Hockey fan’s shoes listed in eBay auction

Does $2,000 seem like a lot of money for a pair of slightly used athletic shoes? How about if you knew one of the shoes was a minor part of recent Latvian hockey history?

Latvian hockey fan Dainis Krievs was fined LVL 50 for hurling his left shoe onto the ice of Arēna Rīga during the May 11 World Championship game between Canada and the hometown team.

Rīga resident Jānis Dumpis, who goes by the handle “bulkcover,” now is offering Krievs’ left shoe—and its less famous right-footed partner—for sale on eBay, an online auction service. Dumpis doesn’t own the shoes, but has agreed to handle the sale for Krievs, he told Latvians Online in an e-mail.

The left shoe was one of many diffferent items fans threw in protest of an American referee’s frequent penalty calls against the Latvian national team. The action delayed the game and garnered press coverage at home and abroad. Latvia lost the game 0-11.

The listing, which ends June 11, asks USD 2,000 for the initial bid. The story of the left shoe is retold in detailed text illustrated with several photographs, including two of a court judgment against Krievs. The shoes are listed under the heading, “Latvia-Canada 0:11 Ice-Hockey IIHF 2006 Scandal SHOEs.”

Dumpis usually markets Latvian antiques on eBay and currently offers more than 50 other listings, including old photographs, philatelic items and books.

Shoes offered in eBay auction

Shoes identified as belonging to Latvian hockey fan Dainis Krievs are being offered on eBay for a starting bid of USD 2,000.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

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