Three Cheers for Stephon Marbury!

My hat’s off to Stephon Marbury, the NBA star, for popularizing his $14.98 Starbury sneakers, thereby saving a fortune for families everywhere. Marbury wears them every time he and the rest of the Knicks play ball.

So not only are the Starburys cheap, but they’re cool. And since Marbury thinks enough of the shoes to wear them on the court, not only are they cool, but they must be well-made, too. That’s what ABC&39;s 20/20 found, when they did a segment on Marbury and his shoes a couple of months ago. They had a footwear expert do extensive tests, comparing Starburys with another sneaker that sells for over $150. No differences in quality and design were found.

It’s so great that Stephon has chosen this as the way to put his star power to work, although, born and bred New Yorker that I am, I sure wish he and the rest of the Knicks were playing better ball. However, I’m convinced we can’t blame the shoes for that!

How Much Will You Save?
The amount of money his shoes can save a family is really mind-boggling. First, consider a few statistics:

• According to Forbes.com, in 2006, we spent $674.5 million on athletic shoes that cost $100 or more.
• On average, we paid $42.16 for a pair of sneakers in 2006, but some go for $590, $600, $1,000 and up. Yikes!
• Athletic footwear sales were projected by the National Sporting Goods Association to pass the $17 billion mark in 2006.

I don’t know about you, but I already have more than enough sneakers hanging around – and am not in the market for any more. Certainly, if a pair “sang to me” at a tag sale or Goodwill, I might pick them up, but I’d never spend $42.16 for a pair, let alone anything more than that. The Nikes in my life are all second-hand and there are no Air Jordans.

But that’s me … now … living a very simple lifestyle and pushing 60. I know I’d feel differently if I were a teenager. I’d want the latest in fashion or sports trends. And if I had kids to outfit – fahgeddaboutit! My grandkids go through three or four pairs a year, so I’m sure I’d be shelling out plenty more for rubber soles. How about you? What’s in your closet? How much will you spend the next time you need sneaks?

All other things being equal, let’s say the choice is between paying:

1. $100 for a pair of name brands
2. The average price of $42.16
3. $14.98 for a pair of Starburys

Say you have a couple of kids, and they’re willing to go for 3. Rather than shelling out $400 or $168.64 every year for each child’s four pairs of sneakers, you’ll spend under $50 –   $49.92 to be exact.

The price difference is even more striking when you look at the savings over time. Say you’ll be buying sneakers for them for another decade: Four pairs a year times two kids times ten years – or 80 pairs of sneakers. You can pay $8,000, $3,372.80, or $1,198.40. I know which one I’d choose! How about you?

There&39;s More to Come
At first, Starbury only manufactured basketball sneakers for men. Now, in almost 200 stores in 33 states, there are Starbury athletic and casual sneakers for folks of all ages, as well as low-priced duds. And not too long ago, Chicago Bulls star, Ben Wallace put traditional team rivalries aside and joined the team, wearing Starburys when he plays ball. I wonder ... who’s next? C&39;mon sports stars. Join in and help America save!