November 23, 2009
starts at the bottom
Women’s basketball shoes. Sounds simple – but for someone with narrow feet, wearing men’s shoes is just not an option unless I wanted to wear six pairs of socks. It just so happened that I entered the seventh grade right after the “Girl Power” hype of the ’96 olympics so, I was at the perfect age where I could wear Sheryl Swoopes’ shoes. Not that they were readily available, but I knew they were out there, so my mom and I drove to what seemed like every mall in Mass to find them. Soon I was ballin out in Swoopes’ shoes, unfortunately didn’t help me play like her – well maybe a little, I was quicker than most of the other girls, got into passing lanes and preferred to drive left.
But one thing I noticed even then, none of my teammates were really into basketball or the WNBA like I was. In fact even tho I played on AAU teams, travel teams, high school teams and even some DIII ball, I never had a teammate who liked to watch or even attempted to follow the W, looking back I don’t think even my college coach did. After I left college, I went to see the BC vs Maryland game after they won the national championship, and I really thought I would see my old college coach, but instead I saw another locals college’s coach (and players), he even talked to Brenda Frese, I was in awe, actually I was feeling more regret that I played for a coach that didn’t share the same appreciation for the game.
Back to the point, since Micheal Jordan shoes have been more a part of basketball than a pull-up J, so it was nice that women were given the opportunity to participate in the commercialization of the game. I’ve always enjoyed shopping for basketball shoes, almost as I enjoyed playing in them. Even tho I stopped playing I always take a look at the women’s basketball shoes, and even tho there aren’t as many choices as the men’s, it always brings me back to when me and my mom finally found Air Swoopes in my size. Mission accomplished.
PS I will be buying Parker’s shoe when it comes out!!!
