Oh dem golden slippers

Nike has given Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, the 2004 Wimbledon champions, ten pairs each of these shoes, which are encrusted with 24-karat gold on the sides, and are valued between $600 and $900 a pair, depending on whom you ask. Tennis analyst Mary Carillo calls the gesture "obscene." Sharapova appears happy with the shoes, and I haven't heard Federer make a comment.

While many of us may agree with Carillo's assessment of the shoes--she pointed out that one pair was worth about all Sharapova and her father had to their name when they came to America--gold-encrusted shoes are just a symbol of the excessive incomes our culture provides to athletes, entertainers and some artists (the musical and film stars with talent). It isn't fair, just as it isn't fair to say that artists who happen to be involved in the more popular art forms are not really artists because they make a lot of money.

I would rather Federer and Sharapova had the money than Kenneth Lay and John Rigas.