This article examines the contentious relationship between contemporary Black professional athletes and organizational authority, particularly in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). It considers the rationalization given by both leagues for the rise of stringent guidelines regarding appearance and sportsmanship. The article then focuses on how some Black athletes contest these guidelines, particularly through acts of defiance and an adherence to hip-hop and street culture. The essay concludes by considering the current and possible effects of these players' defiance both for the players themselves and the leagues in which they play.
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