With the release of the Air Jordan sneaker in 1989, Nike introduced its first $100 basketball shoe. Consequently, other athletic shoe brands began to raise the price of sneakers and enlist professional athletes to promote the shoes primarily to teenagers and young adults. However, while sneakers also rose in popularity, many of the kids who coveted the shoes could not afford them. To provide an affordable option to parents and kids, New York Knicks’ star Al Harrington has decided to endorse the Protégé sneaker which sells for $34.99 at K-Mart and Sears. Harrington recently teamed up with rapper Fat Joe to host a block party at the Woodfield K-Mart in Chicago. During the block party, basketball fans got a chance to participate in dribbling, passing, and shooting contests as Harrington and Fat Joe signed autographs and talked about the importance of the Protégé shoe line. “I own thousands of pairs of sneakers but these are hard economic times,” said Fat Joe, who has a signature shoe called the TS Blackout. “I wanted my sneaker to be something that kids can afford. A lot of kids can’t afford $200 sneakers. Kids can buy these shoes themselves.” Harrington understands the impact that the Protégé could have on young kid who look up to NBA players and the shoes that they wear. “It’s all about giving back,” he said. A kid doesn’t have to always have to ask their parents to buy them shoes. They can now go out and do yard work to earn enough money to have a new pair of shoes. We just want to put a positive light out there for kids to see.” –a.r.
