Election Swag: Garnett, T-Mac play politics with shoes

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Sulaiman Folarin is the editor of JOCKlife.com. He drops by BDL today with some special election kicks ...

Leading up to the presidential election, NBA players Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady have each made a stand. Both players will wear inscriptions promoting the election on their customized shoes on Tuesday night when they face each other as the Houston Rockets host the Boston Celtics.

How can they do this and not get fined? Is this possible in David Stern's strict league? It is because of the new NBA rule, which allows footwear modifications for special events like opening night, Valentine's Day or the election.

"These are elections shoes, they are just a fun way for Adidas to help Kevin and Tracy bring out their personality on the court," said Lawrence Norman, vice president of global basketball at Adidas.

On opening night, KG wore a limited edition pair of Adidas shoes; only 17 pairs were made, honoring the Celtics' 17 titles. This time around, the shoes are only for Garnett and McGrady.

Perhaps the suits should rethink passing up on collector's items.

One thing to keep in mind: by the time you either get to the game or start watching on TV, realize that the polls will have closed.

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1. Posted by greg_oden_is_my_grandpa Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:13 pm EDT
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I know T-mac is trying to be all patriotic, but those shoes are fugly
2. Posted by James Wiley Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT
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The Real Change Obama 08
3. Posted by Bones Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT
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hahahahahahaha
4. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:29 pm EDT
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Yes, I'm going to take political advice from someone who didn't even go to college
5. Posted by mar s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT
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Yes, I'm going to take political advice from two people who never attended college.
6. Posted by Suga Shane Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT
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Gotta love players giving their vote to a man purely based on race. 'He's black, so I'm voting for him'...I bet these two don't have a CLUE about where he stands on foreign policy, economics, military, health care, education system...
It's really sad when they use their platform to broadcast something that they have no clue about. Well done, you have once again made yourself poor role models.
7. Posted by dunktmac1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT
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Tracy McGrady is the best player in the NBA.
8. Posted by gehrig c Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT
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Chaz, you're a hypocrite! You say "I bet these 2 don't have a clue about where he stands...." You don't even know for sure who they're voting for or how they came to that decision, yet you're willing to make an assumption....
You're an idiot....
9. Posted by Phillip Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT
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Wow Chaz, so angry are we. Don't you think its a little presumptuous to say that KG or Tmac don't know politics. The shoes don't even say who they voted for??? McCain has spoke about change as well. If these guys are willing to give up nearly 60 percent of their salary to vote for Barack, so be it. Hey Kevin, with a 20 million dollar salary that runs your tab to the government to about 12 million this year.....lol.
The top marginal rate would exceed 60 percent with the inclusion of state and local taxes, which means that only Hungary would exceed Senator Obama's new proposed top tax rate. LOL, unreal.
10. Posted by mixefactory Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT
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i bet there would be a problem if they wore pro-mccain slogans on their shoes ... and anyone who can't see that these slogans are pro-oboma is crazy.
11. Posted by Miscrystal84 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:21 pm EDT
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I think this was a great idea for the players to show their concern for change. Whatever needs to be done to inform the people that 2008 is the year to vote then do it any means necessary. None of you know how much knowledge they have about the campaign. Every is voicing their opinion so don't knock them because they chose to do it this way.
12. Posted by The Butcher Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:25 pm EDT
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How dare Adidas, a major foreign shoe company, get involved in American politics by allowing two NBA players to promote one indivudual candidate and not the other. WHy is it that both those players can be allwed to wear those shoes but if Steve Nash or Luke Walton wore McCain campaign shoes, they would be ridiculed off the court and in the media due to melanin content in their bodies? What do those two NBA players even know about politics other than what they themsleves have "learned" via media outlets like MTV, BET and the networks that they are televised on which are all known Democratic supporters? Do you think they really even know about the electoral college or what states carry what numbers and what a swing state is rather than a swing guard?
13. Posted by nastnate Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT
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both of these players are a joke as far as im concerned voting based on race and have no clue chaz is right lol ur all morons if u vote for him
14. Posted by Marquis B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT
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Yea, Mccain used the same slogan, and it doesn;t exactly say who there voting for, it just says we need change,
and oh yea, since when does someone have to go to college to care about politics chaz? i could tell your from some suburban community that has no real interaction with diversity.
15. Posted by Marquis B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT
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no one said anything when curt schilling was backing mccain
16. Posted by erici Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:03 pm EDT
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Bottom Line Obama is the Future and the next president get used to it Haters, These athletes are full aware of the taxes that will betaken from them , but unlike the Big businesses of Mccains friends they are willing to take a tax cut to help middle america and less, Why do you thing athletes do so many charities and big business ony donate what they collect thru their employees??? Wake up people,
Obama is the future Get used to it or Get out
17. Posted by oneredeemed1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:45 pm EDT
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Dear Butcher,
You have no way of knowing whether Mr. Garnett or Mr. McGrady are aware of the issues central to the presidential election. I would venture to say that either of them has as much grasp of what's at stake and as much knowledge of, say, how the electoral college works or the extent of the vice president's duties (as spelled out in the Constitution) as Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for the #2 spot. Just because you're an athletic black man doesn't mean that you are incapable of rational thought on topics other than sports.
18. Posted by Makalani Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT
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Because a person attended college does not mean that he/she is on expert on politics. I've found that many persons who never attended college are sometimes smarter.
19. Posted by focuspower77 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT
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T-Mac Rules All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20. Posted by Michael F Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:19 pm EDT
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The majority of exchange about "voting because he's black" is ridiculous. Should Chaz or anyone (presumably white) vote for McCain, it won't be said, "it's because he's white," and wouldn't admit it anyway. McCain hasn't promised anything new, he hasn't promised anything genuine. Everything involved is politics as usual. The narrow mindedness expressed by Chaz is indicative of America. Chaz and so many others allow speeches, bill boards and ads think for them. 'Cause I'm sure each and every Chaz knows everything about Obama or anyone else because they know everything claimed as fact is fact. What is said is that there has very unlikely ever been a candidate without a skeleton in a closet to be brought out as fact during an election.
Stupidity is apparently contagious!
21. Posted by tmac=kobe Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:13 pm EDT
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go mccain
22. Posted by Jon P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT
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lets be real......im a white dude who already voted for obama. i wouldn't hate on nash or any other white player for wearing mccain shoes...id hate on them for backing mccain. yall are just overeacting to a pair of freaking shoes!!!
let them support who ever they want ...... is it gonna kill you who they're voting for? no. so stop be so retarded. you don't like theirs or my choice...then do something about it, shut your pie hole and vote.
23. Posted by George W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT
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Hear is the issue as ti how I see it. First do we know for sure who is voting for who. Lets not be so quick to judge. Second because they are professional Basketball players does not mean they don't know about the electoral process, and they have a right to their opinions the same as we all do. Thirdly who is to say what anyone know about politics since it is very convoluted with spin on all political sides. There is no one answer to all issues things and I went to college. So lets be a little less judgmental on all are parts and be supportive no matter who becomes are next Commander in Chief.
24. Posted by David F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT
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I guess you morons like higher taxes, have fun with that! I don't know about you guys, but I love giving my hard earned money away to lazy people with their hands out. USA!
25. Posted by S F Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:14 pm EDT
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I am amazed at all the wonderful thoughts here. It is surely too bad we are assuming that the two players in question don't really know who they are supporting with their shoes. McCain has stated that he is in support of change, but I recall the Obama's main stance and political referendum is "Change". It is on every sign, speech, anything that is related to him...so I am going with the direct conclusion they are supporting Obama or at the very least Addidas is supporting Obama. Vote how you will today, but vote based on educated decisions not based on what you hear someone else say. I have heard it too much that voters are basing their decision on what they don't want in office rather than what is going into office. We the People need to wake up and realize that Obama is not the answer, but is McCain????