Gabe Night Shield scores a shoe deal

By Robert Morast
rmorast@argusleader.com
August 3, 2006

Back in the day when I was a chunky sixth-grader dreaming of NBA glory, I begged my parents to buy me a pair of ugly Adidas shoes.

Despite looking like something Frankenstein would wear if he played 'ball, I had to have these kicks for no other reason than Patrick Ewing wore and endorsed them.

At the time, Ewing was a promising young NBA center for the New York Knicks who led the league in sweating. I didn't aspire to perspire, but after watching Ewing decimate his opponents in college, the 7-foot baller was one of my heroes. I had to have a piece of him.

Somehow my cash-poor parents caved and got me the $60 shoes (probably because my dad also adored Ewing). Wearing the clunkers didn't make me a better player, but I did sweat a lot in the shoes.

I'm thinking about this now because of word that Gabe Night Shield has scored a shoe deal with Diadora.

As strange as it seems that an Italian shoe company mostly known for dressing the feet of tennis and soccer stars would want to sponsor a Sioux Falls rapper, Night Shield says it's true. He has the shoes - seven pairs - to prove it.

"They basically pay me $200 a month to wear them on stage," Night Shield says. "Who's going to turn down $200 and free shoes?"

Not many people, or rappers. That's why the local scene is suddenly walking in step with Diadora's Heritage collection.

Night Shield says he's already signed up other local hip-hoppers like Soulcrate Music and members of the Young Nobles to Diadora endorsement deals.

Given how some younger fans look up to Night Shield (the guy's a folk hero on the Rosebud reservation) or Soulcrate (in the eyes of skateboard junkies, there is no cooler band in Sioux Falls)I have to wonder if a few sixth-graders will be begging their parents for some Diadora shoes this fall.

And, if they're not into those shoes, maybe some youngsters will be begging for Spindustry T-shirts, after seeing the Sioux Falls hip-hop group Truth & Adapt wearing the company's shirts.

After checking out the duo's music on MySpace.com, Spindustry sent T&A a box of T-shirts.

"They're dope, so we wear them," say Ken McFarland, one-half of T&A.

Which means other people will probably be wearing them, too.

And, Diadora, if you're reading this and looking to endorse self-righteous journalists, I wear size 10.5.

Mistaken 'MoRAST'

Finally, Gov. Mike Rounds is endorsing my name.

If you haven't heard - and considering the yawner that this news bit is I'm sure you haven't - Rounds has endorsed the newly comprised Missouri River Association of States and Tribes, or as it's come to be known, MoRAST.

While I do enjoy hanging on or near the Missouri River, I have no interest in letting this group use my name for any purpose other than promoting myself.

So, on the advice of a co-worker, I decided to take legal action.

Unfortunately a lawyer told me I have no case since my name isn't copyrighted. And, even if it was copyrighted, he says I probably still wouldn't have a viable case.

This is ridiculous. Families can sue heavy metal bands claiming their music "incited" loved ones to kill themselves, but I can't protect my name from bureaucratic slang?

Oh well. At least I haven't heard about that guy impersonating me at the Top Hat for a while - that dude must have been insanely bored.

Robert Morast has been known to impersonate H.R. Giger. Morast can be reached at 331-2313 or rmorast@argusleader.com.