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Tuesday, 23 January 2007 16:38 |
| John North
Editor & Publisher |
Appropriately enough, Stephon Marbury, a point guard for the New York Knicks, was dubbed "a patron saint of sensible sneakers" in a headline in last Fridayës edition of The New York Times.
Marbury, working on commission with Steve & Berryës University Sportswear, has endorsed a sports shoe, the Starbury One, with a suggested retail price of $15 ÇƒÓ a paltry sum that is unheard of in an industry dominated by $75 to $200 sneakers.
The National Basketball Association star reportedly wanted to promote a low-priced shoe, in an effort to give something back to poor kids ÇƒÓ and families ÇƒÓ everywhere. Marbury grew up in poverty in Coney Island, N.Y.
Marbury
noted that many of his childhood friends could not afford the
high-priced basketball sneakers promoted by the NBAës stars. Of course,
Marbury always had access to high-performance sneakers because various
people wanted him ÇƒÓ a burgeoning basketball phenom ÇƒÓ to excel.
In the
promotional tour for his line of shoes, clothing and accessories,
Marbury was approached by many people, including grandmothers, thanking
him profusely for endorsing a shoe they could afford, the Times noted.
To that end, the
Starbury One sneaker is selling briskly, with particularly good sales
over the recent holidays. In some places, the revolutionary shoe sold
out in three days.
Following a
rough stretch on the court with the Knicks last year and earlier this
season, Marbury seems finally to be settling into the teamës new
offensive system.
Certainly off
the court, he is scoring points with parents on his commitment to his
low-priced shoe ÇƒÓ and on his sense of duty to his humble roots. Never
in NBA history has anyone endorsed a high-profile low-priced shoe.
In hyping
Marbury as the basketball Ralph Nader, Andy Todd, president of the
Steve & Barryës chain, told the Times that "his (Marburyës) message
is that kids should not equate self-worth with the price of a sneaker."
To the Toddës
assertion, I say, "Amen." However, I squirm at the very notion that
youngsters would allow themselves to be so programmed in such mindless
consumerism.
As for the
Starbury One, Dallas Mavericksë owner Mark Cuban told The New York Post
last week that convincing young people that itës hip and cool to buy an
inexpensive sneaker would constitute a groundbreaking "cultural
change." And thatës what appears to have happened.
By design,
Marbury wears a pair of Starbury One sneakers in NBA games to show the
quality of the product, although some sources have said privately that
they suspect the version Marbury wears in pro basketball action likely
is somewhat modified from his off-the-rack offering.
Itës fun to mull
the Marbury saga and consider what prompted him to change ÇƒÓ for the
better ÇƒÓ in recent years, or whether, in fact, he has changed. (Some
insiders cited in the Times suspect Marburyës endorsement was motivated
more by the reality of his reduced Q-score than by truly benevolent
motives.)
Two years ago,
upon his arrival with the Knicks, Marbury made himself an object of
public derision when he declared, "I know Iëm the best point guard in
the NBA." His performance didnët back up his boasting, as the
then-first-place Knicks proceeded to lose 18 of 21 games.
Moreover, it must be noted that Marbury once was among the elite NBA players endorsing high-end sneakers.
Regardless of
Marburyës motivation for endorsing his $15 pair of shoes, I applaud his
action and hope it starts a movement that lasts and even grows.
ï
John North, publisher and editor of the Daily Planet, may be contacted at publisher-at-ashevilledailyplanet.com.
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