1.   Analyst Faye Landes of Smith Barney said the Springfied basketball shoe saw impressive sales in its first week at retailers, before the company launched its advertising campaign.

2.   At this rate, the sound of bodies hitting the hardwood court might become as familiar as the squeak of basketball shoes at G. Rollie White Coliseum.

3.   Before he entered the league, only a handful of players had signature basketball shoes or endorsements of any kind.

4.   A few years ago, New Balance reduced its exposure in basketball shoes, a category dominated by Nike and Reebok and one that has regained popularity.

5.   But in the last two years, the appetite for Nike basketball shoes has waned considerably.

6.   Converse Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss because of lower sales, the effect of leaky basketball shoes and a restructuring charge.

7.   Converse said the leaks resulted from a manufacturing defect in the new Accupod system used in the basketball shoes.

8.   Emboldened, the company introduced a performance basketball shoe.

9.   Evoking such aspirations can sell a lot of basketball shoes.

10.   Fila, traditionally a maker of tennis clothes, burst onto the sportswear scene two years ago when its Grant Hill basketball shoes became the favorite of U.S. youths.