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It IS the Shoes; NBA Bans New Shoe

The NBA has long banned performance enhancing drugs and now it has, for the first time in league history, banned a performance enhancing shoe.  The new Concept 1 shoe by Athletic Propulsion Labs, a $300 basketball shoe containing a spring-based system said to enhance a wearer's vertical leap by as much as 31/2 inches.  The NBA said in a statement: "Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game that creates an undue competitive advantage."

Can there be a better marketing hook for a basketball shoe than "Banned by the NBA"?  Athletic Propulsion Labs certainly doesn't think so.  A visit to their home page greets you with the image of stamp with that label covering most of the home page.  It's perhaps the ultimate slogan for a basketball shoe and despite the $300 price tag I expect these shoes will fly out of APL's warehouse.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on October 20, 2010 (boomark / email).