36) Reebok Pumps – Cigar Stories

Reebok Pumps – Cigar Stories

Back in 1991, Dee Brown hit a dunk with his arm over his face. Before he goes in for the dunk, he pumps up his shoes.

At this point, I’m in sixth or seventh grade. I'm thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh, I have to get these." Now keep in mind, at that point, I was either still living with my grandparents because my parents had split, or we had just moved into our trailer. Needless to say, me having a $100 pair of shoes wasn't going to happen.

I vividly remember how bad I wanted this shoe. Unfortunately, with my family’s financial situation, it just wasn’t in the cards at the time. Three years later, with zero fucks given, I was wearing my friend’s hand-me-downs. I didn’t even care because I still wanted them.

20 years later…

Fast forward almost 20 years. I’m deep into the fitness world. I’m getting ready to leave MusclePharm. My homie, Mark Bell, reached out and hooked me up with James Hobart. Then, James Hobart hooked me up with AJ Pappas. And AJ Pappas connected me with Andrew Connor. And before you know it, Reebok offered me a contract to be a paid fitness athlete.

All because I wore their shoes when I squat, and in the Squat Every Day Trainer — a program with 60 million page views.

Here I am, as a kid, not even in the ballpark of affording these Reebok Pumps. Then here I am as a Reebok athlete, getting paid in cash and gear each month. I would have never thought that this was possible. Are you kidding me?

I followed my dream to do something big in the fitness world. I pushed myself hard, believed in myself, and added my own unique twist in an unapologetic fashion. It brought me to the table of a company that I couldn't even afford as a kid.

I worked with them for two years. When I went to Boston, I didn’t ask for a free pair of Reebok Pumps — I bought a pair. The same shoe I couldn’t afford as a kid, the one I once bought at a yard sale three years after they launched. I wore them to the office that day in Boston to sign my Reebok deal.

All the work, belief, and drive I put in over 25 years ended with this opportunity. I was in utter disbelief. Consistent work and strong belief can do some crazy things. Everything had come full circle.