Today I found a pair of shoes I missed dearly. I was about 14 when I got them; they were the first shoes I bought with my first paycheck. They were the Jordan X. Jordan Brand retroed them in 2005 as a recreation of the original Jordan X. I remember actually having the originals when I was in Kindergarten. They are my favorite Jordan of all time, so it was big for me to actually buy my own basketball shoes to ball in. I played in them so much that the stats on the bottom of the shoe disappeared. A friend of mine heard me talk about my Jordan X’s, and showed me a pair of his favorite basketball shoes. He had some Nike Force ¾ highs from 1991. He wore them so much that now the leather is cracking. Age did not help, making the midsole dry and brittle. He got them as a present from one of the hustlers around the way because he could not afford Nikes at the time. To him, he felt like the man lacing them up on the court. The shoe meant more since it was a nice gesture from someone close to him.
I talk about this because I feel every baller who reads Bounce has a story just like me. Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Casey Lee says:
Everybody rocks Jordans and Nikes but honestly my favorite has been since they came out:
AND 1 Tai Chi
August 26th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Russ M says:
This weeks Village Voice has the “Mayor of Sneakerdom” on the cover. This cat from Jersey has 1,400 pairs of sneakers. All Air Force 1’s !!
August 26th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Ramon Diaz says:
Casey, why are they your favorite? Is it because of the look of the shoe, feel, or is there a story behind how you got them?
August 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Casey Lee says:
The style, the comfort level, AND the history: Rafer, Vince, and more players to wear them!
August 26th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
anton says:
Good drop fam. For me, it’s the XII. I remember my dad taking me 2 foot locker in great northern back in 3rd grade. Back then we had to were uniforms with dark dress shoes; but I would strap mines on during recess to play kick ball. I thought they made me play better. lol!
August 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Antonio Gil - SoSé says:
I have to say I’m in love with K1X 187.
August 26th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
sure says:
Scottie Pippen Hurrache’s All Black & Red
Bo Jackson Black & Powder Blue w/ the strap
Reebox-Above the Rim Pump’s w/ the Gum Bottoms
Shaq’s white & blue w/ the insta pump
Fab Five Nike Air Max with the Gold Bubble
August 26th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Reignman40 says:
Reebok Omni Pump’s all black, murdered out! Had the same pair for years but still rock them, still comfy even though the grip is gone. Still get the ohhh’s from people on the court.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Ramon Diaz says:
I love it all you guys, keep it coming. Oh another favorite are my Gary Payton Air Zoom GP in the Black/Volt colorway. I went through everything to get those. I went through couches for change, painted houses, the works!
August 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Ramon Diaz says:
“sure”, those Nike Air Max Tempo 2’s are heat! I need the retros asap!
August 26th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
sure says:
Dikembe Mutombo’s Adidas/Shawn Kemp’s Reebok/KJ’s Cons/ Grand Ma Ma’s. Both Colors. Stupid.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Seven Duece says:
The Nike Pippen V’s with the exchangeable Morph uppers – those shoes would NOT let me lose a game. And the Fila Seize LX’s, My nephew picked them out for his first YMCA youth league game and I bought some to wear while rooted for him in the stands. They ended up being a great shoe to ball in. That’s a shoe I wish got retro’d (or at least show up on eBay) one day.
Matter of fact, from 2000 to -’02, some serious heat was made by just about everybody. And1 Tai Chi’s, Adidas T-Mac & Kobe, Nike Elite Max, Finisher, Hyperflight, Ultraflight, Flightposite III’s, Turbines, Shox VC II’s – I spent a lot of money back then LOL!
August 26th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
40cal says:
No sneaker more comfy than the Foamposites that came out in 2000, Kevin Garnett’s Last NIKE sneaker and my second favorite is none other than the 96 Pippen’s with the big AIR letters. Good post Ramon
August 26th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Reignman40 says:
My other story i didn’t write earlier due to being at work pressed for time is…
I recently bought some white/blue Sharkley’s from foot locker and had them sent to my PO Box. But i didn’t know they never do that and there was a big miss communication because my real father, whom i haven’t seen in 20 years, has the same first and last name as me. So they sent him the shoes and i didn’t get them so i went back to the store and got another color for free as i thought mine got lost in the mail. Then two months later my father left the package on my doorstep with a letter inside saying he wanted to work things out.
So i got two pairs of Sharkleys, one for free, and a new look into my fathers life and our relationship.
Sorry it’s long and hallmark-ish but i love these damn shoes!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:22 am
asmatic- asiatic02 says:
The nike garnett IIIs and the question lows…i was killin’ cats for years in both of those…
August 27th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Ramon Diaz says:
40 Cal, the Olympic Pippens, they are classics!
Reignman40, that’s why I made this post, to reminisce.
Seven Duece, the early 2000’s were a problem! I love the hyperflights!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Blk Caesar says:
Sure.. the blue, white and black Shaq attacks are so slept on.. I loved that shoe with the big “shaq” on the back.. even the commercial with the Bill Russell and the other all-time centers.. What’s the password? “Don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk” classic!!
August 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am
sure says:
@Ceasar
LOL. LMAO. Damn took it back. The A.I.’s Question’s WOW. Good Call
August 27th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
ali says:
blue suede pumas, clyde frazier joints.
yo cease! you caught me w/ my mouth open on the “don’t fake the funk…” joint. oh and i got some mouth watery “playground gave us” in the oven for ya. how’s the rehab coming on the injury?
August 27th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Blk Caesar says:
ooooh ali… you just killed me on the Frazier’s!! I had a pair of turquoise and black joints that ma dukes took me down to Universal (old sneaker store that used to be downtown Newark, NJ)to cop.. I wore them joints with everything even if I knew the colors I was rocking did not match!!! You know I am looking forward to another “playground gave us”… The injury is progressing. Still not weight bearing but hoping to start physical therapy in a few weeks.. Dude, an achilles rupture is an injury I wouldn’t wish on anyone(but I am looking forward to stepping on the court in a few months even just to shoot around).. I do have to give some major love to the staff at the Nike TOC(both at goat park and gauchos).. They really helped me out with seating and even had a dude bring me food b/c I couldn’t really get around too well.. thank you.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
40 cal says:
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Are the shaq attacks the pumps or the ones with the white and black circles and shaq dunking in the middle, those are real classics and then Ramon I was talking about the black on black pips and you just reminded me of the second best olympic shoe ever in the olympic pips! Number one gotta be the olympic 7’s, I remember when they brought them out again in the winter of 05, I couldent afford them and had to watch everyone stylin them out, man I wish they would re release those sneakers.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Blk Caesar says:
40cal,
The Shaq attacks were the pumps.. I think the ones with the black and white circles were called “Shaqnosis” or something like that.. I could be wrong though. and man those Olympic 7’s were insane.. I used to just stare at them joints and smile when they first came out…
August 28th, 2009 at 2:23 am
asmatic- asiatic02 says:
The high top ewings with the big strap….in suede..heavy as hell but used to ball in those in junior high…
August 29th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
LowerEastScribe says:
Great Post!
Easy one for me: Any of the 4’s. Jordan 4’s are so ill cuz they look good anywhere. You can just rock them on the street or play ball in them cuz they have great traction and are mad comfortable. I really liked the one’s that came out in like 2000, with the granite like patten but i bought the all black ones too. I really just love them.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:31 am
Ramon Diaz says:
LowerEastScribe, the 4’s are classics and a good choice. The ‘99 retros were so on point. Then the quality became horrible. My friend still has his from ‘89, unfortunately the bottoms are breaking from age.