Shoe company markets "Loaded Weapon"

A new tennis shoe will be on the market soon, and it's already generating some controversy. Now a Memphis Grizzle is having to answer for it. The shoe is called Loaded Weapon, a name that has some people associating it with gun violence. The shoe's manufacturer, Converse, has been marketing tennis shoes for decades. But some people are calling the name Loaded Weapon a bad choice in today's environment.

Memphian Joanne Manus said, "A loaded weapon you absolutely think of a guns and the harm they do." Vasco Curry added, "It ain't nothing but a tennis shoe you ain't going to go and kill somebody about a tennis shoe." But for some people, the words loaded weapon on a shoe sold to youngsters, "Doesn't sound well, doesn't leave for - you know, it's a bad impression."

Minister Norman Redwing agreed. "The name itself, Loaded Weapon, is a very tragic situation where children are concerned." However Converse, the shoe's manufacturer, said in an e-mail, "Although everyone may not be comfortable with such metaphors, we often blend sports and battlefield terminology. The loaded weapon refers to nothing more than the battlefields that take place on the court."

Troy Bell, Memphis Grizzlies said, "There is no way Converse would be promoting guns and violence." Memphis Grizzlies Troy Bell is one of 5-NBA rookies signed up to market Loaded Weapon. He thinks too much is being made of the shoe's name. Bell and Converse maintain that the name Loaded Weapon is just a marketing term to highlight performance qualities of the shoe. Minister Redwing says that may be the intent, but things may not play out that way. "Absolutely, we shouldn't have anything, necklaces, jogging suits, anything with the name loaded weapon on it."

Right now you can't find a loaded weapon shoe in Memphis. Converse say they won't hit the shelves until November.