Reebok signs three-year-old basketball prodigy - E-mpire Forums

Michael Bluth · #1 07-17-2003, 06:31 AM

A SPORTSWEAR giant is signing up children as young as three in a bid to market its products and capture the next generation of stars.

Reebok has offered to pay the school and college fees of three-year-old Mark Walker, an amazing basketball talent.

Walker can score baskets from 10 metres out using a full-sized basketball with adult-sized hoops.

He is the most worrying example of a growing trend among sports companies such as Nike and Reebok.

Freddy Adu, a 14-year-old soccer player in the US, has signed a deal with Nike thought to be worth $1million.

But the case of Walker, who comes from Little Summit, Missouri, seems more sinister.

Dressed in Reebok sportsgear and headband, a publicity film shows him dropping balls into a full-sized hoop several metres away.

In a remarkable sequence, he repeats the feat 17 times - from all angles.

The use of a boy yet to blow out four candles on a birthday cake is the most extreme example of the desperate scramble to find and sign up young talent.

Walker finished the film by looking into the camera and saying: "I am Reebok".

But some child welfare experts are worried that the involvement of commercial interests at such a young age could put unreasonable pressure on gifted youngsters.

They fear it could damage the children's development as rounded individuals.

Mark's mother LaShawn has made her decision.

She said: "Our Mark has the heart, drive and ambition to succeed.

"We hope that when people see him play they realise that good things really can happen to hard-working people.

Reebok's marketing chief, Micky Pant, is also keen to accentuate the positive. He said: "Sport really is about having fun and giving it your all, regardless of age."

Reebok went public with their new discovery on the same day Nike celebrated the signing of a $138million boot deal by LeBron James, a basketball star who is positively ancient at the age of 18.

Mark himself is confident he can make it that far and beyond. He says: "I'm the future of basketball".

Asked how he became so good so young, he said: "It's God-given talent".

It is certainly hard to deny when you look at the footage on the website.

As well as the shooting extravaganza earlier this year, there is also film of Mark in nappies and aged 21 months, shooting confidently into an inflatable hoop and clapping his efforts.

As well as his own website, Reebok have filmed an advert and arranged for him to appear on television shows.

And if the company have their way, Mark will not be the last on the production line.

They are now looking for the next pint-sized prodigy.

Reebok's website said: "Lots of kids can do amazing things. Sometimes they do truly amazing things. Sound like your child? Describe what your son or daughter can do below and send it to us at Reebok. If you have a tape capturing that special skill live, send that in, too."

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6764991^13762,00.html

I'd like to see the commercial.

Kliq · #2 07-17-2003, 06:33 AM

Nowadays ... everyone is getting deals, as long as your extraordinary.

In related news .... Nike bought out Converse.

Carlos · #3 07-17-2003, 06:39 AM

I noticed the same thing.....so many deals going on lately....It feels like history is repeating.....Didn't we have this kind of routine during the beginning of the last two decades? I think we did.