Not the Shaq Reebok Pump card, but still an interesting pair of shoes...

[Deadshot]

Time to show off another obscure item from my collection. Here's the story. I won these shoes on ebay over 10 years ago (and for a really, really cheap price), and the collector claims he/she won them from a Pacers auction and the item has no actual COA. They are supposedly an autographed game-worn pair of Rik Smits Reebok Pumps.

I really have no doubts about the autograph, and the number he signed matches the era (he didn't switch to 24 until Chuck Person was traded). The shoes themselves are in pretty rough shape, and I believe they are a size 18 (which was difficult to find around the time these shoes were manufactured). I've never been able to photomatch this actual pair, but he is featured on a UD card wearing a very similar iteration of the Reebok Pumps. If anyone here has seen a photo of him wearing these, I'd love to see it.

Either way, they were a nice addition to my Pacers collection and I figured everyone here would enjoy the nostalgia of the Reebok Pump shoes.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc451/kyerkes98/Basketball/Misc%20Items/Smits%20shoes%201.jpg
http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc451/kyerkes98/Basketball/Misc%20Items/smits%20shoes%202.jpg
http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc451/kyerkes98/Basketball/Misc%20Items/smits%20shoes%203.jpg

[Deadshot]

Correction: I know of 2 UD cards where he is wearing some version of the Reebok Pumps

http://s21.postimg.org/44z5wjd9j/Rik_Smits_Reebok.jpg

[SteveO21]

Little tidbit about those shoes, and the picture in the 2nd UD card. He had so many problems with his feet, due to how tightly he tied his shoes. He ended up developing nerve damage from it and that's part of why he retired so young. You can tell the pair that you have were also tied very tightly on a regular basis.

The only thing I can find online says he wore a size 20 shoe though. Not sure how credible that fact is.

[Deadshot]

The only thing I can find online says he wore a size 20 shoe though. Not sure how credible that fact is.

I do remember reading that at one point. Another reason why there is still a little bit of doubt about the shoes.

[SteveO21]

I do remember reading that at one point. Another reason why there is still a little bit of doubt about the shoes.

There was an article in the Indianapolis Star when I was in high school (15 years ago) about Smits donating a bunch of his shoes to a local high school kid who couldn't find shoes to fit him. If I could find that article that would probably solve the problem. I'll searching online for it now.

[blastman]

Bro

Did he wear the same pair of shoes the whole season?

[SteveO21]

Bro

Did he wear the same pair of shoes the whole season?

Back in those days (when players weren't prima donnas) it was pretty common for players to wear the same pair until the shoes weren't wearable anymore. Jordan is the guy that made it popular to change sneakers at halftime, or every game, or whatever the case may be.

[blastman]

You can tell he pumped them up a bunch by the discoloration on the tongue.

[SteveO21]

Couldn't find the article I referenced earlier but I did find this little fan story that also says it was a size 20 that The Dunking Dutchman wore.

View topic - Rik Smits success! (http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=184883&view=previous)

[Deadshot]

Couldn't find the article I referenced earlier but I did find this little fan story that also says it was a size 20 that The Dunking Dutchman wore.

View topic - Rik Smits success! (http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=184883&view=previous)

I've seen the size 20 figure floating around because I think it used to be on his Wikipedia entry. This magazine article here says he wore size 18. (https://books.google.com/books?id=OOoCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=rik+smits+shoe+size&source=bl&ots=ciOlq57nPV&sig=6KBjVxXaRSxePs5-BoxwRqfgld8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CqjfVJ6OJMKqggSFmICICg&ved=0CB0Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=rik%20smits%20shoe%20size&f=false) I think there's a good chance he wore these at some point and then they weren't stored very well.

[SteveO21]

I've seen the size 20 figure floating around because I think it used to be on his Wikipedia entry. This magazine article here says he wore size 18. (https://books.google.com/books?id=OOoCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=rik+smits+shoe+size&source=bl&ots=ciOlq57nPV&sig=6KBjVxXaRSxePs5-BoxwRqfgld8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CqjfVJ6OJMKqggSFmICICg&ved=0CB0Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=rik%20smits%20shoe%20size&f=false) I think there's a good chance he wore these at some point and then they weren't stored very well.

Good find. That may even be the kid I remember reading about back in the day. Might have been middle school for me instead of high school.

[Dielon]

those shoes are badass nonetheless.

[Deadshot]

Figured I would bump this up because I ended up writing to Rik. He said he wore sizes 18-21 at some point in his career. Didn't find out a whole lot more but it was real nice to get a response back.

[gonygo]

It's pretty cool that he took the time to write back..Enjoy the shoes..

[SlickRegg31]

That is awesome that you were able to get a response. I can't believe I didn't see this thread when you first posted it. Those are awesome shoes!

[kairi-2008]

Greatest center in the history of the game.
Sorry, just quoting Reggie, could be wrong.

[blinkme323]

That's awesome that he wrote back, he seems like a good guy.

[Jasondr91]

Awesome story. I can't seem to get the reminder out of my head about Smits....He favors Jeff Healey...the blind musician also the lead singer from the house band in the 1980's classic Road House.

"The name's Wade Garrett"

/that is all

[duron]

An old friend of mine's dad used to go hunting with the dude, really cool to see him respond to you.

[groundsupport]

Did he mow the lawn in them to?

[SteveO21]

Figured I would bump this up because I ended up writing to Rik. He said he wore sizes 18-21 at some point in his career. Didn't find out a whole lot more but it was real nice to get a response back.

Not surprised that he responded. He's very fan friendly. Cool to have the mystery solved with an answer from the man himself.

[Unplugged]

Hello I am the original owner of these shoes. I am the eBay seller that sold them. I was young probably 4th or 5th grade when I got these. I regret selling them but glad they found a good home. I just happen to be thinking about them and did a search and found this thread. These were won in a raffle at a "pizza with the pacers" event at Pizza Hut in Mooresville Indiana. I also got pacers magazine with various autographs the same night I believe I still have. I have a few rick smits autograph cards he signed for me when I was in high school working at a restaurant he had came to a couple of times. Also got coach Del Harris to sign a card for me there too. I collected cards in the past but have since sold off my collection. Just thought I would post this to share and bring back memories. I am 32 now and lived in Mooresville my entire life. Rik still lives around the area. I'm pretty sure I still have the magazine and the cards if anyone is interested I will try and find them. Cards have been in sleeves magazine not sure on condition or autographs they contain. I know George mccloud one of the Davis Antonio I think, detlef shrempf (spelling?). Anyway glad I got to reconnect with the shoes

[Hallco]

2 best pair of sneakers I ever owned were the Reebok Pumps, which I had for a little over 7 years before they completely fell apart and these which I bought in 1996:

http://iamrty.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/141925_db7a61aa24_l.jpeg

I still have them but the soles peeled off years ago and the "adjust" must have gotten lost over the years. Lol. Thanks for the memory! :)

[8collector34]

These are not game worn. These are season worn.

[inopethflames]

is it true that he got nerve damage from tying his shoes too tight? that sounds insane if true. i mean how about not tie them quite as tight if your ankles or legs or feet start hurting?? maybe that wasnt actually what messed his feet up, at least for the most part.