I'm the Sole Provider

I am heading to the sporting goods store to by me some brand spanking new sneakers. What guy doesn't like to buy themselves some new kicks? What?!!

When I was a kid, mom was my sole provider of new sneakers. Get It! Sole provider.
As long as they were white, I was good to go. I went through so many pairs while playing tennis and just goofing around in the neighborhood.
As I entered my tender teenage years I took over the footwear purchases, it was not like it is now where the kids know what kind of sneakers they want to wear when they are in the 1st grade. I guess the marketing of the athletic shoes has changed a bit since since the 1980's.

What I do recall was the introduction of Reebok sneaker. The first aerobic sneaker. In the beginning I always thought them to be ladies only shoes. They came in white and black, that was it. How boring.

After that it was Converse. How can I forget the Larry Bird against Magic Johnson
commercials. Green and White of the hated Celtics vs the Purple and Gold of glitzy Lakers. Choose your weapon. The Celtics still suck!

Then came the holy grail of all sneakers. With the introductions made by Mars Blackman, we were given the Air Jordans. I was in love with those sneakers. I saved up my money from my part time for a few months to get them. They were a pricey $64.99.
That's about $1453.27 in 2010 money. The Red, White and Black beauties were mine. I was so damn proud to have those sneaker. I wanted to wear them every day. I wanted to be like Mike. At that time, who didn't? I am proud to say I had those sneaker for ten years and it still hurt to bring myself to throw them out. I heard a few year back that Nike was giving rebates for all old Air Jordans. Something like a $150 coupon to use for new Air Jordans. If I'd had only kept them another 10 years.

I never opted for the "broken ankle waiting to happen" cleats to play baseball all those years but as I got older and playing into the softball/beer league, I opted to try them out. You know I am an old man and trying to use the right equipment to protect myself I grabbed a pair of cleats at local sporting good store. 1st game,
2nd inning, I attempt to slide into second, cleat gets caught in the dirt, Yep...sprained my f'n ankle. FYI-It's not good when your foot/ankle looks bigger than the softball. I didn't play the rest of the year. I curse you cleats! I am a moron.

FYI- Sandals are for people who live in the South. Northerners, do even try it!

P.S. Only sissies wear those god awful water shoes.

Went bowling the other night and you know what? Bowling shoes have been, are and will be forever damn ugly. How ugly? Not one persons clothing in the whole place could match those god awful shoes. Wouldn't you think by now someone (hello Cole Haan or Kenneth Cole) could be a major provider of bowling shoes. They do sell shoes that have bowling alley written all over them. Just saying, if you have to look that goofy trying to bowl why not look good while doing it.


My All Time favorite sports nickname : Billy "White Shoes" Johnson


The sportsfreak has 25 pairs. How about you?