Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sports

A Bit Dry at Times but Very Informative and Well-Researched Thomas J. Quinlan High school and college often found me in the three stripes. I realised the brand had reached some very high standing when it was picked up by the Yankees, and when the band Korn offered their own take on the name “Adidas”.It wasn’t until I researched the company, though, that I realised it was named after its founder, ADI DASsler, and as part of that research, I picked up a book entitled “Sneaker Wars” by Barbara Smit.Yogi Berra might say “You’re never impressed with the things you don’t know until you know you know them…” and this book was certainly an eye-opener. Fa. "Great look at the start of the sports commercialization" according to Lehigh History Student. Sneaker Wars sets out to cover a wide range of topics related to the rivalry between Adidas and Puma in addition to the start of the commercialization of sports. The book focuses primarily on Adidas and the rivalry within that company. The story describes how two brothers divided by their support over the Nazi Government went on to form two competing shoe companies. One would come to dominate the sports industry while another would provide stiff competition until the advent of Nike and Reebok. Adidas was further divided by the father and the son who divided Europe between traditional Germany and France. The French Adidas would d. William Schultz said Great history of the shoes we all wore!. For Baby Boomers this book is extremely enlightening. For during our youth & middle age the battle between these two athletic shoe companies really played out. The author also ties in the impact of Onitsuko Tiger and Nike into this history. Really well written, full of details, yet an easy read. If you were an athlete in the 60's, 70's, or 80's, or just someone who liked wearing Stan Smith tennis shoes with your jeans, you'll enjoy this book.

Barbara Smit has written for The Financial Times (London), The International Herald Tribune, The Economist, and Time, among other publications. She lives in France.

Out of the fires of their animosity, two rival sneaker brands were born, brands that would revolutionize the world of professional sports, sparking astonishing behind-the-scenes deals, fabulous ad campaigns, and multimillion-dollar contracts for pro athletes, from Joe Namath to Muhammad Ali to David Beckham.. But by the end of World War II a vicious feud had torn the Dasslers apart, dividing their company and their family and launching them down separate, often contentious paths. Adi and Rudi Dassler started their shoe business in their mother's laundry room and achieved almost instantaneous success. Sneaker Wars is the fascinating true story of the enemy brothers behind Adidas and Puma, two of the biggest global brands of athletic footwear

This book traces the evolution of Gebrüder Dassler, a Bavarian shoe company founded by two brothers whose vicious feud led to the creation of two rival, iconic businesses: Adidas and Puma. The tale encompasses almost ever major sports figure in modern times, from Jesse Owens, (who wore Dassler shoes during the 1936 Games, unaware that the two brothers were members of the Nazi Party), to basketball legend Walt Frazier, whose signature Puma "Clydes" sold "well over one million pairs throughout the Seventies," kick starting the sports shoe-as-fashion st