by Josh Flagner

Created on: March 03, 2007   Last Updated: March 21, 2007

As a person who has spent, and will continue to spend, my active life in only two brands of athletic shoe, the Nike vs. Adidas issue is almost completely moot. The two brands that I religiously wear are, you guessed it, Nike and Adidas. As a customer, a gym rat, and a rec league player, these two shoes are the only brands that have ever satisfied my need for comfort and my vanity. Maybe my childhood love of sports and the subsequent commercialization I was subjected to watching every Browns and Cavs game has herded me into being a "Nike guy". I sure know that I wanted to be like Mike when I was a kid (even though he destroyed the hopes of my hometown heroes), but I sure like to think I'm more person than consumer sheep. I admit it was the ads that made me want to try Nike (and later Reebok, Adidas, and even New Balance shoes), but I had to like them.

I know that the money, marketing, and brand strength mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but not necessarily the people that buy the product. Nike and Adidas flat out make the best shoes while the other companies that have gotten their foot in the door just don't. That's why Nike and Adidas are having this global war over advertising and superstar endorsement contracts. Without the money to give LeBron or T-Mac, there wouldn't be any snappy commercials. No rap songs about Air Force Ones. No neat looking running shoes that match my favorite hoodie. Then where would we be?

The issue that needs to be explored is Nike and Adidas vs. Everyone else. Why couldn't Reebok keep up with the Knights? If New Balance is really that good for your feet, why can't they get something done in the way of an endorsement? Can Dwyane Wade help Converse to even enter this discussion?

Best shoes, most money, biggest stars. It's an easy economic lesson, and until other brands bring more quality it's also a static economic situation.

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