Yesterday, while I was walking down a narrow sidewalk inFrayser, a little girl, about 8 years old, was walking from theopposite direction.
We were going to bump into each other -- one of us had to move.I decided it wasn't going to be me.
I gave the little kid a football shoulder block and sent heronto her backside on the gravel.
An urban teenager standing a few feet away said, "Dawg, that wascrunk. Since you did that, I'm goin' to read yo' articles. You got'street cred' dawg."
Of course I made that story up to get to the issue of streetcredibility and why it only applies to black athletes and the urbanmarket.
Journalists, doctors or accountants don't need 'street cred' toget people to read their stories, come in for an operation or forthem to do taxes.
Only black professional athletes need 'street cred' to pushsneakers and throwback jerseys.
The term 'street cred' seems racist. Only a black athlete islooked upon with grace for having a gun, smoking marijuana orhaving several babies by multiple women without being married.
White NFL quarterback Peyton Manning doesn't need credit fromhis hood back in New Orleans to sell video games or athleticdrinks. White NBA player Wally Szczerbiak isn't worried if he needsto sport braids, a few dozen tattoos or have a rap sheet a milelong so companies can come pounding on his door to endorse theirmerchandise to the urban youth.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson has become the poster boyfor 'street cred'. Iverson has had a few run-ins with the law,wears the bling-bling, has had his official skin color changed totattoo and sports designer cornrows.
The 2001 NBA MVP endorses shoes and apparel for Reebok.Iverson's shoes sell in the urban market. Fellow NBA player KobeBryant has had trouble selling his shoes since he entered theleague in 1996.
Experts said Kobe can't sell shoes because he doesn't have the'street cred' to appeal to urban kids with disposable income.
The marketing experts said Kobe couldn't sell shoes because hewas too intelligent, speaks Italian, had a child after he wasmarried and is not covered in tattoos. Kobe couldn't sell becausehe was asked to market a shoe only George Jetson would be caughtwearing in the year 2062.
Prior to Kobe's arrest on July 4 for alleged sexual assault,Bryant was the example of the clean-cut black athlete. Kobeappeared in ads for McDonald's with adorable children. Kobe alwaysgave a smile in one of his commercials for either Sprite, UpperDeck or Spalding.
Because of the differences in their appearances and behavior,Iverson and Bryant were asked to endorse different items.
So, maybe with this arrest under his belt, Kobe can make good onhis new contract with Nike and sell shoes to the urban youth.
I can see it now -- kids running to the stores to snatch Kobe'slatest shoe off the shelves because he took a mugshot. Maybe yourprison number equals the amount of shoes you will sell.
The term 'street cred' should be laid to rest. No athlete shouldbe held accountable for 'street cred' if it doesn't apply toall.
Suburban youth will buy what's appealing to them and urban youthwill purchase what they like. Usually it's the same.
So let's get rid of the 'street cred' label before athletes haveto really knock down an innocent little girl to sell.
