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.