It was pretty ridiculous for the Global Icon take potshots at the Starbury's the same week that it came out he building a house that Caligula would be proud of. Steph is trying to a great thing here, stop the crazies that goes on HS around kicks, he should be applauded for that. He's taking his money to make other people lives better, instead of building a huge pad with a bowling alley in it.

Marbury a pioneer? you gotta be joking! He's nothing more than ghetto trash who can't get corporate deals because he's a loser. "If Marbury locks up the sneaker industry" You must be on drugs! How does selling cheap shoes to poor people help them? Isn't that like selling poor people fast food instead of groceries? Funny how you only bought pair because it was cheaper than hailing a cab. And why can't marbury sell his shoes without bringing up D-wade or James? Is he pissed no one takes him seriously anymore? James has been in league for four seasons and he'll be making his second appearence in the playoffs and you're going to kick him for not getting out of second round? Well marbury's going on his eleventh or twelve year in the league and he's never been out of the first round after getting to the playoffs only three times.

DoctorK16, I know this maybe a stretch for your imagination,but you build a big house AND help people. It's not either or. James seems to also hand out help to the poor.

Eric: Yes, when it comes to the sneaker biz, Marbury is a pioneer. Most definitely. He's a player actually owning his own line of sneakers, where most players (going back to Jordan) are just paid by the sneaker companies to endorse their sneakers. And selling his sneakers for $15 is also makes him a pioneer, in that he's doing something that no other athlete has really tried.

How does selling cheap shoes to poor people help them? Isn't that like selling poor people fast food instead of groceries?

Well, for starters, poor people can afford lower-priced sneakers. And if you are trying to say that the quality of the sneakers is inferior, there have been lots of reviews of both Marbury and Nike sneakers that have concluded that they are similar in quality. I'll admit that I only brought them because they were cheaper than a cab ride, but you know what? I would definitely buy them again. I have tried, in fact, but too often the one sneaker store in Manhattan that sells them is sold out of my size. I guess they are doing pretty well, then.

And my post had nothing to do with the skills of LeBron vs. Marbury. I would openly admit that LeBron is a better player, no question about it.

Also, Marbury has never invoked James (or Wade, as far as I know) to sell his sneakers - the question was posed to James by a reporter with regards to his willingness to sell low-price sneakers; James responded with the quote above, and then Marbury responded to that. For James to have to feel the need (as an Nike employee, apparently) to disparage the quality of Marbury's sneakers is pretty lame. He could have simply answered "no" or something, but instead he took a cheap shot at a good deed that Marbury is doing to help out poor kids. That, my friend, is "ghetto".

For James to have to feel the need (as an Nike employee, apparently) to disparage the quality of Marbury's sneakers is pretty lame. He could have simply answered "no" or something, but instead he took a cheap shot at a good deed that Marbury is doing to help out poor kids. That, my friend, is "ghetto".

No, what is ghetto is Marbury pretending that he, unlike James owns himself. Marbury has lent his name to someone else's product. Look up Jeff Bazant. The cheap shot was taken when James was asked the question. Obviously he's not interested in selling cheap sneakers, so why ask unless it's another even though you have alot, you're really bad person routine. And that's tired. If you wanna help people do so, but you don't have try to call other people out.

ok lets be real here. Maybe Lebron didnt have to answer the question the way he did, but he was keeping it real. Stephon is def being owned so for him to say that about james is weak as hell. The reason he is selling them cheap ass shoes is because he cant get a deal with anyone else. I can recall buying a pair of Marbury's back in the 90's and i paid at least $100, so marbury is a hypocrit himself. Lebron does a lot to help out the less fortunate so lets get off this shoe deal. Anyone who says Lebron is wrong are prolly sell outs themself. For the people who make average salary($30,000 to 45,000) how bout you go and sell your house and car and go buy the cheapest ones. Bet u wont do that huh?

Kyle - you're right about Steph not being able to get a shoe deal anymore, which is why he went this route. Never the less, it was a creative and goodwill building approach to selling sneakers.

In my mind its like Nas - he was once street creditible, then he tried to sell out, but failed (the whole The Firm stuff, his second album, et al); he then had to go back to the streets, and get his creditibility back, which he did (hip-hop is dead).

Even if you don't follow the analogy, the point is you can fail and by necessity create a new approach. And if so, you still deserve credit for that. Marbury may not have been able to sign with Nike anymore, so he had to get creative and come up with a new plan. His plan, both as a business and as a philanthropic endeavor, is a good thing.

Now he's got Ben Wallace on board, too. That'll help move sneakers in the Chicago market (another market with a large poor minority community). You see the big picture? He's trying to make inroads in the biz, and do something good for the kids at the same time, too.

LeBron does good, too. He has the James Family Foundation, which does lots of stuff, including give away bikes to underprivledge kids. That's not the issue. The issue was that LeBron was classless to knock Marbury's good work. Don't get it twisted. You said so yourself LeBron "didn't have to answer the question the way he did".

And if want to know why LeBron is so strongly attached to Nike, it might have to do with his recent struggles in getting endorsements:
http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2007/03/31/business-lebron-needs-some-assistance/

As Nate Jones reports, since letting his boys become his agent two years ago, LeBron has signed less than $1,000,000 worth of endorsements. In other words, instead of worrying about Marbury's biz, perhaps LeBron should get back to handling his.

Eric,
My imagination can grasp that you can build a big house and help people. What exactly his your boy doing to to help others then, let us know. And more than just some token charitable contributions. I await your response.

LeBron and Stephon are 2 player's who are major forces that come from the basketball and hip-hop culture fusion over the past 23+ years that's being called The "Dunkadelic-Era" In America, 1984-Present. One of the major influences during The "Dunkadelic-Era" has been the sneaker's and the player's that connect to basketball and hip-hop. I respect what Steph is doing bu,t LeBron is a guy who is going to make the most of his opportunity. By the way Stephon makes more money (17 Million per-year) than LeBron (4.7 million) when it comes to annual NBA salary. I don't see Stephon saying his over-paid it's capitalism and that's America.

A LITTLE LATE...BUT GREAT ARTICLE!

http://www.brandshoeshopping.com/ cheap air jordan shox

Nice information, valuable and excellent design, as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts, lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need, thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here.