Posted by nixluva:
Posted by Allanfan20:
Steph does not deserve criticism for this. If he wants to make a lot of money, and at the same time, help out people in need of shoes, and actually do it, then God bless him. However, Nalod is right. If he wants to build up his image, then donate the money he made from this. If he wants to impress me, he should continue doing this, but stop bringing attention to himself about this, b/c to me, people should forget when they give and never ever forget when somebody gives to them. That to me is the mark of a good person, and it's not something that's done on purpose.
I don't know what Steph's true intentions are. First off, he just doesn't strike me as an intelligent person. Sometimes, those are the better people. Secondly, it doesn't seem like he's trying to make a profit of this. It seems more like he wants to build his image and he wants to be vieweed as a good guy so that he gets less boos and media criticism. It's obvious it bothers the crap outta him, b/c he now makes fun of Stephen A Smith on his show.
Also, whenever he speaks you can tell whenever he speaks, he always says "I'm not what people say. I'm a good guy" all the F'in time. Almost like how Isiah tries convincing us that he's tough b/c he's from the mean streets of Chicago. He wants to be viewed as the good guy pretty badly.
Steph, start playing basketball for a coach besides Isiah Thomas, and you'll be viewed as a good guy for all. Nobody cares about the shoes. The poor people are gonna say "Hey Steph, thanks for helping me out." and that's all. He's not gonna be looked upon as a hero for this. Just as a good brother.
When are we going to get to the point when you can just give the guy some credit, without the backhanded negative statements attached. The guy doesn't have to be Ghandi in order for him to be doing something good in his own small way. He wants to be a business man, but in a way that doesn't hurt his customers. He clearly wants to keep his clothes and shoes STYLISH yet AFFORDABLE. This will mean that kids who are in today's world, which is prone to peer pressure, can still get nice gear, but stuff their parents can afford. MOST kids aren't able to just ignore the social stigma that comes from not having on clothes that are considered cool. So Steph is at least giving them an option. He's still a star and it appears that his street cred is still high enough that kids are buying his clothes at a high rate. So he's succeeded in doing what he set out to do.
This doesn't mean that he's not also GIVING of his time and money to various charities, cuz he clearly DOES. If he has a sense that the public doesn't really know him and he wants to change their perceptions that fine too. He's entitled to show people what he's about just as much as the media can write negative stuff. I would want to clear up misconceptions too if I felt I was misunderstood.
When are we gonna get off his ass?
When he lives up to HIS star billing and stops with the obsession of trying to recreat his immage.
He created the tough hip hop surley persona from years of comments, ad campaigns, and draping the scowel towel.
When it reached critical mass last year he went on a full blitz to change him image.
No, he is not a bad guy, but he is a BASKETBALL PLAYER first and foremost. I don't care about the rest of it, but Starbury endorsements are born from his image as a basketball player and his ten years in the league. So him trying to do the mother teresa act all of a sudden does not come off as genuine.
It also seems the genesis of it all is from Isiah who is telling the kid what to do and how to act.
Just cuz you make 20 million does not convert you from being a dumb jock to savvy talk show host.
I do believe he means well, but my point is he is a celeberty because of he is a basketball player. Depite his talent he has been toxic on every team he has been on.
A successful image is born from how an athlete carries himself on his stage and the results he produces. Outside of statistics, Starbury has done little to futher any team he has been on.
Now he seems obsessed with his legacy. To ME, it ain't about a self produced talk show that has not comercial appeal (he buys the airtime to view it), to ME its not about "brilliant" marketing scheme to sell endorsed discount clothing disquised as philinthrapic generosity, nor an emotional outcry of Katrina victims where he pledged $500,000. To ME its about basketball, and without any substance one court he fails to impress me. The guy who gets his $150,000 chain yanked off his neck at 4am in his convertable Bentley is part of his image engrained in my mind. I did not put it there, he did.
Sure a guy has a right to change, but you gotta do somthing on the court thats special.
Even Kobe, who is a piece of Sh!t can pull it off becasue he is credible on the one stage he excells on.
Stephs European vacation Im sure will give him some unique perspective I oh so look for to hear quoted.
5/21/2007 3:45 AM