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View Full Version : Pony named 'Official Shoe' of the ABA


The Sweeper
09-11-2007, 08:11 AM
http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007091106005

11-Sep-2007
Indianapolis, IN -- The American Basketball Association (OTC BB: ABKB) announced that it has reached an agreement with Pony International LLC for its Pony brand to become the Official Shoe of the ABA. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "The league is extremely pleased and proud to be associated with this outstanding company. Its history and tradition is one of quality and affordability and we have no doubt that Pony will once again resume its place as one of the premier basketball shoe companies in the world.

Pony was founded in 1972 and quickly became one of the most distinctive sports brands in the world. Among the many athletes who wore Pony shoes were Pele, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, David Thompson, Darryl Dawkins, Spud Webb, Dan Marino, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie Jackson and Tracy Austin. Pony is a designer, distributor and marketer of high performance and casual athletic footwear and apparel for men, women and children.

"Pony is one of the few athletic footwear brands that has successfully outfitted world class athletes across a broad spectrum of competitive disciplines, including basketball, football, soccer, baseball, boxing and gymnastics to name a few," stated Pony CEO Kevin Wulff. "We are in a rebuilding stage and we look forward to rebuilding Pony to its former glory, while also looking at strategic alliances to grow and complement the Company. The ABA is just such an alliance. With almost 50 teams in the US, Canada and Mexico, the league is building a huge international following. The ABA shoes we create will include ground breaking designs and of course, affordability. We are genuinely excited to be a part of this unique league."

The relationship between Pony and the ABA was handled by The Meriwether Group, a business acceleration and investment firm, headed by seasoned senior executives Ken Barker and David Howitt with a combined thirty years experience with iconic brands in the apparel, footwear, accessory, fashion and natural product industries. "As part of the deal, Pony will be supplying all ABA players with shoes this season," stated Barker. "The designs will be striking, but more important, the quality of the shoes will be outstanding. We think this will be the shoe hit of the year."

WHAFAN
09-11-2007, 10:14 AM
How, exactly is this going to benefit Pony? Typically, companies are willing to provide items free of charge for publicity and exposure leading to future sales. With 14 people in the stands at ABA games, games cancelled, and teams folding up in the middle of the night, how can this help Pony? They basically will give shoes away, and gain nothing. Wasn't Pony the Official shoe of the USFL? How did that marketing work out for them?

Being the Official anything for the ABA is like standing in a blizzard giving away sno-cones.

Chuck the Writer
09-11-2007, 11:43 AM
Pony is also the official shoe of Jenna Jameson. Insert your own semi-witty joke.

WHAFAN
09-11-2007, 11:52 AM
With Jenna, typically you'd only see the top of her head, but with Pony involved, you'd only see the bottom of her shoes........

chuck43
09-11-2007, 11:56 AM
You have to hand it to Joe, he is the master of gaining "credibility through association", milking the Turner Sports affiliation, Sports Illustrated with Alex Wolfe and now Pony. Have they finally upgraded from that canvas look BTW?

And also WHAFAN.....Pony was an instrumental part of the XFL as well.

WHAFAN
09-11-2007, 12:03 PM
Here are other corporations supporting the ABA-

1. United States Post Office, the ABA buys stamps
2. AT & T, the ABA has at least one phone line
3. Coca-Cola, people in Joe's basement get thirsty
4. Preparation H, I'm sure at Joe's age, he is familair with this
5. Budweiser, any owner would have to be loaded to join this rec-league
6. OfficeMax, Joe has to have at least one desk chair

Apparently, any name that people have heard of, the ABA plays up like they are huge sponsors. Pony throws a few pairs of shoes at these yoyo's, and Joe is wetting himself like he's the NFL and they just landed ESPN to broadcast games for 10 years.

Pounder
09-11-2007, 12:15 PM
http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007091106005

Pony was founded in 1972 and quickly became one of the most distinctive sports brands in the world. Among the many athletes who wore Pony shoes were Pele, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, David Thompson, Darryl Dawkins, Spud Webb, Dan Marino, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie Jackson and Tracy Austin.

Does this not give you a clue of how long it's been since Pony was relevant?

If you're not based in Beaverton, your athletic shoe... well, it might be of high quality, but they won't buy it for the label.

(OK, adidas is really European-based, but for whatever reasons, they chose to have their American HQ in Nike's backyard)

Chuck the Writer
09-11-2007, 12:29 PM
The CBA's Atlanta Krunk announced a long time ago that their players would be wearing Stephon Marbury's "Starbury" footwear and would also be clad in Starbury-branded uniforms. I actually own a few pairs of Starburys myself, they're comfortable and I don't have to worry about spending $250 for a pair of sneakers that were made by child labor in Vietnam for 10 cents a week.

WHAFAN
09-11-2007, 01:13 PM
Maybe the ABA could hook up with Lumber Liquidators for Official Flooring of the ABA. They could probably get a huge discount since no floor in the ABA is regulation size.

Why not have Liars Anonymous sponsor games? Everything from the Indianapolis bunker would be a ringing endorsement.

TheStandard
09-11-2007, 01:14 PM
Pony is also the official shoe of Jenna Jameson. Insert your own semi-witty joke.


With Jenna Jameson's boyfriend standing right next to me laughing since he says Pony is also a great ride to wear.

Have you seen their shoes lately? Their ugly, the esaster bunny threw up on them and finally. lol let me add this. They sponsor Pete Rose.

rams80
09-11-2007, 01:30 PM
*sells Pony stock*

TheStandard
09-11-2007, 01:36 PM
*sells Pony stock*

I rather buy a pair of Jox, Stadia or Olympians than a pair of Pony's at this point

a1sports
09-11-2007, 01:40 PM
Hmmmmm the pony ceo..kEVIN WULFF... heard that name before.

I wonder how long he has been with Pony. My guess is less than a year....if this is the same guy.

Chuck the Writer
09-11-2007, 01:55 PM
Hmmmmm the pony ceo..kEVIN WULFF... heard that name before.

I wonder how long he has been with Pony. My guess is less than a year....if this is the same guy.

Well I hope you're not getting Wulff mixed up with Wolff (or even Steve Wulf, who also works at SI).

According to what I dug up, Kevin Wulff joined Pony in March of 2007. He previously held a senior position at Nike.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-19-2007/0004549124&EDATE=

WHAFAN
09-11-2007, 02:00 PM
Jox gym shoes??!! I haven't heard of those since 6th grade approximately 30 years ago! Maybe ABA league officials could wear those big long sweaters like on Starsky and Hutch. Maybe some "earth shoes?" Maybe a Grand Funk Railroad tee shirt, and for the famous ABA dance teams, maybe a Three Dog Night concert.

The name PONY is appropriate for the ABA since the rec-leauge is nothing but horse sh*t !!

chuck43
09-11-2007, 02:33 PM
WHAFAN: The name PONY is appropriate for the ABA since the rec-leauge is nothing but horse sh*t !!

THAT was hysterical!!! LOL!!

TheStandard
09-11-2007, 03:10 PM
PONY

AKA Pony up some cash to Joe he needs it .

tops804
09-11-2007, 09:33 PM
According to what I dug up, Kevin Wulff joined Pony in March of 2007. He previously held a senior position at Nike.

...and apparently, he really wants to go back there soon.