Story by: Gail Nobles
Cover Art by: Gail Nobles
You know, there’s something about the world of sports that can boggle the mind. Take, for instance, the prices of Michael Jordan shoes—or sneakers. You’d think they were made of gold, encrusted with diamonds, and blessed by a wizard. But no, they’re just shoes, folks! Sneakers that, when you really think about it, are basically rubber soles with a bit of cushioning.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Michael Jordan is a legend, a titan of basketball, and if they decided to make a shoe that would increase my vertical leap to the point where I could dunk over my own living room couch, maybe I’d consider the price. They are nice sneakers. But $100 $200, $300, even $500? What are they made of—air? They must be sending all the sweat from the court right to your feet for that kind of money!
These aren’t just shoes; they’re status symbols. The kids nowadays don’t just want to play basketball; they want to wear the sneakers that Michael wore when he made that buzzer-beater. But here’s a thought—how about spending that money on hitting the gym instead? I can tell you from personal experience that no shoe is going to help if you can't make a layup.
And then there’s the resale market! I went online the other day, and some of these sneakers were listed for thousands of dollars. It’s almost like they’re sitting on a pile of cash and saying, “Look at me!” Go ahead, wear your sneakers, but don’t kid yourself. Unless you’re serving up 30 points a game, those shoes are only making a fashion statement, and I'm not sure if it's a very smart one.
Now I know that people will say: "It's not just the shoe; it’s the heritage!" Heritage? You want to talk about heritage? How about the heritage of common sense? I could get a nice pair of shoes, a trip to dinner, and a movie ticket for what some of these sneakers cost. But we’re in a world where a high price tag seems to justify itself just because it’s associated with Michael Jordan and a little swoosh.
At the end of the day, if you want to spend that kind of money to feel like a champion, go ahead, but don’t be surprised when it turns out that the only thing soaring is your credit card debt. In the end, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just trying to keep up with the trends, remember—it's just a shoe!
I’m Gail Nobles. You’re listening to the Shoebox Report.
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