Joakim Noah — The Athletic Rooster
I was fortunate enough to get some courtside seats for Monday’s Spurs-Bulls game in San Antonio. And while the game was great — Chicago won 98-93 — I couldn’t take my eyes off of Joakim Noah’s ridiculous red shoes. Apparently, he’s sponsored by a French sporting apparel company named Le Coq Sportif, which literally translates to “The Athletic Rooster.” The side of the shoe features the white silhouette of a rooster in a triangle. Maybe it was the shoes, though, as Noah scored the last five points of the game for Chicago, after the game was tied at 93-93. He started by slicing through the lane for an offensive rebound and tip-in that was the go-ahead score late in the game. He then knocked down 3-of-4 free throws to seal the win.
But back to the hightops: Maybe I’ve never really paid much attention to Noah, but wow, his kicks are out there. He seems to be the only NBA guy the company sponsors. Noah’s dad is French, so there is a connection, but before the game started, fellow Frenchman Tony Parker couldn’t help but look and smile at the wild sneakers. Here’s hoping Tony stays with Nike.
