I think JB is realistic. Just how long can the brand survive while Michael is not playing? Other than the Stealths, suede XVIII's, the XVI's and maybe some other colorway, there hasn't been a classic and timeless AJ since his retirement. Sure, all of the shoes eventually will grow on us a little or we buy them because of name or supposed technology, but I honestly have thought for the last few years that JB won't be around after 2010. I just can't see it. Melo is not a strong enough force in the industry to keep the brand going, and they don't have another prospect anytime soon.
Here's where I disagree:
I'm glad someone has the courage to admit it.
Look around for a second and you'll find proof to the contrary in this very thread. Everyone has the ability to express their opinions about sneakers and sneaker companies on NT. I'm entitled to that whether you like it or not. I've been speaking my mind on NT for five years. Get used to it, get over it, and get on with your life.
Apparently, the points I've made aren't obvious to everyone. Jordan brand's embarked head first down a very slippery slope in trying to raise quarterly profits at a pace they can't possibly sustain. If you think that's "good business," I suppose we'll just have to disagree. 10 years from now it'll look good for an employee whose used this slash and burn mentality and the ensuing profits to move on to a better job with another company, but it won't look so good for the brand itself, which will almost certainly be in worse position in 2010 than it was in 2000.
I'm glad I possess an adequate vocabulary as well, because it enables me to express myself without relying on little smiley faces.
EXACTLY. I respect D'Wayne as a man. He's a hard working guy who's a good father. On the design side of things, I've definitely been critical in the past. The Nu' Retro 2 is in my humble opinion the worst product visually to have been released under the brand, maybe outside of the Regional XX. While they performed above average, I still don't think that shoe was worthy of carrying the Jordan name. The design screamed cleanliness and entrapment, as he was forced to make a more current and basic shoe of an older classic model. That's a recipe for failure.
2006*
Thanks for the kind words. As you said, youve been voicing your concerns for months and so have many, many others. Some people fail to realize that this isnt a personal vendetta or crusade. So many Jordan brand fans feel the same or similarly, and that includes countless sneaker fans who dont even post on NikeTalk. I have discussions with guys who dont even know Jordans by number, but who recognize the very same problems that we enumerate here. Its not unique in any sense. If the number of people who feel similarly is increasing, its not because you or I or anyone else is convincing them its because these problems are apparent and intensifying.
We as fans have been saying this for a long time and it holds true for the ENTIRE line now, with the exception of the flagship model.
And I think we can agree, thats NOT good business. As I said, its nice if youre an employee with a PERSONAL agenda that extends beyond Jordan brand, but its horrible for long time fans of the brand or anyone with a vested interest in the brands continued success, like MJ himself.
What happened when the bubble burst for other apparel companies? Did their core fans come crawling back once the posers cleared out? If it happens in 2007, you can salvage a decent percentage. If it happens in 2010, itll be like nuclear winter: only the hardiest of roaches will survive. What theyre doing NOW is alienating many of their CORE consumers, fans whove been loyal since MJs pre-title days. If wearing Jordan brand still makes you look like a basketball fan in 2007, you wont lose the core audience. If wearing Jordan brand makes you look like a little hype beast in 2007, youll begin to lose the core audience because itll have lost everything that made us wear it to begin with. Itll have lost its connection with basketball and the Jordan legacy, and its only value will be its appeal to immature status seekers who want a x of y limited edition product so they can feel better than the next kid and, guess what, theyll get bored and move on to the next fad soon enough.
2 thumbs up
