Had to say farewell to my Air Jordan 8 Retros. These kicks went to Italy and Greece with me being retroed the week before the trip. Yes, I walked the dusty Colosseum and visited the original site of the Olypmics in these AJ8 back in 2003.
But after years of sitting in my garage, the Hawaiian heat took its toll.
No sense waiting to collect potential gift items for this upcoming holiday season. Like this clock of Air Jordan shoes. Any shoehead would love opening this on December 25. The hours of the clock are replaced with the corresponding Air Jordan model. Simply ingenious.
So close yet so far away… that’s me and the upcoming release of the Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue.” The conditions were there, meaning I entered so I could win, and today felt like a winning day. Checking the Ala Moana web site for the Foot Locker raffle, my ticket was just shy of a win.
On the bright side, being off by one digit just saved me $200. And it’s not like I haven’t loved before… [I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of the pair I owned back in the day!!!]
That’s a simple lesson in life, but it’s so true. If you don’t enter, you can’t win. In the case of this raffle at Foot Locker Ala Moana aka the House of Hoops, you need to enter in order to get a chance at purchasing the upcoming Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue. Yes, these Carolina-colorway kicks are in high demand so the raffle figures out who can give Nike and Foot Locker $150-200 for these vintage kicks.
Since I happened to be there, you know I had to enter just because.
If you entered the raffle but weren’t chosen, there’s some nice Adidas Fluxes you can buy for consolation.
I wonder if these tall Asian ballers entered the raffle?
The speed of the shoeheads fueled by desire is incredible. Sometimes I just marvel at it. Other times I curse it, especially this morning as the kicks addicted vied for the limited edition Nike Court Zoom Vapor AJ3 tennis shoe. Made for Roger Federer and styled after the iconic Air Jordan 3, this mashup in “black cement” was bound to be a surefire hit after the popularity of the white cement version. Smartly, RF played in the Vapor AJ3 at the ATP World Tour in London.
The release happened today at 9am EST.
Adding the Vapor AJ3 to your cart was no guarantee as Nike.com had you wait your turn. If you were lucky, your transaction completed. For the rest of us, you got this – out of stock in about three minutes.
No consolation, but even Roger Federer thought this release was too limited.
You know that line from the Hunger Games, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” Believe it.
Case in point. The Air Jordan 3 Retro “Infrared 23” launched on March 8, 2014. As expected, this well-hyped shoe sold out in no time. Although sites showed inventory, trying to add a pair to your cart was impossible. So that was that…or so I thought.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014. A day off to do errands including a trip to Ala Moana. On my way out, I stop by Champs Sports downstairs. Yes, that revitalized spot where shoes aren’t displayed against a wall (I’m still getting used to that). But there it was, a display of the Infrared. I inquired and was told their shipment finally arrived that morning. Size 10? Last pair. May the odds be ever in your favor.
The love it or hate it reactions to Apple’s newly released iOS7 mobile operating system remind me of the Air Jordan 11 when it launched. There is no middle ground with both iOS7 and the AJ11 polarizing its audience.
Too shiny, too unconventional, too flashy, too bold – the naysayers described the XI, initially including myself. When I first saw these Jordans, I was so confused. I really hated them, two tone black and white, and the leather, the shiny patent leather that no kicks used. But then, look at them, watch them move, look at the simplicity yet sophistication of the design, notice the elements combining together, see the possibilities, truly see the Air Jordan 11. Then love them. Love the most iconic design of the Air Jordan line. Watch it endure over the decades with retro after retro, colorway after colorway.
Now look at iOS7. Tinker Hatfield meet Jony Ive. iOS7 is definitely bold and bright, the apps fly around the screen, its flat UI is unconventional (no buttons?), but yet it all works. It just works. Maybe this isn’t the pinnacle of iOS, but it just may endure the test of time as users learn to love it.
Aw bummer, I didn’t win the chance to purchase the Air Jordan Fear Pack from Ala Moana Foot Locker. I thought the signs were in my favor, especially with a raffle ticket ending with #23. But checking the winning numbers, I was denied both the AJ3 and the AJ5.
Oh well, the kicks gods were against me today, or maybe this is a message that I need to listen to Macklemore and not let consumerism define me. Nah, I’d still rather have a fresh pair of Jordans.
After watching Macklemore’s video Wings, maybe I should be fearful of the Jordans.
Although at my age, I’m not worrying so much about about defining my identify through my kicks. It’s more about reminiscing the past through retros and enjoying the colors and designs of contemporary kicks. Maybe I should worry about coworkers eyeing and taking my kicks, especially with @abaggy and @gquiks487 around.
Are you intrigued by the song? Read more about Wings, its message about consumerism, and Macklemore selling out to the NBA.
The Jordan “Fear Pack” didn’t interest me, but at Foot Locker’s House of Hoops Ala Moana, they were raffling off the chance to purchase the Fear editions of AJ3, 4, and 5. Since I happened to be there, I had to enter the raffle but only for the AJ3 and AJ5. Not digging the Oreo-look of the AJ4, and I have bad memories of the heel tab digging into my foot from back in the day.
Winners announced on Wednesday. I never owned a pair of AJ3 or AJ5. I’ve missed out getting all those AJ3 retros over the years and the AJ5 never appealed to me in white. Black’s not so bad but the Fear colorway is unique. Oh, and I have Foot Locker credit so good conditions all around to add to my kicks collection. 🙂
The Air Jordan XX8 is on that cusp that separates genius from mediocre. At first glance, this ninja-looking bootie seemed like it relied on historical designs of Air Jordan designs. But then again, Tinker Hatfield, the soul of Air Jordan creations, was at the helm of the XX8.
Besides the technology that includes the Jordan Flight Plate, Air Zoom, and Dynamic Fit, there’s the obvious exterior shroud. Encasing the shoe, the shroud has become the focus of mad, crazy, genius designs. How’s this panda favorite, bamboo?
There are camo variations in blue and green.
How about the XX8 in New York Knicks colors?
Lastly, to standout during the NBA All Star activities, why not make a statement like Russell Westbrook’s custom editions?
Besides being a performance shoe on the court, the AJ XX8 is quickly becoming a designer’s canvas on and off the court. Simply genius.
I’m not sure what to make of the silhouette of the newly announced Air Jordan XX8. From initial pictures, I’d say these will be worn by ninjas, by fishermen (they remind me of tabi), or by Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe.
Eight inches tall, a zip up upper, responsive, light, and expensive at $250 a pair.
From a design perspective, there are elements from other Nike shoes. The sheathed upper definitely brings back memories of Gary Payton’s The Glove.
There’s also a feel of the Jordan XVIII back in 2003 when MJ played his last days in the NBA.
The midsole reminds me of a variation of the Air Jordan XVII.
When the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook unveils the XX8 on the hardcourt on Tuesday night maybe initial opinions will change. All I can say for now is #DareToFly.
For more info on the Air Jordan XX8, check out the Nike Blog.
