{"id":18437,"date":"2019-02-21T08:34:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T16:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/a-blown-out-sneaker-an-injured-superstar-and-a-night-to-forget-for-nike\/"},"modified":"2019-02-21T08:34:00","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T16:34:00","slug":"a-blown-out-sneaker-an-injured-superstar-and-a-night-to-forget-for-nike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.info\/content\/a-blown-out-sneaker-an-injured-superstar-and-a-night-to-forget-for-nike\/","title":{"rendered":"A Blown-Out Sneaker, An Injured Superstar And A Night To Forget For Nike"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Uri Berliner<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n <\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n Enlarge this image<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

\n Duke’s Zion Williamson reacts after falling as his shoe breaks in the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels Wednesday in Durham, N.C.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Streeter Lecka\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/b>
\n hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Streeter Lecka\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It was the most highly anticipated college basketball game of the season: Duke was facing archrival North Carolina, with the spectacular talents of Duke’s freshman sensation Zion Williamson on display.<\/p>\n

Former President Barack Obama was there. Tickets for the game were reselling for more than $3,000<\/a> \u2014 Super Bowl prices. Duke’s exuberant student section, known as the Cameron Crazies, was extra hyped.<\/p>\n

And then a mere 33 seconds into the game, on a routine play, Williamson dribbled near the foul line when his left leg buckled, his left blue-and-white Nike sneaker ripped apart at the seams and he tumbled to the floor, grabbing his right knee in pain.<\/p>\n

Williamson limped off the court. Hearts sank everywhere. Obama visibly mouthed “his shoe broke.”<\/a> And in mere seconds, Nike was facing a marketing nightmare. The offending shoes were stashed away by a trainer. But the images of the young star being felled by his footwear couldn’t be erased.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u201cHis shoe broke.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Barack Obama knew what was happening as soon as Zion Willamson went down<\/p>\n

? @ChaseHughesNBCS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7sneMhzlOD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SB Nation (@SBNation) February 21, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

On social media, messages of concern and sympathy for Williamson were mixed with dishy remarks about the shoes. A Nike rival tweeted<\/a>, “Wouldn’t have happened in the pumas.” The tweet was later deleted.<\/p>\n