10 Random Items Banned In Pro Sports [Photos]

Monday we all learned that the NFL essentially banned players for wearing Beats By Dre headphones due to having their own deal with BOSE. It brings to mind complaints about players calling the NFL the “No Fun League.”

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Sports leagues have previously banned everything from Jesus pieces to potential hall of famers. Read on for the 10 most egregious examples.

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Back in 1984, before they became such a hot ticket item, the N.B.A. fined Michael Jordan for wearing the original Air Jordan sneaker. The reason? The black and red color scheme wasn’t in accordance with league rules on sneaker colors. Lucky for Mike, Nike paid his fines.

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In April, 2013, New York Knicks’ swingman, Iman Shumpert tried to represent his sponsor by etching an adidas logo in his haircut. No dice. Shump got word the league wasn’t too happy, and by game time he had already taken the clippers to this three stripes homage.

As it happens, Dr. Dre’s high-end headphones aren’t totally banned from the NFL. But the bottom line is they can’t be visible at times when players may be photographed or taped. And that’s not even the wildest league-wide ban.

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Athletic Propulsion Labs’ Concept 1 sneaker was billed as the type of shoe that could help the guy above dunk. Maybe they really were. In 2010, the $300 kicks were banned for giving the user an “unfair competitive advantage.”

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Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was fond of the upside down headband. In 2010, the league expressed dissatisfaction with Rondo’s choice, and rather than turn his headband right side up, he ditched it altogether.

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Technically, the NFL didn’t ban Reebok’s version of the Tim Tebow Jets jersey. But in 2012, Reebok asked a judge to lift the ban on official NFL Tebow jerseys when Nike filed a lawsuit to enforce its right as the exclusive provider of authentic and replica football jerseys.

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Fun fact: the NBA’s draconian 2005 dress code banned NBA Chains, pendants, or medallions worn over the player’s clothes. We’ll just refer to this as the Allen Iverson rule.

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As “Prime Time” NFL defensive back Deion Sanders was good for highlight reel interceptions and rocking a matching bandana under his helmet. Currently, section 4 article 4 of the NFL wardrobe guidelines bans both bandanas and stockings as head coverings.

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After his sidepiece caught him making racist statements via a private recording, Los Angeles Clippers owner received a lifetime ban from the NBA.

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In 1989 former Cincinnati Reds standout Pete Rose was banned from Major League Baseball after allegedly betting up to $20,000 a day on games.