That one Jordan shoe.

[JRepp23]

So there are a few guys in here that are hardcore with just that one certain model Jordan. Show them off or talk about why they mean so much to you. ....Conversation fun. Pics if possible.

 

[PremioBinSoleFlyUnion]

I know it sounds strange but the College Blue XVIIs were my first Jordan and my parents didn’t have a lot of money at that time and they bought them for me senior year of High School. It meant a lot especially since my Father was struggling.
I had been a die hard MJ/Bulls fan since 92 but never had the money to buy past versions nor did my parents. I always was jealous of everyone’s AJs since 2nd grade and then in 2003 everyone was jealous of me. I was the only one that had XVIIs at my school and the guys I would hoop with didn’t have them either (except one guy had the Carolina lows). I was overly excited when MJ came out of retirement. Hopefully someday they retro more XVIIs. Always wanted the white/red pair and black lows but never wanted to spend money on them if they were going to fall apart. I’ve had other XVIIs and they feel awesome I just love everything about them including the briefcase and song by Mike Phillips. How about you JRepp23?

 

[forest hills]

Personally, Aqua 8s will forever be my #1. I lurked here for the longest time, all the way when I was in middle school and witnessed the Concord 11 (2011) craze with the mall break ins, the get money boyz, the """"ammonia"""", air randy, etc. In that time, my pops kept me in Jordan's and when times got tough he stumbled upon fakes, thinking they were same as legit pairs. I thought they were as well and I wore em with a humble pride until I was harassed and called out for wearing fakes, but I never told my father. Didn't have the heart to cause it made him happy keeping me in what he thought were the "newest Jay's." After that I wore a basic pair of nike backboards until 10th grade came around and I'd been eyeing the Aqua 8s since they were announced for black Friday 2015. I saved up any money I got, summer reading money, birthday money, etc and held on to it all until I could finally get the Aquas that black Friday. They're kinda beat, the paint on the bottom is chipping away but I love them with all my heart. They were my first real pair after so many years and I did my best in school and with the reading to earn them. Not only that but after Aquaman passed away they now hold even deeper meaning for me. Sorry for the long spiel, just wanted to share.

 

[BennyIll22]

I'm honestly not sure what my favorite model is aesthetically as I like them all for the most part. The ones I have more of a personal attachment to are the Black/Red 12s and the White/Black Team Jordan 1. Saved up money for months to get the 12s as a 12 year old and was my first Jordan. The Team Jordans were my 2nd pair and I heavily wore those things for a decade or longer. Great memories with those two.

 

[AIR J XIII]

P4L

 

[JRepp23]

How about you JRepp23?

We all got stories. But for some, a certain model just hits in all ways. No matter what the colorway, they will get. I think thats cool. Even if its OD. I cannot say I have a model J I must have every release of. But I do know there are people like that. This thread is kind of a chance to give those guys an opportunity to show that off and discuss why that specific J means so much to them.
If I HAD to choose, it would be 7s. I love those things. First J ever never gets out of style. Even colors I dont like, I still admire because its a 7.

 

[PremioBinSoleFlyUnion]

We all got stories. But for some, a certain model just hits in all ways. No matter what the colorway, they will get. I think thats cool. Even if its OD. I cannot say I have a model J I must have every release of. But I do know there are people like that. This thread is kind of a chance to give those guys an opportunity to show that off and discuss why that specific J means so much to them.
If I HAD to choose, it would be 7s. I love those things. First J ever never gets out of style. Even colors I dont like, I still admire because its a 7.

Which VII was it? What was your first five AJs?

 

[JRepp23]

Which VII was it? What was your first five AJs?

Charcoal VII first. 93
Aqua second. 94
Hand me down Black Infra 6. 94
IE Black Red XI 96
Black Red XII 97

Edit... I cant believe I missed the 94 retro 3 that I got at that time for 80 bucks. Still have them.

 

[Liquid Swords]

1995 Chicago 10s were my first pair of J’s, I was a freshmen in high school and begged my mom to buy me them in some small shoe store at the mall. I made a scene, embarrassed her and ended up securing them. My dad made me do every chore for a month but it was worth it. I absolutely love them.
Had the 2012 pair and killed them til they fell apart.
Still wear the 2015 pair in regular rotation.

 

[barrebaby]

Too lazy to dig out shoes from boxes, (still missing 2s, and proper 3s)

Simple clean design goes with anything IMO

Duh might be my favorite model.

Most elusive shoe for me until 2016 (didnt want without NA)

Kicked off my Jordan craze, had to have every pair after these.

Thought I was doin' it store employee held these for me on RD.

First jordan I stood in line for.

Debut lead me to NT

 

[HellRazor1978]

Playoff XI. The XI is my favorite model and black red J's just can't be beat imo. I had the og's in 96' and they lasted years until I beat them into the ground. Been pretty disappointed with every retro since up until the 2019s. They did an incredible job on those, I went nuts and bought 3 pairs.

The black Infared 6 is a close second, as that was my first Jordan ever in 91'.

 

[JumpmanATL7]

This is the one for me. My first Jordan ever in 3rd grade. I will never forget staring down at my feet in class for what seemed like hours. I can’t wait for a real retro so I can finally cop for the first time since 1990.

 

[SteveSteve72]

As a kid I was very poor, single Mom with 5 boys wasn’t very easy and often we went without food, and almost never got new clothes and shoes for school. I first remember noticing the III’s and then the IV’s on kids in school and at that same time started to get into basketball and Jordan, but there was no way in hell my mother could ever afford a pair of 125 $ shoes and I knew it. So as I got more and more into Jordan I wanted a pair of Air Jordan’s so bad and seeing some of these other kids with them and knowing I’d probably never have a pair really killed me.
It was 7th grade and the new Jordan’s came out, the V’s and they were the most amazing shoes I’ve ever seen ( specifically the Black metallics) , something about them was so sick to me, I’ve never wanted something so bad lol
I asked my mother if I could get a pair and of course she said NO, I already Knew that was going to be the answer. So as the school year went on I must have asked about a 1000 times always knowing the answer would be NO. I finally came up with a plan and told my Mother that if she got me the V’s it would be the only gift she had to get me all year, no birthday gift no Christmas gifts just the shoes, she looked at me and said really?and I was like YES REALLY! My mom still didn’t have the money but my Grandmother and my 2 aunts pitched in and I finally got my V’s man they were so sweet! I can still remember the smell and everything about them. I had a very tuff childhood but this is one of the best memories I have as a kid and I will never forget it.
Obviously they were the only pair of shoes I had so after about a year the shoes were beat to death but it was so worth it!
In 2007 I was a grown man and not really into shoes at all, I had no idea that retro shoes were even a thing. Walking by Footlocker and what do I see retro Black/metallic V’s, all those memories came back into my head and I had to have them, Right then and there is when I became a “sneaker head” lol I realized that I could finally get all the Jordan’s I wanted when I was a kid so I started to buy them, all of them lol
So The BM V’s are my all time Favorite shoe and I will always have a pair. They are much much more to me then just shoes.

 

[JRepp23]

Awesome read.

 

[PremioBinSoleFlyUnion]

Playoff XI. The XI is my favorite model and black red J's just can't be beat imo. I had the og's in 96' and they lasted years until I beat them into the ground. Been pretty disappointed with every retro since up until the 2019s. They did an incredible job on those, I went nuts and bought 3 pairs.

The black Infared 6 is a close second, as that was my first Jordan ever in 91'.

You made my day with those Pac albums and those shoes and words homie. Thank you one love

 

[DCBatman]

I grew up poor like most people in here. Mom's wasn't having spending 100+ on shoes. I had other heat tho grant Hills stackhouses Ewing's ECT but mom's wasn't having Jordans lol.

My first pair was a hand me down from the local street pharmacist lol. The OG shadow Xs. I loved them damn shoes so much. The first pair I bought myself when I got a job was the XI low ie BLK/red.

In 03 my college roommate showed me NT and I've been collecting shoes off and on ever since.

 

[JumpmanATL7]

Playoff XI. The XI is my favorite model and black red J's just can't be beat imo. I had the og's in 96' and they lasted years until I beat them into the ground. Been pretty disappointed with every retro since up until the 2019s. They did an incredible job on those, I went nuts and bought 3 pairs.

The black Infared 6 is a close second, as that was my first Jordan ever in 91'.

Infrared 6 is such a sick shoe. So much sicker than all this OW and TS collab garbage. Props to those 2pac albums. Such good memories tied to those two albums and even the R U Still Down. Your username reminds me of that song “mama raised a hell raiser” that’s literally the first thing that popped in my head when I first saw your username no lie.

 

[JumpmanATL7]

As a kid I was very poor, single Mom with 5 boys wasn’t very easy and often we went without food, and almost never got new clothes and shoes for school. I first remember noticing the III’s and then the IV’s on kids in school and at that same time started to get into basketball and Jordan, but there was no way in hell my mother could ever afford a pair of 125 $ shoes and I knew it. So as I got more and more into Jordan I wanted a pair of Air Jordan’s so bad and seeing some of these other kids with them and knowing I’d probably never have a pair really killed me.
It was 7th grade and the new Jordan’s came out, the V’s and they were the most amazing shoes I’ve ever seen ( specifically the Black metallics) , something about them was so sick to me, I’ve never wanted something so bad lol
I asked my mother if I could get a pair and of course she said NO, I already Knew that was going to be the answer. So as the school year went on I must have asked about a 1000 times always knowing the answer would be NO. I finally came up with a plain and told my Mother that if she got me the V’s it would be the only gift she had to get me all year, no birthday gift no Christmas gifts just the shoes, she looked at me and said really?and I was like YES REALLY! My mom still didn’t have the money but my Grandmother and my 2 aunts pitched in and I finally got my V’s man they were so sweet! I can still remember the smell and everything about them. I had a very tuff childhood but this is one of the best memories I have as a kid and will never forget it.
Obviously they were the only pair of shoes I had so after about a year the shoes were beat to death but it was so worth it!
In 2007 I was a grown man and not really into shoes at all, I had no idea that retro shoes were even a thing. Walking by Footlocker and what do I see retro Black/metallic V’s, all those memories came back into my head and I had to have them, Right then and there is when I became a “sneaker head” lol I realized that I could finally get all the Jordan’s I wanted when I was a kid so I started to buy them, all of them lol
So The BM V’s are my all time Favorite shoe and I will always have a pair. They are much much more to me then just shoes.

I grew up poor like most people in here. Mom's wasn't having spending 100+ on shoes. I had other heat tho grant Hills stackhouses Ewing's ECT but mom's wasn't having Jordans lol.

My first pair was a hand me down from the local street pharmacist lol. The OG shadow Xs. I loved them damn shoes so much. The first pair I bought myself when I got a job was the XI low ie BLK/red.

In 03 my college roommate showed me NT and I've been collecting shoes off and on ever since.

My parents didn’t have much money either but I guess enough to get me the Jordans to shut me the hell up. They wouldn’t get me a pair every year. So I got the 5 then the 7 then the 9 and then I went into a phase of not caring about shoes and then eventually when the 13 came out I was in love again.

My parents never understood the love I had and have for the Jordans in the 90s and still to this day thank them for getting them for me. We didn’t have much money at the time so it means even more to me now. I was around a bunch of rich kids that always got the new Jordans and nice cars at 16 or 17. Tons of video games and consoles. I still thank my dad for getting me the Nintendo when I was little living in NYC playing Mike Tyson’s punchout was amazing. We were broke as hell in NYC not sure how my dad got it for me. Always had a very humble small game collection as a kid surrounded by rich kids for the second half of my childhood.

I certainly don’t want to come off as I was a rich kid. Not by any means. Had a happy childhood though for sure. Happiest when we had the least amount of money living in NYC.

 

[JRepp23]

My story matches a few in here. We didnt have money at all when we were younger. So name brand was really out of question. But honestly the only thing name brand I ever cared about was shoes. 90% of my grade school attire came from garage sales. Shoes like Spalding and Everlast , LA Gear Regs were the only options for me.
The Black Infra started everything for me, the 7 solidified my obsession. Finally got a pair a year later after the 8 was already out. I seriously could wear a pair of Charcoal 7s everyday and wouldnt have a problem. In my world, the THE Air Jordan to me.

 

[HellRazor1978]

Infrared 6 is such a sick shoe. So much sicker than all this OW and TS collab garbage. Props to those 2pac albums. Such good memories tied to those two albums and even the R U Still Down. Your username reminds me of that song “mama raised a hell raiser” that’s literally the first thing that popped in my head when I first saw your username no lie.

I remember listening to AEOM in my Walkman with bred XI'S on my feet senior year. Pac was on top of the rap game and the Bulls were wiping the floor with everyone. What a time. We will never see another like it.

 

[staffsgtdignam]

I’m a 1st gen immigrant and we didn’t have much money growing up. I frequently shopped at Payless as a kid and really spent years wearing the same sneakers I got from there.. I literally wore these until they had holes in them when they would be replaced with another pair of Payless sneakers.. When I was a kid, I was always jealous of kids with Nike, Adidas, or Reebok sneakers meanwhile I wore old Sonic and Knuckles-branded Payless sneakers since that was all we could afford. In 4th grade, a kid in my class got the Bred 11s and I was truly enamored by them. I didn’t even bother asking my parents for a pair (since they were more focused on saving money to feed my sister and I) but I thought they looked incredible. My aunt felt bad that I was wearing such poor quality shoes and the next year bought me my 1st Nikes-a pair of Monarchs. As hilarious as those shoes might seem to us nowadays, it was honestly weird to finally get a pair that doesn’t make you feel shame for wearing them so I’ll always have a place in my heart for that sneaker. Anyways, as the years went on, my parents were able to progress in their careers and soon I would move in to buying JC Penny outlet Nikes and Adidas shoes once a year. All this time, I secretly wished I could still have those Jordan 11s though, especially when they retroed for the 1st time... Even then we didn’t have the money for them but, by luck, in my sophomore year of high school, my neighbor had a pair of worn Columbia 11s he kindly offered to me for $60. My mom thought it was strange that I wanted a used pair of shoes and told me that in no way/shape/form could I ask for another pair. So FINALLY wearing those beat 11s gave me a feeling of legit pride in my shoes for the 1st time in my life.. As long as I live, I’ll never forget that feeling.

 

[JRepp23]

. As long as I live, I’ll never forget that feeling.

That right there is what this whole Jordan thing is all about.
Great read.

 

[GTA 809]

You just had to be around to understand how special the first nubuck 12 release was. It kind of shaped how we buy sneakers today.

 

[5o'clockShadowBoxer]

NBA on NBC. Bulls vs Knicks, then Western Conference games of the week............ I’m glad I was around back then to have great memories of Mike, Magic, Barkley, etc........ First Jordan was the 2. My Aunt bought them for me on a super discount on Jamaica Ave in Queens as they were transitioning to the 3. Always be near and dear to me. My favorite (going against the grain here), the 11 low i.e. Was in college in Louisiana. Freshman year, bought all kinds of **** with leftover scholarship money. Concord 11s, Zoom 95s, AM 95s......but when the XII was released, I remember my cousin taking me to the mall with him and there was a line, letting people in 1 at time. I liked em, but I was budgeting wisely. Saw both colors of the I.E.’s, bought em both for less than what he paid for his. Wore those 2 like they were the only pair I had. And they were perfect for those humidity oppressive summers in Louisiana. Still waiting for the OG blk/red in it’s true form. But I’ll never turn my back on a good color way.

 

[Enjoy The Ride]

Sponge Bobs were my first. Will always be my go-to.