Stephon's sneakers

With the anniversary of 9/11 still fresh in my mind, I thought it would be refreshing to talk about an athlete looking to make a positive impact in sports, one pair of sneakers at a time.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury launched a $14.98 pair of basketball kicks that he not only endorses, but plans on wearing this upcoming NBA season.

Marbury teamed up with retailer Steve and Barry's University Sportswear to create the "Starbury One" to renege the idea that a pair of basketball shoes has to cost $200 plus.

So far the Starbury One's are flying off the shelves at Steve and Barry's stores, the only place they are sold, and look to make a splash in a market dominated by the $100 million endorsement deals thrown around by Nike.

As someone who always wanted the latest pair of Jordan's growing up, I think this is one of the neatest things an athlete has done in recent years to make an impact on kids. It's such a small step, but definitely one that's in the right direction.

To find a Steve and Barry's store near you, check out www.steveandbarrys.com.