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Kings' 'Cat' says NBA is wrong to pick on his hat
Cuttino Mobley gets a warning from the league about wearing skull caps during TV interviews.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 27, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The NBA is messing with the Cat in the Hat.
Kings guard Cuttino Mobley drew the attention of NBA officials last week when he wore a knit cap during a television interview.
Unbeknownst to him, Mobley was violating a memo sent by the league before the season that forbids wearing headgear during interviews.
Mobley, known as "Cat" because he liked Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" as a child, has been notified he was violating the league's edict and wasn't pleased.
Mobley has continued to wear the skullies during interviews, an action that could bring further communication from the league.
"I'm sure there is something else in life besides me wearing a logoed NBA gear," Mobley said Monday. "That's my whole thing.
"I'm a man of suits and ties, and you're worried about me wearing an NBA-logo hat? I don't have a fitted Phillies cap on. It's an NBA-logo skullie."
NBA vice president Stu Jackson said the genesis of the directive is the league's desire that players be seen in their best light.
"As we evaluated how we as a league presented ourselves to the media, absolutely one of the things that sets us apart is that fans can see the faces and expressions of our players," Jackson said Tuesday. "As a result this season, we decided the best way to do so would be to send out that memo."
Mobley, 29, said he believes he consistently presents himself in a positive manner.
"I changed my gear just for that purpose," he said when preparing for an interview that would be seen on a national cable telecast. "It was a bad hair day for me, so what do you want me to do?
"It's just sometimes things are a little overboard to me. I'm not a problem child by no means. But don't get nit-picky. That's too much.
"Concentrate on cats that don't walk around in a business fashion. I walk around in a business fashion. Everywhere you see me, I'm a gentleman, so do that to somebody else."
That the Kings and the NBA sell the type of knit cap Mobley was wearing seemed a bit hypocritical to him.
"I can see his point," Jackson said. "But whether it is an NBA-logo hat or any other hat, we would like for players to not wear them during interviews."
Clearly, Jackson did not want this situation to escalate. Mobley was not fined, merely notified of the league's desires. And Jackson suggested the league would prefer not to be overly punitive.
"This is not something we're being heavy-handed about," Jackson said. "It's just something where we just want to work with the teams and help assist them with the policy.
"If a player was to repeatedly be in violation, then he could potentially be fined. But we just want to try and work with the teams to get the desired results."
Mobley said he has not been directly contacted by the league.
"(The NBA) has my number," he said. "If they want to reach me, they can reach me. I just think that was nit-picky, personally. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. But that's how I took it."
Mobley said he went out of his way to represent the Kings after he and Michael Bradley were acquired from the Orlando Magic on Jan. 10 for Doug Christie. The trade separated Mobley from his best friend, Steve Francis. "Especially after I had on one outfit and deliberately put on a Sacramento Kings outfit, seeing as I'm a new member of the team," Mobley said. "I put my skullie on, a T-shirt, sweat suit, everything and represented the NBA. What more do you want?"
Cuttino Mobley gets a warning from the league about wearing skull caps during TV interviews.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 27, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - The NBA is messing with the Cat in the Hat.
Kings guard Cuttino Mobley drew the attention of NBA officials last week when he wore a knit cap during a television interview.
Unbeknownst to him, Mobley was violating a memo sent by the league before the season that forbids wearing headgear during interviews.
Mobley, known as "Cat" because he liked Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" as a child, has been notified he was violating the league's edict and wasn't pleased.
Mobley has continued to wear the skullies during interviews, an action that could bring further communication from the league.
"I'm sure there is something else in life besides me wearing a logoed NBA gear," Mobley said Monday. "That's my whole thing.
"I'm a man of suits and ties, and you're worried about me wearing an NBA-logo hat? I don't have a fitted Phillies cap on. It's an NBA-logo skullie."
NBA vice president Stu Jackson said the genesis of the directive is the league's desire that players be seen in their best light.
"As we evaluated how we as a league presented ourselves to the media, absolutely one of the things that sets us apart is that fans can see the faces and expressions of our players," Jackson said Tuesday. "As a result this season, we decided the best way to do so would be to send out that memo."
Mobley, 29, said he believes he consistently presents himself in a positive manner.
"I changed my gear just for that purpose," he said when preparing for an interview that would be seen on a national cable telecast. "It was a bad hair day for me, so what do you want me to do?
"It's just sometimes things are a little overboard to me. I'm not a problem child by no means. But don't get nit-picky. That's too much.
"Concentrate on cats that don't walk around in a business fashion. I walk around in a business fashion. Everywhere you see me, I'm a gentleman, so do that to somebody else."
That the Kings and the NBA sell the type of knit cap Mobley was wearing seemed a bit hypocritical to him.
"I can see his point," Jackson said. "But whether it is an NBA-logo hat or any other hat, we would like for players to not wear them during interviews."
Clearly, Jackson did not want this situation to escalate. Mobley was not fined, merely notified of the league's desires. And Jackson suggested the league would prefer not to be overly punitive.
"This is not something we're being heavy-handed about," Jackson said. "It's just something where we just want to work with the teams and help assist them with the policy.
"If a player was to repeatedly be in violation, then he could potentially be fined. But we just want to try and work with the teams to get the desired results."
Mobley said he has not been directly contacted by the league.
"(The NBA) has my number," he said. "If they want to reach me, they can reach me. I just think that was nit-picky, personally. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. But that's how I took it."
Mobley said he went out of his way to represent the Kings after he and Michael Bradley were acquired from the Orlando Magic on Jan. 10 for Doug Christie. The trade separated Mobley from his best friend, Steve Francis. "Especially after I had on one outfit and deliberately put on a Sacramento Kings outfit, seeing as I'm a new member of the team," Mobley said. "I put my skullie on, a T-shirt, sweat suit, everything and represented the NBA. What more do you want?"
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