by Alec Perez ’14  

On March 31, 2013, the University of Louisville played Duke University in the NCAA March Madness Men’s’ Basketball Tournament. About midway through the first half, Louisville’s player Kevin Ware sprung through the air and landed awkwardly, breaking his tibia in his left leg to the point where the bone was popping out of his knee. What might have gone unnoticed during the horrific moment is the fact that Ware was wearing a pair of Adidas basketball shoes. And he is not alone among collegiate and professional athletes who have suffered serious injuries while wearing Adidas.

Last year, NBA all-star Derrick Rose, who is the face of Adidas basketball shoes, tore a ligament in his left knee and has been out of action for nearly two years. Other NBA players sporting the “extremely light” Adidas shoes include Eric Gordon, Josh Smith, Chauncey Billups and Iman Shumpert. All of these players suffered some sort of leg injury while wearing a pair of Adidas basketball shoes.

It’s not just basketball players suffering from what is being called ‘Adidas Break-A-Leg Syndrome’ by some highly regarded orthopedists and sports-medicine physicians. Arguably one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, Robert Griffin III, tore a ligament in his right knee during the end of last year’s playoffs.

As the incidents pile up, professional leagues, orthopedic experts and athletes themselves have voiced their belief that a pair of shoes is the cause of possibly career-ending injuries.

Two of the top players in the NBA are LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Both players wear Nike brand shoes, and while in the NBA, neither of them have had any serious ankle nor knee injuries. A recent USA Today article investigated the frequency of injuries between athletes who wear Adidas vs. Nike, and found a glaring difference in how often athletes are injured.

“When I came into the league I had the choice of wearing Nike or Adidas shoes,” James told Sports Illustrated. “I wisely chose Nike to be the face of only the best basketball player ever to play the game. When you’re the King, you have to make smart decisions in life. I chose Nike and I haven’t had any injuries while in the league. Everybody is a witness to my greatness.”

Following the commotion about Adidas basketball shoes, reporters went to the headquarters of Adidas in search of explanations. Reporters talked with CEO Herbert Hainer and questioned him on the issue. Hainer made it very clear that he has no idea why anyone would doubt Adidas brand shoes. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with our shoes,” Hainers is reported to have said. “We have tested them on athletes and there have been no problems with ankle support. There is no reason to worry; everything will be fine. It’s not like someone has had his leg amputated or died as a result of wearing our shoes.”

ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon recently sat down with Louisville’s Ware, in which he described his disgust with Adidas. He blames the company for his injury and is contemplating whether or not he should file a tort lawsuit. “It was the Final Four and as I fell to the floor, all I could think about was what I was going to do if I didn’t have basketball,” Ware told Wilbon. “I am so fortunate that I am one day going to be able to step on the court again. If it wasn’t for my amazing doctors I would not be walking. It is 100-percent Adidas’ fault I suffered the horrific injury. The shoes have no ankle support. They better hope I don’t take them to court.”