A hole in the back of a basketball shoe is not something you see every day, especially considering how particular and/or superstitious basketball players are about their shoes. The styles, colors, brands, grip, and marketing claims about their air-bound ability vary among the choices of basketball shoes. If you ask any of the Women of Troy, each has a favored brand of shoe that they feel works for them.
Whether or not they believe the hype of the shoe, the Women of Troy have a serious shoe game going on. Even at the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2009 Paradise Jam Tournament, many players couldn't resist the lure familiar shoe stores, nor could they resist the tax-free rate they paid for their weapons of war.
So, seeing a hole in the back of a basketball shoe was surprising.
The sight, however, did not suggest that the shoe was neglected, considering the piles of bright orange boxes stacked in the Women of Troy locker room to protect the shoes from dust, dirt, and unnecessary wear-and-tear. Still, the hole was an especially puzzling sight, especially considering that it was on the shoe of Ashley Corral.
The reason for this sight is even more peculiar. It seems that Corral's foot was suffering from irritation aggravated by her shoe, and a very inventive athletic trainer took a scalpel to the heel of the offending footwear. Yes, I can already hear the gasps from you shoe aficionados. Don't fear, the hole was necessary to alleviate the foot pressure causing Corral problems.
