[Mick]

Another factor that I haven't seen anyone mention, but I think is relevant, is the way that the modern, successful male athlete is presenting himself.  Especially in the NBA over the last few years, you see great players like Lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Wade, etc. wearing bold glasses and fashionable clothes off the court in what I take to be a response to the Iverson, Jason Williams streetball aesthetic, and an effort to break the dumb jock stereotype.  I think something as simple as the appearance of the athlete is reinforcing in kids that it is okay to be studious, serious and have passions beyond sports in the same way that the baggy shorts and black socks of the Fab Five shaped a whole generation of athletes.  I believe the Nerd Nation slogan and Stanford Athletes' comfort showing their nerdy sides on social media is a result of this shift.  Most importantly (for us), I think this shift in the perception of what it means to be an athlete has made Stanford much more attractive to potential recruits.

Same is true locally.  Look at Andre Iguodala:



Steph Curry (I know it's an ad)



Mr. Large and in Charge

[Mick]

Another factor that I haven't seen anyone mention, but I think is relevant, is the way that the modern, successful male athlete is presenting himself.  Especially in the NBA over the last few years, you see great players like Lebron, Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Wade, etc. wearing bold glasses and fashionable clothes off the court in what I take to be a response to the Iverson, Jason Williams streetball aesthetic, and an effort to break the dumb jock stereotype.  I think something as simple as the appearance of the athlete is reinforcing in kids that it is okay to be studious, serious and have passions beyond sports in the same way that the baggy shorts and black socks of the Fab Five shaped a whole generation of athletes.  I believe the Nerd Nation slogan and Stanford Athletes' comfort showing their nerdy sides on social media is a result of this shift.  Most importantly (for us), I think this shift in the perception of what it means to be an athlete has made Stanford much more attractive to potential recruits.

Same is true locally.  Look at Andre Iguodala:



Steph Curry (I know it's an ad)



Mr. Large and in Charge

[FarmBoy]

Isn't there a long history of NBA players dressing up nice? I don't think that's a very recent trend.

[FarmBoy]

Isn't there a long history of NBA players dressing up nice? I don't think that's a very recent trend.

[CornFed]

Walt Frazier and World B. Free.  Not sure I could pull off their style however.

[CornFed]

Walt Frazier and World B. Free.  Not sure I could pull off their style however.

[Farm93]

Isn't there a long history of NBA players dressing up nice? I don't think that's a very recent trend.

There was a time in there were the NBA players did not dress professionally, especially when the players drove to their home arena.  The NBA mandated a dress code (~2005).  The policy was implemented to help improve the overall commercial value of the association to potential corporate partners, though I am sure the official league explanation may have included a different story.

[Farm93]

Isn't there a long history of NBA players dressing up nice? I don't think that's a very recent trend.

There was a time in there were the NBA players did not dress professionally, especially when the players drove to their home arena.  The NBA mandated a dress code (~2005).  The policy was implemented to help improve the overall commercial value of the association to potential corporate partners, though I am sure the official league explanation may have included a different story.

[BostonCard]

Grantland had a whole article on this, titled "The Rise of the NBA Nerd"

http://grantland.com/features/the-rise-nba-nerd/

Durant isn’t alone. In their tandem press conferences, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat, alternate impeccably tailored suits with cardigans over shirts and ties. They wear gingham and plaid and velvet, bow ties and sweater vests, suspenders, and thick black glasses they don’t need. Their colors conflict. Their patterns clash. Clothes that once stood as an open invitation to bullies looking for something to hang on the back of a bathroom door are what James now wears to rap alongside Lil Wayne. Clothes that once signified whiteness, squareness, suburbanness, sissyness, in the minds of some NBA players no longer do.

A lot of good pictures in the article too.

BC

[BostonCard]

Grantland had a whole article on this, titled "The Rise of the NBA Nerd"

http://grantland.com/features/the-rise-nba-nerd/

Durant isn’t alone. In their tandem press conferences, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat, alternate impeccably tailored suits with cardigans over shirts and ties. They wear gingham and plaid and velvet, bow ties and sweater vests, suspenders, and thick black glasses they don’t need. Their colors conflict. Their patterns clash. Clothes that once stood as an open invitation to bullies looking for something to hang on the back of a bathroom door are what James now wears to rap alongside Lil Wayne. Clothes that once signified whiteness, squareness, suburbanness, sissyness, in the minds of some NBA players no longer do.

A lot of good pictures in the article too.

BC

[MustardtheBallCarrier]

Grantland had a whole article on this, titled "The Rise of the NBA Nerd"

http://grantland.com/features/the-rise-nba-nerd/

Nice find.  This is exactly the phenomenon I was trying to highlight in my original post.  I think this represented a pretty significant shift in basketball and hip hop culture, making it cool to be a nerd.  How much this actually contributes to football recruiting at Stanford is anybody's guess.  But I think we owe a tip of our Nerd Nation glasses to these NBA stars.

See, I'm very perceptive...in a 3+ years late to recognize sorta way!

[MustardtheBallCarrier]

Grantland had a whole article on this, titled "The Rise of the NBA Nerd"

http://grantland.com/features/the-rise-nba-nerd/

Nice find.  This is exactly the phenomenon I was trying to highlight in my original post.  I think this represented a pretty significant shift in basketball and hip hop culture, making it cool to be a nerd.  How much this actually contributes to football recruiting at Stanford is anybody's guess.  But I think we owe a tip of our Nerd Nation glasses to these NBA stars.

See, I'm very perceptive...in a 3+ years late to recognize sorta way!