I still have the email. On December 8th, 1999, my friend Nelson C (friendships forged online were still a novel concept in the 90's) asked me if I'd be interested in helping him with a new message board for sneaker fans. We were both fed up with the atmosphere on the NikePark message board, our regular hangout which had, by that time, become plagued by childish squabbling, misinformation, impostors, pornography, and White supremacist hate speech. It seemed to us that if hatred could snowball, and, indeed, that was the cautionary lesson of NikePark, then so, too, could friendship. "I know it's no big deal or anything," he wrote, "but I think it can improve the internet shoe scene." In the fifteen years that followed, I'd like to think we've done more than that. Nelson's greatest innovation with NikeTalk wasn't the platform - which was ahead of its time in 1999 but quickly became an obsolete hindrance rather than a competitive advantage. It wasn't the apt name he'd given it or the distinctive Chicago Bulls color scheme. Unlike its precursors, which were all individual fan sites that placed their creators at the forefront, NikeTalk was a team effort - and the focus was not placed on the site's creator or its staff, but its members. NikeTalk was not designed as a website. It was designed as a community. NikeTalk is a black background against which you, the community's true stars, can shine. That is the innovation of NikeTalk. Nelson C didn't invent social media. He didn't create the message board. He did, however, create the first true online community for people like us, one founded on the principles of mutual respect. The history of NikeTalk isn't his story, or my story, but our story - written by thousands of authors across literally millions of pages, all bound together by common interest. Over the course of the next week, we'll celebrate our 15th anniversary in true NikeTalk fashion by deciding, as a community, where to donate $15,000. You'll be able to choose via poll from among all of the organizations we've supported in the past five years. Throughout the day, I also plan to check back in here to share some images from our archives as we look back at the history of our community. Some more of our old friends plan to stop by, too, so I hope you'll stay with us and continue sharing your thoughts on the occasion and your favorite memories.
Happy Anniversary baby, I love you😘 You got me through some tough times, saw me with the great times, taught me a lot & expanded my horizon. I've watched you grow as well from the ezboard days, to yuku to now, he'll I rem I didn't even like you at first until I noticed ALL my old best buddies like air23.webhostme, jumpmankicks, nikestreet, & whatever the heck all the other blogs/sites were, they all got info from you & so I gave you another chance. Finally i let you join me in 02, still didn't like you like that but you welcomed me anyway babe(after like 1 1/2 months, that wait period SUCKED) & accepted my reluctance to be responsive to you. I even left you & came back around & you took me back again. The same me under a new name & the love was given the same unconditionally. I may not be around as much as I was in our honeymoon stage but we'll make it work always. Here's to us🍻
Favorite website ever. On here daily, it really is the internet for me. Hope NT sees another 15 years
*Patiently waits for Dirty to walk through the door* HBD NT!!! The only site the brings everything I want to see on the interwebz to 1 spot.
Seen alotta things come and go in the 10 years ive been a part of this great community. Wen i open up dat home page its like
I'm going to be straight up. When my best friend put me up on this site after Nike Park went to crap, I was just 20 years old. I'm now thirty-$!#@$!-five with just a casual interest in shoes. But I walked away from this website with a bunch of good friends and a respect for the people that keep this place running. Method Man really is the reason why this place is so great. It's because of his determination and hard work that we'very made it this far. I can never stress that enough. And the people that continue to administer and moderate this place are the best of the best. Working for this website is difficult, annoying and thankless work. I commend every single mod and admin that has donated their tume to help. In this world Twitter Snapchat, Reddit, and IG, NT manages to remain incredibly relevant. 15 years is a big deal. Be proud. The community should be proud today.
It's true .. With all the curses n inappropriate stuff on the other sites NT is like a diamond in the rough.... I respect the hard work you ALL have put in over the years. Thank you
Happy Birthday, NT. I spend way too much time on this site but appreciate the great sense of community here.