James Harden’s tenth signature shoe with adidas comes in a “Snakeskin” colourway. Black and grey, snakeskin pattern, a few touches of pink for the three stripes on the heel. Out on 16 October in the United States. I read it on Basket USA, which describes Harden as the new guard of the Cavs.
The Vol.9 already had its snakeskin, in neon green and black. Basket USA thinks the Vol.10 looks like a Vol.9, take two: barely adjusted design, firmer support. Noted.
At the scorer’s table, you don’t see shoes. The table is seated, the feet are under the court, the sheet is on the table. What reaches me is the jersey, the number, the name. The name I correct when it’s spelled wrong. The shoe, nobody asks me to write it down.
There is one exception. The player who loses a shoe during a play. The ball stays live. He comes back in a sock, I say nothing, the referee blows or doesn’t blow, and I watch the clock. The shoe has no column. Neither the Vol.9, nor the Vol.10, nor our forward’s, who is ten and has a spare lace.
In 2000, I had one pair. Just one. It lasted the season and the next one.
Ten models under the same name reminds me of something. At our place too, the sheet changes every season and stays the same: six columns, one more line at the bottom, a logo moved. The federation calls it a new version. I fill it in just the same.
According to Basket USA, it could reach Europe quickly. If it comes through our hall, I will note the number. Shoes, nil. It’s on the sheet.
It’s true, we checked: Basket USA.
