In the early 1990’s Ice Cube decided to leave legendary rap group NWA over a contract dispute. This departure inspired one of the greatest rap battles on wax between ex band mates. Cube penned a song in response to a song that appeared on NWA’s sophomore release 100 miles and running. Years later, Stephon Marburyembarrasses himself by eating Vaseline in a video posted on YouTube… Lebron James and Nike are planning to release a shoe that cost 315.00 dollars. I know, I know you’re reading this and wondering what does Marbury and old school rap battles between guys that eventually made peace have to do with Nike, Lebron and over-priced gym shoes.
I’m glad you asked. The reference is (at least to me) crystal clear. Lebron has done a lot of work in the community since he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He preached about the value of staying in school both publically and privately, conducted countless interviews, appearances and in television commercials. Marbury once marketed a shoe that was economically affordable to low income people and even had a little buzz in the advertising world due to its seemingly noble cause.
King James is the heir apparent to a throne and empire that has been exposed for unsafe working conditions in economically deprived and under developed Asian countries for pennies an hour to its workers. Despite this information, all Americans proudly purchase these products while Nike, athletes and Phil Knight laugh all the way to the bank. So the term No Vaseline makes perfect sense considering the fact that Nike and its most famous athletic endorser line-up sells us a dream of running faster, jumping higher and playing like these athletically superior pitchmen.
Now they want to sell us a shoe for 315 dollars that features certain “innovations” that can be found on most application on a smart phone. So the “Starbury” and legendary hip hop song“No Vaseline” should resonate very strongly to us as a society. Are we to busy basking in the glow of willful ignorance? Or will we be in line on the release date spending the equivalent of a car payment?
By the Sports Kritik @ http://tobtr.com/s/2110719
