Yahoo:Adidas "Shackle" Sneakers Create Controversy

[HogNose]

At first glance you'd think it was a picture from an ONION article. How the hell could something this ridiculous get a green light after a board room brainstorming session?

[Popeman38]

At first glance you'd think it was a picture from an ONION article. How the hell could something this ridiculous get a green light after a board room brainstorming session?

Because they were looking at the most recent illustrations that people will do WHATEVER it takes to get the next big thing. Look at the tramplings and the robberies, and the riots associated with the Nike re-releases over the last couple years.

[Mr. Sinister]

I've always wanted to do a "Best Worst Basketball Shoe" playoff bracket. This would be a top 5 seed

[Corcaigh]

Wow those are ugly.

I don't understand how this is racist though.

It's obviously racist... only African Americans play basketball.

[HogNose]

Because they were looking at the most recent illustrations that people will do WHATEVER it takes to get the next big thing. Look at the tramplings and the robberies, and the riots associated with the Nike re-releases over the last couple years.

Yeah, true. If they were marketing it for the next big midnight riot then yeah it would have been a success.

[Popeman38]

Yeah, true. If they were marketing it for the next big midnight riot then yeah it would have been a success.

Like I said a little earlier, it is marketing genius in the wrong time. "A shoe so hot, you have to lock it on your foot" is a GREAT shot across the bow of Nike. What could have been....

[Predicto]

At first glance you'd think it was a picture from an ONION article. How the hell could something this ridiculous get a green light after a board room brainstorming session?

if you are faced with a dominant market leader like Nike, and you want to raise your profile, the best thing you can do is create a controversy and exploit it. All publicity is good publicity when you are in that situation.

Marketing 101.

---------- Post added June-19th-2012 at 11:19 AM ----------

Adidas decided to not sell them.

I think it was marketing genius on their part. Nike has been releasing shoes that start riots and get stolen. Adidas markets a shoe that "is so hot, you'll have to lock them on your feet". Enter the high end sneaker business while sending a shot across the bow of the king? Genius. Just so happens that in our PC world, the first thought always goes to how it could be offensive. Like a shoe company would intentionally try to alienate the market it is trying to enter.

Whoops, you said it first. Credit to you.

[MLSKINS]

I thought Adidas was already doing better than Nike...

Edit:I just looked at their stock prices, I was sadly mistaken...

[HogNose]

I thought Adidas was already doing better than Nike...

I just looked at their stock prices, I was sadly mistaken...

This man will turn the Adidas tide......

[MLSKINS]

Who that? Obama???

[MattFancy]

Never was a fan of Adidas and won't start buying it because that's what RGIII wears.

[Manny555]

It's obviously racist... only African Americans play basketball.

Not..... sure...... if...... you're........ serious.... (Always wanted to do that!)

Obviously you didn't read the concept behind the shoe. People now wear basketball shoes as a casual every day shoe, not just basketball.

Very frustrating how people turn things into racism.

I recently went into a Dick's Sporting Goods and was looking at the Golf Clubs (I'm Hispanic). In the demo booth were some caucasian teenagers playing with the clubs. When we asked to Demo the clubs the older caucasian sales rep said No because we had to be a "Prospective Buyer". I was infuriated!! I called the Az Attorney General and they wouldn't help because he didn't allow another caucasian person try the clubs after me. I was livid. This was blatant discrimination and Az wouldn't do anything about it.

This on the other hand (like others have said) is just an ugly Creation.

[DeaconTheVillain]

I still rock the Stan Smith Adidas shoes.



The shoes in the OP are offensive as hell to my eyes and anyone who wears them should be ridiculed mercilessly