14.95 Offers Hope

Maybe "inspiring" is a bit of a stretch here, but I find this story to be compelling for a few reasons. Stephon Marbury, a multi-million dollar guard for the New York Knicks has decided to use his name and fame to make a change rather than to turn a profit. Well not exactly, but the fact remains that Marbury is a pioneer in his decision to sell his line of basketball sneaker for a mere $14.95. The pricing was made in hopes of reversing the trend of low-income urban youth spending upwards of $200 on a pair of shoes. As the NBA is popular and therefore marketed at a myriad of classes throughout the nation, it has become clear over the last decade that the sneaker business has permeated into many, many homes. Consequently, Marbury has taken the proactive initiative to try and lure some potential consumers away from spending big money and allow them to realistically afford a top-of-the-line shoe endorsed and sold by an All-Star NBA player (rather than simply settling for a generic pair of sturdy shoes sold in WalMart that is).

I usually suspect athletes and other celebrities to be economically driven with no thought for any social ramifications that might arise as a result of their actions and/or business decisions. Not that selling a sneaker for $14.95 makes Marbury a saint, but socially-conscious business decisions are always a pleasant surprise in a world governed by greed and egos.

This isn't the best clip, but it does the job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m279k4jVe3Q&mode=related&search=