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J.R. Smith wants to create line of golf shoes, set up golf tour for NBA players
J.R. Smith's love of golf -- and hate of bad divot patterns -- has been well documented. But in addition to the countless rounds he's played and countless hours he's watched, the Cleveland Cavaliers swingman is thinking much bigger than your typical celebrity golfer.
For starters, Smith wants to get into the golf business.
"If I were to do my own shoe, it’d definitely be like a lifestyle shoe. I also really want to do a golf line," Smith wrote on NBPA.com. "I want to create my own golf shoes. I play all the time."
And our money is on this actually happening. Smith's Team Swish lifestyle store, a sneaker and apparel retail shop built in Smith's hometown of Millstone Township, N.J. by his father, Earl, is scheduled to open later this month.
Also later this month, in fact, later this week, is Smith's 10th annual charity golf tournament.
And it's an event that has Smith thinking bigger when it comes to arranging golf tournaments. Much, much bigger.
"I also want to host a celebrity golf weekend where I bring athletes and Hollywood guys to my hometown to show them where I’m from," said Smith, who is having quite the summer having recently won his first NBA title with the Cavs and gotten married. "But more than anything, it’s to help the youth because when they see us, they just get so engaged and inspired."
And there's more.
"That’s not all. I have the idea of organizing a mini golf tour for NBA players. A lot of us play golf. I’ve been trying to get the guys to do one. We’d do like three cities, go to the three best golf courses and have our own little mini tour. Have fans come out and watch."
Seems fun, but how would it work?
"Realistically, it can be one day out of the week at a golf course, and let’s say 10 guys would play. It’s not a 50-man field like the PGA Tour. It would be a select group, two at at time. Then all the money would be donated to each other’s charities. And the players could be paired with a celebrity. Justin Timberlake plays, Samuel Jackson, Mark Wahlberg, all these Hollywood guys. That’s all they talk to me about when they see me -- golf, golf, golf."
Sounds like a great plan, J.R. And in "golf, golf, golf," it sounds like you've already got a great slogan.