Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony

10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
LOOK SHARP
SUBSCRIBE
STYLE
LIVE SMART
GROOMING
WOMEN
ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
VIDEO
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony
Sneakers
By Jeff Vrabel
a day ago
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
1/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
On Feb. 8, 1986, Spud Webb—all 5 feet 7 inches of him—won the NBA All-Star
Slam Dunk contest, routing his 6’8” Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins,
instantly becoming a legend while making everyone wonder what the hell just
happened. At the time Webb was rocking his signature Pony City Wings (though
you might know them as “The Spuds”), stark red-and-black low-tops that, after
the contest, became almost as famous as the man himself. Now president of
basketball operations for the Texas Legends of the NBA Developmental League,
Webb talked about how his Wings helped him soar.
GQ: How involved were you in the design of the Pony City Wings?
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
2/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
Spud Webb: Pony already had some designs ready when we first started talking
about me joining. I thought they were cool, but I wanted a low top, and they were
able to make that change.
When did you first take the court with them?
It was the ’85-’86 season and I was with the Hawks. We played against the Bullets
and I had a double-double. Must have been the shoes—haha.
What was your deal at the time?
I can’t remember the cash involved, but I do know my friends and I had all the
shoes and gear we could want. We had Pony stuff for every occasion. I will say that
it was a nice deal—especially after the dunk contest.
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
3/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
What was the public’s reaction?
I didn’t know what people thought of the shoes and Pony until after I won the
dunk contest. That and going on the Johnny Carson show brought them in the
public eye. They looked like the Jordans that year, so they gave people an
alternative to something that was already popular. How did the shoes affect your identity and image? I think people associated the shoe directly with me—I heard them called the
Spuds or the Spud Webbs a lot ,and not so much the City Wings—so it was cool to
be new in the league and have people thinking I had my own shoe. Between the
shoes and the dunk contest, I had a lot of other marketing opportunities that
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
4/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
followed, both with Pony and other businesses. The success with Pony helped me
get another shoe deal many years later with Mizuno. They were new to basketball
and wanted to try and break into the NBA like Pony was able to do, and my track
record helped to get a great deal from them.
How do you look back at that time now?
It’s cool to think back and recognize that I was a part of the beginning of the
modern shoe game. With Jordan and now LeBron, James Harden and KD getting
these massive deals, it’s an honor to be an O.G. of all of it.
Read More:
The Easy Way to Sell Your Sneakers Online
9 GQ Editors Rave About Their Favorite Sneakers
The Most Ionic Sneakers of all Time
SNEAKERS
SHOES
FASHION
STYLE
Facebook
Twitter
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
5/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
Trending Right This Very Second
1
2
ENTERTAINMENT
'The Walk' Is Literally Making Audiences Throw Up
NEWS & CULTURE
How One Man Fathered 106 Babies (and Counting)
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
6/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
3
4
5
ENTERTAINMENT
Stephen Colbert Interviewed John Oliver and Boy, It Did Not Disappoint
ENTERTAINMENT
See Eve Hewson's Sexy GQ Photo Shoot
NEWS & CULTURE
The Untold Story of the Texas Biker Gang Shoot­Out
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
7/13
10/2/2015
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
8/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
LOOK SHARP AND LIVE SMART
WITH OUR DAILY EMAIL
SIGN UP
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
PROMOTED STORIES
6 Must­Do
Tasks After
Moving Into a
19 Celebrities
With the
Highest IQ
Tips and Tricks
for Furnishing a
Bedroom
Seventeen Of
The Best
Hollywood
Here's Your
Employees'
Dirty Little
Doctor: How
To Lift Saggy
Skin
AT&T DIGITAL LIFE
PEEK WORTHY
MACYS.COM
PLUTOBRAT
COMMVAULT
BEVERLY HILLS MD
Recommended by
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
9/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
Trending on GQ
E NT E RT AIN M EN T
See Eve Hewson's Sexy GQ Photo
Shoot
NE WS & CU LT URE
How One Man Fathered 106 Babies
(and Counting)
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
10/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
E NT E RT AIN M EN T
Stephen Colbert Interviewed John
Oliver and Boy, It Did Not Disappoint
NE WS & CU LT URE
The Real Reason You Just Got
Ghosted
E NT E RT AIN M EN T
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
11/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
'The Walk' Is Literally Making
Audiences Throw Up
NE WS & CU LT URE
The Untold Story of the Texas Biker
Gang Shoot­Out
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
CAREERS
CONDÉ NAST STORE
REPRINTS / PERMISSIONS
GQ MEDIA KIT
SITE MAP
VISIT OUR SISTER SITES
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
12/13
10/2/2015
Spud Webb Looks Back on His Classic Pony Sneakers | GQ
© 2015 Condé Nast. All rights reserved.
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 1/4/2014) and Privacy Policy (effective 1/4/2014).The material
on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with prior written permission of Condé
Nast.
http://www.gq.com/story/spud­webb­pony­sneakers­nba
13/13