SomeSneakerGuy

A TRUE collector....

2010-07-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/22/walking-on-air-his-shoes-made-the-man/?icid=main

A lot of people in today's culture don't really have a true love for what they are doing. They buy and wear items for a variety of reasons, I've posted this stuff before.

Every once in a while a story comes along that shows what TRUE sneaker collecting is.

I never knew this guy, I wish I had.

Busy, busy, busy....

2010-07-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything in a while because I've been busy on a couple different "projects".

The first is a 1/32 scale A6M2 Zero model from Tamiya. If you know me, you know that my other passion in life is model building.

I built models as a kid and started again as an adult to help relieve stress from work. I've gotten pretty decent at it. I've been considering starting a blog about scale models.

The second "project" I've been working on is finding a job. I've sold off most of my collection and I'm ready to start the new one. Only problem is there ain't no money for sneakers.

That sucks!!!

The models I work on I've been sitting on for a number of years, so I don't have to buy anything. I made enough to get buy from selling the old collection. But now, I'm getting bored. My bedroom is almost completely empty, there are almost no sneakers anywhere.

I know it might sound like a stupid reason to go back to work, but I do have other reasons.

Bob, I still owe you $40, I haven't forgotten.

Seems to be a fulltime job looking for a fulltime job now a days. I wish I could get paid for it.

WOW....

2010-07-11T20:12:00.001-07:00

I don't usually do this, but I had to post this-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270604754422&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

They are not PE's. Nike made most of their shoes in half sizes up to 13.5 back then and you could regularly get them at most retail stores. Penny wore a size 14.

This is a GREAT old school find. Unfortunately, I can't afford them right now. If I could I would end up with them. I hope someone that is reading this ends up with them.

One of the few shoes I'd like to see retroed some day.

Out

Lets get back on track....

2010-06-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

The sneaker world seems really boring to me right now. Pics of the Lebron VIII just came out and it looks like a boring shoe. Very similar to the VII. I guess Nike had to do a basic design, not knowing where The King was going to end up next season. There are a lot of possibilities for colorways on the VIII.

There just seems to be nothing coming out that interests me. Makes it hard to start a new collection when there's nothing out there to buy.

I think I've posted some of this before, I just get frustrated when I start looking for some kicks and all I find are retros or shoes based on retros. I don't want old shoes anymore. I want new, never seen before kicks.

Maybe I'll step away from collecting for a year or so. I did this once before. Seemed to help with the boredom that comes along every couple of years.

There needs to be more sneaker lines. Legit sneaker lines. Reebok needs to make a comeback. adidas needs to leave the Team Signature crap alone. More of the Chinese brands need to start selling here in the states. And1 just up and disappeared. Converse is starting to comeback, very slowly.

Still, it's all just so boring. Maybe I need to get a life.

I could jump higher if I.....

2010-06-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of bullshit in this culture. We all know that. Anyone reading this has either experienced it or knows someone that has.

The newest thing, I guess it's actually an old thing remade (retroed if you will), companies saying shoes will help you preform better or tone up.

APL(Athletic Propulsion Labs) says their new shoes will help you jump higher. Then instantly follow that statement with results may vary, blah blah blah.

Reebok says Zig Zag will improve you performance, then had a video out with a bunch of high school kids wearing the shoes and talking about "how much better they performed while wearing the shoes".

Skechers have shoes that they say will help you tone up just by walking. All you have to do is walk, yo!!!

And it's all BULLSHIT!!!

Shoe CAN NOT improve you performance! People are so brainwashed into thinking rubber and foam can make you run faster or jump higher.

The only thing that will actually make you run faster or jump higher is to get off you lazy ass and work out! Hell, for the $300 price of the APL's, you could get a membership at a gym and gain a few inches on your vert after a couple of weeks of work.

The Skechers are $100 a pop! For Skechers??? Yeah, $110 for a pair of Skechers! I know, that's some bullshit!!! All you get is a pair of shoes with soles that look like they belong on a pair of kicks for little kids. In fact, these soles have been on little kid shoes for a long time now. All they really need is to light up when you step in them. I'm pretty sure that's the next step. You can walk in the dark, so no one will see who you are and make fun of you for wearing Skechers!

Reebok is saying their Zig Zag tech returns energy or something, I really don't read much of the crap these companies release about their gimmicks. It's usually just that, crap. And the gimmicks, especially Reebok's, never do anything and are usually gone after a while. Remember DMX? Remember 3D Ultralite? In a short time I'll be asking if you remember Zig Zag.

Nothing any company has improves performance. Not Zoomair, not A3, nothing! Your feet might feel better, but you are not jumping higher. You are not running faster. Your ass is not getting smaller!

1 down, too many left to go....

2010-06-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

I counted my collection. I think, not sure, but I think I'm down below 100 pairs.

My collection hasn't been below 100 in 10+ years. Probably closer to 12-13 years. I can see the walls in my bedroom!!!!

Weird.

Sometimes I wonder how I was able to amass such a large collection.

It took me almost a year of constant selling to get to this point.

I think my collection was actually larger then I thought it was.

Funny how things work out sometimes.

Assholes and elbows.....

2010-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

So, as I've mentioned here a few times, I am selling off a majority of my collection. It's something I've wanted to do for a while and I intend to start a whole new one in the very near future.

I am using eBay to sell most of it. We all know how horrible eBay is. Well here's yet another tail for ya!

I sell my OG Carmines to this guy. I pack them up and send them on their way. Kind hard to see them go, but it was time.

So I see the guy gets them through the tracking number. Doesn't leave feedback, not a big deal. That shit happens all the time.

I get a message on Monday from the buyer. He says the shoes are damaged and are falling apart. Me, not being a newbie to all this eBay crap, ask him for pictures of the "damage", thinking he would just be complaining about the cracks in the soles and foam. Damage that I mentioned in the auction. He's just being a typical modern sneakerhead and trying to get some of his money back, so I figured.

He send me this, if you have a soft spot in your heart for beat OG's don't read any rather-

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He claimed they came straight out of the box like that and wants a refund.

I reply there is NO WAY IN HELL they could have been that damaged while being shipped. I call bullshit!

We go back and forth for a while. Then he states that the soles fell off when he went to take out the laces. Still wants a refund, only now he wants all his money back.

Wait, which is it? Did they come like that or did they fall apart when he handled them. I call bullshit again!!! I tell him that the ONLY way you could get that type of damage on an old shoe like this is to wear them.

He starts saying that it's my fault and he never wore them. I didn't put in the auction that they were not wearable. He makes a big deal out of that. The whole "soles have started to crack and uppers have several holes in them" line AND the "these shoes are 18 years old" line don't mean anything I guess.

Wait, why is he making a big deal out of that? By this point, he's told me several times that he never wore them. He keeps telling me that he never wore them.

Let me be clear on this, I've been in this sneaker thing for over 20 years! I know more about this shit them most people will ever know. When I see damage like that, I know it's from wearing them.

I share this with him.

He tells me that his 22 month old daughter got a hold of them and did this to them.

WAIT, now I have 3, THREE, 3 different stories from this guy!!!

So I point out that he's told me 3 different stories. I also point out that he just admitted that they were damaged while in his possession.

He still wants a refund.

I finally tell him I'm not doing anything. 3 different stories, admission of damage and assholeness leave me feeling like this is my only option.

Assholes like this need to get elbowed in the mouth.

Assholes and elbows!!!

Edit june 11-

So the idiot finally filled, but with eBay and not Paypal.

And there is a FORTH story about how they got damaged. He's claiming the extreme temperature diffences during the shipping process may have lead to the damage.

..........

I'll let you decide on that one. Personally, I call bullshit for a forth time.

Guy just can't own up to his mistake.

Stop it!!!!

2010-06-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Whoever is posting my blog on ISS, STOP IT!!!

From this point on I will have them deleted.

And the latest Foams are.......

2010-06-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

So, after rumors and speculations and Twitter hype, the newest Foamposite shoes have been announced.....

Foamposite Air Force 1's!!!!!

Wait, what, another fusion?!?!?!

HOW ABOUT SOMETHING NEW!!!!!!

Damn, yet another overused, soon to be over hyped AF1. Nike doesn't have any creativity anymore.

Oh, there is a Foamposite Air Jordan 1 in the works to.

I guess the only way they can sell Foamposite shoes is to make them into shoes that already sell. You know, instead of just releasing them in 1 colorway, which is the way Nike releases Foamposites lately.

So, these will be hyped like the Yeezy crap. All the hypebeasts will run to the stores and eBay to overpay for them. Then we'll get the next uninspired, fusion, retro, remake junk.

Whatever happened to Nike being cutting edge?

Edit- I told you fools on Nicekicks these would be lame.

Here it comes!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

History repeats itself.

A LOT of people that actually know what they are talking about are saying a downward trend for sneakers is coming. I've been saying it for a while now. There are little signs here and there.

I said that a few months back. Now there are more signs it's starting.

I seriously can't wait!!!

The culture will go back to the people that actually care about it. Stupid little kids will go to whatever the next fad is.

Real collectors can go back to paying reasonable prices. Not have to worry about idiots that we have to now.

I hope it comes quickly!!!

More people would be mad if...

2010-05-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

We all know how bad Jordan Brand has gotten with their retros. If you haven't seen it, there is a video on Youtube about the quality of the 25th anniversery XI's, the guy got them and they were basically falling apart. I don't have the address, if you haven't seen it, try to search Youtube for it.

If people actually knew how good OG's were back in the day, people would be pissed about how crappy retros are now. I think most people that buy retros now either never had OG's for whatever reason or don't really remember how good they were.

I know I've stated here in the past that we shouldn't complain about retros anymore. I'm rethinking that statement. It seems like they just get worse and worse.

The kicker is, now they have BIN's. What a fucking joke! They make them the same quality as the OG's and sell them for ALOT more.

I've been wondering how they justify selling old Jordans for more then new ones.

There isn't anything new in these old shoes they retro. Just some crappy colorways and cheaper materials. They don't even fit like the OG's.

They are not improved, they're just made cheaper in every way they can think of. If you cut a millimeter off here and there on one shoe, you can save a shitload in material over a production run.

Nike/JB doesn't care about the shoes anymore. I think most of us have known this for a long time now.

Too bad.

Edit- Here is the video. Thanks Bob. It only took me half an hour to figure out how to put it up here.

Normally I wouldn't post someone elses material. But I think this needs to be seen by everyone that is a Jordan fan.

Sad state of the culture...

2010-05-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

I noticed something a few days ago, seems obvious, but I never really thought about it.

There seems to be thousands of sites were you can buy sneakers. Whether they are real or not, general releases or limited editions, retail chains, small stores, personal websites. Literally thousands of site.

But only a few where you can actually discuss sneakers.

On top of that, most of the sites where you can discuss things are linked to another site trying to sell you something or make money in some other way.

Years ago, when the Internet was new and shinny, it was the other way around.

There were tons of message boards and sites dedicated to the love of sneakers. There were only a handful of sites selling.

Nikepark, Swooshtown, 23jumpman St., Niketalk, Nike Spirit, John's Swoosh page, so many sites they all can't be listed. Every one of them made just for the love of Nike/sneakers. It seemed like no one cared about making money off of these sites.

There were only a small handful of sites that actually sold shoes and that's all they did. There wasn't a message board on any of them. All they did was sell shoes.

It really does show the state of the culture now. Everyone is worried about how much their collection is worth or how much they can get for a pair of shoes. Then the same people turn around and try to low ball someone for something they know is worth more.

It's like the culture is more about the money then it is about the love of sneakers.

It's pretty sad.

There are some people out there that actually collect for the love and don't give a shit about the worth of what they have. I applaud these people. We need more of that in this culture.

Words like worth, value, price check, how much- all need to go. If you are worried about any of these, your not a true collector.

sooo bored

2010-05-23T17:25:00.001-07:00

I noticed a few days ago that the sneakers coming out of the next few months are really boring. There seems to be nothing but remake/refresh/fusion junk, with little to no inspiration to them at all.

Nothing coming out looks good to me except the Hyperfuze, which doesn't hit the store until fall (I think).

Sneakers have become really boring and stale lately. It's not that I am getting away from shoes, that not the case at all. It's just the product that the companies have been making is lame.

Adidas TS line was cool at first, but now is like the same shoes over and over. Time to go back to real signature shoes.

Nike is "remaking" a lot of their old shoes. Not really a good idea. I for one am getting sick of seeing the same shoes. Some of the "remakes" look almost exactly like their OG.

Jordan, well, we all know how Jordan has fallen off. There's nothing there for me. Unless they release some more colorways of the 2010. I'm pretty much done with numbered J's. I was excited for the Powder Blue IX's, but seeing the changes they made to the see, I decided it wasn't something I wanted.

Reebok hasn't released ANYTHING good in a while. Still waiting for some OG Kamikaze's to be retroed. I get the feeling I'll be waiting for a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time.

And1 has pretty much disappeared. Seems like Tai Chi's were in the stores for about 10 minutes.

I think this is the worst it's been in years. Like 20 years!

The people at eBay have their heads so far up their asses they can see what they are eating!

2010-04-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know what your thinking-

"But Jason, we've all known that for 10 year now".

Let me tell you a story.

I've been selling off my collection, I've mentioned it before on this here blog. Yesterday, out of the blue with no warning, there are limits placed on my eBay account. Bullshit, but what ever. I can't put the namebrands in the title of the auctions. So I just use the actual name of each shoe.

A couple hours go by and I notice 2 of my auctions are gone. I'm like wtf. I start looking at my account, there is a policy violation on my account for counterfeit items. First, I want to kill people from eBay. Then I calm down and start the process of getting this fixed. I email "customer service", which in actuallity should be named dumbest fucks online, to see what the problem is. I get a response saying one of my listings violated the policy because, get this-

1. There was no namebrand in the title.

2. There is no original box for the shoes.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!

Let me repeat that-

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

All of the fake ass bullshit they have on that site, not just shoes, and one of my auctions gets flagged because of some tiny bullshit like that??? Motha fucking companies have started to sue eBay because of fakes listed on their site. They can't tell the difference between real shit and fake shit. They will actually tell you there is no way to actually tell the difference between the two. We all know that's total BULLSHIT!!! We know that, other people in other hobbies know that, eBay knows it. They're just to fucking lazy to actually do anything to fight it.

I know a person that was contacted by eBay about a program to start identifying counterfeit shoes. He started the program, then after a few weeks stopped. eBay wasn't taking down the auctions that he was telling them were fakes! People wand up buying fake shoes because eBay is too fucking lazy and too concerned about how much money they make.

This is the shoe that they say is fake-

I bought them from a Nike Outlet here in the Denver area a few years ago. They are B-grades.

Maybe I'll tell eBay to kiss my ass at the end of the month when my bill is due.

Outdoor basketball/streetball/real basketball

2010-04-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year, the snow has stopped falling, the sun is out more. Time for some streetball!!!

Every year around this time I start to see people posting about what shoes are good for playing outdoors. And every year around this time I start to see people replying with some really silly ideas.

People almost always respond with expensive ass, top of the line sneaks.

Are you serious? Your going to pay top dollar for shoes that are going to be destroyed in about a month?

When I first started playing ball, all I did was streetball. Real streetball, not the pansy ass And1/no rules crap. I went through so many shoes, more then I went through later when I only played indoors.

Outdoor ball is SO much harder on you sneakers. Concrete is a grinder, it literally grinds away your shoes. I had shoes that got holes in them after only 3 weeks of wearing them. Like a dumbass, these were shoes I paid full price for. Now, most of them were not top of the line. But I did wear Jordans outdoors once in a while.

Once Nike put an outlet nearby, all that was over. I would go to the outlet and buy whatever good shoe they had. Most of the time I wouldn't even pay $50.

That is the way to do shoes for the outdoors game. There is no point in destroying something that is actually cool or high priced. Save those shoes for the hardwood.

Unless you get them for real cheap.

Ruptured ligaments

2010-04-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

I don't think most people truly know what real ankle supports it. I read a bunch of different articles and posts from all over the web and see people say curtain shoes have great ankle support.

I try these shoes and the ankle support is not there.

I know about ankle support. My senior year of high school I ruptured ligaments in my right ankle while playing basketball. Ever since then I look for real ankle support in my shoes.

When I say real ankle support I mean the support you get from the uppers, not from the soles. Most people stand in their shoes and try to twist their ankle with the sole flat in the ground and all of their body weight is on it. From my experience, most ankle injuries happen when you step on someone else's foot. That's where the real ankle support comes in. The support provided by the uppers is much more important the fake support from the soles.

The best way to test the support from the uppers is to take the weight off of the leg, twist the ankle over and see how much support is there. Without putting weight on it.

People say Flywire shoes have good ankle support. I tried on a pair of Hyperdunks, did this test and thought these were the worst shoes for real ankle support I had ever tried on. But if you do what most people do, try to twist the ankle with the sole flat on the ground, they are great. But that's a false notion. That's why the Pistons banned the Hyperize, it has no real ankle support.

No shoe, brace or tape is going to totally prevent injury if your ankle twists over. The key is to minimize the injury. Wearing good shoes with good support from the uppers is the first, and sometimes the only, step needed.

Love you ankles.

Edited April 7-

A perfect example of this is the Air Jordan XI. If you stand in place with the sole flat on the ground it has great support. If you take your weight off and twist your ankle, it sucks. That is the main reason I sold all my XI's. I played in one pair twice and didn't want anything to do with them on a basketball court ever again.

Try this in XII's and you will feel a HUGE difference!!!

2 for March

2010-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

Because I want to keep this active and not let it fall, I'm just going to post some thoughts. Not like the "thoughts" from new years eve. Some real sneaker related thoughts.

I think Jordan Brand has lost their damn minds!!! See Rare Air Jordans. It's like they wondered how many shoes they could put into one fusion. At last count, I think I was up to 12.

If you are reading this and you buy fusions, STOP!!!!!! Stop buying them. If people keep buying them, JB will keep producing them. I know most people that are buying them are simply buying them because of the fad. If you know someone like this, punch them in the mouth. Tell them I said you could.

Maybe not in the mouth, that is mean. Just punch them in the nuts. That way they don't get bloody.

What the hell is Free Sole Collector? If it's what I think it is, like I posted on Twitter, you all are about 3 years too late.

Sucks, because SC WAS the place to go online for sneakers. Now they're just copying all the other sneaker sites online. Yeah, they got a line to Nike, but with the way info spreads in this culture, where the info actually comes from is no longer an issue. Hasn't been for a number of years.

Ads suck!

I'm selling off most of my collection. I figured, since I started doing this 9 months ago, I might as well get rid of as much as I can and start over. It's a new decade, lets see what I can do over the next ten years. Some of these shoes I've had for 20 years. They call them vintage now, I still think of them as just plain shoes.

And before you start having thoughts of hypocrite, I'm selling almost all of it WAY below what I paid for it. There have been a few that went for more, but it is a very small handful and I would have been stupid to let them go for less.

I think I'll use this space to update my new collection. Might as well, atleast it will give me something positive to blog about.

I'm out.

DAMN I'm lazy!!

2010-03-25T11:44:00.001-07:00

I haven't "blogged" anything in a month. I wanted my next post to be a review of the 2010's, but I haven't taken my lazy ass to the gym. I've been playing outside, since here in Denver we can have days in winter where it can get to 60 degrees. Then snow a foot the next day. Thats what happened last week and this week.

So, someday I will go to the gym and play in my 2010's.

Someday.

Hate love hate lovE

2010-02-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

I've always loved how people hate on Jordan's when they first come out. It's been going on since the beginning. There are always people that hate the new Jordan's.

People hated the V's when they first came out.

People hated the X's when they first came out.

People hated the Carmines when they first came out.

People hated the VIII's when they first came out.

People hated the XV's when they first came out.

People hated the VII's when they first came out.

See where I'm going with this?

Funny thing is, if you wait a few years, these shoes become popular.

Right before the OG XI came out, a retail chain here in Denver got a HUGE shipment of X's. They couldn't sell them. Even at $50 a pop. They sat in the stores for weeks. A couple of years ago I saw that same shoe sell for over $300. OG carmines didn't sell. You could find them at stores a year and a half after they released(that's how I got mine). Now they go for incredible amounts. People used to laugh at the Aqua VIII's, I sold mine for $50. Now they go for a lot more then that.

I think later Jordan's have suffered from the Retro craze, from the XV on. But I also think they will start getting some of that attention that the older Jordan's get pretty soon. Maybe not as much, just simply because there are TONS of Jordan products out now. But a lot of the people that started in the later models are at the point where some of us were with the older models. Meaning, when I started wearing the XIV's, I had been in Jordan's for about 10 years. I looked back at those old shoes(IV, V, VI) with a bit of fondness. People that started wearing Jordan's with the XIII or XIV are at that point.

Now we're in the 2000's, no more roman numerals. People are back to the hating. I can't wait to see what the 2009 goes for in 2020.

Probably a lot more then you think. Look at the history.

You want a blog, here's a blog for YOU!!!!

2010-02-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Your message board SUCKS now!!! It turned into the exact thing we were trying to avoid all those years ago! Now your trying to copy Nicekicks with your "new" group of members!

Are you "going to pay" them like you were "going to pay" us???

Titties and curse words for everybody!!!!!! That will bring in all the 12-16 year olds!

Go kiss Nike's ass some more and see how all the kiddies will follow you.

It's no wonder you can't keep anybody thats good on your "staff".

Method Man was right!

I hope you make alot of money off of us.

That new shoe smell

2010-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

I had forgotten what it was like to pick up a new pair of shoes that I had been waiting for. Then actually liking them after you get them. The last time I had this feeling was in 1998 when the OG XIV's came out.

I looked forward to a couple of different pairs of shoes since, but not like I was looking forward to the 25's/2010's. I got them and basically fell in love with them.

I've been disappointed alot over that time span. The XV's, the XX's, retro XIII's and XIV's. I wanted all of these shoes and didn't like them after I got them.

Can you truely love a shoe?

Early and under retail

2010-02-12T16:27:00.001-08:00

Short blog today...

I love it when people try to impress others by saying they got a pair of shoes early and under retail.

Anyone can go to PYS.com and pick up a pair of Jordans for less then retail and early.

Your not impressing anyone that knows.

Go back to your middle school and let the kiddies drool over you "impressive" pickup.

Looking forward to new shoes

2010-02-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for the new Air Jordan to come out for a couple of months now. Ever since the first pics "leaked" out to the web. I can get them from a site, but I think I'm going to do it old school this year and get them at a retail store.

This is the first time I've actually looked forward to a new Jordan release in a long time. I think the last one I was excited about was the XVII. I never got to wear that shoe because of an ACL injury that put me out of action for a while.

I used to look forward to Jordan release every year around this time. It started with me at the VII. I had earlier Jordans, but I never got them on the release date. It used to be kind of hard to get the release date back then. No internet, no helpful people at the stores, no luck.

I think this Jordan will be one of the greats. I know people are tripping on the "eye", but I think thats a really nice, new gimmick. At the very least they are trying something different. I know these aren't going to sell to well. That will be a shame. More pairs for me I guess.

I also think the "eye" will yellow, just like the ones on the man himself, after a few months. But oh well. At least these aren't $200 shoes. I think. Still hurt the wallet a little bit. But full length Zoom air, double stacked in the real, is worth it. That junk they had in the 24's wasn't very good.

Yes, I still call them by their numbers. They tried that year crap years ago and you see how well it worked. Ever asked anyone about the Air Jordan 1998's?

Childishness

2010-01-29T15:04:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I want to quit this culture because of all the childishness that people show. Most of the people doing it are in fact just children. I REALLY don't want to be associated with this type of behavior. I see it has become more prevalent as time goes by.

It's not only on the message boards, but I see it in responses on blogs.

Just because you can act like an idiot doesn't mean you should.

Many boards have been ruined by these idiots. I go to other message boards, in other hobbies, and people are nice. They don't talk shit. They don't post bullshit. Even when there is no moderator, they still act like adults.

Some people wonder why the older members of boards end up leaving and never coming back. Then the next response is something like "fUcKem, wHo CaReS aBoUt M".

I know this won't be read by the idiots I'm talking about. They don't (I honestly think can't) read anything above a pre-school level.

Here's something for them-

See Spot run.

See Spot play.

Shoes are cool.

One day, most of the boards are going to be full of these idio.... wait, they all ready are.

Deadstock, nds, VNDS, used, VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVNDS

2010-01-21T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here is something that has pissed me off for years. People trying to pass poor condition shoes as "still good". They put those little letters in for the condition, knowing damn well they aren't even close to whatever letters they put in.

If the shoes you are trying to sell have holes in them, they ARE NOT even close to deadstock!!!

If the shoes you are trying to sell have been worn, they ARE NOT deadstock!!!

If the shoes you are trying to sell have the sole ripped off, they ARE NOT close to deadstock!!!

Idiots are always trying to put some combo of v n d and s to describe their crap.

There should only be three ways to describe a shoe-

Deadstock(which to me has always been a stupid term)- never worn

Used- worn, but still in good condition

Heavily used- worn past good condition

But this will never happen. People are stuck in the "DS I've only worn them 8 times" rut. Don't even know what they are talking about.

These terms are so relative, some people think "nds" just means the shoe is still wearable. It's got parts falling off, the sole has a couple of holes, the durabuck has been worn down to where it's grey, but you can still wear them. I want $150 for them. Idiot!

The worst part is, it's so easy to learn these term properly. But the typical, lazy ass collector doesn't care about learning anything. They just want people to look at their collection of "DS" shoes. Most of them have only been worn 5-15 times.

Anybody want to buy some "DS" OG Carmines? They've only been worn about 50 times.

People leaving the game

2010-01-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is a blog that I saved a while back, I never finished it.

I hate seeing good people leave collecting. I know there are legit reasons, but it always seems to be good people that leave.

Why can't the idiots leave?

Why can't the hypebeasts go?

Why does it seem like it's always the good people? The people that are here because they have a true love of sneakers and don't care what other people think about it. They collect because they want to!

The good people get pushed out by the dumbasses. I find myself sometimes saying screw this culture/hobby. I see the stupidity. I see the assholes. I can understand why people don't want to be a part of this anymore.

The legit outside reasons give people an even better reason to leave. You can't blame them. I can't at all. If things were a little different in my life, I more then likely would be here typing these words.

I hate seeing the good people leave. I understand the reasons from these people, I have absolutely no negative feelings towards them at all.

I wish there were more good people around.

It might feel good...

2010-01-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

It might feel good

It might sound a little somthin'

But damn the game if it don't mean nothin'

What is game? Who is game?

Where's the game in life behind the game behind the game?

I got game, she got game

we got game, they got game, he got game.

It might feel good

it might sound a little somethin'

but fuck the game if it ain't sayin' nothin'

Public Enemy wrote that song for the He Got Game soundtrack. The title of the song is He Got Game.

Alot of people won't look at those words and tie them into the sneaker culture.

There are more and more people coming into the game everyday. They got Jordans, Kobe's, Lebron's, Hyper-this and that. LE's, GR's, PE's.

A lot of people think they got game. They think they have great collections.

Everyone has a collection. They have one pair to rock and one to stock. They got neckbreakers. They got Holy Grails. They got all the latest.

But what they don't realize is, their collection looks just like every other collection.

Everybody has Jordans. Everybody has Kobe's. Everybody has Lebron's.

It might feel good to say you have a collection. It probably sounds good to say you collect. But if you only have shoes that everybody else has, it doesn't mean anything. Your collection doesn't say anything.

Everybody has game.

Having game doesn't mean anything anymore.

Fuck the game!

Denver, the ass end of the sneaker world

2010-01-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

I had a dream the other night, seemed real to me. Dunksxchange came to Denver, Sneakerpimps came to Denver, Sole Collector came back to Denver. We had finally shown the rest of the world that Denver is a sneaker city, on par of LA or NY. Then I woke up.

I know that there probably isn't anybody in Denver reading this, I don't care, I'm still going to post this.

If you live in Denver and wonder why DX or Sneaker Pimps doesn't come here, all you have to do is look at the fact that none of you actually do anything. Some of the stores put on shows, which is a very good thing. But the people in the culture here hardly do shit. The people on NT aways talk about doing a "summit", then only 2 of them show up. Those of us on SC, I can't put any blame on you, there are only like 4 of us.

When SC came during the 2005 All-star game, I tried to get people from the area to get in on it. Especially when I found out there were only 3 or 4 people from the area involved. I went to the stores, I emailed people. I actually put effort into it. None of you showed up! One of the 3-4 of us that did go, had fakes! The person that won was from Texas!

These groups don't come here because there is not sneaker culture here. How many of you know that Niketown was on the short list to be closed? The 400 was trying, but they closed. Shoe Extreme is full of assholes that don't give a fuck about the local community. Family Affair is trying to put together something for February, but it doesn't look like there is much interest. The SC guys want it, the NT sheep are too good to bother with it.

These groups aren't going to even think about coming here unless we get things going. We being the sneaker heads that live here. We can have huge events, people from the surrounding states would come. Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico. They all have sneaker heads within a few hours drive. If it was planned out properly, we could have the largest Sneaker event ever. There is a huge number of people in this area that don't get any love from DX or SP.

But, we have to work together to get anything to happen. We can't expect Family Affair to do all the work. We can't expect things to just happen. If we do that, nothing will ever happen. Look at what has been "happening" the last couple of years.

Nothing!

Damn I'm bored!!!

2009-12-31T21:33:00.000-08:00

For my last blog of the year, I'm just going to type shit out. Read it if you want, I don't care, I'm bored and have no life as I'm posting on a blog at 10:34 on New Years Eve.

Polar Bear Appliance Installation sucks balls!!! If you live in Denver and need appliances installed, don't use them. Unless you want you floor scratched and flooded.

Chris, I hope your MMA clothing line fails, bastard! You wouldn't even have the damn thing without me. You wouldn't even have your job without me! I hope you realize your a piece of shit and change your ways. Screwing me over the way you did was the stupidest thing anyone in this business has ever done. I got more experience in my little pinky then you do TOTAL!!! Go ask, everyone that knows you thinks your "experience" is lacking at best. The only thing you got is a HUGE ego. I had an ego, but I could back it up with actions. You can't even read instructions when you bet stuck on something, something I can do in my sleep. I hope what ever idiot you replace me with can take the bullshit you talk.

I need to buy a new hat soon. The JB hat I've been wearing for years is getting old.

My sisters dog chipped one of his teeth yesterday. He slipped on ice coming into the house and went face first into a cement step. Poor doggie.

I like how the ISS/SC mentality has moved over to eBay. The lowball thing ISS/SC members are known for. If you don't want to buy them for that price, go back to watching you cartoons kid!

I hope no one reads this.

I need red ink for my printer.

I need to ship about 5 pairs of shoes on Saturday.

I need a girlfriend. A life. Something.

I don't know why, but Google desktop just popped up on my screen. Maybe it's trying to tell me something.

I saw UFO's once. I wouldn't say they were aliens, they were the "orbs" you see on TV shows. There had to be some real explanation for what they actually were.

I think the people that were sitting next to that guy that tried to blow up that plane in Detroit should have beat him to within an inch of his life. If I were in that situation, I'm not going to lie, I'd like to think I'd would have to be pulled off of him. I figure if a person is trying to kill you and fails, you should have the right to beat him until you can beat him any longer.

It's 10:53.

Must type more.

My fingers are cold.

I need to find a job where I don't have to talk to people. Simple because most people don't listen and think they know everything. Why are you asking me for help if you already know the answer, supposedly?

I want to be more positive this next year. I think starting off right tomorrow morning is the best way to do it.

I was offered a "job" as a blogger for some new NBA fan site. It was for some sneaker part of a site they were working on. Then they stopped contacting me. I guess I don't know enough about sneakers or something.

I wonder if what I say last night on TV is real. There is a group of 7 men that run everything in the world. Really, only 7 men can run EVERYTHING in the world.

11:03, whats in the news?

Saturn has apparently moved into my tenth, whatever that means?!?!?

It's 19 degrees outside right now, maybe it's a good thing I have no life, it's cold as crap outside right now.

Does the Boondocks have more episodes then whats on Cartoon Network? I'm going to have to look into that.

Have you read it this far? If so I applaud you, I wouldn't read all this crap. It has nothing to do with sneakers. That's what this blog it about.

There are idiots already yelling and making noise outside of my house. GO AWAY!!!

Like typing go away in caps is going to do anything. Stupid!

Why do people follow me on twitter? I never use it. I can understand people that know me, but that's not that many. I get random ass people following me.

TNA wrestling made a huge mistake in bringing Hogan into things. Hogan will destroy any headway they've made over the past couple of years.

I got 112 view on my Flickr 2 days ago. That's huge for my!

11:20, I'm pathetic.

My sister makes the best mashed potato's!!!

I need some water.

I got some water.

I need a new camera. The 20d is getting real old. The autofocus is starting to get weird.

This is a long ass post.

I'm reading other sites as I type this. ISS is dead right now, Yahoo news is the same old junk, none of the blogs I watch have been updated in a while, I can't stand looking at NT( I seriously get a headache).

I need more hearts on MyBrandz.

I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight.

I think I'll start a Facebook in the new year. I don't know why, I don't need to. Just something else to do online. It will probably end up like my Myspace page, just sitting there empty with nothing going on.

Maybe I won't start a Facebook.

11:39, I think I'll go all the way to midnight then stop.

If your into building models, the people at modelarmour.com are the nicest on the web. I post my stuff there now. They really are trying to make a good community there.

Merkeva sure are nice looking tanks. I just wish there was a good model of one.

I SERIOUSLY need to clean my car.

11:52, almost there.

I just accidently click onto another site and thought I lost all this. My masterpiece ruined!!! Luckily this blog site autosaves, yeah baby yeah!!!

Is normal person really affraid of 2012? The Mayan's that made their calander probably just got bored and stopped at that point. They figured they have a couple thousand years to finish the damn thing.

12:00, January 1, 2010.

Happy New Year. STOP YELLING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE!!!!!!

Good things from the past year

2009-12-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

I'd like to end the year by injecting some positive vibe into this blog. A lot of what I put in here is negative, I don't like being that way. So here we go....

Jordan Brand released the CP3 2. I bought a pair over the summer and have to say they are a good, solid shoe. Especially considering where they came from. Good colorways, great construction and quality. Just a damn good overall shoe, from the people that bring you crap five to six times a month.

Hypermax NFW. NFW stands for No Fly Wire. I think Nike should have released a few NFW's models for every shoe that had it. I think the Hypermax NFW is better then the normal Hypermax. All Flywire is made up from is plastic and fishing wire.

Nike Air Flight Club. This shoes is part of the "ReFresh" line, only one that looks good. It's inspired by several of Nike's classic models. Flight '89, Hyperflight and Flight '98(aka Gloves). Most of the colorways are very nice and simple. Some of them were down right nasty. But the classic white/black was the best. Viz-Zoom in the heel was a nice touch.

Air Jordan XII Retro "Rising Sun". Very simple colorway. It's good to see a simple colorway that isn't an original. Nothing flashy or over the top. Just plain and simple. Typical JB quality, but a retro XII is still better then most shoes out there.

Last but not least, Air Jordan Spiz'ike. There are like 57 different colorways of this shoe, they ALL suck. When this shoe was unveiled at the Vegas Sneaker Comp in 2006, there were a bunch of us that thought it was an abomination. This and the Dub Zero are the two shoes that started the fusion shit. I call it shit because thats what it is! But there is something about this colorway. If you put the right colors on something, it CAN look nice. These look really good with the different greys mixed in with the black and white accents. The only down side is the non-clear, clear outsole JB likes to use. I don't remember the actual release date, I got them in January, so....

And1 brought back the Tai Chi, this is by far my favorite shoe ever. I haven't been able to pick up a pair yet. I have 11 pairs of the OG's.

adidas have a couple of shoes with a form of Feet You Wear. I love Feet You Wear, if they continue making them I will cop as many as I can.

Next year seems to have a few good items to look forward to. The Air Jordan 2010, I know people are hating, but I think they will be good. Also JB is releasing the last of the untouchables(there is a story there) with the powder blue IX's. Under Armour MIGHT have a basketball shoe out, last I read it was still 2011 before they release anything. Feet You Wear adidas!!! I really hope And1 can make a comeback. I hate not being able to go into a store and buy them.

Happy New Year to you and yours!!!!

Space Jams

2009-12-23T10:23:00.001-08:00

These shoes suck!

Let me tell you, all the hype around this shoe is one of the problems with the sneaker culture today.

Nike/JB know they have something that will sellout instantly. The only reason they released this shoe was to make money. I can't really blame them for that. If I had something that could make me a bunch of money, bet your ass I would sell it.

But these shoes suck! They aren't good for basketball. Anyone reading this knows there are going to be quality issues. They don't use real patent leather. You KNOW the soles will yellow just by looking at them. The price went up about $40 from the last release, why? They are already on eBay for as high as $489(your fucking crazy). Nobody will actually wear them, they will either resell them later or be afraid to wear them because of the clear sole. Break out your Seaglow, or whatever the hell that shit is called!

The smart thing to do for anyone that wants them but couldn't get them this morning, wait a couple of weeks and these prices on eBay will come down. 90% of the people buying these are going to resell them. Once the see their shit isn't selling, the prices will come down. It happens all the time now.

Seeing how people are reacting to this shoes and release is making me sick.

I can dream about this release being the one that breaks the back of the current culture. I know it is just a dream, people are probably going to go batshit crazy for the Powder Blue IX's next year. All of the real collectors just have to be patient.

I wonder how the people that kept their origianl Retro XI Space Jams feel today.

Wait, there's a new term for us, OGR(original retro). That's the culture for ya. Thanks Nike!

How to be a modern sneaker collector 101

2009-12-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to how to be a modern sneaker collector, I am your host MZ3 (applause).

Lets get right to it.

First you have to decide if you want to be a collector. This is very easy. Just look around at the people near you and see if they are "collectors". You will be able to tell because they are more then likely making fun of the other around them who do not have the latest sneakers on.

Second, you will need money. This can be obtained in a variety of ways. You can ask your parents. Ask your girlfrined/wife. Rob a bank. Sell a kidney to science. Ask your kids. Get a job. The last one is only for extreme cases.

Third, come to think of it, eBay. Long gone are the days of actually working to have a collection. Getting up on Wednesday morning and hitting the stores to see if anything new came in. Working contacts all over at multiple stores. Driving from spot to spot, spending time actually looking for the newest kicks. All of that has been eliminated. Just hop on eBay and spend, spend, spend.

Forth, wait about a week. You need this time to have all those great shoes shipped to you from varies places.

Fifth, jump online and post pictures of you sneakers. Be sure to postwhore all over which ever site or sites you join. Make sure everyone there understands you are a "collector". Tell them you have only been doing this for a week and show them you over the top collection.

Sixth, show off your new shoes everywhere you go. Make sure no one goes without noticing your impressive footwear. Everyone must see them no matter what. If you have to do cartwheels to get people to notice them, cartwheel away!!!

Last, but not least, stay away from the real collectors. They will see through you in a heartbeat and probably step on your Yezzy's. You will be able to spot real collectors by the way they don't care if people are looking at their shoes or not. Their shoes will be dirty, because they actually wear them about. Avoid them at all costs. Don't make eye contact, don't confront them. They are more then likely older then you and probably know some form of martial arts.

If you follow these easy steps, you to can be a modern sneaker collector in no time flat.

Void where ever this can be read.

Two in one day???

2009-12-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

There is a post on Sole Collector talking about sneakers going out of style/fashion. Most of the 12 year olds there think it won't happen.

I've made a few references to this in a couple of my posts here.

People don't remember, or don't know because they are 12, that it's happened before.

Early 90's, all kinds of people were wearing sneakers. Then a company called Timberland came along and everyone and their mother started wearing hiking boots. I remember reading sneaker companies lost money because of this. It's the reason Nike, adidas and Reebok started making boots.

History repeats itself.

A LOT of people that actually know what they are talking about are saying a downward trend for sneakers is coming. I've been saying it for a while now. There are little signs here and there.

I honestly can't wait!

Why are fakes so bad?

2009-12-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

A lot of people in the sneaker culture think it's alright to buy and wear fakes/counterfeits. Whatever the reason, they always seem to come up with one.

"Why would I pay $xxx for a pair of shoes when I can get them for $50."

"I buy fakes to wear. I don't want to mess up my deadstocks."

"Fakes are just as good as authentics."

"These are a custom colorway that normal people can't get. I got them for $35 on a website."

Anyone that has had any contact with people like this know most of the lines. They will say anything to make it seem like what they are doing is a good idea.

Say what you will, a TRUE sneakerhead would not be caught dead wearing a pair of fakes. It doesn't matter if they are cheaper(you get what you pay for by the way) or you think they are special in some way(which they aren't, just because you were stupid enough to believe it doesn't make them special).

These people are trying to fit into something they obviously don't understand. They buy their knockoffs to impress other people that obviously don't understand. If you want to be cool around a bunch of ignorant people, by my guest.

In our eyes, you just look like an idiot. Those black/green/yellow Retro IV's your sporting, talking about how limited or custom they are, make you look like a clown. Not to mention it shows how cheap you really are. You think you are the shit when you walk into school or work and everyone jumps on your jock. It makes you feel good to get that attention.

Real heads don't wear shoes to get attention. Real heads don't care if other people like their shoes or not. Real heads wear shoes because they love shoes.

All you are is a poser. A cheapass, want to be clown that makes us laugh and shake our heads at the same time.

Then, when we point out they are fake, you try to turn it around on us. Saying our shoes are fake or questioning why we pay so much for our shoes. All you do is dig yourself deeper.

You have no respect for the culture or the people in it. You are only here to make yourself feel better for whatever reason. When sneakers go out of style again, which they will, you'll be stuck with a bunch of shit that you won't be able to get $25 for.

But that probably won't matter to you, since you were only in it for the fad and have moved on to whatever is popular. Whatever it takes to get people to notice you. Bye poser!

Limited Editions

2009-12-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

When did it become status quo for sneaker companies to have more limited edition shoes then general releases?

Limited editions used to be something special, unique. Now it's like every shoe a company produces has to have at least 10 limited editions to go with it. I say at least because anyone reading this knows most signature shoes have 15-30 "limited editions" with 3-5 general releases.

I can't remember when this trend actually started, it sort of snuck up on us.

Don't get me wrong, I like some of the LE's that have come out. I just think these colorways would have been better suited for a general release. Maybe then those GR Lebrons wouldn't end up at the Nike outlets for half price.

I also think there are just too many LE's being released. I thought the Kobe IV was done a few months ago, at this point there are like 6 more colorways still to be released. Ten minutes after the last IV comes out, the V goes on sell. Which I think I've already seen 20 different coloways of, probably all to be released before the All-star game in February and only like 2 as GR's.

Nike has so flooded the market with LE's, other companies have started to get into it. Reebok limits their various Pump models to the point that no one can actually get them. New Balance is making LE's on shoes that I could swear where only $75 to start. Change a color, limit the production to 3 pairs and charge out the ass for it. It's still the same shoe. I think And1 had a LE with the recent Tai Chi re-release. Really, And1 hads limited edition shoes?!?!?! Converse, owned by Nike, is making LE Chucks. When did Cons EVER make LE Chucks??? Never!

It's out of hand and there is nothing that can be done about. All the little hypebeasts and wannabe collectors eat this shit up. Once sneakers go out of style again, I hope things will get back to the way they used to be. That will be a great day, all the real collectors will swoop in and pick up all the good stuff for a bargain. Then all the shit will be worn out or given to the homeless and be erased from existence.

I can hope anyway.

Reebok sucks!!!!!!

2009-11-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

There is a new Kamikaze coming out soon, it looks like junk. It takes nothing from the old designs, the designs people actually want! It looks like every other Reebok basketball shoe that has been released over the past year or so. No pictures here, I will only use my own. You can see them at Nicekicks.com.

What the hell is Reebok doing? It's like they don't care about sneakers anymore and are only worried about the equipment and clothing lines. Every time a Kamikaze style shoe comes out, I see the same thing said and posted, where are the old Kamikazes??? Those are the ones people want. Why won't Reebok just do it(funny)? They retro Questions and Answers. Omnipumps have more retro colorways then retro Jordans. The OG pumps, even though they botched the release and limited them too much. Reverse Jams, Court Victorys, Court Victory IIs, Pre-seasons, Pump Furys, D-times, and all the other crap from the past. But still no Kamikazes.

I don't like the fact that Nike is killing retro, but at least they have the sense to remake some of the shoes that have a "cult" following. Hell, even And1 is doing it with the Tai Chi.

When Reebok does release something good, some of the models listed above, they make 2 good colorways and a thousand of the ugliest colorways. Monopoly Reverse Jams, really??? Adidas needs to fire whoever is in charge at Reebok and hire someone that actually knows the sneaker world.

Or just stop making shoes.

Two thing on my mind right now.

2009-11-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

The first, I think we should stop complaining about the quality of Jordan Brand shoes. You may or may not have seen the rumored quotes from Jordan about the quality of his shoes. For anyone that hasn't seen it, it basically said Jordan doesn't care. Whatever.

It's been about 5-7 years now that Jordans shoes haven't been the best quality. Some of them being downright bad. I don't think it's ever going to get better. Obviously the Air Jordan will stay above this for the most part, but everything else is not going to change. Only thing we can really do is to not buy Jordans anymore. Which I already started doing a few years ago. Occasionally I will buy a pair, but usually I stay away. The pairs I have do show the signs of questionable quality, which JB is known for now a days.

The days of high quality Jordan Brand shoes are gone. Unfortunately, we have to get used to it.

The second thing was kind of funny to me. During my normal "rounds" I came across a link to a site that had a guideline for spotting counterfeit shoes. I read through it, it was a little confusing. Then I checked out the rest of the site.

Yeap, you guessed it, fakes! Fakes all over the place, Jordans, Nikes, Adidas, Reeboks. I had to laugh.

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone that reads this!!!

2009-11-25T21:53:00.000-08:00

I hope you are fat and happy like I will be in a few hours!!!

I am thankful for all the friends I have made over the years in this game. I may have lost contact with a lot of you, but I still consider you a friend. Except one.

I am thankful, despite the way I feel right now, I know this culture will be around for a long time.

4thegame

Yet another sneaker blog- insert rolling eyes here!

2009-11-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Since 99% of the members on the different message boards either can't read or choose not to, I figured I would start a blog just to get to people that DO read. This way I don't get 283 responses of "ThAtS dOpE!1!1" or just quotes from other members-

Quote "some other idot above me"
I can't think of anything to add to the discussion so I'll be the typical lazy message board sneakerhead and just quote some other typical lazy message board sneakerhead.

I don't really care if anyone ever reads this shit, I just want to get it my thoughts out there in a way that won't get me banned from a site for being negative all the time.

This blog is dedicated to the bullshit I see in this culture on a regualar basis. I don't want to be negative all the time, and I will post positive things as much as I can. But there really is more bullshit then good right now.

People trying to get in to make money off of us, don't even know what we are about. Resellers, pushing prices up so high normal heads can't afford to get anything that's not GR. Disrespectful kids that need to learn how to read. Counterfeiters, if you know me, you know my stance on that. If you don't know me, I'll post about that later. eBay, not doing anything to protect buyers or seller, just getting their "cut". All kinds of content floating around that doesn't offer any REAL opinions, only kissing companies asses to get free stuff.

Take it for what you will. I've been collecting longer then most people in the game have been alive. I've been a member of more message boards then probably anyone in the game. I've been around long enough to know the difference between real heads and fake, just showing off how much money their parents have, wannabe heads.

Love it or hate it, at this point I don't give a fuck. I'm going to say what I feel is the right thing to say, if someone doesn't like it, too bad.