Here’s the Air Jordan XX8, which is not a rain shoe (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Oklahoma City  No Responses »
Dec 032012
 

Since Michael Jordan signed with Nike at the beginning of his illustrious career, his signature Air Jordan shoes have redefined the world of athletic footwear. Signature sneakers are now a major part of an athlete’s global brand, and they also help change the course of casual fashion. Every release of a new version of the Jordans is a basketball event.
On Monday afternoon, Nike and Jordan Brand released its latest incarnation, the Jordan XX8 (aka 28, for those of you don’t recognize both Roman and Arabic numerals in the same construction) at an event in New York City. As you can see in the photo above (via @ solecollector ), it’s a bold design that’s already generating controversy. From the outside, the sneaker looks something like a black rain overshoe, with a zipper that encloses the entire inside. Underneath, however, the dominant color is a distinct neon green.
The shoes, devised by legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield over the course of two years, retail for a cool $250 and will make their NBA debut on Tuesday night when Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder plays against the Nets in Brooklyn. After the jump, check out more photos from the scene, along with some thoughts on the look.

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Carmelo Anthony on the New York Knicks’ Trading Block: Why It Should Happen

 New York  No Responses »
Feb 282012
 

The New York Knicks should put Carmelo Anthony on the trading block.

(Let me get this in quick before you rush to the comment section.)

That does not mean they should trade Carmelo Anthony. It just means they should be open to trading Carmelo Anthony. 

Why would the Knicks be wanting to do this after they did so much to get him in the first place?

The answer is simple, they never should have gotten him in the first place. 

Whatever else happens and however else everything works, Anthony is now, and will always be, a square peg in a round hole. The square peg being the way he plays and the round hole being the way that coach Mike D’Antoni wants his players to play. 

Anthony likes to hold the ball. He likes to run iso plays. This year with the Knicks he has run isolation plays 31.8 percent of the time, a total of 190 plays.

The rest of the team runs it about 11.1 percent of the time, a total of 349 times. 

So what you have on one hand is a player that likes to play a certain way and on the other, a coach that likes his players to play a different way. 

I’m not assigning any fault here. It’s not a matter of right and wrong. It’s a matter of works and doesn’t work.

You can’t wear Air-Jordan’s with an Armanni suit. It’s ice cream and lasagna. It’s not that one or the other is wrong individually, just wrong together. 

If you can get a solid wing defender and a player who can hit from deep to replace Anthony at small forward—not suggesting Luol Deng, but a player like that—and some depth to do with that, you would have a player that fits the system. 

The Knicks wouldn’t need to get a superstar caliber player, but a star player who fits the system better and a solid bench player in return.

Like Kyle Korver for instance. He would make the Knicks a better team than they are with Carmelo Anthony. 

Don’t get caught up in the specifics of the idea of a Deng and Korver for Anthony trade. That exact scenario would never happen.

It’s the type of trade I’m thinking the Knicks should at least check into.

I’m just thinking of a small forward who plays both sides of the court well and hits threes. That’s what fits the Knicks system. 

Maybe they get Gerald Wallace and depth form Portland. Maybe they get Josh Smith and someone from Atlanta. Maybe it’s Deng and someone else from Chicago.

The specifics here don’t matter because the point of putting him on the block is to see what the specifics might be. 

This is one of those cases where you have to focus on the separate pieces and how they work together, not the individual components.

It’s what the Knicks have been remiss in doing.

Jeremy Lin has been a huge addition, and the Knicks were doing just fine without Anthony. 

Consider that team, and add a player like Deng, Wallace or Smith to the mix along with some more depth. Which way is the team better?

Obviously Anthony is a better player than any of them, but the Knicks might be a better team with them and the extra depth. 

What’s available for the star? If they don’t like what they’re getting offered, then they just don’t do the deal. 

For now, though, they can start doing some discreet checking around the league to see what’s available for him. 

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

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Melo celebrates launch of Air Jordan 2012

 New York  No Responses »
Feb 252012
 

ORLANDO — Carmelo Anthony created his own “Linsanity” when he walked into the Footaction at The Florida Mall Sunday afternoon.

Melo headlined Jordan Brand’s special “Flight Lab” event to celebrate the launch of the Air Jordan 2012 Flight System, which is now available for a suggested retail price of $180. The system, which gives basketball players the ability to customize to their unique style and fit preference, comes with one inner sleeve and one midsole.

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Breaking Down New Air Jordan 10 Retro ‘White/Old Royal: Stealth’ Shoes

 Rumors  No Responses »
Feb 102012
 

Nike is releasing a new set of the Air Jordan 10 Retro Old Royal Stealth Shoes, and they are certainly living up to their names. 

These are the type of shoes that will be absolutely adored by some and ignored by others. Let’s take a closer look and see what makes that latest set of retros so special. 

If you are a fan of a classic look with an almost silent appeal, you are going to flip for these. 

Wow Factor: 7 out of 10

There are some sneakers that shout at passersby to take a look. If you weren’t privy to their release, you could see them coming around the corner on some sneaker aficionado that was in the know.  

These are not that sneaker. 

I will stay clear of calling these things muted, because they aren’t, but the royal blue and white colorway is definitely much more clam than we have seen. 

 

Design: 9 out of 10

I still love the design of this shoe and like some of the finer touches added to the sneaker. Like the Air Retro “Chicago” shoes, the outsole has a breakdown of the accomplishments of Mr. Air Jordan himself. It’s a nice touch that adorns these sneakers as well. 

The rest of the shoe is similar to the “Chicago” sneakers that dropped earlier, from the patent leather to the pattern around the shoe. This is made for those that love this colorway, which I do. 

 

Overall Swag Grade: 8 out of 10

Things are getting specific, and this is only going to appeal to a certain few that love their royal blue. If you are a fan of the Air Jordan 10 Retro set, you can’t go wrong with a pair of these. 

You will not get stopped on the street in a pair. These live up to the Stealth moniker, as you will be allowed to slip into the crowd unnoticed with these on, unlike other shoes we have highlighted. 

They do prove that you don’t have to be loud to look polished, though. 

Photos Via KicksonFire.com

Follow @gabezal

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Chris ‘Caveman’ Kaman and the 10 Most Fitting NBA Nicknames

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jan 312012
 

NBA nicknames often become nearly as well known as the names of the players themselves, such as the case with Michael “Air” Jordan. In some cases, players are even more known by their nicknames, such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

The best nicknames are the ones that fit the players. Magic was Magic because he was magic. Jordan was Air Jordan because he lived in the air.

These are the best nicknames today, because they fit. You won’t see ringless Kings here, or STAT that’s closer to the medical stat (from the Latin statim, meaning immediately, as in needs help immediately) than Standing Tall and Talented.

Nor will you see easy jersey number nicknames like CP3 or D12 here. While they fit, they don’t tell us anything about the player other than his jersey number.

Nope, these are the nicknames that really fit the players.

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Chris ‘Caveman” Kaman and the 10 Most Fitting NBA Nicknames

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jan 312012
 

NBA Nicknames often become nearly as well known as the names of the players themselves, such as the case with  Michael “Air” Jordan. In some cases, players are even more known by their nicknames, such as the case with Earvin ”Magic” Johnson. 

The best nicknames are the ones that fit the players. Magic was Magic because he was magic. Jordan was Air Jordan because he lived in the air. 

These are the best nicknames today because they fit. You won’t see ringless Kings here, or STAT that’s closer to the medical stat (from the Latin, statim, meaning immediately, as in needs help immediately) than Standing Tall and Talented. 

Nor will you see easy jersey number nicknames like CP3 or D12 here. While they fit, they don’t tell us anything about the player other than their jersey number. 

Nope, these are the nicknames that really fit the players. 

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Breaking Down New Air Jordan 10 Retro ‘Chicago Bulls’ Shoes

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jan 202012
 

This Saturday, a little bit of history will be released when the new Air Jordan 10 Retro Chicago Bulls shoes drop. 

This is truly a trip down memory lane, as the shoe was last released in 1995 at the return of Michael Jordan to the NBA. Even the outsole commemorates Air Jordan’s accomplishments up until that point, and we will see that brilliance shortly. 

You loved them then and will feel just as giddy to get your pairs when they drop on Saturday. Let’s delve deeper into some simple but gorgeous Jordans. 

Details: Shoes released January 21, 2012 and retail for $160

Photos via Kicks On Fire

“Wow” Factor: 7 out of 10 

These shoes aren’t going to have people on the street stop and ask questions. They are one of the more unassuming shoes, even of the retro design. Their charm doesn’t come in exotic colorway but in the classic look and history behind the shoe. 

We will forgive any lack of pizazz, as these shoes are simply legendary. Nike did a great job bringing back a taste of yesteryear while giving this a modern boost, as we will see. 

Design: 9 out of 10

I am loving the design. There are only a few changes from the originals released in 1995, but they are important ones that should have you rushing to the mall this Saturday. 

The outsole still has the black and white adorning the bottom with a white Jumpman at the heel. The best part are the Jordan accolades honored on each red piece of outsole. 

You then have a red and black houndstooth sock liner that adds just a touch of class that is needed with the shoe. 

Overall Swag Grade: 9 out of 10

These shoes should have you beaming with joy, but they are not by any means the most rare set of Jordans out there. 

You won’t stop traffic, but that shouldn’t matter. These shoes are a piece of history and commemorate the moment that Jordan decided to drop that silly baseball business and come home. 

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they look sweet too. 

Follow @gabezal

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Michael Jordan Engaged: Pics of Yvette Prieto, Mike’s Mystery Lady

 Rumors  No Responses »
Dec 292011
 

WCNC reported today that NBA great Michael Jordan was finally ready to make an honest woman of his longtime lady love, Yvette Prieto. 

The announcement comes five years after Jordan split from his wife of 17 years, Juanita. The $168 million divorce settlement was one of the most expensive in history, which might explain why His Airness has been dragging his feet with Prieto. 

MJ and Prieto have managed to keep a relatively low profile, despite the fact that he is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.

Let’s take a few minutes to get to know the woman who is marrying Air Jordan, the man who never suffers from unsightly bacon neck. 

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Air Jordan 11 Concord: Nick Young Cowardly Ends MJ Boycott After Retro Release

 Rumors  No Responses »
Dec 262011
 

Nick Young keeps his word as much as he plays defense. The Washington Wizards shooting guard is making a New Year’s resolution not to take himself seriously this year. Just months removed from vowing never to buy another pair of Michael Jordan’s shoes again, the spirit of giving…or in Young’s case, receiving, has changed his tune.

According to the Washington Post’s Michael Lee, MJ’s Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords are too nice to ignore, as Young said: “Those were some of my favorites. I might have to give Jordan a call and apologize. I didn’t know those came out. Those were my favorites.”

Shoes? Are you kidding me?

Young pulled off that pathetic truce after just tweeting: “im not wearin jordans no more cant believe what i just seen and heard from MJ #ElvisDoneLeftTheBuilding.”

“Protest is over. I’m sorry Michael,” Young said as he continued to show his yellow side.

How quickly he forgets.

The players and owners just went to war for months in order to get a new collective bargaining agreement done. While the players attempted to keep as much of the pie as they could, the owners were stubborn enough to willingly sacrifice the entire season to get what they wanted. And by all accounts, the owners made bank on the new deal.

Mike and Mike tweeted this analysis after the agreement: “New NBA CBA from @RicBucher: Owners got everything they want. They went into the players’ house and stole everything, then gave them a fork.”

Led in a charge by Jordan himself, the owners won the CBA struggle in a landslide.  That apparently doesn’t mean too much to Young, though.

Yeah, I understand the whole obsession over shoes like the new Jordan’s; it’s about status for most and a collector’s item for the rest. Now, I’m all for forgiveness, but the prestige of a shoe doesn’t justify Young bailing on his once strong stand against the MJ and the owners. 

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter.

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Release of new Air Jordans sparks mayhem (AP)

 Rumors  No Responses »
Dec 232011
 

The release of Nike’s new Air Jordan basketball shoes caused a frenzy at stores across the nation Friday as scuffles broke out and police were brought in to stamp out unrest that nearly turned into riots in some places. Shoppers stood in long lines through the night to get their hands on a retro version of one of the most popular models of Air Jordans ever made.

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