NikeBlog.com

Despite NikeBlog.com’s previous objections, Nike continues to make the Air Jordan/Air Force 1 fusions with pretty underwhelming popularity. Well we finally have the newest “best of the bunch” in the Air Jordan Force 6 (or AJF 6 would I suppose be a more convenient shorthand). The AJF 6 keeps the aesthetically pleasing qualities of both shoes, while still looking like its own unique creation, the point at which most of the AJFs fail.

Anyway, throughout January, February and March we’ll be getting these at a rate of two or three per month. NikeBlog.com is definitely copping the white-based ones, despite that $160 price tag. Except for that one that breaks the cardinal rule of DON’T HAVE A RED MIDSOLE ON AN OTHERWISE WHITE SHOE. The red sole on the shoe above looks clean though. It’s almost like Phil Knight doesn’t read the blog.

Release Dates:

AJF 6 White/Varsity Red-Black, AJF 6 Black/Varsity Red: 1/10/09.

AJF 6 LS White/Black-infrared (above picture): 2/14/09

AJF 6 White/Black-Varsity Purple, AJF 6 White/Black-Electric Lime: 2/21/09

AJF 6 White/Court Blue-University Blue, AJF 6 Stealth/Varsity Red-White-Light Graphite: 3/21/09

The above picture has the 23 locations where the black and red Air Jordan 23 will be released. I expect you probably can’t see it without enlarging the picture so here is the list. Remember, only 23 pairs at each location.

City Gear-Memphis TN
Foot Locker West 34th NYC
Champs Sports Times Square NYC
FootAction 7th Ave NYC
Finish Line Culver City, CA
Aficionado Chicago, IL
The Shoe Gallery Miami, FL
Millenium Shoes LA, CA
Walter’s Atlanta, GA
Sheikh Shoes San Fran, CA
Undefeated LA, CA
Sneaker Villa Philly, PA
Expressions Boston, MA
NBA Store 5th Ave NYC
DTLR-Annapolis Mall Annapolis MD
Moe’s Sneaker Spot Jamaica NY
Jimmy Jazz Bronx, NY
NikeTown Bronx, NY
Active Athlete Houston, TX
House of Hoops Harlem
House of Hoops Chicago
House of Hoops LA
Online at Air Jordan Flight Club

To celebrate the release of several different Terminators in Japan, Nike is launching their musician-centric “Play Hard” campaign, featuring several famous (maybe. Or fictional? I have no idea, anyone who’s keen to Japanese music let me know) musicians and their accompanying music (or perhaps someone else’s music). The shoes are in classic color-schemes, two-toned all the way (with the exception of “NIKE” being printed in black on a couple of them. Props to HypeBeast.com for screen-capping the shoes.

Jordan is releasing yet another Spiz’ike, which I guess is supposed to be an amalgam of the Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 5 among others. This one is a cool colorway and all, in fact it’s really cool, but I don’t get the thinking behind not just getting an AJ 4. Especially one you factor in that Jordan is inexplicably charging $175 for a shoe that isn’t even an Air Jordan. I would be very interested to know how many Jordan Brand shoes priced above $125 that aren’t in the AJ line wind up at outlet stores. Anyway, the shoe drops on New Year’s Eve if you’re interested.

So the Oregon Ducks are most certainly going to wear the black Oregon helmet on the field Saturday against Arizona. This is good news for us Oregon fans who are hoping to see the feathered oregon jersey on the field, as it fits with the “black out” the Oregon athletic department is pushing. The helmets are black, with a green “O” and a dark green facemask. The black Oregon helmets will appear on “College Football Live” tomorrow at 12:30p. Pictures from GoDucks.com

After having collaborated with Eminem on an Air Force 1 and an Air Max 1, Nike is once again working with the Detroit rapper, this time to create a special edition Air Jordan 2 (purportedly his favorite sneaker) inspired by his new book, “The Way I Am.” The shoe was unveiled at the release party for the book, and will be limited to 313 pairs, paying tribute to the area code of Eminem’s home town. The general colorway of the shoe isn’t a tremendous departure from the norm, using a lot of black, grey and red. What makes the shoe stand out are the handwritten lyrics from different Eminem songs scrawled across the upper and toe, a unique idea to really add a personal touch to the AJ2. No release date has been announced yet. Proceeds from this ultra-limited release will go to the Marshal Mathers Foundation.

Thanks to NiceKicks.com for the pictures.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s]

This one is just for fun. Realize how cold this Big Mac is getting while they continue these foolish antics.

And Bird saying “no dunking” by the way? Thanks for furthering the propaganda, Bird.

So I should have mentioned this a while ago, but Nike has retro’d the Nike Air Penny 2. Not sure what to really say about this shoe, if you don’t already know what it is you’re probably not interested. It’s still as visually pleasing as it was in 1996 with the small exception of the reduced-size air pocket. Actually that might not be a small exception because it does significantly alter the look of the midsole, but this is a classic so stop complaining and just go get it. It’s already out in stores and available at FootLocker.com, which coincidentally is where I got the photo. If you’re younger than 22 you might be wondering why Anfernee Hardaway has his own shoe. As it turns out, he was a pretty solid player in the 90’s before he started consistently breaking every bone in his body twice a month.

As the NBA season draws nearer, it’s becoming abundantly clear that Nike will be forcing the Hyperdunk upon us. As well as developing them as team shoes for Nike Universities (I will of course include the Oregon colorway below), Nike has released PE’s for Kobe Bryant and Amare Stoudemire among others. And now they’ve collaborated with EA Sports to make a special edition shoe for Tony Parker (he’s the coverboy for EA’s NBA Live ‘09). It comes in Spurs’ silver and displays the game’s cover on the sole. They’re OK, but certainly nothing compared to the Ducks’ colorway. Pictures from SoleCollector.com

Oregon Ducks Hyperdunk

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwlpTgbQTE]

This ad has been out for a few months, but I’ve never covered it and only just saw it recently so I wanted to give it the coverage it deserves. It’s a Nike Soccer (well, Nike Football really as it’s from the UK) ad that Guy Ritchie directed. Through a first-person camera perspective, it follows a soccer player coming up as a kid, excelling in front of Arsene Wenger, and eventually going on to play for Holland and Wenger’s Aresenal.

During his journey he plays against some of the games best, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney (that I caught, I’m sure there are more that I didn’t). It follows the player in his personal life, as well as training and in the locker room. It’s one of the better commericals you’ll see.