Sunday, August 29, 2010

Available: New Balance 574 Sonic Welded – Two Colorways


We previewed the upcoming Spring/Summer 2011 New Balance 574 Sonic Welded Pack on Friday. However, several colorways of the seamless runner are available this summer. Amongst those releases are the two colorways we’ll show you today.
Using New Balance’s seamless Sonic Weld technology, the 574 is seen here in black and grey suede colorways. The black pair uses aqua external heel counter detailing, while the grey pair opts for neon yellow. Each pair makes use of a white midsole and black rubber outsole. You can grab both pairs at SNS today. Via Sneakerfiles

Saturday, August 28, 2010

SC Spotlight: Sole Collector Honors DJ AM

One year ago today, the sneaker community lost one of its most famed and avid collectors in DJ AM. AM was not only respected as a world class DJ, but as a sneaker collector as well, owning a collection that reached almost 900 pairs.

From original Ewings to a pair of the insanely rare Air Jordan Retro 4 “Eminem” edition, Adam’s collection covered a wide range of sneakers. After AM’s sudden death last August, his entire collection was auctioned off and 100% of the proceeds went to the DJ AM Memorial Fund, which helped others battling addiction as well.

One year later, Adam Michael Goldstein AKA “DJ AM” is still missed and appreciated in the sneaker world. Via Sole Collector

Nike Air Trainer Max 91 – Black/Varsity Red-White

Another colorway of Bo Jackson’s Air Trainer Max ’91 is making its way to retailers this month. This pair features a black nubuck upper, with red working the heel, ankle, Swoosh and instep cross-strap. The midsole is white, and sits atop a black running-inspired rubber sole that’s durable enough to support the most strenuous training regimen. You can grab a pair for below retail today at CitySole. Via Sole Collector

Black/Varsity Red-White
309748-003

Friday, August 27, 2010

Available: Nike Air Griffey Max I QS – “Hot Red”

Earlier this year, we received news of the retirement of Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey was one of the best and most influential athletes of his day, and the continued success and popularity of his signature Nike footwear line only reinforces that belief. 2010 has been a big shoe year for Junior, with several of his models being retroed, plus the release of his commemorative Trainer 1.2. Today, one of the popular colorways of the Air Griffey Max I is back and ready for purchase.
The “Hot Red” Griffey Max I features an anthracite and black synthetic upper, with hot red accents on the front lace loop, tongue and heel pull-tabs, and Swoosh branding on the strap and heel. The midsole is white, and houses a hot red visible Air Unit. All three colors come together to complete the look on the outsole. You can pick up the “Hot Red” Griffey Max I at retailers like Sixth Boro or Eastbay. Via Sole Collector

Color: Anthracite/Black-Hot Red-White
Style: 354912-002
Price: $140.00

Jordan Comfort Viz Air 11

We spotted the Jordan Comfort Viz 11’s yesterday on ShoeTrends for pre order with a September shipping date. Many thought we were crazy, but it has been confirmed by JB. These will in fact release next Saturday September 4th at Jordan Brand retailers.Materials look to be premium which is a nice touch. The sheer comfort of the Air Max 1 will most likely make these an instant hit.Our readers thought a ‘Columbia’ and ‘Concord’ colorway would be “fire”… we would have to agree with this statement. Via Sneakerfiles

Anthony, Nuggets look ready to part ways

Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver, and Worldwide Wes delivered that message to the Nuggets with all the delicacy of a jackhammer at Sunday morning services. Do yourself a favor and trade him, the agent told the organization weeks ago.

Denver was furnished with a short list of teams and told to get to work. Yes, this is how William Wesley and Leon Rose of CAA work now, thick with threats and ultimatums and a swagger suggesting that the sport belongs to them. After Anthony told owner-in-waiting Josh Kroenke that he still wanted out of Denver during a Sunday meeting, the Nuggets appear done trying to sell their All-Star forward on a contract extension

This wasn’t a productive, nor particularly pleasant, meeting and multiple sources said it could turn out to be the point of no return for Anthony and the organization. Sources insist it’s no longer a matter of if the Nuggets trade Anthony, but when, where and for whom he’s traded for.
“It’s almost a given they’re going to move him,” said a front-office executive who’s talked with the Nuggets and Anthony’s agents with CAA.

While Kroenke had several severe remedies in his back pocket if the agency didn’t back off its most strident demands, sources said Thursday night that the owner never had to go that far to get CAA to work with the Nuggets. Now agent Leon Rose and Wesley are more open-minded about potential trade destinations.

Anthony wants to leave Denver and get his three-year, $65 million contract extension now. This partnership is rounding third and rapidly reaching disrepair. Denver is willing to trade Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin, and start over again, sources said.
The Nuggets made it clear to teams they want young players and draft picks for Anthony, league executives said. The New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the two most probable destinations for Anthony because they have assets that appeal to Denver. The geography works for Anthony because of his wife LaLa Vazquez’s entertainment career.

Golden State and Houston are contenders, too. What’s more, the Charlotte Bobcats are a sleeper because of Anthony’s Brand Jordan shoe deal and the team’s ability to give the Nuggets a salary-dump proposal.

Back in mid-July, the Kroenkes had to travel to New York for Anthony’s wedding to finally realize he no longer intended to sign their extension offer. The reception spiraled into an evening of Chris Paul and Anthony’s brother making toasts about a future partnership for Anthony and Paul in New York with the Knicks. With nothing to trade for Anthony, though, New York isn’t considered a strong contender in the eyes of Denver management.

Few can be as strong-minded and willful as Stan Kroenke, and it doesn’t matter the Nuggets will be turned over to his son Josh by the end of the year. Stan still will be looming over the franchise, and the billionaire has shown an old-school ability to carry through on his convictions once you’ve lost him as an ally.

With the way that CAA has tried to muscle and manipulate the market this summer, sources said Stan Kroenke, freshly approved as the St. Louis Rams owner, intends to look closely at whether the NBA should adopt a “franchise player” tag that teams could slap on superstars like the one the NFL uses. NBA owners are still far from seriously discussing that issue, but CAA’s manipulation of Anthony and Paul while under contract has become an increasingly sore subject within the league.

For now, the departure of Denver general manager Mark Warkentien and the increased influence of Kroenke adviser Bret Bearup means there won’t be much of a fight within the organization to stay the course with Anthony, sources said. Denver has hired Masai Ujiri as its new GM, but he doesn’t arrive with the authority to make major moves. Things have deteriorated too fast to believe Denver will turn back now. ‘Melo is on the market, and the bidding has begun. Via Yahoo! Sports

UFC 118 weigh-in: 237 pounds! Did Toney take this seriously?

What happened to all the hard work? We heard James Toney had gotten himself into shape. You can crow about being in the best condition of your life but the scale doesn't lie. Toney stepped on stage Friday at the UFC 118 weigh-in and checked in at a ridiculous 237 pounds. That matches his heaviest weight ever as a boxer. It's 20 pounds heavier than his last boxing match just 11 months ago against Matthew Greer.

Toney takes on the legend Randy Couture on Saturday night and needs to be light on his feet, try to avoid Couture's takedowns and take advantage of the speed in his hands. He didn't help his cause by showing up at a blubbery 237. And with all the smack-talking Toney has done lately, this certainly doesn't look good for the 42-year-old boxer. Also not looking good was Toney as he removed his pants (pictured). He gave the crowd on the TD North Garden a little bit extra was part of his rear end was exposed. The UFC fans in attendance let loose a hearty laugh.

Many experts already weren't giving Toney a chance, anyway. Toney holds a boxing record of 72-6-3, but will step into the Octagon for the first time. Via Cagewriter

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Air Jordan 1 Retro ‘Banned’

“On September 15th Nike created a revolutionary new basketball shoe. On October 18th, the NBA threw them out of the game…”Now Jordan Brand will capitalize on the then ‘Banned’ Air Jordan 1 Black/Red colorway. No word on a release date for now but rest assured these will release in the near future.

With so many versions of the Black/Red AJ1‘s being released already, is this pair a must have for you die hard MJ fans? Via Sneakerfiles

Baron Davis says he's definitely not as fat as people think

In the summertime, when the weather is fine, NBA players often remake their bodies. You know, adding the proverbial 15 pounds of muscle and what-have-you. But according to ESPN, Baron Davis put on enough weight for three summers, and it wasn't all muscle. From Tuesday's Insider column by Chris Broussard and John Hollinger:

For all the new faces, the Clippers will go only as far as veteran Baron Davis takes them. Davis, a Hall of Fame talent who's spent half his career underachieving, can put L.A. in the playoffs if he's engaged or in the dumpster if he loafs. Midsummer reports weren't good, as sources said the 6-3 point guard was up to 260 pounds, 45 pounds above his listed playing weight.

Zoinks! 260 is a lot of pounds, especially for a point guard. Sure, some of that is probably beard, but it's got to be hard to haul all that weight up and down the court time and time again. And considering Baron Davis likes to play fast, odds are carrying an extra four-year-old would slow him down.

Of course, according to Baron, he's not Kevin Love-sized quite yet.

Judging by that picture up top — taken in late July — Baron's looking pretty svelte, even in the beard. I'm not intimately familiar with the dimensions of Boom Dizzle's body, but that doesn't look like a 260 lb. man to me, and it's hard to imagine he'd put on a ton of weight in a month. Of course, Baron having to defend himself against allegations that he got fat is kind of troubling, because it means people read that and thought, "Yeah, I could see that happening, especially if he's been downing box after box of fattening Triscuits."

Nonetheless, it's good news for Clippers fans that Baron apparently isn't the fattest NBA point guard since Khalid El-Amin. He's got bad knees to begin with, and I'm sure hauling around all that extra weight wouldn't help. The Clippers have had enough trouble keeping people healthy without having to worry about Baron Davis' blood pressure. Not to mention, I'm not positive they could have found him any bigger shorts. He was already in the Priest Lauderdale section, just because baggy shorts look cool. The team's equipment manager probably let out a sigh of relief when he found out he didn't have to acquire an XXXXXL uniform. Via Ball Don't Lie

Michael Jordan takes on Kwame Brown, again

I'm not in the business of repairing Michael Jordan's legacy. I'm here to tell you what I know, after taking in so much of this game, at this level. What people choose to take in and/or decide to pass over is of no concern to me.

Just last spring, my evisceration of Michael Jordan was read aloud, nearly verbatim, on the AM radio dial in my hometown. For those that don't know a single thing about me, what I stand for, whom I've pored over, and where I'm from? That column could be their only reference point. And I'm OK with that, because that's part of who I am, that's what I've seen, and that's what I wanted to tell you.

But Jordan, because he's interesting, goes a bit deeper than that. As all the people that are worth our time should.

And with the Charlotte Bobcats' recent signing of a clearly overweight Kwame Brown fresh in our minds, it's time to revisit some of what was Jordan's past with the overmatched once-first overall pick.

No, not the expertly reported part, written by Michael Leahy, about Jordan calling the impressionable youth a word that starts with "F" that should be on no man or woman's lips, no matter the subject, no matter the intent, no matter the level of tolerance of the speaker, and no matter the sexual orientation and/or joking manner of the spewer in question.

And, no, this isn't to mock Kwame Brown once again. This isn't to reintroduce what quite a few people -- myself included -- took from reading this brilliant Sally Jenkins piece so many years ago. The parts about Kwame Brown peeling his expensive suits off following a game, and tossing them into a corner. Or the part about him acting incredulous that a French restaurant didn't deign to serve French salad dressing.

I read the Jenkins column again last week, for the first time in years. And upon the re-read, it was clear that I missed something. Looking once again to revel in Jordan's cruelty, and Brown's unnerving mix of arrogance and incompetence, I missed this part:

Brown couldn't do anything right. "He couldn't catch it, couldn't throw it, couldn't shoot it right," [Wizards forward Popeye] Jones says. In a series of three-on-three drills, the Wizards banged him -- hard, intentionally. "He got pretty beat around," Jones says. Center Jahidi White knocked him to the ground -- and fell on top of him. Brown lay there, stunned and bruised.

"Get up, you aren't hurt," White said.

Brown got up, aching, holding his back. His gray practice shirt was soaked through. Nobody had any sympathy for him. Not even Popeye Jones, the veteran who'd looked out for him the most.

"It's time for you to grow up," Jones told him, coldly. "Now. Today. Stand on your own two feet."
[Wizards coach Doug] Collins, still not satisfied, ordered a set of punishing sprints. Brown hesitated. "I hurt my back," he said.

Collins wheeled. Now it was his turn. "Stop being a baby and start growing up and playing, and earning the respect of your teammates," Collins shouted. "They're tired of you. They're tired of you getting knocked down, and laying around. They're tired of you holding your back. And holding your head. And holding your thumb. You're the one who has to be in that locker room, and meet them eye to eye."

Brown stared at his feet. "Do you want to play or not?" Collins snapped. No answer.
"Get off the court," Collins said disgustedly.

He sat in front of his locker trembling and crying. This is it, he thought, the league's not for me. I'm horrible. The coach thinks I'm horrible. The whole team thinks I'm horrible. I can't even play. Then he got on a treadmill and ran as hard he could, for almost an hour.

After a while, Jordan came into the locker room. He sat on a bench with Brown, and put his arm around him, and hugged him. "You're going to be all right," he said. For several minutes, he talked to Brown in soothing tones. "Doug is tough, but in a few years you'll understand how good he is," he said. They still believed in him, Jordan affirmed. "We put our necks out for you," he said. "We think you have the ingredients to be a great power forward for a long, long time."
To Brown, it meant everything. "He showed me a side you never read about," Brown says. "The M.J. who comes over and picks you up and talks to you when you're down and out."

If that's too long a quote for Jenkins' taste, I apologize. That's a long passage, but it's a long column. And so, so worth your time, if you haven't indulged already.

Jordan is the guy who drives people to tears. Jordan is the guy who attempts to harm. Jordan is the man who acts like a boy. That's part of him.

But it's not all of him. And while he's mostly wrong, outside of knowing how and when to lead a team to wins on the court, he can be right. This isn't to say that he'll lead the Bobcats to greatness -- his track record more or less laughs that one off -- we should understand that, at the heart of this, he is a freakish competitor that will do anything he can in order to win. Now.
And if that means talking up Kwame Brown, telling him that it's going to be all right when it's quite clear that everything's gone wrong, then he'll do it. This also means he'll be petty and cruel to someone like Brown, but it also means that he's trying to work this from all angles. All of them, when it comes to trying to knock some sense into a person like Kwame Brown, destined to fail.

The bottom line, here, is desperation. Jordan -- then, now -- is desperate to win at all costs. And while I'm teetering toward sacrilege, here, there is something in this that reminds of LeBron James. And Kobe Bryant.

No, not the tactless and immature way that James skipped his way away from responsibility and toward Miami. Or the thoughtless way that Bryant flirted with the Clippers and Bulls before signing with the Lakers after forcing Shaquille O'Neal's trade away from Los Angeles, only to demand a trade a few summers later.

It's the way, whatever way it takes, that they want to win. Whether they've been there before, as in the case of Jordan and Bryant, or not.

And that's something I cannot disagree with. I can rightfully rant and rail against the pathetic way these men sometimes go about trying to get to the top of that mountain, but I can't admonish the goal. The hope. And that drive.

So, yes. Michael Jordan just signed an out of shape Kwame Brown, and avoided the press conference to introduce him. He might think he can still turn him into something special, or it might be a spot of misplaced guilt over what went down nearly a decade ago. The impetus behind this part of the package doesn't matter.

The impetus behind the entire movement does, though. It's the desperation to win. The execution that follows should be analyzed to no end. But the initial spark behind this obsession should never be questioned. Via Ball Don't Lie

RUMOR: Possible Air Mag “Marty McFly” Release?

It’s been 21 years since “Back To The Future 2″ was released, and the hype and possibility around a release of the Nike Air Mag “Marty McFly” has never been larger. While this might be a whole lot of nothing, documents have surfaced showing Tinker Hatfield’s request for a patent on his Air Mag “Marty McFly” design. Tinker’s request specifically asks for a patent on his automatic lacing system, as well as the lighting system used on the Air Mag “Marty McFly” design. This could be a sign of things to come in the future, or maybe Tinker simply is trying to protect his illusive technology. Either way, a release wouldn’t be fitting until 2015.

Could this technology be a sign of things to come for a possible release? Who knows, only time will tell. Via Sole Collector

Re-Stock: Nike Air Force 1 – “DJ Premier”

Seemingly out of nowhere, the popular Air Force 1 inspired by the legendary hip-hop DJ and producer DJ Premier has been re-stocked at NikeStore. The limited edition shoe was originally released in January at select retailers, but is back in a full-size run. The shoe features a premium leather upper, with Primo branding spotted throughout. Beneath is a tranclucent outsole that reveals Premier’s turntable logo graphic. Stop by NikeStore and grab yours before they sell out again! Via Sole Collector

Color: Black/White-Black Spruce-Obsidian
Style: 395178-001
Price: $135.00

Air Jordan Retro 2 -Black/White Sample

Earlier this month, we gave you a look at the upcoming Air Jordan Retro 2 “Candy Pack.” We now have a look at yet another Retro 2 set to drop this October as well. As you can see, this latest sample comes complete with a black suede upper. While a textured patent-like material works along the mudguard. White provides some accent to the simple black upper, taking place on the eyelets and piping. As well as the outsole and branding throughout.

Again, you can expect for this all new make up of the Retro 2 to drop at all Jordan Brand retailers this October. Via Sole Collector

Color:Black/White
Style:395709-001
$135.00

Air Jordan Retro 6 – White/Red/Blue Sample

Throughout the year, we’ve seen some pretty big Air Jordan Retro 6 releases, including the very popular “Infrared Pack” back in June. We’ve also seen the shoe release in a pair that salutes one of MJ’s greatest foes, the Detroit Pistons, boasting a black nubuck and patent leather base with red and blue accents. Today, we have images of a sample pair that may be described as a “home” version of that shoe.

This Retro 6 sample features a white tumbled leather upper, with grey working the inner liner, tongue, and sections of the midsole. Blue also seen on the midsole, tongue branding and pull-tab. Varsity red hits Jumpman branding on the heel, the tongue padding and large parts of the outsole.

These are rumored to be something we’ll see later this year or sometime next year. No confirmation on that front yet. We will be sure to keep you updated. Via Sole Collector

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Air Jordan XIV – Mitch Richmond PE

During the Jordan era MJ wasnt the only one playing ball in his shoes, other star players were also wearing Jordans on the court. Mitch Richmond was one of the star players lucky enough to wear Air Jordans, Mitch also had his own Player Exclusive Air Jordans XIV while he was in the league. The Air Jordan XIV – Mitch Richmond PE features almost the identical color blocking as the Air Jordan XIV ‘Indiglo’, but has Red and Blue accents instead. It also seems Mitch never got the chance to wear these bad boys but you could, thanks to eBay seller SoleSuprememacy. Continue after the jump for more detailed images of this Air Jordan PE. Via Sneakerfiles

Nike Air Max 1 Hyperfuse Sample – Black/Blue

Nike combines old with new, and hits us with this latest sample Air Max 1 featuring Hyperfuse technology. The Air max 1 Hyperfuse still holds the original Air Max 1 build, replacing mesh and suede with Hyperfuse technology. Black covers most of the Hyperfuse upper. With blue working along the mudguard, outsole and tongue branding. With only sample images surfacing, we have yet to confirm a release on these. For now, enjoy this quick look and keep it locked to Sole Collector for the latest. Via Sole Collector

Nike Air Go LWP “Wolf Grey” First Look

This year Nike has decided to bring back a handful of never been retrod models. One that is on the radar for almost every sneakerhead is the Air Go LWP. Back in 1994 the Air Go LWP, short for Light Weight Performance, was one of the lightest basketball shoes ever seen. Nowadays performance basketball shoes have become even lighter but that won’t stop this style from being seen on courts around the world when it lands.

This Wolf Grey and Black colorway is a new combination for this memorable style. It will be available at Eastbay in limited quantities in early October. Via Sole Collector

Air Jordan 1 Armor – “Cranberry”

We got our first detailed look at the upcoming Air Jordan 1 Armor last week. The shoe was done in metallic silver foam, much like the recent launch colorway of the Air Force 1 Foamposite. Also like the Air Force 1 Foamposite, we know more colorways of the Air Jordan 1 Armor are on the way. This time, we get a close look at a pair with a “Cranberry” finish.

What could be described as a “Bulls” colorway of the Air Jordan 1 Armor, the shoe features a varsity red foam upper, with black accenting the inner liner and midsole. White is spotted on the tongue badge, as well as the outsole. You can look for this pair to release at Footlocker, Footlocker.com and House of Hoops in December. How long until we see the “Eggplant” colorway? Via Sole Collector

Monday, August 23, 2010

NBA insider La La Vasquez says Knicks are a possibility for 'Melo

In the world of the NBA, there are so many rumors flying around like those tiny bugs that gather by the hundreds to create a haze-y bug cloud that it is nearly impossible to keep straight who said what, when they said it, and whether or not it's even feasible. It's like playing Minesweeper on a Windows 95 computer, only without the aid of those little numbers that help you figure out the location of the minds.

Ergo, when you want the real down-and-dirty NBA news, you have to get close to the players. You have to talk to the people most important in their lives. You have to get in real deep if you want the good stuff. I'm talking about their wives, of course. Thankfully the New York Daily News caught up with Carmelo Anthony's new bride, MTV's La La Vasquez, to help us solve this mystery.

"Us being in New York is a possibility," LaLa told the Daily News' Amanda Sidman. "It depends on 'Melo's career and where it takes him. There's a lot of talk about the Knicks, I mean, there's a lot of teams out there, he's a great player and I think collectively we just need to think about what makes sense for our family. But I would never say that being in New York is not an option, I'd be lying to you if I said that."

LaLa, who is from Brooklyn, admitted that she's always been a Knicks fan "until I met my husband, then I jumped ship to the Nuggets. 'Melo will tell you, and all the players will tell you no matter where their loyalty is, there aren't many places like Madison Square Garden. They'll all say that, and it's nothing against their teams but there is a different energy in there, and you really can't top that."

Case closed. Carmelo Anthony could possibly join the Knicks if he doesn't join any of the other teams in the NBA. It all depends on whether or not the Knicks acquire him. Thanks, La La.

All joking aside, as we've seen with Hedo Turkoglu and Elton Brand, we shouldn't discount the impact that wives can have on where an NBA player ends up plying their trade. As any married man can tell you, keeping your wife happy makes a lot of other things in life go a lot smoother. If, somehow, Carmelo Anthony ends up in New York at some point in his career, don't be surprised if La La played a significant part in that choice.

That being said, it's hard to see 'Melo giving up the money the Nuggets have offered despite his hesitation to sign an extension. That's a lot of money to leave on the table heading in to an offseason that could end in a lockout or the signing of a collective bargaining agreement that all but eliminates contracts like the one Anthony's been offered. As Chris Bosh taught us, the NBA is a business and turning down $65 million is hard to do.

Of course, stranger things have happened. For instance, I'd have never expected to watch Carmelo Anthony marry a VJ on a cable network that used to only show videos by Melissa Etheridge and Blessid Union of Souls, but I'll definitely be setting my DVR for the Sept. 13 debut of Carmelo and La La's wedding show on VH1. The world is weird, you guys. Via Ball Don't Lie

Antoine Walker is on some NBA teams' radars

It has been said that in the event of a nuclear war, only cockroaches would survive. But here's another suggestion of something that will inexplicably exist forever and ever — Antoine Walker's NBA dream. That thing won't die.

Despite not playing in the NBA the past two seasons, despite being bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies during a season that saw them win 24 games and him play zero minutes, and despite being released by a Puerto Rican team after just 8 games Walker is trying to make a comeback. According to his father, Chico, Antoine's getting close since he's been preparing with his former coach, Rick Pitino.

From WEEI's Jessica Camerato:

Chico estimates Antoine has dropped between 18 and 25 pounds as he continues to improve his conditioning under Pitino‘s watch. "Four to six" teams, he said, have already expressed interest in the forward, who is fighting to land an NBA roster spot for the first time since 2008 when he received a buyout from the Grizzlies.

"He's definitely looking to go into training camp, but he knows it's not going to be a guaranteed contract," said Chico. "He's going to have to go in and make a team, and he understands that. That's where he is in terms of his conditioning. He knows he has to go in there and earn a spot. Nothing's going to be given to him regardless of what he's done in the past

"I think the main concern is that this other stuff is going to follow him around. Is that going to be a deterring factor for a lot of teams? Hopefully not because basketball-wise, I still think he has a little bit to give to the game. But he has to go in and he has to show that. Nothing's going to be given to him at this point."

Best of luck to Antoine Walker who desperately needs NBA money, but I'm not too sure this is going to work out the way 'Toine would like. Guys like Louis Amundson, Michael Finley and Joe Smith are still running around unsigned and players of that caliber are sure to be higher on a team's want list than Antoine Walker. No offense to the guy, but sometimes your past catches up to you, which he's had to learn the hard way.

That being said, if a team was desperate for a player who can put points up in a hurry every once in a while, Walker fits that bill. Sure, he'll shoot way too many threes and slack on defense, but he'll also grab offensive rebounds and make a decent pass here and there. There aren't a lot of them, but there are certainly worse NBA options than Antoine Walker if he's actually in shape. Not to mention, we'd get to see him break out his immortal shimmy, which might be reason enough to offer him a veteran's minimum contract. Via Ball Don't Lie

Nike Air Max 90 ‘Laser Blue’ – 2010 Retro

Just recently the most famous AM 90 colorway dropped, the Nike Air Max 90 ‘Infrared’ and now its time for another classic colorway to release. The Nike Air Max 90 ‘Laser Blue’ is schedule for a 2010 release, no exact date has been given but expect these to hit stores later this year. The AM 90 ‘Laser Blue’ has a similar color-blocking as the AM 90 ‘Infrared’ but features Laser Blue accents instead. Via Sneakerfiles

First Look: Li-Ning BD Doom Low

The BD Doom has until now been Li-Ning’s most successful and widely loved basketball model, and you can look for a low-top version of the Baron Davis signature shoe to be hitting Champs Sports and Eastbay later this fall as well. While the top has been chopped, the iconic Beardman logo is surely here to stay.

Available in this silver/red colorway, along with an all white, white/royal and black based version, four styles of the Li-Ning BD Doom Low will drop in November, retailing at $85. Enjoy a first look. Via Sole Collector

Pre-Order: Nike Zoom Hyperfuse – More Colors

The summer’s hottest hoop shoe is now available to pre-order in more colorways over at Eastbay. Included in the new group are pairs in cool grey, purple, and photo blue. Each pair makes use of black as a complimentary color on the Swoosh, laces and outsole. A full-size run is available to pre-order today, with an expected shipping date of September 3rd. Stop by Eastbay and grab your pairs today. Via Sole Collector

Nike Air Griffey Max II Returns Summer 2011

The Air Griffey Max 1 originally released in 1995 and Nike released a total of three original colorways between 1995-1996. Last year, Nike finally decided to retro the Air Griffey Max 1 in original and new colorways. With Ken Griffey Jr. recently announcing his retirement from the game of baseball, Nike will continue to honor The Kid by bringing back the second shoe from the Air Griffey Max line. That’s right, today TSG can confirm that the Air Griffey Max II will return Summer 2011. Via The Shoe Game

Sunday, August 22, 2010

08-22 Nation Of Hardwear UPDATES!!

Go over to Nation Of Hardwear to check out the updates they've made to their site, there's new hoodies and crew necks on the way as well as new kicks!!

Nike Air Force 1 Foamposite Black Preview

Nike Sportswear caught us all off guard by releasing the Foamposite Air Force 1 this year, but if you thought they were only releasing one colorway, you thought wrong. Seen above is a preview of what might be the next Foam AF1 to release. The Air Force 1 documentary debuted on the Nike campus yesterday, and the smokey black Foam AF1’s were on display. No word on when this colorway will release, but what’s your thoughts? Via The Shoe Game

Ice Cream Hi Cut Drippy Sneakers Fall ‘10

Ice Cream is preparing to release footwear and apparel from their Fall/Winter 2010 collection. Tomorrow BBC fans will get hit with a cool treat as three Ice Cream Hi Cut Drippy sneakers are set to release at the Ice Cream store in Japan. These Ice Cream Hi Cut Drippy sneakers should be available at other BBC retailers soon. Via The Shoe Game

Nike Zoom Huarache Trainer – Black/Volt/Dark Grey

First seen back in May, the Nike Zoom Huarache Trainer is one of the most anticipated releases remaining this year. We now have a look at another pair set to release, making use of one of Nike’s most famed color schemes. Staying close to Tinker’s original design, the Zoom Huarache Trainer still makes use of an exoskeleton build on the upper. Black covers its exoskeleton, while volt makes a statement on the midfoot strap branding. Looking past its outer build, volt comes together with grey on the inner bootie. Grey and volt continue to appear along the Free-inspired outsole below.

To say the least, designer Aaron Cooper’s modern take on the classic Huarache Trainer appears quite promising, with the addition of Zoom Air and improved traction, among other things. No official release date has been announced, however they are expected to release in the coming months! Via Sole Collector

Air Jordan 1 Armor – Reflective Silver/White

Are you a fan of Foamposite influence moving on to other models? After the Air Force 1 got a Foamposite makeover for a shoe released last week, we’re now getting a look at another iconic sneaker receiving the same treatment – the Air Jordan 1. You read that correctly. A Foamposite-like shell has been molded into the Air Jordan 1 for a shoe that is being called the Air Jordan 1 Armor.

While the material used for this release is similar to what you’d see on the original Foamposite shoes, the shell is actually thinner and lighter. For the pair pictured below, a reflective metallic silver was used for the base, while a translucent icy outsole fits in beneath. Like the Foamposite Air Force 1, this shoe is certain to spark hate-it-or-love-it type debates. Where do you stand after seeing these images?

Prepare for the release of the Reflective Silver Air Jordan 1 Armor to hit Footlocker and House of Hoops in November. Via Sole Collector

Air Jordan Retro 2 “Candy Pack” – New Images

Earlier this month we gave you preview of the upcoming Air Jordan Retro 2 “Candy Pack.” If you weren’t convinced at first, don’t be surprised if this latest look has you wishing for an immediate release. Each pair works with a predominantly nubuck upper. Seen in varsity red,green and yellow make ups. Black takes place on the midsole, liner and tongue branding. Black continues to contrast, covering the laces and heel as well.

Mark your calendars, the Air Jordan Retro 2 “Candy Pack” will be available October 30th at select Jordan Brand retailers. Via Sole Collector

Monday, August 16, 2010

New Fitteds @ ROCK-N-JOCKS: Custom NEW ERA「Grizzlies」59Fifty Fitted Cap

ROCK-N-JOCKS presents their lastest NEW ERA 59Fifty custom cap featuring the Vancouver Grizzlies. The crown is Graphite Grey with a Black bill and a Red underbill. The claw logo is embroidered in Red, White, Black and Brown. Around the back is the Vancouver Grizzlies text logo in Red and Black. There are only 30 pieces in stock. Get your own before they sell out for good. Via Strictly Fitteds

Nike Air 1/2 Cent “Cranberry” – New Images

The black/green spark-metallic silver colorway of the Nike Air 1/2 Cent was not the final colorway we would see release. This year two new colorways will hit stores, an “eggplant” colorway and a “cranberry” colorway as they have so been nicknamed by sneaker heads worldwide.

We’ve seen both colorways a few times, but more images of the “eggplants” have been floating around than the “cranberry’s.” Well, here’s some new images of that colorway. As you can see from these images, they look more red than cranberry-ish now. These and the eggplant colorway are both expected to be released later this year. Availability will be like all previous releases, limited. Via Sole Collector

Nike Dunk High – “Dubai” Employee Exclusive

Employees recently gathered for the Nike AGS (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) corporate meeting in Dubai. There, a performance-related competition was held, where members of the winning region would go on to receive this limited and very exclusive “Dubai” Dunk High.


The shoe features a black and white leather upper, with emerald blue on the side-panel print and contrast stitching, as well as the laces and inner liner. A lasered overlay wraps around the back, including a “We are Nike” graphic on the heel. Completing the look is gold-leaf, which hits the Swoosh, heel tab, and tongue. These are an employee exclusive and not expected to hit retailers. Via Sole Collector

Sunday, August 15, 2010

LOVE @ 1ST FLIGHT - Ladies (Blush)

Heyyyyy ladies! Go pick up your Love @ First Flight tee at Nation Of Hardwear. Two colors are now available!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jerry Colangelo's 2008 Olympic gold medal ring

What you see above is Colangelo's Olympic championship ring that he received after Team USA took home the gold medal in Beijing. It's enormous, it's covered in diamonds and everybody associated with the 2008 team got one. Players, coaches, executives — basically everyone except livebloggers.

If you're trying to figure out just how gigantic this ring is, consider that Colangelo is a normal-sized guy with some serious meathooks for hands. For a ring to look that big, it's got to be seriously huge. Trust me, it is. Via Ball Don't Lie

Greg Street’s Paris SB Dunk Offer to Wale

As we all know, Wale is pretty heavy in the shoe game, but there’s a few sneakers that he doesn’t own, and the Paris Nike SB Dunk is one of them. Well it just so happens that Greg Street has two pairs of Paris Dunks.

While Wale was visiting ATL, he stopped by Greg Street’s show on V-1o3, and that’s when Street presented his Paris Dunk offer to Wale live on V-103. All @Wale has to do is get @DJGregStreet’s twitter followers from 32k+ to 100k by August 25th. If Wale can complete the challenge, Street will give him the brand new size 9.5 Paris Dunks at Wale’s show with J.Cole at Center Stage in Atlanta. Do you think Wale will be able to conquer this Paris Dunk challenge? Via The Shoe Game

Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Pearl” – Release Date Update

In the midst of all the 2011 news and rumored Jordan Brand releases, some people forget about other sneakers that are high on their list. Especially when they weren’t scheduled to be released until the end of the year.

Well, that’s all about to change. Originally set for a November release, the “pearl white” Nike Air Foamposite Pro will now be returning a little quicker than expected. They are now set to drop in the beginning of September! Retail price is still set at $200 and they will be more widely available than their House of Hoops exclusive release previously. You can expect them still to be limited, available at select urban accounts as well as Niketowns and House of Hoops. So if you were planning on getting these, make sure you start figuring things out now as we are only a few weeks away from their release.

09/03/2010 Air Foamposite Pro (limited release)
624041-206 Pearl White/Black-True Red
$200.00

Available: Nike Air Force 1 Country Collection

A special launch party for the Air Force 1 “Country Collection” was held at New York’s 21 Mercer yesterday, where attendees were given the opportunity to purchase colorways representing the five World Basketball Festival countries early. For those of us that live outside of New York, the collection is now available online. You can pick up USA, China, France, Brazil, and Puerto Rico colorways of the Air Force 1 today at Nikestore. Pictured above is the USA version, view the others at Sole Collector.

USA
Color: Obsidian/White-Varsity Red
Style: 318775-401
Price: $125.00

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Nike Air Griffey Max 1 – White/Black-Sport Red-Metallic Silver

Ken Griffey Jr’s career might be over, but the shoe that started it all for him is still around as if it’s just been introduced to the world. Inspired by his days with the Cincinnati Reds, we have this latest Nike Air Griffey Max 1. Varsity red and white team up on the upper, with hits of black and metallic silver accenting throughout the shoe nicely. No official release information is available as of yet, however expect for this Cincinnati Reds-inspired Air Griffey Max 1 to release sometime in 2011. Via Sole Collector

Nike Trainer 1.2 – Chris Johnson Player Exclusive

Last season, Tennessee Titans running-back Chris Johnson became just the sixth player to rush for 2,000 yards. Reaching that mark, he joined elite runners like Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, and OJ Simpson. If you’ve been paying attention to Johnson during the off-season, you know that he has no plans on stopping there. He wants Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards, and he wants it this year. Not only does he want that record, but he is shooting for – gasp- 2,500 yards this season. To reach that mark, Johnson would need to average a little over 156 yards per game. Can he do it? I won’t be the one to doubt him.

Taking a step back, the people over at Nike wanted to make sure that the 2,006 yard season was properly acknowledged. Part of that recognition comes in the form of this Chris Johnson “CJ2K” Trainer 1.2 player exclusive. The shoe features a red synthetic upper, with white filling in the toe, heel, Swoosh, and inner liner. Embroidered on the heels is “CJ2K Knows,” a salute to the previous mentioned 2,000 yard rushing season. Chris gave us a look at these on Twitter, but there’s no word on whether or not we’ll see them release. Via Sole Collector

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My FRESH / 86' TINGLE ( Ivory )

Feel that 86 TINGLE! Back to basics ... No shoe laces, when rockin this hand screened 100% Cotton, short sleeved, crew neck tee. Go over to Nation Of Hardwear and get pick it up for a mere $19.99 (two colors available)!!

Nike SB Dunk High QS – August 2010

We’ve seen quite a few solid Nike SB Dunk High releases this year, and for the month of August 2010, Nike SB drops another quickstrike release Dunk High. The Dunks sport a metallic gold/sport red/black colorway. Word is the colorway was inspired by the colors from Tecate beer cans. You can grab a pair of these SB Dunks from Premier, or check with your local Nike SB dealers for availability. Via The Shoe Game

The Bathroom Reader’s False Prediction

Something funny I found online: Bathroom Reader #17, page 435. If the editor of the Bathroom Reader wasn't already kicking himself for being editor of the Bathroom Reader, I bet he's really embarrassed now. Via Buzz Feed

New Balance 577 – Leather Pack

New Balance continues to roll out 577 releases with the upcoming “Leather Pack.” As the name of the pack would suggest, the 577 will be available in two premium leather colorways, complete with New Balance’s signature ENCAP cushioning system. Both pairs, produced in the UK factory, will be available at New Balance retailers by the end of the month. Via Sole Collector

Separating fact from fiction about Corey Fisher's 105-point game

In an era of cell phone cameras, YouTube clips and more cable sports networks than you could ever watch, it's virtually impossible for any significant athletic performance to go undocumented.

Amazingly enough, however, video proof of Corey Fisher's shooting barrage in a New York City summer league game on Saturday night still hasn't surfaced.

Word that the Villanova guard scored 105 points in a game at the Watson Basketball Classic first circulated via Twitter over the weekend. As the days passed without video evidence, confirmation from Fisher or even a reliable box score, the story has taken on an urban legend-like quality.

One report suggested Fisher scored 72 points in the second half. Another said he hit 23 of 28 3-pointers. There were even initially accounts that the man defending Fisher was Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon, though those appear to be false.

How much if any of the rest of the story is true remains shrouded in mystery because Fisher hasn't divulged much information on Twitter, and so far he hasn't returned a message left for him on his cell phone. As a result, here's what I can corroborate based on conversations or emails with Watson Basketball Classic director Lionel Saunders, eyewitness Kenneth Stevens and BangLee Takenouchi, captain of the team Fisher's squad defeated.

• Fisher did indeed score 105 points in his team's 138-130 victory at Watson Gleason Playground, a performance prompted by a fan who asked him to go after the league record of 63 points held by former Cincinnati star Kenny Satterfield.

• The opposing team was called GymRatsNYC, a group of semi-pro players who play in summer streetball tournaments in New York City. Takenouchi reports that one of his teammates also scored 60 points in the game.

• According to Stevens, Fisher had 56 points at halftime and about 76 after three quarters despite constant double and triple teams, so his teammates kept feeding him the ball every possession to see how high the Bronx native could go.

"He was determined to reach 100, but his arms from shooting threes were tired so he started going to the basket, weaving through defenders and creating 'one-and-one' situations," Stevens said. "It wasn't until the final few seconds of the game that he scored 100 points on a free throw.

Then he had a steal, got fouled and hit a 3-pointer to end the game with no time on the clock."
It's staggering that any player could exceed 100 points even against what surely wasn't NBA-caliber defense, but Fisher's high school exploits show he's capable of explosive scoring nights.

The former McDonald's All-American once dropped 37 points on O.J. Mayo and 35 on Brandon Jennings as a high schooler at St. Patrick's in New Jersey. Though he has been overshadowed at Villanova the past three years by All-American teammate Scottie Reynolds, the 6-foot-1 Fisher broke out somewhat to average 13.3 points per game last season.

You can call Fisher selfish for going for an individual accomplishment, question the level of competition he faced or celebrate his amazing scoring prowess, but here's one thing we can all agree on: It's a shame no video has surfaced so we can all judge Fisher's 105 points for ourselves. Via Rivals.com

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Shaquille O'Neal a Celtic?

So this is where Shaquille O'Neal comes to hide.

Actually, he's not hiding at all. He's not flying low to the ground, and he's not slumming. Short of zooming back to Los Angeles (hard to do on a burned bridge) or Miami (ditto), he's apparently close to signing up with the most storied franchise this league has. One of the more popular, one of the most prominent, and one of two that you last saw playing official hoops a month and a half ago. The Celtics.

Shaq in Boston, sportin' the green. Chasing that ring, we'd assume. Chasing down prominence, again. From Kobe to Wade to LeBron. Now in with a series of like-minded fogies. Boston? I suppose it makes sense.

Kendrick Perkins, Boston's dutiful defensive-minded pivot man, will be out until January. The team signed Jermaine O'Neal, but (hopefully) with the knowledge that his 2009-10 re-birth appeared to slide closer toward the spires of flukedom, than an actual re-charge. Rasheed Wallace is trade bait, Shelden Williams is no more. The C's need a center. Via Ball Don't Lie