Jordan 1 Canvas

Three days ago, another two pairs of Jordans were released. The Jordan One in two different colorways. Both shoes include the colors red, white and blue. The sneaker that I am more focused on is a navy blue pair with canvas material. This shoe is special to men, not only because of its rare and unique material, but also because I  love patriotic colors. I am not much of a patriot, but I do cherish the red, white and blue colors. I also have matching Boston Red Sox hats that will go well with these sneakers. I also want these shoes because they are the first sneakers that Nike endorsed Michael Jordan with. I have always wanted a pair of the first Jordans, though these are not the same colorway as the originals. The NBA fined Jordan each game that he wore them. These sneakers are a symbol for rebellion and non-conformity. If Jordan were to compromise and give in to the NBA's demands, his sneaker legacy would have never grown to what it is today. Because he held on to his dreams, nearly every teenager and young adult owns a pair of Jordans. The Jordan Ones are also a favorite to me because this story behind them relates to my freshman year of college. In living on campus, there are many pressures and temptations to conform to the destructive social behaviors practiced by other students. These special shoes promote individuality and being oneself. Therefore, they are a must-have because they represent my personal ideals.

PYS

When it comes to buying sneakers, using the internet can be a little sketchy. From Ebay to Amazon, it can be hard to make valid shoe purchases, as there are constant threats of fraud and theft. However, one site I find most reliable is pickyourshoes.com. Referred to this website by one of my friends, I browsed the site and found that they held many rare and classic sneakers. Most of these shoes I was not even able to find in my local sneaker stores. They had nearly every pair of Jordan shoe ever released, although most of them were sold out. Most recently, I ordered the Jordan 15 sneakers off of the site, only for a small price of $110 (including shipping and handling). Being surprised and excited about finding the shoes for such a minimal price, I was even more relieved when my shoes arrived five days later in perfect condition. In the back of my mind, I somehow thought that the site could have been fraud. Some shoes on the site are more expensive, but every price is reasonable. Classic sneakers and the more rare sneakers are obviously priced higher than less valued shoes. All in all, Pick Your Shoes is definitely a credible source for purchasing shoes. They also sell clothing products, such as hats and tee - shirts and other accessories. I look forward to continuing my shopping on this site, and my next purchase might be a golden pair of Charles Barkley Air Force Ones.

South Beach

One of the most anticipated sneaker releases of 2012 is finally arriving on June 2nd: The Nike Lebron 9 "South Beach." These shoes are the second in Lebron James's serious of South Beach sneaker colorways, a line started after he started his new career with the Miami Heat. With their flamboyant pink, teal, and grey color schemes, a pair of South Beaches will sell  for $250. Despite their extremely high cost, these are a must-have for myself and many others who collect sneakers. They will undoubtedly be considered a classic, especially if Lebron James and the Miami Heat win this year's NBA championship. I was not able to buy last year's pair, but I am content with knowing that Lebron didn't get his first ring in those. If he does it this year, the shoes will not only be a symbol of a championship, but they will represent the triumph he has accomplished over all the doubt and animosity he faced for losing in last year's NBA Finals. I want the South Beaches not just for style purposes or to gather another shoe to my collection, but they are more important because of the story that is unfolding through them. These shoes will signify the greatest highlight of Lebron James's basketball career. What could be a higher act of paying homage to the "King" of basketball than to buy the shoes that he won his championship in? As most of the shoes in my sneaker collection, the South Beaches will be one of my favorite purchases, because of their cultural significance.

Kobe Elite

On April 28th, this coming weekend, the Kobe Elite 7's will be released in sneaker stores. These are the most expensive Kobe Bryant sneakers ever released at a retail price of $200. In addition, the Lebron Elite shoes will also be released. I find it ironic that these shoes are priced higher than the Jordans that are being re- retroed this year, because Jordan was the greatest player to every play the game of basketball - or so I think. Do these prices reflect people's beliefs that Kobe or Lebron could be the greatest? Some Lebron sneakers are even being sold at $250!! These outrageous prices obviously indicate that the players who the shoes are designated to are highly esteemed. My question is whether that esteem can be compared to the legendary number twenty-three. I wonder whether the shoes of Kobe Bryant and Lebron James will be as valued twenty years from now, as Jordans are. Will these younger players develop the same longevity? Can they live up to the expectations of basketball fans for them to surmount Jordan's legacy? Only time can tell. As for now, no basketball shoe should be priced more than Jordan's simply out of respect for basketball's greatest player.

This Summer

What will be hot on people's feet this summer? Sandals? Air Force Ones? Olympic Jordans? Converses? Last summer the most popular shoes on people's feet were Foamposites, Jordans and boat shoes. Will it be the same this summer? As I faithful collector of basketball shoes, I will undoubtedly stick to my b-ball kicks this summer, yet I still want to try various styles of sneakers and shoes. Boat shoes were great for last summer, because they are comfortable, simple, classy and somewhat formal. However, they can only be worn with no-show socks. Anything longer would kill the style, making the shoes look awkward. I, personally, am I fan of long basketball socks. Aside from basketball shoes, what I seek to wear this summer are Clark dessert boots. What I like about these shoes are that they are simple and classy but they still maintain a rugged look. They also look better as they crease and age. These boots are extremely stylish, but the only problem I have with them is that they are suede. Suede is harder to maintain than your average leather and thus the material on the boots could decay fast. No matter the case, I still covet these boots, because they are versatile and can be worn with nearly anything. I cannot say for sure whether I will start a trend of people wearing dessert boots in the summer, but I do know that I will inspire some to look twice at my feet when I walk by.

Skaters

One of my favorite shoes in my collection are Vans. Although I am not a skater, I love these sneakers, because they are simple, sturdy and comfortable. Vans with a black on black colorway can be worn with nearly anything, but they definitely look better in slim fit or skinny jeans.Vans can also be worn with more formal outfits, such as khakis or chinos and a dress shirt. I personally dislike the wearing Vans with shorts. They don't have the same appeal as basketball sneakers and shorts. I bought my first pair of Vans during my senior year of high school. Due to the rise in the amount of sneaker collectors in my school, I decided to abandon buying basketball sneakers such as Jordans and Nikes. I sought something more mature, formal and simple. Vans filled this position. Despite them being subtle in their appearance, I acknowledged that Vans accentuated my outfits more than sneakers did. However, my new found love only lasted for my senior year, as I resorted back to buying and collecting sneakers in the summer. So far, I haven't bought a pair of Vans since, but I still wear the classy shoe occasionally - when I want to keep things simple. Maybe the flashier sneakers are always more appealing to me because of my love for basketball. Vans are a skate shoe and therefore, I started to get bored with them. All in all, adding Vans to my shoe collection has allowed me to be more versatile and creative in the way I dress.

Olympic Seven

Of all the Jordan releases coming out this year, the most important sneaker for me is the Olympic Seven pair. I've wanted these shoes since middle school but never had the money to buy them. Now that I work I am glad they are being re-released. The shoe is expected to come out July 21st this year. I might even buy two pairs: one to play basketball in and one for casual wear. The only other pair of Seven's I own are the Raptors, but the Olympic colorway is my favorite.

12's

Today at 8am, sneaker stores around the country will be selling the Jordan Playoff 12 sneakers. These are the same shoes Michael Jordan wore in his 1996-1997 season playoff games. When they first were released in 1996, they sold for $135. Sixteen years later, they are being released at $160. Without a doubt, this release will call every sneaker head to their local Footlockers and sneaker boutiques as every Jordan shoe seems to sell out as soon as they are published. Although the shoe has a relevant history, I will not purchase this release because of the hype and popularity around it. I personally value shoes that are less publicized.