The other day I pointed out that if anyone were to take offense to the news that Ben Wallace is hopping on Starbury's magical train of cheap sneakers, it would have to be people who sell expensive sneakers. Like Nike.
Ken Berger of Newsday followed up nicely (via AwfulAnnouncing):
It didn't matter how much Stephon Marbury's sneakers cost when he rattled in a three-pointer with 8.5 seconds left last night to keep the Knicks ever so faintly alive in their quest to make the playoffs.
"I mean, come on," said LeBron James, the Cavaliers' star forward whose Nikes cost at least 10 times the price of Marbury's wallet-friendly Starburys. "This city deserves a playoff team. It doesn't make sense for them to have all that talent and not be able to make the playoffs."
Before the game, James took a little shot at Marbury's $14.98 kicks, saying he couldn't imagine endorsing a sneaker that cheap.
"No, I don't think so," James said. "Me being with Nike, we hold our standards high."
Marbury, who is friendly with James, was lacing up his Starburys before the game when informed of LeBron's comment. He thought about it for a moment and said, "I'd rather own than be owned."
(Little factoid: As far as I can tell, LeBron's shoes are actually about $90 and up but $150ish for high-tops.)
Also worth pointing out: this PR move by Marbury? The giving back with the cheap sneakers thing? It's working. Marbury has had a so so season, the shoes have gotten so so reviews from basketball players, and the Knicks are so so. But Marbury just won a little PR skirmish with LeBron James. People are loving him for this (and he's presumably making at least some money on it). Read the comments of that TrueHoop post. He's onto something.
