Kick Locker Matt Halfhill’s Top 25 Sneakers of All Time
History of the Nike “Swoosh”
Fake Kicks: How To Tell What’s Real
1st Edition of “Who’s Kickin It”
Vol. 1 November 2010 Published By: Ballah Boakai
The $1 Million Dollar Logo By: John Brillant
And we hired a graphic art student at Portland State University, and told her to come up with something that connoted speed, and we gave her $75.00 for what she came up with. When we went public in 1980, we called her back up and gave her 500 shares of stock, which she has never CounterKicks caught an interesting slice of unre- sold, and is worth close to $1 million this day. ported news made by Nike Chairman and cofounder Phil Knight at Nike, Inc. most recent an- We learn two things from this exchange. nual shareholders meeting on September 20th, 2010. The current price tag of the original Nike First, a somewhat minor historical discrepancy Swoosh logo designed by Carolyn Davidson? $1 worth noting. Knight states the original fee for the million dollars. Continue reading for the full story Swoosh logo at $75 where all previous accounts of behind the $1 million dollar Nike Swoosh logo. the story, including in the book “Swoosh: The Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There” list Carolyn Davidson’s price for the logo work at $35.
Second, and more importantly, after Nike went public on the New York Stock Exchange, During a question and answer session at Nike, Knight gave Davidson 500 shares of NKE stock Inc. which she has yet to sell, amounting to an equity annual shareholders meeting last month, Phil stake of around $1 million dollars today. Through Knight divulged what to date had been previously various stock splits over the past two decades, undisclosed information: the exact amount of we can roughly assume Davidson’s original 500 Nike stock shares given to Carolyn Davidson for shares have grown to somewhere in the neighborcreating the original Swoosh logo. hood of 12,000 and 15,000 shares based on NKE trading prices when Phil Knight made the original From the Nike annual shareholders meeting disclosure on Sept. 20th through today. Not to transcript on Sept. 20th, 2010: mention, Nike’s stock currently yields a $0.27 cent dividend per share, yielding Davidson a cool extra Question: “I am a new shareholder, what does few thousand dollars in cash each quarter payout the swoosh mean and where did it originate?” she keeps her total share amount. Phil Knight: I remember that. That was 38 years ago, and we were coming out with a NIKE line and we had to have a logo.
Not a bad take for a logo originally invoiced underneath $100. Now whether we can reconcile Davidson’s $35 or $75 logo fee is for another story…
You’ve seen history...
Now live it...
Identifying and Avoiding Fake Sneakers and Fraudulent Web sites By: Sneakerhead.com One of the most important questions you can ask is “Are my sneakers the real deal? Are they authentic?” Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast ways to tell the fakes from the real, but here are a few tips to help keep you from getting fooled even if you don't know a lot about the shoes. First, here are a few definitions to help you understand the lingo that websites will use. These are fake. Variant is just another way to say that shoes were not made or authorized by Nike and never have been. Samples "Samples" come in Size 9 with no box, and are used to road test different looks for a shoe. You can come across some unusual samples, some of which are valuable, but these can be very rare. Anything else is fake. Lookalikes can be found in department stores, are made by an anonymous brand and are very cheap replicas. CustomsAny shoe in a non-original colorway, it is a sample, a fake or a ‘custom.’ Customs are shoes that have been hand detailed in some way usually by one of the few well-known custom designers. These individuals take a legitimate pair of shoes and custom detail them for you, in which you case, you know what's happening and fakes are not a worry. Some websites call their shoes ‘customs’ but they are fakes. Anything that has been structurally altered is fake, including the Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Burberry Air Force Ones. Always buy from a reputable merchant. Reputable doesn’t mean a huge
corporation, but it does mean that they provide a mailing address, an email address and a phone number to contact them. Their business hours should be clearly posted and when you call, a trained, professional customer service representative should be available to help you. Here is our advice for buying sneakers on the Internet. Webpages for reputable, reliable merchants should look clean, professional, and be functional. Product images should look like they were taken in a professional studio instead of someone's living room or a warehouse. The company should have its own domain name instead of a website hosted on a free service like Geocities (e.g. www.sneakerhead.com versus www.freewebsite-service.com/~sneakerhead/index. html). Registering a domain and creating a business website with an original design takes both time and money. Note: The appearance of a website is not always the best way to judge the authenticity of a merchant. There is powerful software available that will create very professional webpages, and sometimes, website selling fakes or websites pretending to sell products to steal your money will simply steal the design and images of a more famous (and usually legitimate) website. This tactic is to deceive customers into believing their website is legitimate and related to the legitimate company. When you go to Google, Yahoo, or another webpage to search for something, the results you get are ranked by order of importance. This ranking is determined by variables set in place by the companies that own the search engine. The rank or where it appears on the results is tells you how well that website is doing. Legitimate merchants will usually be located within the first three pages for specific words like "Nike Shox Lethal" and within the first four or five pages for more general searches like "running shoes".
Note: One excellent way to know how a website ranks is to download the Google toolbar from Google.com. Next to the search features and Google news icon is a small icon labeled "PageRank". This feature ranks websites on a scale of 0 to 10 with zero meaning that the page isn't ranked by Google and 10 meaning that this is one of the most important pages on the Web. Legitimate web merchants will usually rank between 3 and 5. Five is a very good ranking for Google because only household names like nike.com, msn.com, google. com etc. can score higher. Lesser known names like RunnersWorld.com and Menshealth.com may score a six or a seven, leaving most merchants ranking between 3 and 5. Sellers of fakes will generally, but not always have a low page rank score on the Google toolbar. There is at least one exception to this rule that we are aware of. Method of Payment Authentic websites should accept credit cards either directly through their website or with Paypal. Paypal should only be for very small companies. Merchants should follow all credit card processing regulations including having the cardholder name and address. In order to accept credit cards directly, you must apply for a merchant account which often requires a company to file as a corporation. These two methods are the most generally accepted methods of processing credit cards over the Internet. Other payment processors may be available. If any company only accept money orders, don't bother. More than likely, you'll never see your money again and quite possibly, you may never even see the products you paid for. Always pay with a credit card. At least with a credit card, you have the protection of knowing that your card issuer can reverse the charge. With a money order, you may as well hand over your wallet with all its cash. The money is gone and you can count on never seeing it again. But even with credit cards, we recommend that you use with care. Anyone
can set up a legitimate looking shop for the purpose of stealing your credit card information. Use with care. For more information on shopping online with your credit card, please visit Important Things You Should Know about your Credit Card & Shopping on the Internet.
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The Team
Who’s Kickin’ It By: Ballah Boakai
In this weeks version of “Who’s Kickin’ It” I’ve chosen to spotlight Ms. Erica Blackburn, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Upper Marlboro, MD. Now normally most sneakerheads are males, but she is one of the few female collectors I’ve come across and have been impressed by her colletction.
KickLocker: When did you start collecting? Erica: I started collecting when I was 11. My mom bought me the blue and white 18’s and I started collecting from there. But my first pair of Jordans were the 13’s when I was 7. KL: How many pair of shoes do you have?
E: Well here at Hampton I brought 14 pairs, but back at home I have no idea.(LOL)
Erica’s collection here at Hampton.
KL: What makes your collection different? E: I think my selection is different because I don’t just have one brand. I have Jordans, the I have air max, also new balances along with polo. So I would say my collection is very diverse and I don’t strictly rely on one brand. KL: Favorite pair? E: Air Max 97’s
KL: What releases are you anticipating and which pairs would you like to see return? E: I’m anticipating the cool grey 11’s that are coming out right before Christmas. And I’d like to see the 16’s come back. KL: Any words of wisdom to people just starting a collection? E: It’s very important to keep them nice and fresh. That’s one rule to collecting. NEVER dog your shoes.
KL : Well thank you for your time and your shoes Ms. Blackburn. E: No problem Mr. Boakai.
Converse The Game Starts Now
Matt Halfhill’s Top 25 Sneakers of ALL-TIME
By: Complex
25.
Air Jordan XIII
“MJ’s last moment may have happened while he wore the Air Jordan XIV, but the XIII was the shoe money rocked all season leading up to that memorable moment. The pods resemble panther paws, a great look with shorts or with denim.”
24.
“The Fab 5 were the gang- Nike Flight stas of college basketball. Air Huarache Black socks, long shorts, attitude, and the best kicks on court. More memorable than Chris Webber’s timeout.”
23. Nike Dunk
“Nike tapped into school spirit with the ‘Be True To Your School’ campaign and got its shoes onto the feet of its most elite college basketball partners. Nike really kicked off team-match colorups, and the concept of team shoes hasn’t been the same since. The Dunk returned from a decade of hibernation in 1998 and has been going strong ever since.”
“There are very few Huaraches that I don’t like, but the Air Huarache is without a doubt my favorite. The rubber cage on the back holds your heel in place and the neoprene boot provides a super-snug fit. A flexible heel and solid comfort makes this one of the mostworn shoes in my lineup.”
22. Nike Air Huarache
21. Air Jordan XX3
“Tinker came out of retirement for the final numbered Air Jordan. This shoe featured Nike Considered stitch work on the upper to reduce the amount of glue, but one of the most unique features of the shoe was the outsole and covered midsole. MJ’s thumbprint (slightly altered for his identity protection) formed the outsole of the shoes so that we all knew he gave the stamp of approval.”
“Neon Deion took his show West and his sneakers up another level with the DT II. Hey Nike, put this in the ‘Great Sneakers That Need to Return’ column. Seriously, what are you waiting for?”
19. New Balance 1500
“Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The two legends both wore the Weapon in the midst of their rivalry, and the shoe is one for the ages. The sneaker was great-looking too.”
20. Nike Air Diamond Turf 2
“The 1500 stands out from the rest of the NB lineup with sharp lines and corners that shape its upper. The 1500 has also been the focal point of a number of heavy hitting collabs with UNDFTD, Solebox, and Provider.”
18. Converse Weapon
17. Nike Air Assailant “Many of the Bos were great shoes, but if I could only have one pair of Bo Jacksons for the rest of my life, it would be these. The shoes had a snug fit and 360 degrees of comfort.”
15. Nike Air Max 98
“Andre Agassi had some great sneakers, but my favorite pair were these ones that he wore towards the end of his storied career with Nike. Wilson Smith, a legendary footwear designer you might not be familiar with, pushed the limits of design with an asymmetrical lacing structure and tongueless design. The shoe holds your foot snug like a glove.”
16. Nike Air Trainer Max 91 “The Nike Air Max 98 doesn’t get nearly the shine that the 97 received, but I personally was more of a fan of this one out of the gate. I would not be mad if these returned.”
“The Air Force STS was the fourth of the Air Force series, which is why it earned the nickname from many as the Air Force IV. The young David Robinson was crashing boards and dominating the paint in these sneakers way back when. One of the many great high-tops of its time, the shoe also featured a little touch of elephant print on the side.”
14. Nike Air Force STS
13. Nike Air Max 97
“The 3M upper and metal mesh caught my eye and made me extremely envious of my friend who had these shoes way back when. Full-length Air Max was a definite added bonus, but for some reason this shoe eluded me for years. Everyone has that sentimental pair, but the Air Max 97 was what I talked about to a girl I met who became my wife and mother of my kids. Thank you, Nike.”
“What in the world material is that?! Nike had everybody turning heads once again with the release of the Nike Air Foamposite. I am sure there is at least one Mid-Atlantic city that recognizes the introduction of this shoe as an official holiday.”
12. Nike Air Foamposite One
11. Converse Aero Jam
“Converse’s PR and marketing campaign for Larry Johnson proved that a big man can sell shoes. All you need to do is dress him up like a granny and get him on Family Matters!”
“The Nike Air Max IV 10. Nike Air Max IV has one of the wildest uppers from its era, but it also happens to have my favorite fit. I have hunted high and low for these for ages and have not been able to re-up for nearly six years. I need another pair!”
9. New Balance MT580
“For years, getting a hold of this shoe was neither easy nor cheap. The MT580 only released in Asia and was very limited in larger sizes. Thankfully the shoe finally made its way to the U.S. in 2008.”
“Though money didn’t win a ring in ‘88, he let the whole league know he was out for blood. MJ took another trip to the All-Star Game, won a second consecutive Slam Dunk title, and he grabbed his first MVP honors. Though the Jordan 1 may have ‘started it all’, the Jordan III will forever be the game-changer in design of not just the Jordan line, but of all basketball shoes. Elephant print for a touch of style, a midcut ankle, and big branding on the tongue and heel let everyone know who the greatest in the game was, and is.”
7. Nike SB Dunk Low
8. Air Jordan III
“Nike did wonders with the Dunk when it was brought back in 1998, but when the skate kids got a hold of it, the shoe became legendary for a new generation. Creative concepts, colors, and retooling to make the shoe skate-friendly made this updated classic a classic.”
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6. Reebok Court Victory Pump
“The 95s were one of the first shoes I remember returning to stores in what felt like only a year after their initial drop. Nike knew it had a winner! The shoe brought Air Max to the forefoot and heel, but it also had a unique system of chambers with different PSI pressures. Like with the 90s, the colorways set this shoe off and gave it a casual-wear appeal like no other.”
4. Air Jordan IV
“The Omnis were dope, but I always liked the clean look of the Court Victory Pumps a little more. The shoes were brought back correctly in the early 2000s in the O.G. colors, and then the epic collab series with ALIFE reminded everyone that these were TENNIS SHOES.”
5. Nike Air Max 95
“MJ didn’t have to wear this shoe to make it one of the greatest. The design was dope from the get-go, and was unlike anything ever made. Tinker created some great shoes in ‘87 and ‘88, and he continued his winning streak with the Air Jordan IV.”
3. Air Jordan XI
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Of course the Jordan XI is on the list. Beyond the dope look of the shoe and the incredible 72-10 season MJ had while wearing these sneakers, this shoe was hands down the most comfortable Jordan shoe for casual wear. It featured full-length Air cushioning and a very soft midsole. While many Jordan shoes crossed over into pop culture, these could be considered an icon on their own.”
“Clear rubber, a reflective 2. Air Jordan V tongue, a molded ankle collar—these three things made this shoe unlike any other. To this day, the Air Jordan V is my favorite Air Jordan ever.”
1. Nike Air Max 1
“1987 was the year everything changed, period. Tinker took the reigns and developed the Safari, which helped kick off ACG; the Trainer 1, which revolutionized training footwear; and the Air Max 1, which showed the world the greatness inside Nike running products. There were many great Nike runners before the AM1, but this model changed the line forever.�
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