Since I was in the market for a pair of white-on-white sneakers for the summer, I thought I’d see what the Starburys were talkin about. They’re the Stephon Marbury signature shoes, which are being sold for about $15. Let me say that again - a basketball player is selling his shoes for 15 dollars. Now, I don’t know about the quality level, because I don’t play that much basketball, but for $15, if it came down to it, I could buy 5 pair to compensate for any wear-and-tear issues.
At any rate, they look pretty nice, which is good, but one of my initial observations was gonna be to see how the kids reacted to them. Being perfectly honest, I’m not entirely oblivious to what they think of what I wear, although it usually doesn’t make me a difference one way or another. Either way, they notice every detail. So when I came in with the fresh white-on-whites, they noticed. And they knew the brand. I was waiting for somebody to try to jone on me, but it never happened. So in my observation, Starburys have brand acceptance, if not loyalty. I don’t see a whole lot of people wearing them, part of the reason for that might be that there are no Steve and Barry’s stores that are Metro accessible from DC. Next time I go to Philly, I’ll have to watch more carefully.
Regardless of what other people do, I can see myself buying Starburys on the regular. Not just because they’re cheap, though. Even more of my reasoning has to do with what Stephon Marbury is doing with the money. From the New York Daily News:
Marbury said he is allocating profits from his $14.98 Starbury sneakers and upcoming children’s books to make $1 million donations to the NYPD, fire department, EMT and New York City teachers.
“Being able to help those programs that would allow EMS to hire 2-3 people, if it saves more lives, I’m down for that,” Marbury said. “I felt compelled to do that.”
Marbury has added a new wrinkle to his summer-long basketball tournament, with players required to read three books and write an essay. Marbury, who has two years and $42 million left on his contract, made a $10,000 donation to the Brooklyn Public Library two weeks ago.
But this brings to mind a question: when we talk about athletes who are activists or whatever, why does Marbury’s name fail to come up? I mean, I’m sure there are many athletes who donate their time and money inconspicuously, but when it comes to talk about athletes who are publicly community-minded, the prevailing voice seems to be that there aren’t any. Only there are. Marbury’s a particularly good example. Now, I can think of one, maybe two reasons he might be overlooked.
1. He’s not in the Jim Brown/ Muhammad Ali “speaking truth to power” mold.
Personally, I think this has a lot to do with it. It’s not just that people want athletes to be outspoken, they want the athletes to be their mouthpieces; if a Black athlete took a stance towards the political right, I don’t think there would be a whole lot of “Ooh! He’s standing up for what he believes!!” among some of my friends on the left. They’d be talkin’ about some, “he’s brainwashed” or whatever. With Marbury, it’s even different than that, though. He’s not doing a whole lot of talking. Not with his mouth, at least. He’s talking with his money, which in some ways, speaks a lot louder. But people don’t hear that. At least, by the way we talk, one would think we don’t.
Personally, I think Marbury’s approach is right. It’s 2007. The time for the Moses-type leadership is gone. Except on the basketball court. Which leads us to number two.
2. He hasn’t won anything.
This one can’t be overlooked either. Now granted, I appreciate any athlete who makes a stand, especially one that’s actually tangibly beneficial to the community, but when it comes to getting laurels and accolades from the larger community, the only question to ask is, what has he won? (That’s partially why I was so nonplussed by the whole John Amaechi affair. Dude was marginal at best. Who cares about him? Except for the fact that being gay is a hot-button issue, that’s the type of story that would’ve been handled by a beat writer some time during the middle of the off-season.) When Marbury was in Minnesota with Garnett, it seemed that they had the makings of a dynamic duo. Since he left, KG has been a perennial All-Star, while for Marbury, it’s been up-and-down. The simple truth of the matter is that excellence - I should say excellence, because it’s not just about winning either. Tim Duncan doesn’t get the love he deserves, and if they win again next year, he’ll be at Magic status with 5 titles in 10 years - provides a platform that being good or even very good doesn’t offer. As nice as it is to see him wearing his Starburys in a game, it would make a lot bigger impact if he were to wear them deep into the playoffs - or in the Finals.
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I haven’t been out and about too much of late, but I haven’t seent em up here yet. They’re not terrible lookin doe. For $15 I could sport em.
One other factor that may be depressing his due is his firmly established rep of being a rabid me-first type of player. The sportscasters are all on the play-the-right-way (read: team player, non ball hog) tip. ‘Course, like you say, whether he is or not is all wiped clean with a Finals win.
Take it from one who knows, corporate sneaker America is very interested in what kids think about Starbury’s and the altruism. Ve-ry.
Marketers in general have always wondered “would folk buy a budget-priced Rolls?”
BCB
My siblings (ages 10 and 12) both wear starburys. I was quite surprised. They live in South Jersey and their whole little clique wears them. I was surprised. I was wondering why kids in dc didnt wear them but I hadnt thought about the Steve and Barry locations…
I suspect first impact is gonna be regional, in and near NY. Nationwide, kids ain’t checking f/ his game, and it’ll be a matter of aesthetics/peer pressure if they catch on.
BCB
Speakin’ of jonin’, why is that the only urban speech form where gay white men can hold their own with Black kids? The fashion critics who size up the runway gear at the Oscar’s and Golden Globes on entertainment shows can outjone any youngin’ in the schoolyard, or hardrock in the slammer.
Marbury is a NYC legend, but it probably doesn’t extend much beyond the tri-state area. If I can find the color combo I’m looking for (white with orange and green trim) I’ll get “tu-per.”
Well… Marbury’s making a political statement with Starburys, just as Ali did when he refused to be inducted into the Army. It just so happens that neither his style or subject of choice is confrontational.
In contrast, most Af-Am celebrities (incl. athletes) take great pains to be seen as apolitical, e.g.; Oprah, Jordan.
As they’re self-serving narcissists, they have no conflict with hawking overpriced shoes made in a Vietnamese sweatshop or self-help books written by hacks.
It will be interesting to see if Marbury sticks to his guns on how Starburys are marketed (the explanation for why the price is low) and if other Af-Am celebrities follow his lead. I’m thinking Starburys will prove to be an interesting study on the effectiveness of guerilla marketing.
I’m a bit confused by what you meant, Av, by, “The time for Moses-type leadership is gone”. Perhaps you’ll elaborate.