Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank said Warriors G Stephen Curry has been an "amazing impetus for a lot of the growth we’ve seen in footwear overall," but Plank noted observers are "just starting to see” the company take off. He said while Curry might not have "changed the game," he has "certainly bent the game, and we’re seeing the results of that with our own business and just the broad fan appeal. Plank: "There’s no other player that’s had the appeal that Steph Curry has really had in the NBA.” He noted UA “had to get lucky” to sign Curry as an endorser at a time when they were looking to grow their footwear business. But Plank said, "I’d rather be lucky than good, and we’ve been incredible lucky." He added. “The company truly is at that point we’re just getting started. You’re starting to see us begin to hit our stride … (and) we’re going to be around for a long time” (CNBC.com, 6/14).
SO BAD THEY'RE GOOD? FS1’s Colin Cowherd said Curry’s new Chef Curry 2 shoes are "still ruling the Internet” after their release last week. FS1’s Jason Whitlock said a tweet from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll endorsing the shoes makes them a “little less cool." But he added, "I actually love the shoes because everybody else hates the shoes.” Cowherd: “Everybody in the world is trying to be edgy except Steph Curry. I like him more for it” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 6/14). ESPN's Mike Golic said, “I know they got mocked a lot, and Steph should not care at all.” But ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, “He should care. He’s got a huge business going here. You don’t put the shoes out because you want people to make fun of them. ... No one is buying them because they are comfortable; they’re buying them because they are fire, right? And those shoes are not fire.” Greenberg added, “At first I thought that this was all just a marketing ploy to sort of get people more interested in the shoes.” Golic asked, “What is he going to do? It’s not like he is going to come out publicly and say, ‘Hey, sorry I made a mistake in releasing these’” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 6/15).
TROMBONE SHORTY: Curry's new shoes did not escape the fashion-forward world that is WWE, as tag team champions The New Day on Monday based an entire in-ring skit around the footwear. Kofi Kingston was wearing the shoes, when partner Xavier Woods asked, "Why you wearing these old people shoes?” Kingston said, “These are hot in the streets right now?” Big E asked, “What streets!?” Woods: “Greenwich, Connecticut?” Kingston: “In all fairness, those are some pretty mean streets.” Big E said of the shoes, “You got on the orthopezees.” Woods: “No, no, no, he’s wearing the Metamucil Sixes.” Big E: “Those are the Air Max Shuffleboards.” Woods: “The I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up 12s.” Kingston: “Look man, I don’t care what either of y’all say, I don’t care what anybody says. These shoes are fire, baby! Trust me, I’m a shoe guy.” Later, rival Big Cass asked Kingston, “Are you serious with them Jerry Seinfeld joints you got on?” Kingston: “Enough about the shoes!” (
"Monday Night Raw," USA Network, 6/13).
