Vince Carter told not to listen to IPOD during warmups
 

Credit ESPN
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Vince Carter has to listen to his favorite tunes on his own time.

The Toronto Raptors star was informed by the NBA that he no longer can listen to music on his iPod during the 20-minute warmup period before each game. Carter recently started listening to the music on his headphones, a violation of the league's rules on proper attire.

When the NBA heard about it, the league called the Raptors.

"We informed them that he can no longer do that," NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said Tuesday.

Carter has said he listens to the music in order to focus before a game.


How soon before he uses this as an excuse for poor performance?

I doubt he'll use it as an excuse for his poor performance. I bet his poor performance is a tactic to get him the hell out of Toronto, apparently to the Grizzlies.

Why is this a problem? Does anyone seriously have a problem with this?

Music is a great way to focus

I thought the NFL was supposed to be the No Fun League?

This is a joke, if he wants to listen to music when he warms up, what business is it of anyone else?

I admit, I can kind of see why. While it may be an easier way to focus, he's also isolating himself from teammates. Yeah, yeah, I know-- "team" isn't as big of a deal in pro sports...but still...

That's not unusual for athletes to zone out completely before a game during warmups. And doing lay up drills doesn't really envolve your teammates very greatly.
Although if he wants to get amped up on the road he should just listen to it in the locker room and at home just get the guys to play the music over the PA. No biggie.

I can't wear headphones at work either, and i make a hell of a lot less money than vince carter.

The discipline is coming from the league though, not his team. His coach has been letting him listen to music during warmup, not worrying about his interaction with teammates. It's the NBA officials that have said having headphones on violates dress-code rules.

I can't imagine why this would be a problem. Venues usually play really loud music during warmup, and every athlete has their own warmup ritual. I'm sure there are plenty of athletes that would rather not be listening to whatever music is being played to entertain the fans. As for dress-code...gimme a break. Maybe if he was wearing a sombrero during warmup. Fans that are courtside probably can't even make out the headphones though.

So let's see - you can't celebrate a touchdown in the NFL and you can't listen to an iPod during the warmup in the NBA. I think we have a tie for the most ridiculous league imposed rule in professional sport. Let's see baseball come up with a rule forbiding players from scratching their jock areas and we can have a three-way tie! Well boys, NL or AL, anyone listening?

Pierre