Kobe Bryant is coming out with Trogan shoes to celebrate "March Madness":
Continuing their relationship with USC, Nike and Kobe Bryant are set to release the USC Away Nike Zoom Kobe V. Designed to match the the Trojans away uniforms, the USC Away Nike Zoom Kobe V PE features a Cardinal based upper with a snake textured trim, a Gold Swoosh, Gold laces, a Gold logo, a White/Cardinal midsole, and a White/Cardinal outsole. The package is tied together with a "USC" hit on the heel tab.
Lovely. Full details here.
So why should we care for or pay to see Kobe Bryant any more? Anyone want to make a case because I certainly am not going to look at the Lakers the same way as long as Bryant is leading that team.
GO BRUINS.
almost 2 years ago
Nestor
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Say it ain't so...
This is somewhat disheartening since by far my 2 favorite sports teams are the 2 basketball teams in LA (UCLA and Lakers). However, I’m definitely not going to go so far as to say that a pair of shoes will effect the way I root for Kobe and the Lakers. I certainly don’t know what Kobe’s shoe contract with Nike says, but I’m sure the bottom line is that this was a decision by Nike, not Kobe. Are you suggesting otherwise? Do you think Kobe has any say in what Nike does to sell his shoes other than lend his name to the product and maybe help with some of the design? My guess is that he doesn’t have much control.
This does tie into a discussion I saw yesterday about UCLA starting to renegotiate with Adidas. This is a prime example of why UCLA needs to switch to Nike. Adidas just doesn’t have the same resources or market share that Nike has.
Not sure if it's just a Nike thing
I have always been a Laker fan. However, Bruins will always take precedence over the Lakers. We have the long term connection with them via Kareem and Magic, who is a UCLA fan. This just doesn’t get me all warm and fuzzy.
It certainly is another strike against making any kind of emotional investment in purple and gold. This is all happening while Jerry Buss has been shelling out $ for the Trogans (then again he did us a favor by getting us Hello Kiffin).
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 6:03 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
There has been a lot of chatter about favorite Laker guards of all time
In my mind it’s crystal clear: Magic is the man.
Yeah
Should have mentioned Gail and Jamaal in the Captain reference as well.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 7:20 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Don't forget that Lynn Shackelford was a Radio and TV color commentator...
for the Purple and Gold for almost a decade. A Bruin, hired by a trogan, to comment on the Lakers. Just sayin’….
Pretty sure it's Kobe thing
Take a look at this link
People need to understand where Kobe stands, he’s a USC guy. If people like rooting for a USC guy, be my guest, but my support for the Lakers’ ended after I read that statement by Kobe.
Yep
I noted that earlier here on BN as well. I will root for the Lakers later on once Kobe is gone.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Ironic or just deserts?
Cardinal based upper with a snake textured trim
They got the snake skin right.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Yuck
Turns my stomach. Especially because he is being one of those fans who picks u$c for football only. You see no mention of basketball in that statement. Big shocker as no one cares about their basketball team.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
As an aside
Why would you come out with trogan shoes for the tournament when they’re probably the only team in the country that’s technically eliminated from participating ATM? That’s like celebrating your birthday when your birthday is in six months.
by Tydides on Feb 18, 2010 7:52 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
It's like celebrating an un-birthday
Happy No-Tournament Days! Here’s your present – shoes from a team that won’t even sniff the tourney!
good point
but I think also the Dartmouth Green are eliminated at this point at 0-8 in the only league that gives a tourney berth to the regular season champions – with only 6 games to go, they can’t possibly get to a .500 record, so no convoluted string of results could help them…
Maybe LeBron can bring out some “Dartmouth Green”s…
by britishbruin on Feb 18, 2010 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
This is kind of like what KG
did with UCLA last year when adidas did their march madness line. KG was an actual fan of UCLA basketball while I doubt Kobe watches SC
"I can't believe I ate the whole thing" Homer Simpson
Overreaction
U$C is Nike theyre going to use Kobe to pimp their shoes to the SC faithful hoping that it boosts their sales. I’m pretty sure this is nothing to do with preference of school and even if it does whoopty doo, Kobe’s a sc fan…
If anything this goes back to the Nike/Adidas argument IMO. Nike’s marketing of their NCAA schools is not even comparable to anything Adidas does and this is why IMO we need to sign with Nike, UA, anyone but Adidas.
Hasn't Kobe repeatedly said
that if he had attended college, it would have been Duke. I can live with that.
This, in my mind, is little more than marketing strategy. Would he be allowed by Nike to say anything but ’yea, sure. I like the Trogans. Whatever. Now go buy my shoe…"
And I see the link above re: 'I've adopted usc as my school'
What kind of a heartfelt statement is that?! Sorry, but it’s pretty transparent that he’s urged to say something that will support Nike sales in LA. If Nike had nothing to do with the Trogans, neither would Kobe.
by longbordr52 on Feb 18, 2010 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
Don't forget
that Jerry Buss is a USC alum who gives a ton of money to the school. Kobe and Buss are tight and it has been rumored than Kobe has been angling for the Magic deal where he gets a small percentage of ownership when he retires. I don’t see much in this Kobe SC connection. It’s business with Nike and his boss.
For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 18, 2010 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
agreed
i really think we’re looking a bit too far into an obvious marketing ploy. If Kobe was adidas, he’d be saying the same thing about us, thats assuming adidas would ever even do this sort of thing. I believe adidas did make t-mac in ucla colors though..
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
If it is a marketing ploy
UCLA alums and students should not give a dime to Nike or to Laker gear.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
and to add
my only laker shirts i wear are the adidas caricature champions shirt from this year and an adidas farmar “jersey/shirt”
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
here is his DUKE version by the way
http://nicekicks.com/2009/02/nike-zoom-kobe-4-duke-player-exclusives/
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
BOOOOOOOO!!!!
BOOOOOOOO!!!!
Now go buy me a ring Kobe.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
wait a sec
March Madness? U$C? those two are not synonymous, especially this year. As a NorCal Laker fan (since before I lived in NorCal) this is disgusting. I would like to slap Kobe to his senses, but I can’t. Now I need to find excuses to root against him (aside from this one).
by maccabita4life on Feb 18, 2010 11:16 AM PST reply actions
Comparison to Westbrook because he is sponsored by Nike
is a little ridiculous (someone made that in a comment in which I accidentally deleted).
RW is not out there pimping Trogan shoes or saying how much he lovs the Trogans for the sake of his shoe contract.
If Kobe really cared about marketing himself as a superstar in the city of Los Angeles, he would have the decency to tell his corporate sponsor to come up with another set of shoes to pimp March Madness. Again, I hope UCLA students and alums return the favor.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 12:28 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
That was my comment you deleted
I wasn’t comparing Westbrook to Kobe at all. I was referencing you saying we (Bruins) shouldn’t support Kobe/Lakers and/or Nike because of this collaboration. So I was saying, under that same logic, RW, as a Bruin, should stop being a Nike employee.
I think this is getting blown out of proportion. I’m a Bruin fan but I’m a Laker fan too. The notion that being a Laker supporter makes me less of a Bruin is ridiculous.
by LavinRuinedCollege on Feb 18, 2010 1:50 PM PST up reply actions
Uh no
I am saying we shouldn’t be financially supporting any products coming out of Kobe Bryant/Nike collaboration. That means if you are a self respecting Bruin alum or student, you probably shouldn’t be buying up Bryant branded shoes, jerseys etc. That is what I think … if you want to go ahead and support a Trogan who is out there pandering to the Trogan market, go for it.
Keep feeling good rooting for Kobe and telling yourself he is just prostituting himself in Trogan gear for Nike cash.
Will do
You do realize Jordan Farmar is getting his paychecks from Jerry Buss, right?
by LavinRuinedCollege on Feb 18, 2010 2:15 PM PST up reply actions
Read my comments closely
No one is stopping you from wishing Jordan well and rooting for him as a player.
However, if you want to pimp a Trogan loving Kobe Bryant, you go crazy and can do it over at somewhere else on the internets.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 2:37 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
This is NOTHING to do with USC/UCLA
and everything to do with the fact that Nike sponsors USC. RIght now the new Kobe Vs are easily the most sought after basketball shoe on the market. Nike is simply using USC (whom they sponsor) on the shoe to get those trojan fans who havent got their pair yet. They even make a pair for the Dukies…it is foolish to think that Kobe himself makes decisions on what color packs Nike puts out and to be realistic why would he care? Im pretty sure he has bigger problems to worry about than what color pack Nike is putting out.
WITH THAT BEING SAID…if anyone affiliated with UCLA goes out and buys that particular shoe (idk why you would but for arguments sake lets say they do) THEN they are in the wrong. Until then I will continue buying Kobe’s shoes and I wholeheartedly disagree with the assertion that a color pack on a shoe means all UCLA fans should stop supporting Kobe and the Lakers (who really have nothing to do with this). And no Kobe is not my fav laker, LO is.
Dukie color pack
forgot to add the link
Dukie color pack + all other color packs out
http://sneakernews.com/nike-zoom-kobe-v-5-signature-release-dates/
Good for you
Go ahead and keep rooting and supporting a Trogan. Just don’t come back here bragging about it … again.
by Nestor on Feb 18, 2010 5:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
how am i supporting usc
im not buying the USC version of the shoes…
I'm not much of an NBA fan
but I want to see JF do well, so despite Buss I therefore want to see the Lakers do well. The shoe thing has definitely dropped my opinion of Kobe, and I’d be quite pleased to see him not win individual awards/not have spectacular years…but supporting JF, a Bruin and a Warrior, to me wins out over dislike over Kobe, who didn’t go to u$c*, pimping $c gear.
by KSBruin on Feb 19, 2010 7:08 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I always wish our Bruins well ...
I think that can be done without being supportive of a Trogan fan though. Good luck to Jordan and the Lakers but if Kobe chokes against the Celts/Cavs this season … not going to lose sleep over it.
by Nestor on Feb 19, 2010 8:49 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Rooting for AA is no brainer
But something about the Nuggets team bug me.
by Nestor on Feb 19, 2010 9:25 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
"Something" meaning everyone else on that team?
Yeah I can see that, although George Karl is a sympathetic figure with what he’s going through now. The Cavs seem to be full of decent guys, Shaq and LeBron’s childish lack of sportsmanship notwithstanding, but the Celtics are led by a guy that only screams/mocks and gets demonstrative in front of people who are at least 6 inches shorter than he is. KG is a punk bitch and the Celtics better not win.
not buying the
Chauncey Billups home-town hero story? I think he’s a great guy for AA to play with at this stage of his career. I’m not such a fan of the rest of them.
by britishbruin on Feb 19, 2010 9:46 AM PST up reply actions
Not really
Never been a fan of Billups. I’m sure he’s a great guy since I’ve never heard anything bad about him. His style of play just isn’t for me. But if AA could incorporate some of Billups’ game into his own, I wouldn’t complain. It would make his skillset a lot more versatile, that’s for sure.
supposed to be a great professional
and seems to have had a positive influence on his teammates.
One random thought – any idea if Chauncey had a hand in AA being targeted by the Nuggets? Only just occurred to me that they played together for the Pistons briefly…
by britishbruin on Feb 19, 2010 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
answering my own question
there is an interesting piece here about the trade.
In the week leading up to the June 25 draft – well before Jones became a free agent – Denver’s management team discussed using its second-round pick (34th overall) to help land Afflalo. Among those consulted as part of the due diligence was Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups, who was with Detroit during Afflalo’s rookie season.
"Chauncey was around the draft room learning. He spent that week before (the draft) with us," Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien recalled Wednesday. "His eyes lit up. He couldn’t feel better about (Afflalo)."
There is some more stuff in the article too about his work ethic, praise from Anthony and Billups, etc.
by britishbruin on Feb 19, 2010 10:33 AM PST up reply actions
Obviously their uniforms are awesome
But the Birdman dude is just weird. Have never been a huge fan of Melo (OJ2’s buddy) either.
As for the Celts … there is nothing good about a team from Boston. NOTHING.
Melo lost me
When this came out. And I have a pet peeve about people who do stuff to their hair before playing basketball (like MR his first couple of years)
so if we switch over from adidas...
will kobe adopt UCLA as his school?
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden
Is it just me
or do those ugly ass things look like bowling shoes?
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Nike is associated with all evil sports teams
according to wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_sponsorships
$C – my most hated opponent in anything
Duke – my second most despised college team
New York Yankees – Evil Empire
Manchester United - the original UK soccer version of the Yankees, subsequently cloned by Arsenal/Chelsea
and, as a fan of Welsh rugby, I could throw the England national rugby team on there as well…
Ugh
Giggs was poached by United out of the Manchester City development system on his 14th birthday (much cheaper than shelling out Solomon’s riches for Everton’s version of LeBron, Wayne Rooney…).
Giggs – undoubted legend. Man United – scum.
by britishbruin on Feb 19, 2010 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
Rooney is the next legend
You have to admit though, do you really think Wayne would be half the player he is now if not for Fergie? Would Ronaldo be the most expensive player in the world if he didn’t flourish for United?
I can certainly understand why you’d hate United. A lot of people do, although I’m surprised more don’t give Chelsea and Liverpool the same amount of crap, since they do essentially the same thing (use money to bring in talent). Hell, United isn’t spending at all, since those a**holes from Tampa took over (and City is making United’s past spending sprees look like drops in the bucket).
Arsenal, I actually appreciate the fact Wenger brings in the kids young and develops them rather than splashing out for overpriced talent. Cesc would not be Cesc if Wenger didn’t develop him.
Who’s your club? Please don’t tell me it’s someone like Cardiff City. ;)
by Bellerophon on Feb 20, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
I see Chelsea get as much crap as United
for going out and just buying everybody. I don’t think they get by with less than they deserve, but Liverpool does because the club has the image of the workers’ club in the port town in the north. I think the image of the city is what lets it get a pass even though they have probably made the least of the money they have spent. At least for all the money United and Chelsea spend, they make something of it. I can’t really speak on the subject though because I am a Spurs fan where until ’Arry took over, we spent two times as much for players half as good as they were rated.
For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 20, 2010 4:26 PM PST up reply actions
Another element on the side of Liverpool
Two of their best and most important players in recent years – Carragher and Gerrard – have been with the club their entire career. Even if they’ve bought significantly, the faces of the club are homegrown.
right
and Gerrard is like the anti-Beckham, anti-Rooney – world class player who does not have a penchant for getting red cards in important games for England.
As a fan of another club and England, it is doubly frustrating when you have to support players on your national team who you despise playing club football… and then they go and screw your national team as well.
by britishbruin on Feb 20, 2010 9:48 PM PST up reply actions
England won't make it far...
…without Rooney leading the attack. Yes, he was rash before, but he’s key now, especially given the lack of real elite talent in the front for England.
by Bellerophon on Feb 21, 2010 12:36 AM PST up reply actions
I ike Spurs
I always feel like they’re so close to breaking through, but always fall a bit short. It’s true though that they spend a lot on guys who are totally not worth it. Defoe has been a brilliant re-signing though (at least this season).
by Bellerophon on Feb 21, 2010 12:35 AM PST up reply actions
Rooney was playing for England at 17
So he wasn’t exactly a diamond in the rough when Fergie got his grubby hands on him… but apparently, according to my brother, Chelsea are now more hated in the UK than ManU.
ManU got the a**holes from Tampa, my team got the a**hole from the Cleveland Browns…
And, when they pry Fergie’s corpse from Old Trafford, Man U will probably steal our manager…
by britishbruin on Feb 20, 2010 9:44 PM PST up reply actions
He was still pretty rough
Yes, Rooney had broken into the England set-up, but he was certainly not the player he has become now. I mean, when he broke into the England line-up, he wasn’t exactly fighting against top-end guys (Heskey, a braking-down Owen, etc.).
I like Martin O’Neill but I don’t see United chasing him when Fergie hangs it up.
by Bellerophon on Feb 21, 2010 12:39 AM PST up reply actions
This is why I'm a Clipper fan
I have an excuse now :)
Seriously, why do you release USC March Madness shoes now, when USC has no chance of going? That seems stupid.
Nike is shameless in its pandering to fans.
I remember when we beat Gonzaga and made it to the National Championship game, Nike immediately came out with a “Bruin Lo” that looked similar to this.
As you can imagine the swoosh was yellow, and it took every ounce of self restraint not to buy that shoe. Believe it or not, I restrained out of loyalty to Adidas, our sponsor. But also because Nike are such Trogan lovers. Still the shoes were sweet!
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Here, I'll tempt you some more, lol...
That being said, I highly doubt Nike released that shoe you’re mentioning based on the tournament run. Shoe releases usually are planned way further in advance…at least a good half a year.
by LavinRuinedCollege on Feb 18, 2010 6:40 PM PST up reply actions
Bryant and the Lakers and Nike are Freddo
All three are dead to me. I found some trOJan hats in a store today, and buried them, as I am obligated to do. Then I see this. I don’t have a Neilsen box on my TV, so it’s unlikely that my boycott of everything Lakers and everything Bryant will be registered by anyone, but I’ll know I’m doing the right thing. I will never buy a Nike product, and if I find a Nike golf ball, I’ll hit it further into the lake.
To those who will continue to root for the Lakers and Bryant after this shoe business and after what the owner did for Lame, I have but one request. Please explain how a member of the Bruins Nation can rationalize lending any support or positive karma to the once-proud laker (lower case intentional) organization. I would really be interested to hear the explanation.
Farmar
I believe his contract is up after this season. I hope someone else picks him up and make him starting PG.
What sucks
is I remember back during the Shaq & Kobe days, before the SC-UCLA football game, they asked Kobe who he was rooting for. I remember him saying that he took some classes at UCLA, extension type classes, nothing he actually needed to apply to take. He said that since he took the classes at UCLA that he guessed he’d be rooting for them.
This by no means is word for word, but I remember seeing this on TV.
Kobe . . . . nice of you to join the Evil Empire that is Trogan land.
I would like to know the official BN policy on some things.
Can I still root for the Lakers, an organization that I have been supporting since I was a baby or do I have to jump off the wagon because the current star player likes a recently successful local college football team that uses his clothing manufacturer?
Oh, and can I still buy something made by Nike that’s not connected to Kobe or sc, or do I have to boycott all of their products because one of the many teams they make apparel for happens to be sc? Do I have to buy Adidas apparel exclusively? How about Under Armour and Reebok? Puma?
I have not purchased a piece of Kobe merchandise since the rape allegations came out and I don’t like his shoes anyway, so boycotting his Nike stuff won’t be a problem.
lol
There is no “official BN policy.” I think we are having a little fun discussion. I am going to be rooting for the Lakers and especially the Bruin in Lake uniforms. However, I am not going to be supporting a Trogan in any way by investing in any apparel connected to him. Also, I will not be all that heartbroken of Kobe the Trogan, chokes in the playoffs. That is all.
I imagine not everyone on the frontpage agrees with me on this. So there is no “policy.” If there was we’d actually discuss it on the homepage. Not here.
by Nestor on Feb 20, 2010 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well I disagree with you on this
I’m a Laker fan and really just see this as business on Kobe’s end. I don’t think he really has much of an allegiance one way or another. If Kobe were a Bruin then this would piss me off, but he doesn’t.
For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 20, 2010 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
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