Junto con la iniciativa My Cause My Cleats de la NFL, los Raiders de Las Vegas se asociaron con Shoe Palace para ofrecer una experiencia de diseño de tenis personalizados a ocho jugadores actuales y a sus respectivas organizaciones sin fines de lucro.
En octubre, Thayer Munford Jr., John Jenkins, Adam Butler, Amari Gainer, DJ Turner, DJ Glaze, Tre Tucker y Charles Snowden se reunieron con representantes de la organización elegida en las oficinas corporativas de Shoe Palace en Las Vegas.
A través de la conversación y la colaboración para cada par, el diseñador corporativo de Shoe Palace, Jo DeGuzman, creó un diseño digital que luego envió a Marvin Baroota, de SoLegit Customs, para que lo pintara en los tenis.
"Es un 10% mío y un 90% de ellos", afirma DeGuzman. "No se trata de mí, sino de que yo dé vida a sus ideas y me ayude con mis procesos creativos cuando escucho sus historias y las experiencias por las que pasan".
Los tenis se entregaron a los jugadores en la sede de los Raiders el 25 de noviembre dentro de cajas personalizadas creadas por el equipo creativo de los Raiders. La tapa interior de las cajas mostraba fotos del jugador con la organización en sus reuniones de diseño.
"Esto es genial", dijo Jenkins después de abrir su caja y ver sus tenis en honor a la Fundación Avery Burton, que sensibiliza sobre la salud mental. "Es increíble. ... Mi corazón está con él y su fundación y su pérdida. Es duro. ... La vida es la vida, y las cosas pasan, y sólo tenemos que ser más fuertes para ello".
Glaze tuvo una reacción similar cuando vio por primera vez el diseño final en sus tenis. "Es genial", dijo. "Es increíble que puedan hacerle eso a unos tenis. Es una locura".
Los tenis personalizados se usarán en el partido del 16 de diciembre de los Raiders contra los Halcones de Atlanta.
Para DeGuzman y Shoe Palace, el proceso creativo empezó por comprender la organización. Luego evolucionó hacia la comprensión de lo que motiva a la persona.
"Fue genial", dice Turner, que representa a los Raiders Silver and Black League, sobre su experiencia trabajando con un miembro del equipo Northwest Vegas Flag. "El diseñador sacó la idea de su superhéroe favorito, Flash. De ahí sacamos la inspiración del rayo y luego él se dejó llevar. Sé que probablemente fue muy divertido para él, y también lo fue para mí, al verlo disfrutar de ese momento".
Aunque Turner acaba de ser colocado en la reserva de lesionados y no podrá llevar los tenis durante el partido de la semana 15 de los Raiders contra los Halcones, el proceso de diseño y la interacción con el jugador de fútbol juvenil local significaron más que cualquier otra cosa.
"Siento que devolver algo a la juventud es probablemente lo más importante para mí", dijo. "Cuando era pequeño, siempre supe que quería jugar al fútbol y llegar a la NFL, pero nunca tuve a ningún jugador de la NFL que viniera a decirme cuál era la forma correcta de hacerlo. Para mí es muy importante intentar guiar a los jugadores jóvenes y a los niños en la dirección correcta para cumplir sus sueños".
Para Snowden, el proceso de diseño empezó con un debate sobre iniciativas importantes para él y para los miembros de la NAACP. Uno de esos temas cercanos y queridos por ambas partes era el acceso local a la vivienda, de ahí la ilustración de un barrio en sus tenis.
Munford tiene una conexión muy personal con su causa, la Nevada Youth Network. Al entrar en su último año de preparatoria, los resultados académicos de Munford no alcanzaban los niveles requeridos para jugar al fútbol universitario de alto nivel. Se apoyó mucho en su entrenador de fútbol y acabó mudándose con su familia. Las calificaciones de Munford mejoraron y llegó a jugar cinco años en la Universidad Estatal de Ohio.
Munford quiere que los jóvenes de Las Vegas también tengan acceso a ese importante sistema de apoyo.
"Es casi como si hablara conmigo mismo", dijo sentado frente a un joven miembro de la organización.
Además de diseñar los tenis juntos, Munford se comprometió a seguir en contacto con la familia a medida que su hijo progrese en la escuela.
"Creo que esto es algo que va a cambiar su vida", dijo Michael Flores, fundador de Nevada Youth Network. "Intentamos mostrar a los jóvenes lo que puede ser su mundo. A veces es difícil mostrárselo. Él quiere ser jugador de fútbol y conocer a un jugador de fútbol que tiene un camino similar en lo que han pasado, le demuestra que, uno puede hacerlo, y lo que tiene que hacer para mantenerse en el camino para llegar allí".
Ya sea de Gainer y la Sociedad Americana contra el Cáncer o de Tucker y la Fundación Tyler Robinson, la esperanza es que el proceso de diseño de estos tenis no sólo sirva para concientizar a las organizaciones a escala nacional, sino que también vincule a cada jugador de una manera más profunda con las causas que apoyan con pasión.
"Ellos eligieron una fundación por una razón", dijo DeGuzman. "Afecta a una determinada parte de su vida o a un hito en su vida que realmente les ha conmovido y por eso la han elegido. Pero sacarles esa historia y escuchar por qué, y ver la cara de la fundación y a ellos decir lo que tienen que decir. ... Eso no tiene precio.
"Luego, poder llevar esa historia y ponerla en un tenis y que miren el tenis y estén satisfechos con él, ¿qué más se puede pedir?"
Para más información sobre cada causa, visite raiders.com/cleats.
Take a look at behind the scenes photos from the Raiders' design process and reveal of custom cleats for the NFL's 2024 My Cause My Cleats initiative.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) meets with representatives from the Nevada Youth Network to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) meets with representatives from the Nevada Youth Network to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) meets with representatives from the Nevada Youth Network to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
A Shoe Palace designer designs tackle Thayer Munford Jr.'s (77) cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
A Shoe Palace designer designs tackle Thayer Munford Jr.'s (77) cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) meets with representatives from the Nevada Youth Network to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) meets with representatives from the NAACP Las Vegas branch to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) meets with representatives from the NAACP Las Vegas branch to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) meets with representatives from the NAACP Las Vegas branch to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
A Shoe Palace designer designs defensive end Charles Snowden's (49) cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) meets with representatives from the NAACP Las Vegas branch to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) meets with representatives from the NAACP Las Vegas branch to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) meets with representatives from the Avery Burton Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) meets with representatives from the Avery Burton Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) meets with representatives from the Avery Burton Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) meets with representatives from the Avery Burton Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) meets with representatives from the Tyler Robinson Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) meets with representatives from the Tyler Robinson Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) meets with representatives from the Tyler Robinson Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) meets with representatives from the Tyler Robinson Foundation to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) meets with representatives from the American Cancer Society supporting Breast Cancer Awareness to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) meets with representatives from the American Cancer Society supporting Breast Cancer Awareness to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
A Shoe Palace designer designs linebacker Amari Gainer's (53) cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) meets with representatives from the American Cancer Society supporting Breast Cancer Awareness to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) meets with representatives from the American Cancer Society supporting Breast Cancer Awareness to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) meets with representatives from the Boys and Girls Club to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) meets with representatives from the Boys and Girls Club to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) meets with representatives from the Boys and Girls Club to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) meets with representatives from the Raiders Silver & Black Flag Football league to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) meets with representatives from the Raiders Silver & Black Flag Football league to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) meets with representatives from the Raiders Silver & Black Flag Football league to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) meets with representatives from the Raiders Silver & Black Flag Football league to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Shoe Palace Corporate Offices.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) meets with representatives from U.S. VETS to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
A Shoe Palace designer designs defensive lineman Adam Butler's (69) cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) meets with representatives from U.S. VETS to design cleats for My Cause My Cleats at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kana'i Mauga (43) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kana'i Mauga (43) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (61) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (61) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Sam Webb (27) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Sam Webb (27) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) unboxes his custom cleats for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Tom Telesco unboxes his custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Tom Telesco unboxes his custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan unboxes her custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan unboxes her custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly unboxes his custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly unboxes his custom shoes for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
