Its been hard for JB to find major success deviating completely from the numbered Jordans.
I think that combining different models can be hit or miss, but I could truly embrace the idea if the intent of the disigner was to bring the best aspects ofeach shoe together to make a superior performance model.
To me the Jordan Olympian looks like a great basketball shoe. I loved the 10's and I love the updated look of the olympian(I could do without the olympicgraphics on the shoe), and the carbon fiber shank and lacing from the 11's will increase performance in terms of what I would want in a playing shoe.
The spizike was a solid attempt to combine aspects of each jordan model (III-VI + XX) that were inovative and notworthy. The shoe was created with a focus onthe visuals and not for performance.
Thats why I have a problem with the $175 price tag that I have decided not to pay for a shoe that can be out performed by almost any Nike basketball shoe todayregardless of price. There are amazing shoes in the 80-110 price range that can be found for much cheaper on clearance.
A casual shoe commemorating technology of the late 80's and early 90's should not have a pricepoint higher than the best performance shoes on themarked (I know the xx3 is $185).
BUT they key point that is often overlooked by most poeple is that Nike recently cut Spike Lee a very large check for 100% of the profits that came from thesale of the Spizikes.
The proceedes were donated to Morehouse college which Spike attended prior to NYU film school.
Considering that the shoe was made for charitable reasons and well recived by the majority of your regular (younger generation) of those who purchase Jordandand other lifestyle shoes, it may have been the largest non-numbered Jordan success for the company. Considering team, .5, and other shoes often make it toclearance racks and never have any resell intrest.
Even kings county and dtrt colors sold well despite wide availability.