollars a year to wear sneakers. Those are not just sneakers. Those are like a key to Fort Knox for Michael Jordan.
If you wanna popularize Chess and make it appeal to young players, look like a sport, look like an attractive modern game, …well…. let them dress casual or sporty or whatever they feel!
Staying closed minded in the ‘must dress in suits’ will not make any progress forward for Chess.
Sorry. Suits are old fashoned and this doesn’t look like an Olympic Sport at all that way! See how the chinese dress at Olympiads 🙂 In training outfit! Now that looks like they are here to fight!! 🙂
If i had a multimillion dollar company, i’d sponsor the young casual dressed fighter. Not the boring old suit.
This is funny. I thought Sharapova looked half dressed most of the time. And other players and judges complained about the loud groans, and yet she is given as an example to follow. Sure, it’s better to look clean, but what does it matter if it’s clean jeans of other pants.
Let’s not turn into image policemen/censors. Chess is an intellectual game, not anything else.
Carlsen wore the same sweats for 2 years, and the sponsors seemed to like him.
From my Russian days I remember that there can be months without running hot water. And people stop shampooing every day. I would not hold it against them.
No need to demand stuffed shirt protocol for tournaments.
Humpy wore a training suit too!
Nice and sporty!! 🙂
What do you mean that ‘casual’ looks ‘sloppy’ !?
In chess it’s the moves that count, not how you are dressed!
Chess is a game for all walks of life – young, old, man, woman… and for people of all countries in the world. It is a well inclusive game. So the dress code should be just as neutral, and well inclusive of all the diverse walks of life.
If I was a sponsor, if Kasparov always dressed like a tramp, would I sponsor him? YES! Why? It is not what he wears. It is who he is – a great chessplayer, that matters.
I think attracting children is an important aspect to Chess and many other professions.
In the United States attracting children into the sciences (math, chemistry, physics, engineering) is a huge problem.
However, if the top scientists and IBM engineers in the country wore MICKEY MOUSE EARS it would go a long way to halting this shortage.
Einstein’s hair was always a mess and I bet he would have been amenable to the MICKEY MOUSE EARS if they were suggested and invented back then.
I don’t know if we will see doctors wearing MOUSE EARS any time soon as that profession seems to draw enough children without resorting to the MOUSE EARS. I wonder how they do it???
Well I was going to say they should dress better. But I’m happy with the general brutality of their play so far, and maybe they would feel more restrained in more restrictive clothes.
So, they can wear whatever they want as long as the games are exciting!
Greetings,
Susan is 100% right, I am actually surprised people are arguing against her point.
My guess is they don’t understand how corporate business work’s, where IMAGE is everything, why? ‘So as to attract the customers’ and only then ‘have a quality product to sell’. But of course the quality product should already exist.
I’ll put a few points up to stress my point.
When dating for the first time how do you dress or how would you like your date to appear?
When going for Top job interviews how do you dress?
When trying to advertise a product on TV how do you sell this ‘IMAGE’?
When you buy products of shelves what attracts you to them?
In relation to chess; To attract BIG sponsors and BIG MONEY and KEEP them, IMAGE (Dress code, Smart) comes first in ‘other to attract customers’ then quality comes second (Strength/style and character/personality of the player).
I agree it does not have to be necessarily Suit and Tie, but it has to be very smart, sharp and eye candy and reflects your personality in a dignified way so as people can take you seriously. Take for instance Sasikiran’s dress code in Mtel, I loved it and it mysteriously drew my attention to him, and it beautifully revealed Indian culture. I saw both chess player and the individual.
Try this folks, try going to any regular shop in jeans and sneakers to purchase something and then try again wearing a suit and see the BIG difference in how people respond.
Even Fischer realized to be treated with respect you have to appear respectable.
The simple reason chess is unpopular is its image which has led to stereo typical perceptions of it being a game for nerds or people with mental issues. Take Steinitz for example, Great player but died a destitute, Alekhine and Lasker where also close to bankruptcy through out there lives. Money only truly started pouring into chess when Fischer hit the scene, Because of his Image and his character, he attracted not only chess players but NON-CHESS PLAYERS, to this end sponsors are naturally interested. In fact things are going backwards if you think about it, Fischer was being paid Millions and this was in the 70’s which actually should equate to the tens of millions Tennis players or golfers get today. The problem with many chess players is that they only think about the 64 squares and fail to realize at the end of the day it will not put food on the table unless you convince the general public (Customers) that there is something poetic about this 64 squares and pieces (Product), and are you going to convince the customer to take notice of your product if you don’t look respectable? Chess players please GROW UP. In fact kids who play video games probably have a better business sense than many chess players I know.
At the end of the day it’s the corporate sponsors money, and so the little Top chess players can do for the sponsors and for the image of the sport is to dress with dignity; Or if you prefer you could use your own money and go play in some open Amateur tournament in tattered clothes, greasy finger nails, ‘Hair do that defies laws of gravity’, trainers where the laces look visibly depressed or you can just stroll in naked, no one will really notice.
My Regards
King.
I think that we are expressing what we are/like and not answering the question.
Chess has no sponsors, only personal relationships attracts some private and public ones.
Not the sport itself.
We have to do something to the sport and I am not referring to compare it to the massive, “sit, watch and eat with emotions”, but with the wonderfulness of chess.
But sorry we need money and the actual image is no good at all…
KING!
I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!! We need to involve children and others to show that the sport of Chess is really cool!
Having the next World Championship match where the contenders dress as TELETUBBIES
http://home.datacomm.ch/daniel.lerch/teletubbies.jpg
would be HUGE! Children would flock to the sport in droves!!!
Personally I think Kramnik ought to play in the TINKY WINKY costume myself!!! Topalov could be DIPSY!
Whenever Susan went out she could get rid of those old suit coat jackets and dress as LAH-LAH!
Please re-think your position!
These matches, like all others from Kalmykia, is not on live video. That’s unfortunate. The facility should be equipped and provide this broadcast (probably a webcast) for all these big events.
In that case, I could see why it would be important for the players to dress well. As it is, they’re in the middle of nowhere and nobody sees anything but a few still photos.
the greatest appeal of chess is that anyone, regardless of who they are or what they look like – fat, ugly, sweaty or crazy or whatever people think we look like- may join the community and sit down for a game of chess, at least in all chess clubs I know of or in the park or elsewhere, and the only things that matter is that you enjoy the game and respect your opponents and have a good time. Let’s not make chess into some aristocratic business! Even it’s only top-level chess it will scare off many people joining the community if they get the impression chess is something for businessmen in suits. Let chess players be the way they are and dress the way the feel comfortable!
only my 2 cents
If you really care about making chess look “cool” and getting big sponsorship dollars, force players to look and act like rock stars. There should be a minimum number of tattoos and piecings visible at all times.
If you want chess to appeal only to the conservative and nerdy, force players to wear suits or business attire.
Susan I think it is most important that all the officials have on a business suit also. Kirsan always has on a suit but at Elista most of the on stage workers are also casually dressed. For a World Class Championship type chess matches the dress is atrocious, terrrible. A total disgrace.
But then the leadership is not showing leadership. They are casually dressed also. This must stop.
Kirsan wants chess in the Olympics and then he has the player dress this way is incredible. How do we get the leadership to listen?????
Susan when you are elected to the EB make sure that all high level USCF tournaments must have a dress code approved by USCF.
I know where I worked it was an EGO thing to dress down. It was to signal to everyone that I am so valuable and good for the company that I can dress like a slob and they can not fire me. All EGO status. It was like a constant reminder to all the other employes that the slob was better than everyone else. It is this same kind of EGO that permiates chess tournaments. I am such a great chess player that I can dress like a slob and they still need me.
You have to find a way to break that EGO cycle. One good way is to advertise that so and so was not allowed to play because slobs are not welcome. It will be very difficult to change the situation until after the players see the money come into chess. Then they will fall into line.
Hi Susan,
I think chess player should be well suite like Levon Aronian for example. We are proud to see people honoring our sport like Levon!
Phil
Webmaster of chess & Strategy
http://phildornbusch.blogspot.com/
I have read a lot of Fischer. It seems he was constantly frustrated with the anti-intellectual invading the chess world.
He was disturbed because he viewed himself as white-collar in his work, and as an intellectual himself, he dressed in very fine suits.
He seemed to consider merely not wearing a tie with the suit clothes to be extremely “sporty”. This was the limit of him becoming immature in his appearance.
His suit materials were excellent, giving him a distinguished, and wealthy, intellectual look.
For the untrained eye, a suit is a suit. However, the trained eye can easily spot the fine stitch material of the better suits. This speaks a lot about the fine tastes of the person.
Fine suit materials are very much available today in worsted wool, at least 400 stitch. Anything less than this looks “cheap”.
Since Michael Jordan got mentioned in a few posts it should be noted that if you watch his press conferences after a game he is NOT wearing training clothes or sneakers. He is dressed up in a suit and tie. He also chose to dress that way from the hotel to the stadium even when just on the team bus. When asked why he bothered, he pointed out that he wanted to project a certain image and style and for some of the fans, that may be the only time he is actually seen by them up close and so wanted to leave a good impression.
That may be the key point – no one is asking players to completely change their lives and style, but if they can’t even try to do something for a few hours before a tourney and a few hours afterwards, it is hard to convince potential sponsors that the image they are considering is worth their time, energy and money.
There are many sports which have found a happy balance between allowing the player’s personalities come through while still keeping to a sense of elegance and style: snooker, tennis and poker are some examples. In snooker the players all dress elegantly and it actually helps with the image of cool concentration. In tennis, players can don a variety of colors and design but none are sloppy or unkempt. Finally in poker, clothing fashion is quite variable but note that they do rigorously enforce a language rule – some gamesmanship and repartee is allowed but any use of unaccepted language is met with very harsh financial penalties.
The only chess player I know of which was offered millions of dollars for marketing was Bobby Fischer and he turned them all down of course! But what he did was marketable and his image as the public perceived him back in 1970 to 1972. After the match, he could have made over 10 million dollars in deals. Fischer as we know always dressed extremely well to all tournaments. He was a good interview back then and had a good stage prescence in front of the camera. I do not think Kapov or Kasparov have been able to command the money Fischer was offered. We need to create a positive attractive to sponsors chess professional image and I believe in the USA Gata Kamsky is our best chance if he is successful in winning World Championship.
Fischer was also fortunate to be tall, slim and very attractive. He looked really good in a suit!
What about other cultrues clothing? The western world suit or blazer dress code is in place far from everywhere. Should we force the potential Arab or Kongolese Super GM into a suit although he or she never wore one? I think this whole discussion is disrespectful since it takes for granted that the suit/blazer is what everyone wants to wear. What’s next? Ban fat chess players?
Some big corporation do just fine without a dress code: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R90Zs60HXms
And google is, after all, one of the really big “mental” corporations – isn’t it this kind of coporations that you would expect to sponser a mental game like.. chess?
Remember we are talking about PROFESSIONALS OF CHESS, not scholastic, internet, every other day or club players…
Another issue mentioned several times, I don´t think chess needs to be Olympic, we have already our own Olimpiade, and I don´t have a clear understanding how this has helped soccer, basquetbol, tennis, hockey… and could help golf, chess, baseball, car racing, etc.
As s chess player that probably has more access to the non-chess public, Susan knows (emphasis, emphasis) what works with outsiders-what parents and sponsers see. The attire has to look like you have “made it”-not like you haven’t or don’t want to. Susan is “spot on.”
The problem is not solved by players being well dressed for one tournament where there is a dress code.
As mentioned. The players must always be spot on well dressed. And that sounds like Judit was not appropriately professionally dressed as she walked off the airplane. That must stop. Any time the photographers might be present the player must be spot on dressed.
No the western suit and tie is not necessary. Sasikiran was spot on dressed at the opening ceremony in traditional Indian cloths. The point is that he looked successful, rich, well dressed and handsome. He looked like a model of what a person might want to be.
Anand is another person who is always well dressed but not necessarily always in a suit. But he projects well always. He has sponsors and has done well financially.
We need to project the image that all chess players are successful, dynamic individuals who project a strong sense of their self as they walk along. We can only do this when all professional players are always well dressed whenever a photo might be taken.
If chess players would like to make a million dollars a year and up then they better start doing as Susan says. Yes chess is just a game. But money is money. If you want to be well paid and a millionaire then project success and affluence and you will become successful and affluent. If you want to remain poor then continue to be a slob and say chess is only a game.
Susan you are spot on correct. Keep fighting to make chess professional and all the players will be well rewarded. The players should ask themselves. If chess players are always poor when they act as a slob then maybe they have to act differently.
Insanity is defined as keep on doing the same thing expecting different results.
If you want to be rich then you have to do things differently.
I think players should be able to wear clothes that are neat but comfortable during their games but should make an effort to put/pull themselves together for opening and closing ceremonies and press conferences.
Anonymous, the Google video is a perfect example for the Seconds that nobody knows who they are, as these employees that only they know they work for this company.
They even say that some higher ranked people use suits.
It must be hot there on the stage under the spotlights, while the temperature outdoors is like in summer. I can also image that they don’t have air-conditioning. I feel that we have to give credit to the organizers for bringing up sponsored t-shirts, so that the players can feel less hot and put that energy into chess.
If we really want to compare with other sportsman/woman, then we should also try to see them during and after their games. They don’t wear suits during the game, only after!
So chess players can represent themselves afterwards at the press-conference according to proper dressing code, but during the game they should be allowed to dress decent but comfortable clothes.
Go Bessel & Kirsan!
Susan I am not sure if this comment was meant as a joke:
“Let’s talk sense please. Let’s not use the typical rhetoric to make an argument.
If you feel that it is better for the players to look sloppy, please tell us why?”
But that has to be a prime example of a rhetorical question if I ever heard one.
I think the main problem here is that the game of chess appeals to a broad audience across many generations and cultures.
Hence there will be wide range of opinions as to what is suitable attire.
I am sure that 90% of what college students wear these days wuld not have been considered suitable for college 50 years ago (and we have that sort of generation gap in chess fans).
And I definately have a different fashion sense than my friends from Hong Kong.
I think it would nice to see the players attire represent the broad range of personalities attracted to chess.
However, I have no problem with sponsors/events stipulating a dress code if that is their desire (e.g. Wimbeldon tennis all white).
What I do have a problem with is people whining about attire if the event/sponsor doesn’t have a dress code. Get off your high horse your standards are not necessarily the best nor universally aceppted!
Some of the Fischer reference is off the mark. Pre Fischer era players were always professional and wore in suit and tie in major tournaments.
The difference with Fischer is that he thought is craft was valuable and insisted on getting PAID.
Fischer never kowtow to the sponsors. His high opinion of himself and his craft carried over in the way he dressed. Fischer would not have lowered himself to play in the current travesty called the US Championship
I agree 100 percent with Susan on the importance of marketing in today’s world. And I think Susan is doing a great job in promoting chess, her love life, and I foresee she will continue to do so to the benefit of all us in the future as well.
However, for integrity’s sake, I must confess that I also have some doubts about Susan’s stand and the way Susan has presented the topic, and my trust in Susan Polgar has cracked a little.
First I am naturally inclined to oppose any kind of coercion. Chess is a game which sanctifies freedom and free will and imagination and there is, at least symbolically,something enslaving in all this dress code ideas. The chess board is one of the last realms where the spirit of freedom still rules, and I am not going to enslave this last freedom post to any multi million dollar corporation. I believe that if out of somewhere there will come this great chess player who is a combination of a wizard on the board and with great skills in interacting with fans and working with the media and be a spokesperson for sponsors, it will sky rocket chess. But to force such a process and coerce it on the current players is an unfair strain that can be quite inflicting[ and justly so, sadly said]. With all respect to marketing and I have the respect and understanding that marketing can greatly help chess, this is just crossing the line way over and a counter reaction may be the result. We are talking about human beings. If its no hustle for them to dress suits and tie than welcome! But if it is not the case than it is wrong to coerce.
Awareness to the ideas that Susan promotes is positive. Coercion of Susan’s ideas is on the other hand, in my view, a disaster. It can hurt chess players and the game of chess. SuperGms should decide freely on how they dress. It is a preposterous intervention – Criticism is fine, coercion is wrong. Out of the current Super Gms – some might go through some awareness process, and change. One should be patient and wait and not force things on them.
Therefore I believe marketing efforts should be made and Polgar is doing such an excellent job with this blog for instance, which is a marketing tool doing a great job for chess.
Another point I want to comment on is Susan’s sentence: “What is your take? Let’s talk sense please. Let’s not use the typical rhetoric to make an argument. If you feel that it is better for the players to look sloppy, please tell us why?”
This is a rhetorical provocation by itself. I don’t think that we, who think differently from Susan on the subject of dress code, think that “it is better for the players to look sloppy”. I think Susan is doing a rhetorical trick here, and I don’t like it. After all Susan has asked us not to use rhetoric in the next sentence.
Also Susan is distinguishing herself as not being a chess politician. Well Susan, you must acknowledge that you chose to be involved in politics so it makes you a chess politician as well. And this was an example of a legit manipulation you made in order to get an endorsement to your views. We love you Susan but we are not fools. You stand for honesty and you are a great person in many ways, and you use no dirty tricks but you do use rhetoric and its legit! I prefer you way by far that any other chess politician existing.
In summary, I hope there is a way to implement your ideas without forcing them on male players. I would like to see happy chess players and I think that you too.
Also I think it is important that chess players especially GMs understand the link between their appearances and the cash flow into their bank. Understanding that appearance at the tournament and with the press, and its influence on the money flow into the chess world will hopefully change their behavior. : Bad appearance = no income, no big prizes. . But also I am quite suspicious about any kind of dress code coercion by multi million dollar companies or other organizations. It is out of their free will, if GMs decide to act , change the dress code and start dressing “respectably “
Whoever is sponsoring the tournament ought to dictate what the players wear. All this talk about player freedom and attracting children is BS. A million more children want to grow up to be Michael Jordan than they do Vladmir Kramnik. The following dress code was adopted by the NBA apparently because the players did not know how to dress. FIDE ought to modify it and then follow it to the letter:
NBA PLAYER DRESS CODE
. General Policy: Business Casual
Players are required to wear Business Casual attire whenever they are engaged in team or league business.
“Business Casual” attire means
A long or short-sleeved dress shirt (collared or turtleneck), and/or a sweater.
Dress slacks, khaki pants, or dress jeans.
Appropriate shoes and socks, including dress shoes, dress boots, or other presentable shoes, but not including sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, or work boots.
2. Exceptions to Business Casual
There are the following exceptions to the general policy of Business Casual attire:
a. Players In Attendance At Games But Not In Uniform
Players who are in attendance at games but not in uniform are required to wear the following additional items when seated on the bench or in the stands during the game:
Sport Coat
Dress shoes or boots, and socks
b. Players Leaving the Arena
Players leaving the arena may wear either Business Casual attire or neat warm-up suits issued by their teams.
c. Special Events or Appearances
Teams can make exceptions to the Business Casual policy for special events or player appearances where other attire is appropriate — e.g., participation in a basketball clinic.
3. Excluded Items
The following is a list of items that players are not allowed to wear at any time while on team or league business:
Sleeveless shirts
Shorts
T-shirts, jerseys, or sports apparel (unless appropriate for the event (e.g., a basketball clinic), team-identified, and approved by the team)
Headgear of any kind while a player is sitting on the bench or in the stands at a game, during media interviews, or during a team or league event or appearance (unless appropriate for the event or appearance, team-identified, and approved by the team)
Chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player’s clothes
Sunglasses while indoors
Headphones (other than on the team bus or plane, or in the team locker room)
May the best-dressed win!
I would never give a dime to chess players who show no respect to the fans, media or sponsors. It’s pathetic that some would wear jeans and t-shirt to play on stage.
Hey, I’d just be happy with some basic personal hygiene. I stopped playing chess when I was in college twenty years ago because it just seemed like a good way to meet strange people with body odor.
I have played precious little OTB chess since.
See the dress in which Kamsky talks to the media:
http://chesspro.ru/_images/materials/2007/matches61.jpg
“Dress to impress” is the appropriate mantra, the meaning of which may vary depending upon the kind of chess event. Crisp looking sportswear works well in team events … kind of a chess meets Nike look.
For the elite top 10 type events, however, suits for men are best. For those who remember, Bobby Fischer was quite a curiosity as a brilliant youngster, wearing checked shirts and bluejeans. But when he reached his late teens, he started wearing conservative business suits, and the impact was significant — the image was no longer of a kid playing a kid’s game. It was of a serious competitor, who demanded to be taken seriously. And many fans were attracted to chess because of that image.
Look at video footage from fischer – spassky, these guys knew how to dress (at least spassky). However im not sure dress code is the way to go, at least not during matches. Well dressed does not necessarily mean suit and tie, not shirt and blazer either (just look at Carlsen, the guy would have more “marketable” in jeans, a hoodie and top-of-the-line sneakers)
What is most important I think, is to make the venue, the internet site, the surroundings etc. look really professional, then the players, sponsors and others will act accordingly.
Compare Elista to Spanish Football, NBA or World Snooker and you’ll see where I’m getting at.
It makes sense that many chessplayers think that image doesn’t matter, after all, on the chessboard, it’s the truth of the position that counts.
However the majority of the population is not digging for the truth in every thing they see. They are content with merely judging things based on IMPRESSIONS.
That’s where the issue of image comes in.
The looking at the recent history of chess the most successful period of chess organisation and funding was probably in the early nineties, with the PCA.
The PCA (founded by Kasparov) was sponsored by Intel for no less than $5 million a year. The only reason why they pulled the plug on that sponsorship was because of Kasparov’s Deep Blue match (which resulted in IBM’s shares going through the roof – Intel was not pleased).
So lets look at Kasparov, he is always richly dressed, nice clothes, nice watch, well groomed (have you ever seen him with a three day growth?). He appears on TALK SHOWS, writes books and articles and travels with assistants and bodyguards. I don’t think he ever has to drive himself and I’ve seen photos of him travelling by helicopter too. He is invited as a key speaker to conferences and when he talks, people listen – with respect.
Kasparov is someone that members of the general public can look at and say – wow, I want to be like this guy – he’s very glamourous. Amoungst chessplayers he’s known as ‘The Beast’ [of Baku]. A very lively nickname!
People want to be like him or be around him. That’s part of the appeal of stars and celebrities – including the stars of other sports.
This image of success (dignity/glamour) is very important. Would you invite an unshaven and poorly dressed man who smells of vodka and mutters to himself to visit a school? A city hall?
Chess is an intellectual game which boosts people’s cognitive abilities. Chess players should look, speak and behave intelligently too.
I don’t think suits and ties is necessarily de rigeur for chess tournaments but if someone is not dressed like that they should be wearing something fashionable or dignified. Sportswear for junior players is fine too since it gives a good impression when a team is dressed in a uniform but I am not sure that it should be instituited for adult players.
A chess players doesn’t necessarily have to have an interesting personality – but it is important for them to talk to journalists. There is no story without a person and Chessplayers need to be that person or the article/report will be cut and something about bowling/poker/pool/football put in it’s place.
Finally one observation I would like to add is this:
Have a look at the photo’s of the recent Kramnik – Aronian rapid match. Aronian is wearing a stylish white suit. But it doesn’t seem to look right on him does it?
Why? Because he is slouching, quite badly. Looking at him it is hard to see a man with confidence and self respect. Kramnik on the other hand, is STANDING like a champion. If you didn’t know the results and just looked at the photos it would be easy to guess that Kramnik had won!
It’s about more than a simple dress code. A monkey in a suit is still a monkey and quite a rediculous sight (I’m not saying Aronian is a monkey by the way – he’s just a convenient example, he may need to work on his posture though). Chess players should be role models and be living examples of people who use their brains to achieve success.