In Michigan, Aaron McMann notes Pistons F Stanley Johnson had been "complaining of pain in his left foot since at least Saturday," prompting the team to want him to "start wearing a different shoe on the court." Johnson reportedly "signed a shoe deal with Nike" in August '15 and has been "sporting the Kobe Bryant-style kicks ever since." Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, "It's coming from the shoes he's wearing. ... But Stanley, who is not the least bit hard-headed, wants to continue to wear them because they're really comfortable. I said, 'They're comfortable? You're in pain because you're playing in them'" (MLIVE.com, 10/18).
STARTER PACK: FOXSPORTS.com's Tom Jensen noted sportswear brand Starter will sponsor NASCAR driver Jeffrey Earnhardt for the upcoming Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega and Homestead-Miami, with the relationship "possibly ongoing" for '17. The car will "carry a throwback paint scheme" that is a tribute to his grandfather, Dale Earnhardt (FOXSPORTS.com, 10/17).
SWIPE LEFT: NEW YORK magazine's Jessica Pressler notes swimmer Ryan Lochte performed an "elaborate proposal" for his fiancee, Playboy model Kayla Reid. The couple have "been together ten months, which may come as a surprise to those who saw Lochte on the Today show in August talking about Tindering in Rio." At the time, Lochte said that he was "under contractual obligation to present himself as single, though he won't say for what company" (NEW YORK magazine, 10/17 issue).
