SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Barry Bonds and Reebok finalized plans today for Bonds to endorse the popular "Reebok Pump" shoe line.
Bonds will reportedly be paid upwards of 10.5 million dollars a year to appear in a series of television spots and magazine ads through 2010. The ad campaign will utilize the new slogan "Performance Enhancing Footwear." When interviewed, Bonds was hesitant to admit his use of Reebok Pumps, shoes that can be pumped full of air to better conform to the shape of the foot.
Bonds admitted to wearing the shoes during practices and workouts but stopped short of saying that he used them during games. The MLB formally opened their investigation of the Reebok Pump shoe line Tuesday to evaluate the shoe's legitimacy within the game of baseball. Bud Selig was quoted as saying, "Baseball will not be tainted by shoes with internal inflation mechanisms."
David Stern also released a statement announcing the NBA's intention to investigate the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, which Celtic Dee Brown won by pumping up his Reebok Pumps before his memorable no-look dunk.
These investigations are reminiscent of the 1962 P.F. Flyers debate, in which hundreds of thousands of protestors marched on Washington D.C. after the Supreme Court ruled that P.F. Flyer shoes did not in fact make one run faster or jump higher. Tragically, eight protestors were trampled to death when a riot erupted near the Capitol; ironically, all eight were wearing P.F. Flyers.