Kyle Korver—sharp-shooting forward for the Utah Jazz—is teaming up with Converse and Eastbay to bring Chuck Taylor–loving sneaker–design enthusiasts (and there are lots of them) the chance to win the "ultimate" prize, according to their press release.  The challenge: Design your own version of Chuck Taylor sneaks, the iconic Converse brand.  The prize: Have the company produce your design and sell it at Eastbay.  All love aside—and there is love here—I didn't realize that the ultimate prize was working for free.

Quick summary of the campaign: Go here for the entry form.  Follow the instructions.  Be declared the winner on July 11.  Get whisked away to Converse HQ to help design the shoe.  Buy the shoe at Eastbay in January 2009.  if you don't win, skip steps three and four, and buy the shoe design that beat yours and prevented you from winning the ultimate prize. 

I love this idea.  Ever since there have been Chucks, Sharpies and hipsters, people have been getting creative on their kicks.  Why not make a big deal out of it?  Encouraging creativity, helping people do what they love and publicizing it, and letting the artists brandjack you in a good way are all positive in my book.  Bringing in Korver may be kind of confusing, but it helps get the word out, and besides, his grandma was an artist, and he's into it and stuff, says the release.  Chucks aren't really basketball shoes, but they are cool, and so is Korver, mostly because he looks like a Neanderthal Ashton Kutcher on steroids.

There's...just...one...thing.  Adidas basically did it first:

For more info, go here.