Air Jordan Chambray VII

Air Jordan:

www.jumpman23.com

YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24E2mC2ebe4

Old Love New Love

I started collecting deadstock (never worn) sneakers around 2005 when I first became aware of the Air Jordan XX. I was reading a magazine when I came upon a Michael Jordan ad featuring his latest Air Jordan’s. I hadn’t been interested in Air Jordans since the XI’s, so I had assumed that the line had died off after he retired the second time. This magazine ad peaked my curiosity because it brought back childhood memories of sneakers as a kid. Back in those days, I remember Air Jordans and Nike being so amazing and yet I took them for granted and never assumed that as an adult I would want to own them again. I would simply get a new pair of sneakers and dirty them up as soon as possible. I guess that’s why they’re so sentimental to me now, because I actually enjoyed them until they fell off my feet.

Fast-forward to 2005, and I went to the sneaker store to buy myself my first pair of Air Jordan’s in years. Unfortunately they didn’t have my size so I had to go online (which was my first time looking for shoes on the internet), and try to find a pair. To my surprise I came upon a vast collection of websites dedicated to sneakers and Air Jordans. Over the next several weeks I dedicated myself to learning all about the sneakers I had missed out on since the Air Jordan XI’s. What excited me the most of all my research was that Jordan Brand would retro sneakers from the past. These were sneakers I had always wanted, sneakers I had owned, and sneakers I had never known existed. Truth be told until that time the only Air Jordans I had ever known about were the III’s-XI’s.

Knowledge is power; is an excellent quote to remember when entering a new hobby. All I knew at that point was that I wanted to buy all the Air Jordans that were retroed. Lamentably around that same time period, the DMP packaged released and I didn’t even know about it. I felt terrible after because I had loved both those shoes in that package and was even willing to pay $500 to get them (luckily I didn’t). I did however promise myself that the next package that Jordan Brand would release I would buy. That package was the Old Love New Love package, a.k.a. OLNL pack, and Beginning Moments Pack, BMP pack. They were going to be my first Air Jordan I’s and my first package. I assumed that the package gimmick would only be used once in a while and the shoes would be well made. Oh how little did I know.

My thoughts on the package are that I pretty much hated it from the beginning. They’re not the same height as the original black toes, they don’t come with a Nike Air logo and instead have a Jumpman Logo, they crease easily (after one wear), and the leather isn’t as thick as the originals. While I do recognize that Jordan Brand wanted to release a package that was different from other releases, I also felt cheated because I had to settle for the only sneaker that came close to the original Air Jordan 1’s at that time. It’s not so much that the sneakers are terrible, but it’s that I wanted to own a pair close to the OG’s and any substitute would not satisfy. The positive aspects of the shoes are that the insoles have been upgraded and are comfortable, the shoe paper is lasered (similar to the CDP’s), and the shoe box was nicely designed. (Speaking of the shoe box, I am also providing a picture of the box with Jordan’s back beside a photograph of him wearing the #45. This has always made me assume that the picture on the box must have been photoshopped.) Over all the shoes are great, but I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone who wants a retro similar to the 1985 black toe 1’s.

Jordan Brand website:

www.jumpman23.com

Upper Deck Pro Shots

One of the first things I collected as a child was baseball cards. I remember my parents used to buy me a pack every Friday when they would go grocery shopping. The cards would be intelligently placed by stores at the checkout line along with candy; making it impossible for parents to leave a store without buying something for their kids. My eyes would open up at the sight of the glimmering gold or silver packaging that the cards would come in. My favourite brand was Upper Deck, followed by Donruss, Topps, Fleer, and if I was broke O-Pee-Chee. While baseball cards were cool, I always felt the hobby could be taken to a whole other level. I wasn’t satisfied with just a picture of a player and his stats printed on a piece of card board paper.

Suddenly McFarlane Toys came along a few years later and decided to start a new hobby market by creating sports figure collector toys. These figures were great because the details were amazing, there was lots of variety (many player and sports), and they looked amazing placed on your desk. However the one figure I never saw from McFarlane Toys was a Michael Jordan. Luckily Upper Deck (probably owned the legal rights) decided to then produce sports figures as well, and I was finally able to get a Michael Jordan version. What made the Upper Deck Pro Shots version even better was that they released figures in different iconic Jordan basketball position. My favourite was the dunk that he did to win the 1988 All-Star slam dunk contest; this is the version that I bought from Pro Shots (more specially Series 2 figure 4).

The toy is up to the same quality as a McFarlane toy, and comes in a clam shell case which makes it perfect for people that like to collect mint in box toys (like me). My only complaint about the toy is that you do see paint smudges, and that the version that was released isn’t the same one it was supposed to represent. In the real dunk, Michael wore a red “away” jersey and white cement sneakers. Upper Deck did release a figure that was accurate to the real dunk, however it was limited. I would have definitely preferred that version to have been the general release version and not the one I have. The figure is still an amazing collectable and I would definitely recommend any Jordan fan to pick it up as well.

Website for Info (currently sold out):

http://mcfarlaneonline.stores.yahoo.net/mijoupdepros2.html

YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOx9JGc4_8

Air Jordan III Comparison

If you were to have asked me a few years ago what my favourite Air Jordan sneaker was, I would have said the Air Jordan V. There were so many things to love about that sneaker, but my favourite feature was how the Jumpman logo would standout against the 3M tongue. Eventually I was able to get that sneaker again when they were released as a retro. Like most things I collect, once I have it I start wanting something else that I don’t have. At that point, I didn’t have a pair of Air Jordan III’s. So I would spend hours looking at pictures and reading about how it was made. All this led to a hunger for them that grew stronger every day that I didn’t have them.

Throughout the years I did hear rumours about them re-releasing again, but the years came and went and they never were released. All of that changed in 2008 when it was finally confirmed and pictures were released of the black cement Air Jordan III. At last I told myself I would be able to own this pair. Then when I finally had it in my possession I still wanted more, and so the Air Jordan III true blue was also released. I was now a very happy man, however I still came back to youtube videos of Michael Jordan at the Slam Dunk competition wearing the white/cement III’s. Those were now the sneakers that I knew wouldn’t let me sleep until I had them.


So I stayed optimistic and believed that all good things come in three, and so finally out of the blue I read somewhere that the white/cement III’s where a confirmed release for 2011. What made this release even better was that they would come in an OG box with hangtag and elephant print shoe paper. When the release day came I was one of the first persons in the sneaker store to buy the III’s. I then went home and decided to bring out the other two pairs and look at them and compare them to one another. While there are minor differences between the three sneakers, I believe Jordan Brand did an excellent job in all three sneakers. Finally after years of dreaming and wanting, I was able to have my complete set of my favourite Air Jordan III’s. But just like the V’s, now that I have my III’s my want for something I don’t have is still there, and so my next goal is to get a pair of Air Jordan cement IV’s.

YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEMrcmiuuVk

Air Jordan III CDP black/cement

In having to describe my feelings towards this sneaker I would say the concept of yin yang is most appropriate. While there is a lot of good in the sneaker, there is also a lot of bad as well. To start on a positive note, the good would have to be the release of yet another retro III, especially the black cement version. That in itself isn’t saying very much for this 2008 retro, because the III is already a beautiful piece of art. The elephant print, the black tumbled leather, the visible air unit, the Jumpman logo on the tongue, and the silhouette will always combine to make this a masterpiece. Yet once you start judging this CDP III version and compare it with past releases you can only focus on the negative. The bad qualities of this version include; a paint job that can crack easily, the substitution of a Jumpman logo on the back heel instead of Nike Air, the down grading of leather, and the outrageous fact that it came as part of a package deal that included a retro pair of disgustingly ugly Air Jordan XX’s.


I sometimes feel awkward criticizing Jordan Brand because it represents so many things that I valued so much when I was a child; and now to even have the chance to own them again, or even own them for the first time, I should feel grateful. But I don’t, and I blame it all on how the company is being run today and over the past few years. The Air Jordan Countdown Packages are a perfect example of how I hate what Jordan Brand has become. Their sneakers are now over-produced, cheaply made, not true to the original, and poorly constructed. Unfortunately this has led me to lose my passion for these once beloved sneakers. But as started in the beginning with the yin yang metaphor, when I do feel less enthusiasm for the brand I try to get back to the positive by focusing on why I still believe Air Jordans are the best sneakers in the world. I simply lace up a pair I haven’t worn in a while, go outside and enjoy the day. The sneakers are still very comfortable, and always make a positive statement where ever you go. Sometimes the best way to get the most out of your sneakers is by wearing them and not focusing on the minor details; that way you’ll always have more white than black in your yin yang passion for sneakers.


Jordan Brand website:
http://www.jumpman23.com/
YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt0-PJhs7p0

Air Jordan III Retro 2011 white/cement

The Air Jordan III white/cement has been a sneaker I have been waiting for, for years to be re-released. It is a sneaker with much history, style and technology that represents the Air Jordan brand the best. The history that it represents is the time when Michael Jordan wanted to leave Nike, but decided to stay after Tinker Hatfield showed Michael a sample of the sneaker. The history it also represents is when Michael wore the white/cement III’s to win the All-Star Slam Dunk contest in 1988. The style that it established was the first time that an Air Jordan used the Jumpman logo, and also the famous elephant print. The technology that it provided was the use of a visible Air-Sole unit. To this day I am still amazed by this technology created by Frank Ruby; being able to see through the shoe, and also wondering how the Air unit doesn’t pop.




Besides the joy I feel for being able to buy these sneakers again, I am also happy that Jordan Brand also added some additional special features such as a retro box, paper, pamphlet and hang tag. When I was a kid, wearing the hang tag or key chain (that was included) on your sneakers made them look super official. Besides Nike, Ewings, Fila, and Reebok all came with hang tags. I wouldn’t go so far as to say these retro’s are identical to the original release, but nevertheless they are made better than what we’re used to from Jordan Brand retros. The minor (or major as you may wish to focus on) differences from the original are the thickness of the leather, the lack of the Nike Air logo on the back heel and bottom sole, and the type of paint that is used on the outsole. Rather than complain about these issues, I’m just glad that I have these sneakers. I have been buying Air Jordan III themed t-shirts for years waiting for these sneakers to go on sale so all those complaints become minuscule now that I own a pair (or 2) of the white cement III’s. This groundbreaking sneaker is worth its weight in gold.


Jordan Brand website:
www.jumpman23.com
YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v59FAp3I8qk