Like it or not, tattoos seem to be popular among a certain segment of society.It’s likely far more individuals have tattoos than the casual observer might suspect because clothing often covers the majority of skin art.

This being the case – and this being the basketball season – tens of thousands of men and large portions of their bodies are on display on college and professional basketball courts across the country. Spectators, both those in the arena and those watching on television, are being exposed to a growing amount of tattoo art.

This certainly is true among many members of the Kansas University basketball team. In fact, many KU fans have expressed growing interest in what the tattoos say and the significance of the artwork. This information is “off-limits,” apparently because KU basketball officials do not want to have the KU team known for its tattoos, as well as for its excellent basketball players and good student athletes.

Some players, both at the college and professional level, look as if they have just about used up all the normally visible skin space on which to display their particular love or respect for their mothers, girlfriends, military service buddies, a particular organization or club or just for the love of basketball.

It will be interesting to see whether this fascination with tattoos moves into high school and junior high teams and weather women basketball players soon will be covered with tattoos. Also, is this a matter a coach can control if he or she wishes, or should players be allowed to do whatever they wish to their bodies and their appearance, whether that is tattoos, beards, hairstyles, etc., as long as they can dribble a basketball, play defense, rebound and score points?