SPORTS
February 22,2013
11
Sneaker f eens: is it the sheesP Gena be the shees
BY ALI KRANTZLER
Staff Writer
Air Jordan, Zoom Kobe VII, Lebron X and
KD V are the names of National Basketball
Association superstar sneakers that are
sponsored by leading athletic brand Nike.
Nike caters to a particular demographic:
sneaker fanatics. On campus, they sport flashy
shoes and title themselves "Sneaker Freaks" or
"Sneaker Feens."
Sophomore Tyler Griffis might fit this
model. Around campus he wears a variety of
kicks that appeal to his personality.
"Mostly because of the history, the majority
of my shoes are Jordans," said Griffis. "When I
see a shoe coming out, I think Michael Jordan
wore this shoe back in the dunk contest, or it is
the last shoe he wore before he retired."
Feb. 17 marked Michael Jordan's 50th
birthday. Arguably, he is one of the most
prized innovators who has dominated his
sport and the shoe game.
'The greatest basketball player of all time...
he is an icon," said Griffis.
This notion is popular among many aspiring
athletes among tihe sneaker world and leading
pop culture sneaker articles.
According to Complex Magazine, when it
the Air Jordan line was introduced in 1985, it
not only changed everything about "signature
shoes," but also let professional basketball
players express themselves in ways not
dictated by the sneaker companies and the
NBA.
Michael Jordan and Tinker Hatfield created
the sneaker revolution that has impacted
consumers globally. Each edition of Air Jordans
has a different meaning to all who sport them.
"Because of the style and creativity, each
shoe is different," said sophomore football
player Satiir Stevenson. "I can hoop in the
lO's."
Around Guilford you can see ladies
contribute to sales and share the addiction as
well. Though Jordans were first distributed
in men's sizes only, Jordan has released a
women's line.
Sophomore basketball player Brittany Drew
claims to own 10 or 11 pairs of Jordans.
"If a girl can rock J's, then just imagine
what she looks like in heels ... damn," said
Stevenson.
With so many pairs of sneakers, it is a
calculated decision when trying to choose
what pair to wear.
"It depends on the weather," said
sophomore Malek Williams. "If it is rainy
with a high chance of mud around campus,
then I'll just wear a pair of shoes I can dog. It
also depends on the mood and what you are
wearing."
Jordans are comfortable, stylish, and
released in a plethora of editions. The inflation
is attributed to the limited supply and great
demand.
As retro Jordans are re-released, most stores
only carry two sizes, causing a ruckus among
customers and employees.
"The price is getting a little out of hand,"
said Griffis. "Nowadays when you go to
the mall, you might have to spend the night
waiting for the shoe to come out."
The cost depends on the specific model,
like the Air Jordan V Premio. Di&rent editions
are released weekly, making the addiction
difficult to afford. ^
"A lot of times you can find a shoe that you
like but is not popular in the sneaker world,"
said Williams. "So it will go down after a while,
maybe by $20 dollars, but then you could have
another shoe, like an exclusive Jordan; then''
that price is going to go up the longer you
wait."
Investing in sneakers has become a trend.
'Teenagers have the largest amount of
disposable income of any age group, so it
makes sense for their target m^ket to skew
yoimg," said Digital Communications Director
Donna Rasmussen. 'Their products also seem
to have a lot of customization options available
directly from their website, which makes sense
because younger consumers expect options
like that."
Other than a good marketing strategy and
using profession^ athletes like Michael Jordan,
Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant as figureheads,
there must something deeper that lures our
demographic into spending over $250 dollars
on one pair of sneakers.
"I feel like when I put a pair of shoes on, it
gives me a sense of confidence," said Griffis.
"It gives me a way to interact with someone
else. I can talk about shoes all day long."
Whether on the court or around campus,
take a second look the next time you see
someone walk by with flashy sneakers. You
might become a feen yourself.
o
Controversy with NCAA conference realignment Powerful win for Nigeria
BY CHARLOTTE HUDSON
Staff Writer
Imagine yourself watching "SportsCenter" on ESPN,
waiting on your favorite college basketball team to play
an important conference game. You see the trademark
Breaking News. The Atlantic Coast Conference has
just announced that it voted to add Louisville to the
conference next season.
Louisville is the latest Big East program to move to the
ACC following Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame
(non-football).
How do you react?
Face it, college sports are changing with big name
conferences s-witching members. Even diough coherence
realignment has been around since the beginning of
college sports, the latest batch of schools switching
conferences is due to different, controversial reasons.
"In general, realignment is misguided for two reasons,"
said Robert Malekoff, associate professor of sport studies
in an email interview.
"One: It will increase travel and missed class time for
many students who participate on sports teams. Two:
the primary reason most schools switch schools and
conferences look to attract new members is in hopes of
generating more revenue.
"The problem is that most schools tend to spend
what they make (and in many cases, spend more than
they make). Realignment promises even more focus
on making money and less on an appropriate balance
between athletics, academics and student life. Many
schools will make more money, but, if history holds, they
will also spend more money."
Generating more revenue seems to be the prominent
goal of most major programs, regardless of other
problems.
"I believe it is bad for colleges and universities because
(realignment) overemphasizes the importance of athletics
at individual institutions," said Dave Walters, sports
information director, in an email interview.
On the other hand, Walters acknowledged that the
realignment could enhance competition between teams. A
strong basketball program in Syracuse can help the ACC,
which only has about three strong teams competing for
the conference title each year and for poorer colleges to
have the opportunity to earn more revenue if they move
to another conference.
According to the Washington Post, Duke University
head coach Mike Krzyzewski recently commented on the
upcoming shake-up on his radio show, even going so far
as to say that (Maryland's move to the Big Ten) will cause
the Terrapins to be "outsiders."
The future of the Big East is shaky at best. Four teams
have been slated to move to the ACC and seven Catholic
programs are planning to bolt from the conference to
form a new one, causing the Big East to be in danger of
losing its strong presence in college basketball.
"It's not something I enjoy looking at," said Louisville
Head Coach Rick Pitino in a news conference in
December. "Although we're very pleased to be part of the
Atlantic Coast Conference, I think what's happened has
been extremely disturbing."
The Big East will try to make the best of a very crippling
situation by holding the new members, including Boise
State and San Diego State, in place. Although he faces
daunting tasks ahead. Big East commissioner Mike
Aiesco is optimistic about the future of the conference.
"We still have quality football and basketball schools,"
Aiesco told USA Today Sports in December. "And they
are totally committed to making this league stronger and
in helping us plan for the future."
How do these changes affect alumni, students, coaches
and players?
"(The programs moving) did not get public opinion
from their alums, from the people there," Krzyzewski
said. "All these things are secret. It is not out there. Some
of it gets leaked, but in Maryland's case, it was never
leaked.
"I am really worried about that type of thinking. Kevin
White (Duke University Athletic Director) said tiiat you
get people who make these decisions who will be in those
positions for a few more years, and then they go. They
may not stay at that school. They are gonna go maybe to
a school that they've been to before, or retire or whatever.
They don't have to live with that decision.
'This is an assault on tradition."
BY JOSH BARKER
Staff Writer
Nigeria's recent triumph over
Burkkia Faso in the African Cup
of Nations made Stephen KesW
the second person to win both as
a player and as a coach.
The game was played in
Johannesburg, South Africa,
before a crowd estimated at
87,000.
"The best players do not
always make the best coaches,"
said Guilford Men's Soccer Coach
Jeff Bateson. "I bet less than one
percent of all former players —
in any sport — have done what
Keshi has done."
This was Nigeria's third Afiican
Cup of Nations and firstin 19years.
The Super Eagles ranks 30tli in the
new Federation Internationale de
Football Association, according to
Goal.com. They were ranked 52nd
before their championship defeat.
Nigeria won the Burldna Faso
match 1-0. Sunday Mba scored
the winning goal forty minutes in.
"Wnning this tournament is
mainly for my nation," said Keshi
in a press conference. "My dream
is to make all Nigerians happy."
In the 89th minute of the game,
Keshi brought veteran player and
captain Joseph Yobo off of the
bench so that he could help lift the
trophy.
"It's a dream come true," said
Yobo. 'This is my sixth African
cup. I said it was going to be my
last. Tm short of words."
Nigeria had been favored
to beat Burkina Faso, globally
ranked at 92nd.
"Everybody came through with
a great match, and that is what we
needed," said Yobo. "Everyone
gave something extra, and it made
the difference."
"But you know what that
expectation does to the underdog,
right?" said Bateson. "It makes
them fight harder to win the
game."
"Football is football," said
Burkina Faso coach Paul Put to the
Associated Press. "You have to be
great when you win and humble
when you lose. Congratulations
to Nigeria. Maybe we showed
Nigeria too much respect."
What does Nigeria's win mean
and how will it affect soccer?
"I do not think it is much of
an indicator for the World Cup,"
said senior Tali Raphael. "V^fith so
many nations and so few spots for
Africa in World Cup qualifying, it
is quite the crapshoot."
The Super Eagles' victory
guarantees a first round spot in
June's FIFA Cup in Brazil. They
will face higher-ranked teams
including Spain and Uruguay.
This was Burkina Faso's first
appearance at the African Cup
of Nations finals. Burkina Faso
previously made it to the final
four in 1998.
"I find the tournament to be
a lovely break to get in some
international soccer," said
Raphael. "The Cup of Nations
always provides some good
Cinderella stories."