World Report: November 21, 2003 Vol. 9 Iss. 10
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
The Sneaker Name Game
On November 12, Converse's new basketball sneaker, Loaded Weapon, hit stores. The sneakers, which are "loaded" with cushion insoles, sell for $90. But it's the name, not the price, that has some people crying foul.
Critics worry that the shoe's name makes violence seem cool. They want the company to rename the sneaker.
Dave Maddocks of Converse disagrees. "Sports is loaded with battlefield terminology," he says. "This is merely the name of a shoe."
Converse's sneaker sales are lagging behind its top competitors. Jim Haney, the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, says the new sneaker's name is the wrong way for the company to get back in the game. "You're taking a violent theme and trying to sell it to kids," he says. "It's a bad message."
