This week Dr. T is asking the questions, in an interview with Houston Rockets superstar Hakeem Olajuwon.
Already looked up to by kids, Olajuwon is about to become a hero off the court to parents by endorsing a line of athletic footwear with a suggested retail price of $35 to $40 - a fraction of what shoes with star appeal usually cost.The Spalding line of "Dream" shoes, which Olajuwon helped design, will be carried by mass-market stores such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Ames, Caldor and Target.
Q: Hakeem, why an under-$50 shoe?
A: Parents must teach their kids a sense of value. Paying more doesn't mean it's better. That's not value.
Value for money means you have the name, the quality, the comfort, the good design and it's affordable. A mother with four children can't afford to spend $400 on shoes that will wear out in a couple of months.
All shoes are basically the same. It's marketing that doubles and triples the price.
Q: Why did you personally decide to endorse such a shoe?
A: Teaching kids values is a duty for people like myself. If I can't be an example, who else will be an example for them?
I'm proud to wear my shoe. I wore it on the court in the NBA championships. If it's good enough for me ...
Q: What kinds of values are you trying to teach?
A: Moral values, respect for parents and elders, honesty, hard work.
Everyone tries to be cool - that's fine. But you have to define what cool is.
How do you define cool? What's cool is doing the right thing at the right time, being proper, displaying manners, representing your family very well.
Don't just wear things to be cool and not try to improve yourself. You have to work hard to shoot the ball better.
Q: How can parents say no when kids want something because it's cool?
A: They say, "Look, I can't afford to buy you $150 sneakers. It's not appropriate."
Teach them the value of wearing what they have and being proud of it.
If you go out and buy it for them, there is no end to it. That's destroying the kids. When the day comes that you can't afford it and you say no, the kids will be bitter.
Q: Can you say no to your own daughter?
A: It's easy because she's 7 years old and it's already established. She knows the tone of no.
If I say no, it's because something is not good for her. It doesn't mean I don't love her. When I say no, that is the end of it.