I had never heard of Chris Printup before his untimely passing a couple of weeks ago, but the death of a father with young kids always turns my stomach. Add the fact that he were both born in 1980 mak

I had never heard of Chris Printup before his untimely passing a couple of weeks ago, but the death of a father with young kids always turns my stomach. Add the fact that he were both born in 1980 makes it doubly hard to stomach.

The death of Kobe, for me, was a rough one. And it wasn’t because I liked him (I didn’t), it was because I felt like I knew him (having grown up alongside his media persona). The day following his death, I presented a half-baked lesson on Kobe to my geometry class(es) and held back tears. And even if my students didn’t understand the lesson, they understood the loss.

When Virgil died, I was definitely surprised. And saddened. But…I really didn't know all that much about him beyond the obvious.

It’s interesting to see what sneakerheads do when people of influence (in the world of sneakers) pass away unexpectedly, as it seems like no one really knows what to do. Anything related and moderately priced sells out instantaneously, remaining prices spike, and these no-face corporate marketplaces love to show how ‘virtuous’ they are by announcing whatever they can. And sometimes regular people on social media take the opportunity to call each other out and point the finger at who has tact and who doesn’t. And it’s…just…so weird.

There are a handful of *popular* accounts out there who post themselves doing good (sneaker) deeds and they have no problem chastising others for doing whatever it is they do in the sneaker space. And…it’s just so transparent. It’s so disingenuous and it really just speaks to this idea that everyone seems to thrive with a performative sense of morality. And, anyone with half a brain can see…it’s absurd.

To me…actual morality in this space is (at best) an afterthought. . And whatever it is that these 'moral' police are trying to prevent is exactly what they accelerating. It’s the basis of economics: supply decreases, prices increase. Calling for everyone to DE-LIST supply is DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU ARE HOPING WILL HAPPEN…isn't it obvious?

I don’t know. What are y’all thoughts on how the sneaker world reacts to the death of sneaker (influencers)?