Today is the official unveiling of the Starbury, an athletic sneaker that will be offered throughout America at all Steve and Barry's. The Starbury is the brainchild of New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who has been anything but a bargain in his last 5 years with the Suns and Knicks.

I must be honest with you, I've visited Steve and Barry's several times in Buffalo and find the place outstanding if you are looking for a gift for a relative or a friend. The place is lined wall to wall with every t-shirt and sweat shirt from every major university in the country. The cost of the sweatshirt is $7.99 and the quality of the shirt is as good as Roots or Nike.

Now, I know many people live by the motto that you get what you pay for, but if that was the case how would Marbury's employers feel the past several years? I mean, Larry Brown has pretty well won at every level he has coached and certainly gotten the most out of his players, yet when coupled with Stephon he failed miserably.

I have nothing against an athlete that commands a huge salary in this day and age of overpriced athletes as no one is holding a gun to the owner's head. However, what does tick me off is how a player like Marbury can stand to look himself in the mirror after every game when he knows he has underachieved. Makes you wonder if this guy's involved in sports betting, eh?

One only has to look towards Steve Nash, who replaced the Starbury, for a guy who earns every single penny and then some every time he steps on the court for the Phoenix Suns. The problem in America today is that our youth is caught up in the trendy brand names like Abercrombie and Nike and feel that the only way to be hip is to walk around in a pair of $150 shoes.

If your kid has a choice between walking into Steve and Barry's for the $15.00 shoe or Dick's Sporting Goods for the $149.99 Lebron James shoe, what do you think he'd pick?

You'd better reach for that credit card or start laying some heavy sports betting cash and hope you win.

Bob Acton

Sports Betting