Why don't young "shoe-heads" live in the "now" rather than chasing retroes??

Renaldo Balkman · Aug 3, 2009

What's up fam
First and foremost, please only intellectual responses (all you young kids don't you have homework or something? lol

)

Anyway, I am 26 years old, and still remember the moment I fell in love with kicks... my neighbor down the street came over to my house to go play hoops (wewere in the 3rd/4th grade) and he was wearing these....

http://photobucket.com/images/jordan vi

my heart completely sunk... I knew exactly what they were, more importantly HOW MUCH THEY WERE, and what it represented. In the early 90's Air Jordanswere more than a shoe, it was a status symbol, and a sign of style and knowing "what's up". But for many of us, we were young, poor, or acombination of both so going to the local footlocker and picking up a pair was OUT OF THE QUESTION

For me, as a "shoe head", I mainly pick up all the Jordan's (Penny's, Nike's, etc) I wish I had growing up, but never had the chanceto obtain (no way was my mom gonna pick me up a pair of $100+ kicks at that age.... far from a spoiled kid) But Saturday morning waking up and watching NBA onNBC, then heading to my rec league games WAS A BLAST TO GROW UP WITH (all my 80s birthed people will agree!) Just hearing the NBA on NBC jingle still puts asmile on my face til this day! So when Jordan or Nike rereleases pairs of shoes from that era, they are a must cop for me!

My question is.... all you current collectors who are in high school or younger, what is your intrigue for all these retro shoes coming out? There is no wayyou can look at a pair of Jordans coming out and say, "oh man, I remember when he wore those" or "I used to have a pair of those". Why notlive "in the now" and get the shoes that your current favorite players are wearing? (Lebrons and Kobes for example)

Just wondering what you young guys thought about this notion, cause I often ask my students the same question and I usually get a confident shrug or aconfused look

keep it positive fam

513natikid · Aug 3, 2009

i understand where your coming from. i personally am 19 so the only games i can remember watching were the years michael was with washington. like you igrew up where neither me or my dad could afford to buy me nce things. jordan today are popular because of the name. and kids will want anything that has ajumpman on it. but for our question, even though iv onlyy been into sneaker about 4 years now, i actually grew up where my older siblings wore og's andretros that i couldnt afford. so now that im older and can buy what i want i like the same style of shoes they did. but unlike a lot of people my age, i know alot of information about micheal and all the 1-23 collection. its my passion so there isnt a og or retro that i cant recognize. i admit that when the wholefusion thing started i thaought it was the best idea ever, but my love for the real thing wouldnt alow to to hold on to them so i gave away 9 pair of fusionsfor free to my nephew. i know that i wasnt born until the 5s came out but i love every og colorway that was released back then just because im that passionateabout jordans. event to the point that iv bought ogs on line just to understand what it felt like to hav them back then vs. now. iv got friends now who hate alot of my jordans because there not new or because there "played out" compared to todays standards. so in conclusion, i dont like a lot of the trashtoday because i know a lot about what happened in thoes shoes weather i saw it in real time or not, i have the right to like the og modler just as much as the"old heads" and in a lot of cases, i know more about that shoe than a lot of them. no dissrespect to you alll but for us younger kids to respect theog and retros, it shouldnt bother you it should only make u happy to know that some(not all) of the younger generation still have the same drive, passion andrespect for the original jordans now the way you did growing up!!!

micheal623 · Aug 3, 2009

The young guys just don't have memories that we have with them.

thebigguy1828 · Aug 3, 2009

I like jordan for two reasons. One is that they represent the best basketball player to ever step onto a court. Also i like the designs and style of the shoe.I personally don't like fusions and i just started collecting this year. I only go after retros because they are what micheal wore. I also hate thenegativity that a lot of the "og" jordan heads some with because they say its not like they remember. Well for people like me who are only 14 theseare our "ogs" if you will. This is what we will remember when we are thirity and fourty years old. I didn't grow up watching jordan play but i dowatch his classic games on nba tv. I also know the history behind all of his shoes and jim ( well i know A LOT for some one who got his first retros lastx-mas.) So basically i'm not a fusion wearing type of person though if thats your style then WHERE YOUR STYLE PROUDLY because just as much as some"og" jordan heads hate fusions some kids my age who only know j's as a style or as something to be cool they are what they grow up with just likethose who grew up watching him play. I'm not bashing any "og" jordan heads im just showing a diffrent side of what jb s going through.

jcool813 · Aug 3, 2009

i see where you're coming from im 17 and i collect jays because my sister put me on before the big wave of "sneakerheads." i cop retros because ilike shoes especially jordans. Buying sneakers for me is like buying clothes. The only jordans that hold sentimental value to me are white infrared VIs. Hadthem when i was a baby. To the dude above me i like your last statement. Some people like myself have a passion for Jordans and their history. I hate how oldercollector's act all high and mighty because they were there when they first came out. Younger sneaker collector's deserve respect too. I hate most ofthe people you generalize younger sneaker collector's with i.e hypebeasts and swagheads. Some of us younger sneaker collector's don't just buybecause they are whats hot.

NT just stop categorizing all the young heads in one group. I know alot about the shoes and a decent amount about Jordan. for instance i knew he had 6 ringsbefore the 6rings dropped lol

jordanhead21 · Aug 3, 2009

Who cares when they are from? If you like a shoe it doesnt matter if it came out in 1920 as long as you like it. It has nothing to do with "chasing"its just personal preference. There are plenty of old retros I could get easily if I want but I don't like them.

g kid 32 · Aug 3, 2009

Jcool813 couldn't have said it any better, me being 16, feel the same way. Since I was a baby my older sisters always had me in Jordans and I've beenin love with 'em ever since. As I got older I watched reruns of MJ playing on ESPN classic and did my homework on Jordan the player and jordans the shoes.

thathathabay · Aug 3, 2009

Well I'm 15 and I personally love Jordans. My first pair was the Black Cat IIIs and when my parents bought me those I didn't even care or know whatbrand it was. I never grew up with brand clothes so I never really cared. As I grew up I saw so many of my friends wear better clothes than me and it startedto get into my head, but once I got into high school I learned more about MJ and started to play basketball a lot. When ever I fail at something I just thinkabout MJ and how he was far from the best when he was in high school but how he was determined to be the best at basketball and how he practiced and worked toget there, I even used that determination to better myself at the Alto Sax and I even got a scholarship from UC Berkeley. I bought some more Jordans tocelebrate his accomplishments and because I really enjoyed the look of the shoe. People started to stare at my shoes more but I didn't really care, Ilooked all around the web to find more Jordans I even got tricked into buying a fake White Red 1. Ever since that I've been lurking on ISS and Niketalk tomake sure that doesn't happen again. I felt like this was paradise when I saw all these retros and samples and how everyone on these sites loved sneakersand I grew to respect and love the shoes more. Now I can't live without my collection and I intend to make it grow with pure OGs and retros. MJ is myfavorite athlete and will always be, Kobe is dope too but I wouldn't rock his shoe line, I'd just stay faithful to JB. It also makes me sad when I seemy friends wear fusions and think they're numbered Jordans. Oh and rayray3thousand, don't be surprised at the shrugs and smirks from your students. Inever really reply to my teacher unless I know what I'm talking about.

kid lebron · Aug 3, 2009

Originally Posted by ThaThaThaBay

Well I'm 15 and I personally love Jordans. My first pair was the Black Cat IIIs and when my parents bought me those I didn't even care or know what brand it was. I never grew up with brand clothes so I never really cared. As I grew up I saw so many of my friends wear better clothes than me and it started to get into my head, but once I got into high school I learned more about MJ and started to play basketball a lot. When ever I fail at something I just think about MJ and how he was far from the best when he was in high school but how he was determined to be the best at basketball and how he practiced and worked to get there, I even used that determination to better myself at the Alto Sax and I even got a scholarship from UC Berkeley. I bought some more Jordans to celebrate his accomplishments and because I really enjoyed the look of the shoe. People started to stare at my shoes more but I didn't really care, I looked all around the web to find more Jordans I even got tricked into buying a fake White Red 1. Ever since that I've been lurking on ISS and Niketalk to make sure that doesn't happen again. I felt like this was paradise when I saw all these retros and samples and how everyone on these sites loved sneakers and I grew to respect and love the shoes more. Now I can't live without my collection and I intend to make it grow with pure OGs and retros. MJ is my favorite athlete and will always be, Kobe is dope too but I wouldn't rock his shoe line, I'd just stay faithful to JB. It also makes me sad when I see my friends wear fusions and think they're numbered Jordans. Oh and rayray3thousand, don't be surprised at the shrugs and smirks from your students. I never really reply to my teacher unless I know what I'm talking about.

you already got a scholarship...man im 15 too

thathathabay · Aug 3, 2009

Lol yea
I even got a Presidential scholarship last year. It's kinda cool where a 3.8 GPA can take you

zachariaahh · Aug 3, 2009

i don't see why it matters why young kids purchase the shoes they do, all you old sneakerheads think your some level above everyone just because you sawmichael play a hell of a lot more then we did or something. Yet i guarantee i know a whole lot more about the man off the top of my head then half of you alldo. Then you all mention that we don't even purchase our shoes just because of your jealousy that your mommy and daddy couldn't. I myself own 27 pairsat the age of 17 ranging from og's to current releases and i can say that i've purchased 23 of those pairs.. in the long run all you old farts neededjust grow up and start wearing new balances like everyone else your age instead of telling us to live in the now, aren't you all living in the past?

jfmartimcdandruff · Aug 3, 2009

What the hell? I fit your target (i'm 17)

I like sneakers, not just Jordans. But the thing about Jordans, it's not ALWAYS about Michael Jordan! It's the shoe itself. The designs are beautiful.Hell a nike swoosh wasn't even used on most of the models. Tinker Hatfield and the rest of the design crew are geniuses. That's why I'm aJordanhead. I love the Air Jordan line from I-VI, X, XI, XII.

Same for the penny line. I love the II's design and the I's.

It's just love of the sneaker. MJ's cool too. I knew who he was and only caught his older 40 year old play.

But for other kids nowadays, it's just having the freshest hottest things to stunt on people (usually people of the same sex). Jordans have ALWAYS been themust have product, especially in the hip hop culture. That's why WHATEVER JB throws out, kids will bite.

As for now, we got the Kobe line which is alright (still need a pair of IV's). Lebron's line is dope as well (love the IV's). Other than that, eh.

grand hustlepimpin · Aug 3, 2009

Originally Posted by TheBigGuy1828

I like jordan for two reasons. One is that they represent the best basketball player to ever step onto a court. Also i like the designs and style of the shoe. I personally don't like fusions and i just started collecting this year. I only go after retros because they are what micheal wore. I also hate the negativity that a lot of the "og" jordan heads some with because they say its not like they remember. Well for people like me who are only 14 these are our "ogs" if you will. This is what we will remember when we are thirity and fourty years old. I didn't grow up watching jordan play but i do watch his classic games on nba tv. I also know the history behind all of his shoes and jim ( well i know A LOT for some one who got his first retros last x-mas.) So basically i'm not a fusion wearing type of person though if thats your style then WHERE YOUR STYLE PROUDLY because just as much as some "og" jordan heads hate fusions some kids my age who only know j's as a style or as something to be cool they are what they grow up with just like those who grew up watching him play. I'm not bashing any "og" jordan heads im just showing a diffrent side of what jb s going through.

I am 19 as well. Your story tells mine for the most part besides the barely geeting into the game and wearing and/or liking fusions so I would have to Co-Sign.

dghost · Aug 3, 2009

I'm 16 and I try to collect retros and OG AJs because I have been in jordans all my life (my first pair of shoes were actually the aquas) and that'sthe only brand of shoes I really care about. Besides being an actual representation of the greatest player that ever lived, the styles are the best and stillare the best and its been 20+ years for some of them. When I see numbered jordans on feet especially my own I always take a moment and look at them, and Idon't know why I love them this much but I do

maybe because they are:

gottabdashoes · Aug 3, 2009

Originally Posted by Zachariaahh

i don't see why it matters why young kids purchase the shoes they do, all you old sneakerheads think your some level above everyone just because you saw michael play a hell of a lot more then we did or something. Yet i guarantee i know a whole lot more about the man off the top of my head then half of you all do. Then you all mention that we don't even purchase our shoes just because of your jealousy that your mommy and daddy couldn't. I myself own 27 pairs at the age of 17 ranging from og's to current releases and i can say that i've purchased 23 of those pairs.. in the long run all you old farts needed just grow up and start wearing new balances like everyone else your age instead of telling us to live in the now, aren't you all living in the past?

Yea, ok. Time to get off the interwebz little buddy. Cool off.

windycity58 · Aug 4, 2009

You older sneaker heads Just mad because your stuff will crumble uppon trying them on

Just playing with ya sickness ..
It it really our fault we came afew years late ???
We can say the samething about you guys .. Why is it grown ##* people trying to fit in with the whole tight jean moovement etc ?

sickickz23 · Aug 4, 2009

Originally Posted by GottaBdaShoes

Originally Posted by Zachariaahh

i don't see why it matters why young kids purchase the shoes they do, all you old sneakerheads think your some level above everyone just because you saw michael play a hell of a lot more then we did or something. Yet i guarantee i know a whole lot more about the man off the top of my head then half of you all do. Then you all mention that we don't even purchase our shoes just because of your jealousy that your mommy and daddy couldn't. I myself own 27 pairs at the age of 17 ranging from og's to current releases and i can say that i've purchased 23 of those pairs.. in the long run all you old farts needed just grow up and start wearing new balances like everyone else your age instead of telling us to live in the now, aren't you all living in the past?

Click to expand...

Yea, ok. Time to get off the interwebz little buddy. Cool off.

wow so you know what he did on March 1st 1970?

martini555 · Aug 4, 2009

well im 17 and i actually sorta grew up with MJ, i remember when i got the Space Jam movie, was one of my favorites, watched it over and over, but even thoughi wasn't into J's at the time i still loved Mike and its just now i have come to appreciate the shoes, and i like Lebron and Kobe and all but i reallycant see me wearing their shoes as nice goin out shoes, on the court yes, i ball in some Allen iverson sig shoes, but not ever off the court

Renaldo Balkman · Aug 4, 2009

Originally Posted by Zachariaahh

i don't see why it matters why young kids purchase the shoes they do, all you old sneakerheads think your some level above everyone just because you saw michael play a hell of a lot more then we did or something. Yet i guarantee i know a whole lot more about the man off the top of my head then half of you all do. Then you all mention that we don't even purchase our shoes just because of your jealousy that your mommy and daddy couldn't. I myself own 27 pairs at the age of 17 ranging from og's to current releases and i can say that i've purchased 23 of those pairs.. in the long run all you old farts needed just grow up and start wearing new balances like everyone else your age instead of telling us to live in the now, aren't you all living in the past?

I got $1,000 that says that you typed this on your mommy and daddy's computer (or at least the one they bought you) while using your mommy and daddy'sinternet (the bill which they pay for) to brag about the "23 pairs of shoes" that you "bought" (just cause you handed the guy in thestriped referee shirt the money don't mean you paid for it - who paid your rent in the bed you slept in, paid for the gas of the car that got you there,etc...)
Clownin...

gottabdashoes · Aug 4, 2009

Originally Posted by sickickz23

Originally Posted by GottaBdaShoes

Originally Posted by Zachariaahh

i don't see why it matters why young kids purchase the shoes they do, all you old sneakerheads think your some level above everyone just because you saw michael play a hell of a lot more then we did or something. Yet i guarantee i know a whole lot more about the man off the top of my head then half of you all do. Then you all mention that we don't even purchase our shoes just because of your jealousy that your mommy and daddy couldn't. I myself own 27 pairs at the age of 17 ranging from og's to current releases and i can say that i've purchased 23 of those pairs.. in the long run all you old farts needed just grow up and start wearing new balances like everyone else your age instead of telling us to live in the now, aren't you all living in the past?

Click to expand...

Yea, ok. Time to get off the interwebz little buddy. Cool off.

Click to expand...

wow so you know what he did on March 1st 1970?

Never said I did. I do know what you're doing though, typing out of your ^%&#.

jlking · Aug 4, 2009

well, I'm 16 and the reason I collect is because I like the look of Jordans and how they, to me, represent the greatest player to ever touch the basketballcourt. My favorite is the XIVs, I love how MJ gamed it with the "last shot" on the Jazz with 5.2 seconds left. The reason why I don't rock kobesor lebrons is cause 1. their basketball shoes 2.Some of the models don't look very good if you rock them casually 3. I don't particularly like Kobe.

vegatts · Aug 4, 2009

i'm 28, but i think if i was 14 (and had rich parents) i would wear jordans. I like MJ as much as the next guy but, honestly, i wear the shoes because ilike the shoes. I dont care how big of an MJ fan you are, if his shoes had been ugly for the past 23 years I hope you would be wearing something you likedinstead.

As somebody else said, the design of these shoes is just generally better and more appealing than most other shoes. Everyone has their personal favoritemodels, and yes fond memories help but I think the quality of the design itself is an important aspect to what draws most of us to these shoes.

I would like to think that even if I was half my age I would still have good taste in shoes, even without the MJ memories.

zachariaahh · Aug 4, 2009

hahah your funny.. i actually purchased the computer im typing on, i live on my own, purchased my bed.. must have missed your clowning.
its funny that all you can mention is the fact that my mommy and daddy arent broke like yours? oh and not to mention not everyone buys there kicks atfootlocker like you cause we all know they barely stock anything
and its funny that all the old guys are up in the middle of the night talking trash to younger kids?

get a life... I got way more heat than you do regardless of the number...

jcool813 · Aug 4, 2009

^ shxt is about to get ugly.

why can't the young and the old just get along. We are here for the sneakers.

what happened to the historical posts?

demj23kobe24nise · Aug 4, 2009

Fusions Suk

fuk the rich boy

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Why don't young "shoe-heads" live in the "now" rather than chasing retroes??

Renaldo Balkman

513natikid

micheal623

thebigguy1828

jcool813

jordanhead21

g kid 32

thathathabay

kid lebron

thathathabay

zachariaahh

jfmartimcdandruff

grand hustlepimpin

dghost

gottabdashoes

windycity58

sickickz23

martini555

Renaldo Balkman

gottabdashoes

jlking

vegatts

zachariaahh

jcool813

demj23kobe24nise

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