Nov
9
It’s gotta be the shoes!
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In the mid 80’s, Mars Blackmon (aka Spike Lee) was touting Air Jordan sneakers alongside Michael Jordan. At the time, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird dominated the NBA. Michael was toiling in Chicago with a sorry surrounding cast. Scottie Pippen was still playing college and Phil Jackson was coaching in the CBA. However, the shoes were a phenomenon and boy were they pricey! I’ve always been pragmatic and spending over $100 on a pair of sneakers just seemed silly.
The New York Knicks were in town last night. They too have a player, Stephon Marbury, with his own shoe, the Starbury One named after Stephon’s nickname, Starbury. Unlike Air Jordan’s, the Starbury One retails for a shade under $15. Stephon Marbury is not Michael Jordan. Not even close. He’s a good player but has the reputation of making a team (Minnesota, New Jersey, and Phoenix) better whenever he leaves. To make matters worse, Marbury, a Brooklyn native, gets booed nightly by his hometown fans in NY.
The Starbury One sneakers are touted as “exactly the same as the most expensive kicks (slang for sneakers) on the market.” To prove it, Marbury plans to wear these sneakers during game day. While I may not be Stephon Marbury’s biggest fan, I applaud his efforts to give inner city kids the opportunity to buy high quality sneakers that are affordable. There is a caveat, you’ll never see these sneakers at your local Sports Authority (formerly Garts) or Dicks Sporting Goods stores. They’re only available at Steve and Barrys, a discount sporting goods store which has two locations in Colorado.
Even though I play basketball occasionally I haven’t bought a pair of basketball sneakers since college. I may buy the Starbury One and give them a try. Stay tuned.