Big yellow sneakers: UCLA dons neon shoes in first-round win

When you think of UCLA basketball you think of tradition: John Wooden, Lew Alcindor, Pauley Pavilion and Bill Walton. You picture those baby blue and gold jerseys, the ones that haven't changed much since the school started winning national championships in 1964.

One thing that doesn't come to mind are neon yellow shoes that makes players looks like the Aflac duck. Yet that's exactly what some Bruins were wearing Thursday night in the team's first-round victory over Michigan State.

Starters Lazeric Jones and Joshua Smith donned the adidas sneakers, which the team debuted last month to mixed reviews.

"I don't really like them, but I like the colors," Tyler Honeycutt told ESPN Los Angeles, which is sort of like saying that you don't like lemon meringue pie, but enjoy the flavor.

Other players were less diplomatic.

"They're ugly," said Reeves Nelson. "I won't wear them in public."

Besides people jogging at night and Kanye West, I can't imagine there's too many folks who'd argue with that sentiment. Of course, if UCLA advances to the Sweet 16, the neon kicks might start making a fashion statement in L.A.

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