Noah Lyles is getting a harsh reality check by Shannon Sharpe, which he should really listen to.
Noah Lyles won the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters and a bronze medal in the 200m race during the Paris Olympics. Soon after the Olympics, comments surfaced about what he was demanding from Adidas.
Lyles has made it clear that he wants a signature sneaker with his apparel sponsor, but one does not seem to be coming anytime soon.
The 27-year-old Olympic gold medalist reportedly had some controversial remarks made about Anthony Edwards’ shoe deal.
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe is not a fan of Lyles’s handling of things, so he decided to give him a blunt reality check.
During a recent episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe did not mince a single word as he blasted Noah Lyles for reasons why he does not and likely will never have a signature shoe.
“There’s a reason why [track stars] don’t normally get shoe deals because ain’t nobody buying the shoes,” Sharpe said. “He’s just looking at it like, ‘I’m the world champ, I’m the fastest man in the world — give me a shoe.’ We could find two guys that had shoes — Michael Johnson had a shoe, Usain Bolt had a shoe. They don’t still make those shoes. Why is that? … There’s a reason why Noah! I don’t know what you’re missing.”
Sharpe added that shoes associated with NBA stars tend to sell well off into a player’s retirement while stating that LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s shoes will still sell ten years from now.
Sharpe also pointed out that Kobe Bryant’s shoes are also selling out despite him being deceased for four years.
In the end, Sharpe gave Noah Lyles some business advice, which was to follow the Shaq model.
“Do like Shaq, partner with Walmart, make shoes for $20-$30 and sell a boatload of them,” Sharpe added. “…If you’re so hellbent on making a sneaker, go that route.”
As for his comment about Usain Bolt, it should be noted that the retired Jamaican sprinter just unveiled his new signature shoes in collaboration with Puma.
This is his second collaboration with Puma since Bolt signed a lifetime partnership deal with the fashion brand in 2021.
Noah Lyles Denies Ripping Anthony Edwards Amid Frustrations With Adidas Shoes
Noah Lyles is used to seeing his name trend, but he did not appreciate what was being said about him regarding Anthony Edwards.
The 100m gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics denied turning down the opportunity to attend Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards’ shoe release in 2023 because Edwards had not won a championship yet.
There is a rumor going around that I did not go to @theantedwards_ shoe release because he didn’t deserve it. That is not the case he definitely deserves his shoes he is an amazing player. The problem was finding time based on my prior engagements.
Congratulations on Becoming an…— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) August 12, 2024
Lyles said his absence was due to a scheduling conflict, that Edwards “definitely deserves his shoes,” and that he is an “amazing player.
