Classics: Air Jordan V "Grapes"

Rounding out the series of classic Air Jordan Vs is the V "Grapes."  The grapes are, along with the Laneys, are the most sought after of all the Jordan 5 series (minus originals, of course).  These shoes featured a rather simple colorway of a dominant white midsole like most of the V series, but was accented by a more catchy emerald green and grape purple, an eye-catching colorway to see in person.  Other than their original release and failure in 1990, they were re-released in 2006 and since the moment they sold out the hardcore Air Jordan fans that were shut out have begged for them to be re-stocked.  Rumors pop up from time to time that they will be retroed again, but it still has yet to be seen.  Check them out below and see just how sweet they are:

Classics: Air Jordan V "Laney"

The Air Jordan Retro V "Laney" is named after Michael Jordan's High School and this colorway pays homage to his years playing basketball in North Carolina.  This colorway has been released only one time (2000) in the history of the Air Jordan line and makes it one of the most collectible shoes for a die-hard Michael Jordan fan.  The varsity royal and varsity maize may not be the the most tame color scheme, but with context these shoes are among the most valuable in the whole Jordan line:

Nike Air Lebron IX Swingman

One of the more unique of the colorways released for the Lebron 9, the Swingman pays homage to a sneaker legend in his own right: Ken Griffey Jr.  These Lebrons feature a colorway that is reminiscent of the Seattle Mariners colors during Griffey's heyday both in baseball and in the sneaker world.  These shoes feature the Lebron "Dunkman" logo, previously only seen on Lebron Dunkman models, combined with an exaggerated semi-circle that is reminiscent of Ken Griffey Jr's old "Swingman" logo featured on his shoes.  These sold out quick and are now extremely hard to find and prove to be one of the more unique designs in the Lebron series:

Classics: Air Jordan V Sport Blue/Stealth

Regarded as one of the more bland colorways on the Air Jordan V, I see this shoe more as a blue counterpart for the fire reds.  Released in 2006 shortly before the fire reds were released, these didn't sell as well as Air Jordan had anticipated.  Still, being a classic shoe that has only been released once, these shoes retain value for collectors and purveyors of rare sneakers alike.  Check the image below to decide for yourself, do you think they will ever be released again?:

Classics: Air Jordan V Fire Red II

Having been one of the most in demand shoes in the entire Air Jordan line since its release, the Air Jordan V fire red was released again in 2006 in its original colorway nearly twenty years earlier.  In the last post I showed how the "Nike Air" and check remained, while the outsole was black; these feature a "Jumpman" logo on the rear and a primarily red and white color scheme.  This new edition of the fire red Vs would also re-include the stitched "23" on the midsole that had been omitted in previous releases.  Check the image below to see the subtle, but major differences in the look of the shoe:

Classics: Air Jordan V Fire Red

This edition of the Air Jordan Retro V was released among the first in a series of Retro V's that would be released in both 1999 and 2000.  A change to the original Fire Red colorway that was released previously, the outsole features a dominant black color as opposed to the former red dominant and black accented outsole.  The original colorway on the Air Jordan Retro V would again be released in 2006, but the series ending in 2000 was the last to feature the "Nike Air" and check on the back of the shoe as opposed to the new "Jumpman" symbol featured on nearly all modern Air Jordan products.  I can proudly say that I own a pair of these that have been worn only a few times.. check the images below to see just how rare these really are:

Lebron IX Elite "South Beach"

Less than a month removed from the initial drop of the Lebron IX Elite, fans of the shoe can now wait and salivate over the North American release of the Lebron IX Elite "South Beach" edition (or not wait and buy them on Ebay).  The South Beach colorway, introduced for the first time last year in the Lebron VIII, was instantly sold out and surprisingly became one of the most collectible sneakers of 2011.  In fact, the Lebron VII South Beach still commands as much as $1000 on sites such as Ebay and flightclub.com.  With a strong tone of cool grey instead of overpowering new green and pink flash like in the past, this year's edition is much less ostentatious, and in my opinion is going to be one of the shoes to have in 2012.

"Big Bang" Series

Along the lines of the highly sought Galaxy Foamposites came with it a series of releases over the NBA All-Star Weekend this year.  Like the Nike Foamposite One that got the "galaxy" treatment, the Kobe System VII, the Lebron IX, the Nike Dunk, and other shoes got a similar makeover.  Known as the "big bang" series, these star-studded versions of each signature shoe were available for sale only at Footlocker House of Hoops locations during the All-Star Weekend, making them any of the models an extremely rare shoe.  Pictured below are my favorite from the series, the Kobe System VII "Big Bang":

Galaxy Foamposite

The Galaxy Foamposite, released on February 24th, caused the most buzz and activity out of any sneaker in my recent memory.  Being aware of every release and seeing how many people flock to buy each drop I can say for sure that this release is one that may never be rivaled again in the history of sneakers.  Reports from Orlando claimed that there were gangs shooting assault rifles into the air to clear crowds while fights and robberies were being reported at and around Footlocker House of Hoops locations all over the U.S.  Personally, I love the shoes, but the real question is.. are they really worth the $1,200 plus they are being re-sold for on Ebay?  I guess that the answer can only lie with the consumer....

Classics: Air Jordan XI Columbia

The Air Jordan 11 in Columbia blue is one of the most sought after of all the Jordan line.  Having been released only one other time since their original release in 1995, this shoe in this colorway is nearly impossible to find.  A primarily white midsole is accented by a blue outsole and black insole, making for a very clean - yet very stylish - sneaker.  This shoe is rumored to be in the works to come out again in 2012, so keep your eyes peeled because this shoe will certainly command some of the most hype of any sneaker to be released in the past few years.

Air Jordan Retro XII "Playoffs"

The Air Jordan XII was the first Jordan shoe released by Nike under the official label of "Jordan Brand," making it the first Air Jordan shoe released with no visible Nike swoosh logo.  Drawing inspiration from the classic Japanese rising sun flag, the XII is not as flashy as it is durable.  With somewhat conservative colorways and materials the Air Jordan XII is representative of Michael's career at the time: strictly business.  Though he had lost the MVP title to Karl Malone by the slimmest of margins that year, Michael led his team to a second straight NBA title, making the third installment of the XII "playoffs" a release to have.  Due out April 21st, this is a shoe that is worth buying, shelving, and admiring.

Air Jordan 10 Stealth

Due out an unspecified day next month, Air Jordan is releasing its second installment of the Retro X this year.  The Retro X in the Chicago Bulls colorway were a hot release and sold out online and in person almost instantaneously.  The Air Jordan X was originally released for the '94/'95 season for Michael Jordan in what was his return from retirement.  Many people speculate that the AJ X's somewhat plain design can be attributed to Nike being unprepared for Michael's return.  Personally, I love the minimalist approach and think that the circumstances produced one of the five most timeless Air Jordan models of all time.

This Summer: VI and VII Olympic Edition

There are few Jordan releases that create more hype than a Special Edition.  Coincidentally, this July we will have the pleasure of getting two separate releases that do just that: The Jordan VI and VII Olympic Edition.

The Jordan VI Olympic was released in 2000 as a new colorway for the 2000 summer games in Sydney.  For what can be described as a very basic color scheme, these shoes popped on the floor then and add character to any collection.  The VI was originally released in 1991 and was the beginning of what some suggest as setting the standard for modern basketball sneakers both stylistically and performance wise.  Ten years later Air Jordan has chosen to release the VI Retro Olympic again - and it's sure to be a limited drop.  Set to come out on July 7th Air Jordan has neglected to release any details on the shoe's exclusivity.  Crossing my fingers for a general release.

The Jordan VII Olympic was released in 2004 as release in the Air Jordan VII Retro series.  The VII was originally released in 1992 and was a stylistic deviation that I would describe as a bit "90s."  A departure from the more classic style of the previous Air Jordans the VII and the following VIII have a distinct look and bright original colorways.  The VII Olympic was worn by Michael himself during the 1992 summer games that spawned what basketball fans worldwide now refer to as the "Dream Team."  After a nearly ten year hiatus Air Jordan has decided to re-release the VII Olympic only two weeks after the VI, hitting the shelves on July 21st.

Jordans to Have this Spring

As winter (if we can call it that this year) begins to wind down the thought of fresh kicks paired with warm attire starts to bring smiles to sneakerheads across the globe.  With plenty of Jordan releases set to come out between now and summertime it can be hard to wade through the sea of speculation surrounding which releases are must haves.  These are a few pair that I can guarantee you'll find in my collection by summer:

Jordan IV Retro White/Cement:

Due out this Saturday (2/18/12) the Air Jordan IV is the MUST have this spring.  One of three original colorways the IV was available in, this shoe is an instant collectible.  Having been retroed only one other time in 2000, you can bet that these will be an extremely hot ticket.  Classic white sneakers with a unique "cement gray" accent help these shoes stand out and work with nearly anything you may choose to wear with them.  If you plan on getting 'em you better be in line a few hours before the stores open because I promise you're not the only one waiting on these.

Air Jordan V.1 Hazelnut/Team Red

Out since last month, the Jordan Retro V.1 in Hazelnut/Team Red is a classic looking shoe that is probably off the radar of most sneakerheads.  A reconstruction of the classic Jordan I this shoe combines a sole one could compare to a pair of Vans with an upper that could easily be likened to a pair of Nike SBs.  The result is a clean, slightly conservative, sneaker that most people wouldn't associate with the Jordan brand.

Air Jordan Retro XII Cool Grey/Team Orange

 

Originally released in 1997, the Air Jordan XII is one of the least flashy J's out there - that is until now.  Having sported mainly conservative colorways since its release the XII is getting a fresh and eye catching makeover this May.  Such a secret project that no official photos have even been released yet - so the exact day of release is still being hashed out.  The Cool Grey/Team Orange look will be a perfect colorway for summer and a release that sneakerheads could easily look back on as a sleeper.