Evenard M. Panes
Spennies
Sports InsiderFinally! An NBA Player Doing Something For Social Justice.
October 3rd 2006 07:06
NBALOUD has never been a fan of Stephon Marbury which is ironic because he usually would be a player that this writer would like – flashy, egotistical and a shoot first type of point guard. That has all changed with the news that Marbury has released an affordable shoe bearing his nickname called Starbury One. The price? Try a cool US$14.98. The best news in all of this is that Marbury will actually wear the shoe in NBA games next season.
The man has just shot up to the top of the NBALOUD favourite player list.
Selling via the Steve & Barry’s sporting goods store the Starbury One’s have become extremely popular and kudos to the man for having the foresight to bring a cut price shoe onto the market. Basketball sneakers have been the desired footwear of choice since Michael Jordan broke into the scene in the mid-80’s with some kids killing and dying for a pair of sought after sneakers.
Kids from poor socio-economic backgrounds are increasingly priced out of the
athletic shoe department with sneaker prices becoming seemingly more expensive with each passing year. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect is that the backgrounds of the majority of NBA players are from impoverished histories but still choose to endorse basketball sneakers that on average cost US$130! They should be outraged and Marbury is.
Growing up in Coney Island as a poor youth Stephon Marbury has often related tales of struggle growing up such as going to the beach and selling soft drinks to tourists in order to try and generate some money for him and his family.
For any readers out there who believe that the Starbury One sneakers are cutting down the costs by using cheap materials that are inferior to the more expensive shoes of more popular brands such as Nike and Adidas would sorely be mistaken. The materials and design of the shoe are exactly the same as the top brands proving that major sneaker manufacturers are making obscene profits through their outrageous mark ups.
The manufacturers of the Marbury’s signature shoe have also been conscious of the fact that many of these sneakers are produced using sweatshop labour and have tried to avoid this by being a member of the Fair Labor Association which strives to eliminate harsh working conditions for producers. Another laudable gesture from the makers of the Starbury One.
A cut price sneaker both endorsed and worn by an NBA player is revolutionary to say the least and Marbury may be a leading figure of a new movement from athlete’s intent on social justice. Steph has stated that the production of the sneaker is something that would establish a legacy that he would be proud of: “I want to put my mark on history as far as letting people know that I'm a part of something that I'm moving with. All this is brand new, this is revolutionary, the thing that we're doing right now.” (Zirin, The Nation, 2006)
Marbury isn’t paid to endorse these shoes, but what he has done is commendable and from now onwards the man will be getting nothing but love from NBALOUD.
The man has just shot up to the top of the NBALOUD favourite player list.
Selling via the Steve & Barry’s sporting goods store the Starbury One’s have become extremely popular and kudos to the man for having the foresight to bring a cut price shoe onto the market. Basketball sneakers have been the desired footwear of choice since Michael Jordan broke into the scene in the mid-80’s with some kids killing and dying for a pair of sought after sneakers.
Kids from poor socio-economic backgrounds are increasingly priced out of the
Stephon Marbury with the Starbury One Sneakers. (Image from AP)
Growing up in Coney Island as a poor youth Stephon Marbury has often related tales of struggle growing up such as going to the beach and selling soft drinks to tourists in order to try and generate some money for him and his family.
For any readers out there who believe that the Starbury One sneakers are cutting down the costs by using cheap materials that are inferior to the more expensive shoes of more popular brands such as Nike and Adidas would sorely be mistaken. The materials and design of the shoe are exactly the same as the top brands proving that major sneaker manufacturers are making obscene profits through their outrageous mark ups.
The manufacturers of the Marbury’s signature shoe have also been conscious of the fact that many of these sneakers are produced using sweatshop labour and have tried to avoid this by being a member of the Fair Labor Association which strives to eliminate harsh working conditions for producers. Another laudable gesture from the makers of the Starbury One.
A cut price sneaker both endorsed and worn by an NBA player is revolutionary to say the least and Marbury may be a leading figure of a new movement from athlete’s intent on social justice. Steph has stated that the production of the sneaker is something that would establish a legacy that he would be proud of: “I want to put my mark on history as far as letting people know that I'm a part of something that I'm moving with. All this is brand new, this is revolutionary, the thing that we're doing right now.” (Zirin, The Nation, 2006)
Marbury isn’t paid to endorse these shoes, but what he has done is commendable and from now onwards the man will be getting nothing but love from NBALOUD.
| 91 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Comment by mdeleon
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Most things are quite expensive here though, probably because of taxes...
Comment by Stanley
mdeleon - well marbury's style of play is actually the one that is most evident in today's nba - flashy and lacking in fundamentals. i can't really denounce that style of play because i play the game in a flashy manner as well.
cibby - yes basketball kickz are way too expensive these days. the re-releases are a joke i used to have the originals and at a vastly cheaper price but the shoes now are just way too expensive and the designs are crappy too!
Comment by Ragin Cajun
Observer's Post
Death By Myopia
Comment by Stanley
Comment by Ragin Cajun
Observer's Post
Death By Myopia
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three