Clown if you want but, if I can find them in my size, I’ll buy myself a pair of $15 basketball shoes.

That’s right, $15 basketball shoes.

That’s the price for a pair of Starburys, the shoe line created and endorsed by New York Knicks guard, Stephon Marbury. The shoe is available at the discount-price sports apparel store, Steve and Barry’s.

Not only in Marbury endorsing them, he has been playing in these shoes all season.

Now, for those that mock a $15 shoe, look at what a San Diego store manager of Steve and Barry’s, Evan Montes, says about it:

“When the shoe first came out, we couldn’t hold it in stock,” Montes said. “(Demand) has slowed, but it still makes up about 80% of our sales, and it is only 10% of our merchandise.”

It does my heart good to see this. To me, this is kind of like the “white tee” thing a couple of years back. People are realizing that you don’t have to go broke to be part of a trend. In a time where it is not unusual to see a kid with no job wearing a $100-200 pair of sneakers, it’s nice to see an alternative that is more in line with the real manufacturing cost of a sneaker.

Now, if they have them in a size 13, I’m there.

Popularity: 30% [?]

I can admit when I’ve been had.

A little over a week ago, I posted a story about Mike Tyson’s plans to become a male prostitute. Supposedly, he was to work at a brothel in Nevada that will be opened by the infamous “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss.

However, according to Fleiss’ publicist, the entire story is a hoax.

So, apologies to Iron Mike. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Popularity: 33% [?]

Finding a black manager in Major League Baseball is almost as hard as finding June 31st on a calendar. Now that Dusty Baker and Frank Robinson are gone, how many fingers would you need to count the number of remaining black managers?

You would just need one.

That’s right, Willie Randolph, of the New York Mets, finds himself in the decidedly unique position of being the only black manager in Major League Baseball. To say the least, the MLB needs to be ashamed.

Don’t get me wrong, baseball is not being played by a lot of black kids anymore so, the well of black players is drying up. But, there are a lot of black retired players who offer a wealth of knowledge and have the ability to bring a winning strategy to a lot of teams. This also does not explain why, when white managers are fired, many can still pursue opportunities elsewhere why black coaches seem relegated to obscurity.

…and then, there was one.

MLB, you need to do much better.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Buck O’Neil packed a lot into his 94 years on earth. He was a player and manager in the Negro Leagues. After the integration of baseball, he went on to be a scount and coach. At the end of his life, he made sure that America did not forget the contributions of Negro League players.

On Friday night, Mr. O’Neil reunited with the ancestors.

Since Buck O’Neil spent his remaining years wanted to share the Negro League story with the word, I thought it only fitting to share this brief clip from the DVD on the Negro Leagues, titled It’s Been A Long Time Coming. Please check it out when it becomes available.

R.I.P. Mr. O’Neil and thank you for keeping this part of our story alive.

Popularity: 33% [?]

Let’s face it, pro wrestling, in its history, has had no problem stereotyping people of color in the most negative ways. As a black person who grew up on pro wrestling, I remember wrestlers like Kamala, a supposed Ugandan savage; Virgil, a butler/valet to a white millionaire; and the Godfather, a pimp who invited you to ride the “Hoe Train”. So, it’s no surprise to see World Wrestling Entertainment introduce yet another stereotype into the mix: the black thugs.

Cryme Tyme is one of WWE’s newest tag teams. In a promo they cut for the team, their “training video” shows them keeping their skills up by trying to hold up a store in record time (see video here). Needless to say, it’s a really sad sight.

Well, it looks like wrestling has hit one stereotype too many and one of its fans is now striking back. Read More… »

Popularity: 12% [?]

I am certain that this image represents a more happy time in the life of Maurice Clarett. It was a time where, as a freshman, he was a key part of a National Title team. Unfortunately, this is all but a memory.

In what caps off a wild spiraling-down of a promising sports career, Clarett will spend at least the next 3 1/2 years behind bars for a Jan 2006 armed robbery. Clarett should probably count his blessings — had he not agreed to a plea, he could have faced up to 34 years behind bars.
Read More… »

Popularity: 12% [?]