P.F. FLYERS REINTRODUCES THE COUSY ALL AMERICAN

A few years back somebody made reference to the fact that I was wearing my “Cousys,” and my first thought was that maybe I should be calling Human Resources. Turns out I was about to be schooled on the history of the P.F. Flyers sneakers I was wearing.

For those of us who did not know, NBA legend Bob Cousy, a player from the 1950s and ’60s, won six NBA championships as a point guard with the Boston Celtics, played in 13 NBA All Star games, and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1957. A year later, he and P.F. Flyers created a shoe dubbed the “Cousy All American,” one of the first sneaker endorsement deals in professional sports. P.F. Flyers re-released that shoe on August 9th, Cousy’s 96th birthday.

The Cousy, retailing for $100, features the hallmarks of the P.F. Flyers brand—a 10oz. canvas upper, reinforced rubber toe cap, and ribbed bumpers—with modern comfort features the Posture Foundation (hence, the P.F.) Comfort Sockliner and Magic Foam. The shoe comes in the original Sea Salt color, black/crimson, and antique white/crimson combinations. The new colorways feature P.F.’s Magic Rigid Wedge. Additional vintage detailing includes:
• Bob Cousy Signature P.F. printed Patch
• Flat cotton laces
• Double stitching on the quarter, heel and eyestay

Still wearing his signature shoes at home in Worcester, MA, the Hall of Famer has been lauded as the Houdini of the Hardwood. He unleashed a “flashy style that was decades ahead of its time,” with magic ball handling, no-look passes, and behind-the-back feeds that made him one of the most popular players of his era.

Founded in 1937, P.F. Flyers’ fabled pedigree includes ownership by storied brands BF Goodrich and New Balance and the legendary brand placement of its black Center Hi Top in the 1993 coming-of-age cult classic “The Sandlot.”