LeBron's shoes modeled after Hummer

**appleseed** · 10-08-2003, 02:57 PM

LeBron James' shoes modeled after Hummer
By BRIAN WINDHORST
Akron Beacon Journal

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - If you've got a theme, you might as well stick with it.

LeBron James' first series of Nike shoes, which have been dubbed the Air Zoom Generation, have been modeled after, get this, his famous Hummer H2.

The design and look of the shoe were inspired by James' $100,000 vehicle, which his mother bought for him for his 18th birthday last December. The shoes, which will likely be priced in the $150 range, are scheduled to hit stores on Dec. 26.

Nike prepared several mockups of the signature shoe when the company pitched itself, with about $90 million, to James in May. The Cavaliers rookie also had a hand in its final design.

The sport-utility vehicle made national news after the Ohio High School Athletic Association investigated how it was purchased last January. This is just more proof of James' sense of humor about the whole thing. He playfully drove a remote-controlled toy version around the Rhodes Arena floor before a game last winter even as the controversy raged.

James has not worn his line of shoes in a game or at a practice yet, but their debut might coincide with Nike's television commercials featuring him that are expected to start during the regular season.

No word on whether the shoes will have multiple television screens like the real thing.

**raimin** · 10-08-2003, 03:08 PM

wonder if you land to hard on them or try offroading, you;ll break an axle...i mean ankle...see automotive threads

**bachviet** · 10-08-2003, 03:38 PM

Let's see if it could be a success like the Air Jordan.

**ray** · 10-08-2003, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by bachviet
Let's see if it could be a success like the Air Jordan.

The shoes may take a while, but I think his Jerseys have already flown off the shelves. If i'm not mistaken, Allen Iverson had the best selling jerseys the past few years. I think that Lebron may take the prize in his rookie season.

**TofuNinja** · 10-08-2003, 04:29 PM

Is he getting hummers already or is it the car? You know we all thought Kobe was clean LeBron is probably in sex heaven

**Jihforce** · 10-08-2003, 04:58 PM

damn man it would royally suck for Nike if LeBron doesn't live up to his expectations. Watch he becames a seviceable swingman like Glenn Robinson. hehe

**M_A_C** · 10-08-2003, 07:14 PM

What do mean? He is by far the best player I've never seen!

**coleslaw** · 10-08-2003, 07:20 PM

I can't even visualize how the heck a shoe could resemble a Hummer besides a big blocky hunk of plastic on your foot.

**Apex** · 10-09-2003, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by raimin
wonder if you land to hard on them or try offroading, you;ll break an axle...i mean ankle...see automotive threads

I'm guessing with the $100k pricetag, he's got the H1, not the H2.

**kei2** · 10-09-2003, 12:23 AM

is anybody hoping lebron james is a bust? *raises hand* i am. the only thing in the sports world that angers me more than lebron james is his mom. money-hungry individuals and corporations putting all their hopes in a high school kid, i can't help but hope for failure there.

**Freelance Superhero** · 10-09-2003, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by Apex

I'm guessing with the $100k pricetag, he's got the H1, not the H2.

yeah i was wondering about that quoted price... i thought for sure i remembered it was an H2 that he got; in fact, i'm almost certain of it. i dunno where that 100k came from...

**bachviet** · 10-09-2003, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by kei2
is anybody hoping lebron james is a bust? *raises hand* i am. the only thing in the sports world that angers me more than lebron james is his mom. money-hungry individuals and corporations putting all their hopes in a high school kid, i can't help but hope for failure there.

Why do you want the kid to fail??? I actually want him to do good so basketball could be more interesting. I was hoping for one on one match up against Kobe if he doesn't end up in jail.

**coleslaw** · 10-09-2003, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by Freelance Superhero
yeah i was wondering about that quoted price... i thought for sure i remembered it was an H2 that he got; in fact, i'm almost certain of it. i dunno where that 100k came from...

From what I remember, he does, in fact, own an H2. The retail price for a base-model H2 is ~$50k, but I think I remember the news saying that his mom got him a more pimped-out model that cost ~$75k.

**kei2** · 10-09-2003, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by bachviet
Why do you want the kid to fail??? I actually want him to do good so basketball could be more interesting. I was hoping for one on one match up against Kobe if he doesn't end up in jail.

Well he's being put in a position where he's a huge role model for high school kids. From high school straight into the pros, where he receives about $100 million in advertising deals before he even plays a game. From a purely financial standpoint, that's pretty amazing, what kid wouldn't want that kind of money? But considering he's in that kind of a spotlight, what kind of example does it set for kids when you don't even consider college? Yes it worked for Kobe, yes it worked for Lebron, but this is precisely the kind of thing that makes our society a joke. Entertainers become role models instead of teachers, doctors, engineers, and other hard-working respectable individuals that contribute to society. Why? Because they make several times more money. Hundreds of times more money. And hey with capitalism you take the bad with the good, so kids that see numbers like this want to be where the big money is. I haven't even mentioned the whole thing about him accepting free jerseys and getting into trouble about that. Or how his mom didn't care which team picked him as long as they got the most money possible out of it. Or how the NBA is grooming him to be the next superstar simply because Jordan's long gone and Kobe's image is tarnished. So why should I be rooting for Lebron James to succeed?

**bachviet** · 10-09-2003, 05:26 PM

It's up the parents to teach their kids about role model not the society.

**kei2** · 10-10-2003, 12:25 AM

Originally posted by bachviet
It's up the parents to teach their kids about role model not the society.

That's true, but far too many parents fail to step up and take responsibility for their kids. Instead, the television set becomes the babysitter, and kids are raised by mass media. And what's on TV if not overpaid athletes and entertainers? Most people are all about the money these days, and fame is another alluring aspect of celebrity. Lots of kids these days would rather pursue a lifestyle of fame and fortune than a modest hard-earned honest living. Lebron James represents much of what is wrong with society today. Drop the education, emphasize the dunks. It's even shameful that corporations like Nike would rather have Lebron endorse their products than, say, a college-educated NBA rookie. How about Carmelo Anthony? Even one year of college education and college ball is better than zero when you're talking about role models.

**attgig** · 10-10-2003, 07:22 AM

so, anyone got a pic of this shoe??

it cannot look good at all.

**brainsmile** · 10-10-2003, 11:29 AM

hummers can't be posted cause it's pr0n

**Skeptical** · 10-12-2003, 01:08 AM

All i can imagine is LeBron wearing boxes.

**Freelance Superhero** · 10-12-2003, 05:31 AM

well, they can't be much worse than kobe's last shoe. i mean DAMN those things were ugly...

**whitak24** · 10-12-2003, 07:24 AM

Originally posted by coleslaw
From what I remember, he does, in fact, own an H2. The retail price for a base-model H2 is ~$50k, but I think I remember the news saying that his mom got him a more pimped-out model that cost ~$75k.

it was an H2. in addition to being fully loaded, it had a ton of extra features, including (if memory serves me correctly) 4 tvs and a couple video game systems. basically it was pimped-out to the hilt.

**whitak24** · 10-12-2003, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by appleseed
LeBron James' shoes modeled after Hummer
By BRIAN WINDHORST
Akron Beacon Journal

....

The sport-utility vehicle made national news after the Ohio High School Athletic Association investigated how it was purchased last January. This is just more proof of James' sense of humor about the whole thing. He playfully drove a remote-controlled toy version around the Rhodes Arena floor before a game last winter even as the controversy raged.

i love the dick-sucking, oh-so-unbiased write-up about the issue from bron-bron's hometown newspaper

i think this has nothing to do with a sense of humor and more to do with arrogance and blithe disregard for rules as a whole.

**Showtime** · 10-14-2003, 02:11 PM

I will get to see him play the Lakers this season.
I saw some highlights and was impressed with his passing skills. The kid has a nice touch. He'll have problems with his jumper and defending smart 1, 2 and 3 players but he will hopefully have the type of impact for cleveland that Amoure Stoudamire has for Phoenix.

-jel

**coleslaw** · 10-29-2003, 03:39 PM

ESPN has an article about the making of LeBron's new shoe, along with some pictures. An interesting read.

It really doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. I'm sure that they are going "sell like rubbers."

**Freelance Superhero** · 10-29-2003, 04:58 PM

hmmm interesting...

oh yeah, they'll sell, just because they're his shoes. i mean, look at the last 15 generations of jordans/jumpmans.

**appleseed** · 10-29-2003, 05:00 PM

that's IT? wow, how utterly anti-climactic

**eSDee** · 10-29-2003, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by kei2

Well he's being put in a position where he's a huge role model for high school kids. From high school straight into the pros, where he receives about $100 million in advertising deals before he even plays a game. From a purely financial standpoint, that's pretty amazing, what kid wouldn't want that kind of money? But considering he's in that kind of a spotlight, what kind of example does it set for kids when you don't even consider college? Yes it worked for Kobe, yes it worked for Lebron, but this is precisely the kind of thing that makes our society a joke. Entertainers become role models instead of teachers, doctors, engineers, and other hard-working respectable individuals that contribute to society. Why? Because they make several times more money. Hundreds of times more money. And hey with capitalism you take the bad with the good, so kids that see numbers like this want to be where the big money is. I haven't even mentioned the whole thing about him accepting free jerseys and getting into trouble about that. Or how his mom didn't care which team picked him as long as they got the most money possible out of it. Or how the NBA is grooming him to be the next superstar simply because Jordan's long gone and Kobe's image is tarnished. So why should I be rooting for Lebron James to succeed?

Kei2, while I can see your point I think that its hard to blame a kid like Lebron for doing what he did. For a lot of kids growing up in poverty, being an "entertainer" is the only way they are going to pull themselves and their family out of poverty in one generation. I don't think his mom is a "money lover" as much as I think she is a "povery hater". I can't blame Lebron and his family for looking for the paycheck for that reason.

By the way, I think that Nike should be given a lot more heat for giving him this size of contract. They are most responsible but it seems like nobody holds them accountable. Instead the player gets the heat for taking something dangled right in front of his face.

**kei2** · 10-29-2003, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by eSDeeLoco
By the way, I think that Nike should be given a lot more heat for giving him this size of contract. They are most responsible but it seems like nobody holds them accountable. Instead the player gets the heat for taking something dangled right in front of his face.

You're right, it's Nike's fault. But no matter who's to blame, it just goes to show how messed up society is.