The Best of Nike Shoes
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FOOTBALL | BASKETBALL | SKATEBOARDING
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HISTORY 6
In 1963-1964 when University of Portland track coach, Bill Bowerman, and Phil Knight, a mid-distance runner joined forces to import and provide low-cost, high tech running shoes from Japan in order to provide alternatives to the German-dominated athletic shoe market. Operating under the name Blue Ribbon Sports, Bowerman and Knight began to sell the Japanese Onitsuke Tiger (now known as ASICS) running shoes.
BILL BOWERMAN 1970
Jeff Johnson, a former rival of Knight, joins the company in 1965 as their first full-time salesperson and sells shoes from the back of his van at local and regional track meets until opening Blue Ribbon Sports’ first retail outlet at 3107 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica California. Blue Ribbon Sports officially incorporates in 1967 and does business under this name until approximately 1970 when Bowerman’s desire to improve on the shoe designs of Onitsuke Tiger and Knight’s ambition to do more than simply import and resell running shoes.
Inspiration must have struck Bill Bowerman over breakfast one morning because he borrowed the family waffle iron and pour rubber into to create the prototype for the now famous Nike Waffle Outsole. This invention led Bowerman and Knight to begin designing other shoes, and the company’s new name, Nike, Inc. was born when Jeff Johnson, dreams of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
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HISTORY P12 BEST SHOES P14 CRISTIANO RONALDO P30
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HISTORY P38 BEST SHOES P40 KOBE BRYANT P56
HISTORY P64 BEST SHOES P66 PAUL RODRIGUEZ P82
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FOOTBALL
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HISTORY Nike entered the game of football in 1971 with a black-and-white molded rubber cleat simply called “The Nike.” Today, Nike’s most advanced football cleat combines a recycled polyester upper spun from plastic bottles with the lightweight strength of carbon fiber in the plate. To stay at the forefront of the changing game, Nike has developed products with direct input from top performers on both sides of the field, solving for known problems and future needs. Nike Football’s 44-year history shows how deep innovation breeds success on the gridiron.
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Nike began its football journey back in 1971 with the release of “The Nike” football boot, the first shoe to bear the Swoosh. It cost $16.95, didn’t hold up well in cold and wet weather and soon fell by the wayside as Nike focused on running, tennis and basketball footwear. But it was a start.
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First introduced as the Tiempo D in 1985, the boot has evolved significantly while remaining instantly recognizable to fans and players alike. One of its signature features, the oversized fold-over tongue, gained immense popularity after eight Brasil players wore it in the 1994 World Cup Final in California. The original purpose of the fold-over tongue was to provide a flat surface atop the laces for a better strike of the ball. As boots and laces evolved, this was no longer necessary and the iconic tongue was retired with the launch of the Tiempo IV in 2011.
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1997 A football boot factory was established in Montebelluna, Italy and it still has a big role at Nike. At that time there emerged a new innovatoin, the “1997 Air GX�. The shoe is considered as a vintage heritage and collectors still look out for this one as a sure shot addition to Nike’s vintage classics.
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1998 The big Mercurial adventure started in 1998, when Ronaldo, at the World Cup in France, laced up his very own colourway of the Nike Mercurial I. It was Nike’s very first boot made entirely from a synthetic material, so it was in many ways groundbreaking. The boot was introduced in 1998, back when it was still considered strange, when a boot wasn’t black and white. This is how the mercurials helped to establish the market for colourful boots, which we today see everywhere.
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2006 Leading up to the World Cup in 2006, Nike continued the Mercurial line with the very popular Mercurial Vapor III Yellow/Green, made especially for Ronaldo keeping the Brazilian in mind. Therefore, the boots were also inspired by the Brazilian colours, yellow and green. Ronaldo set his mark on the world with 3 goals in Germany, taking his total World Cup goal tally to record-breaking 15 goals. Ronaldo played in his signatures boots against Japan, Ghana and France, but kept using the Vapor III for the rest of 2006.
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2010 Inspired by the cheetah, the Mercurial Superfly II turned the question of speed into a question of traction. Influenced by insight from Cristiano Ronaldo, the Mercurial Superfly II incorporated NIKE SENSE technology, the next great evolution for football’s premier speed boot. The innovative studs extended and retracted by millimeters based on pressure and ground conditions, providing a base for optimum speed and stability in all directions. Accelerating in every twist and turn transformed each critical step into an opportunity for victory.
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Designed for a new breed of attacker, the Hypervenom boot launches to help players create space quickly and get shots off from any angle. Nike gained insights from Neymar Jr. and Wayne Rooney to address the increased speed of the game. NIKESKIN innovation delivers a flexible mesh upper bound with a thin polyurethane film — as close as it gets to the feel of playing barefoot. When defences are more organized and teams are harder to break down than ever before, speed and techniques are not enough. To dominate you need to be unpredictable using craft to outwit with your opponents. Master the deadly art of deception in the new Nike Hypervenom Phantom FG football boots. Engineered by Nike to move with your feet on firm ground, the Nike Skin upper material used for the upper of the Hypervenom Phantom, is soft and flexible providing these boots with a light snug and close-to-foot feel.
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Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 Silverware - The new Metallic Silver / Black / Orange Nike Mercurial Superfly 2015 Cristiano Ronaldo Football Boots were launched in mid March 2015, set to be debuted in El Clรกsico and to be worn exclusively by Cristiano Ronaldo The new silver Cristiano Ronaldo 2015 Mercurial Superfly Silverware Boots feature a shiny silver upper with a contrasting Midnight Navy Dynamic Fit collar. The new silver Nike Mercurial Superfly Cristiano Ronaldo Boot boasts an Orange / White / Black signature CR7 branding on the instep, while the Swoosh is white with a black / orange border. Made for speed, the Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 Silverware Boots are the most advanced football boots on the market with a Dynamic Fit collar, Flyknit, Nikeskin and a carbon fibre sole plate.
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BORN INTO
THE GAME The son of a cook and a kit man, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro— known simply as Ronaldo— was born on February 5, 1985, on the tiny island of Madeira, Portugal. You could say he was born into the game: His father coordinated cleats and jerseys for Portuguese club CF Andorinha, and asked the team captain to be his youngest son’s godfather. Ronaldo’s career began with the same club at age 8.
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BETTER Ronaldo’s explosive acceleration and instantaneous changes in direction leave defenders on their heels and out of breath. Shots fired at 80mph from either foot strike fear in the hearts of goalies. Lightning-fast football IQ, developed from thousands of hours of play, allow him to set up his teammates as a deadly and decisive ball distributor. Opponents can’t keep up, but there’s one boot that can: the Nike Mercurial, inspired by his fast-paced style of play.
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LIVING LEGEND The son of a cook and a kit man, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro— known simply as Ronaldo— was born on February 5, 1985, on the tiny island of Madeira, Portugal. You could say he was born into the game: His father coordinated cleats and jerseys for Portuguese club CF Andorinha, and asked the team captain to be his youngest son’s godfather. Ronaldo’s career began with the same club at age 8. 33
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BASKETBALL
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HISTORY Although Nike originally started with running shoes, it is nearly impossible to talk about Nike without mentioning basketball footwear? You could probably even make the argument that you can’t talk about basketball without mentioning Nike footwear – History was made in Nikes and countless records continue to be shattered in them.? Whether its old school Blazers or the latest Air Maxes, Nike Basketball signature lines have represented some of the greatest players to ever play the game and embody an incredible achievement in footwear performance & design.? Nike Basketball has been a staple on the court, from the playgrounds to the NBA, for more than 30 years lacing up players worldwide and bringing style and excitement to the game.
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Originally a 1970’s basketball sneaker, the Nike Blazer has kept its relevancy to this day with various lifestyle applications. The Nike Blazer was the first basketball shoe Nike created in the early 70’s and made its on-court debut with none other than the players from the Portland Trailblazers! A skater’s favorite, the nike blazer continues to release under the Nike SB line, as well as Nike Sportswear. Releasing in both high and low variations, the aforementioned Nike SB team put together a sneaker with an in-between height, dubbed the Nike SB Blazer.
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Four decades after the inception of the slam-dunk, Nike was just over 10 years old and basketball’s popularity was surging. The year was 1985. It will go down as one of the most pivotal years for Nike Basketball as it marks the year the Nike Dunk was born. Conceived from the hustle of a young design team, the Nike Dunk basketball shoe was driven by performance innovation that naturally translated to street style. The design solidified Nike’s focus on basketball and reinforced its obsession with creating product to make athletes better. As the world united around the “we are the world” anthem and moviegoers went back to the future, basketball hit its stride in 1985. The worlds of music, entertainment, advertising and sports were fusing together and Nike was a catalyst.
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First, the air max 93 featured 270 degrees of air, 90 degrees more than the air max 180. Also, the air max 93 had a sockliner and no real tongue. The air max 180 also featured this “huarache inspired� design. The air max 93 also had more air than any other air unit in prior models. This provided the customers with unparalled heel cushioning. The air max 93 was also the first nike running shoe to have a colored air unit. The nike air max 93 was first released in 1993 known as the nike air max 270. The air max 93 originally had this name because the air max heel was exposed for 270 degrees.This was somewhat of a followup to the nike air max 180 in more ways than one.
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Nine years of refinement produces this minimalist classic, complete with an outsole featuring symbols and languages of numerous countries. Michael helps design it and loves it unreservedly, yet for the first time never wears it in competition. Its November 1993 release follows his retirement the previous month following back-to-back-to-back championships and countless individual awards and accolades. MJ turns to pursue a childhood dream and embarks on a minor league baseball career. Naturally, the AJIX is redesigned as a baseball cleat.
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The Nike Air Zoom Generation was the first shoe in the LeBron James signature line from Nike. Chosen first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James made an instant impact as both a player and a shoe icon. On top of winning the Rookie of the Year Award, LeBron James was also the third player in history behind Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in during their rookie season. The Nike Air Zoom Generation – colloquially referred to as the LeBron 1 – had a design inspiration based on LeBron James’ Hummer H2. The primary cushioning unit utilized was Zoom Air, which served as a precedent for the entire Nike LeBron line until the Nike Air Max LeBron 7 made the switch to Air Max cushioning.
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The Nike Alpholution is a hybrid sneaker that combines two of Nike’s most popular basketball sneakers, the Nike Alpha Force and the Nike Revolution. They feature a combination suede, smooth leather, and mesh upper, classic swoosh on the side panels, forefoot strap, Nike Air logo on the heel, and Zoom Air technology. Plus, the Nike Alpholution was not only designed to look good, but they also perform on the hardwood. So, you get the best of both worlds.
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The Nike KD 7 is the seventh signature shoe from Kevin Durant and Nike. Like the KD 6, the KD 7 carries a low top build. A horizontal midfoot strap is featured for the first time since the kd ii, aiding lockdown on the court and offering range for casual wear. Visible zoom max cushioning highlights the heel on this pair, while a molded collar of hyperposite (cousin of foamposite) hits the heel. Much like the kd 6, this low top model is distinguished by bold branding on the forefoot, while a kd logo adorns the tongue.
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The Nike LeBron 12 “CLE” is the latest Nike LeBron 12 colorway set to release later this June 2015. This “CLE” edition of the Nike LeBron 12 looks to have ties to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that uses “CLE” as its code. You can find this public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland. The shoe is dressed in a mixture of Laser Orange, Green Glow, Black color scheme. Featuring an Orange Megafuse upper with Black carbon fiber Hyperposite overlay, and hints of Red throughout. Other details include a Red accents on the Nike Swoosh logos, laces, and interior all while sitting atop an icy translucent outsole.
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BORN INTO
THE GAME Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named after a Japanese steakhouse, Kobe Bryant is the son of former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. In 1984, after ending his NBA career, the elder Bryant took the family to Italy where he played in the Italian League.
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In his second season as guard, with the Lakers, Bryant was voted a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming at 19 the youngest All-Star in NBA history. Bryant went on to help the team win three consecutive NBA championships and was voted first-team all-NBA from 2002-04. He also inked multi-year endorsement deals with Adidas, Sprite and other top sponsors. Although the Lakers struggled after O’Neal left in 2004, Bryant performed brilliantly. He scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, the secondhighest single-game mark in NBA history, and led the league in scoring that year and the next.
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VALUABLE PLAYER In 2008, Bryant was named Most Valuable Player and carried his team to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. In the 2009 NBA Finals, the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic to win the championship. Shortly afterward, Bryant was part of the memorial service to honor friend and music superstar Michael Jackson. The following year, the Lakers won their second straight title by defeating the Celtics. After suffering a torn Achilles tendon in April 2013, Bryant worked hard to return to the court before fracturing his knee just six games into the 2013-14 season. The veteran All-Star surpassed Michael Jordan for third all time on the NBA scoring list in December 2014, but his season ended due to injury for the third straight year when he sustained a torn rotator cuff in January 2015. He later announced that the 2015-16 NBA season would likely be his last. 59
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SKATEBOARDING
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HISTORY In March of 2002, Nike jumped into the world of skateboarding with Nike SB. The initial line began with the classic Nike Dunk model that had been previously known as an ’80s basketball style. In true Nike fashion, the SB Dunk was reworked and vastly improved specifically for the sport of skateboarding with a more padding and a more durable selection of materials. While the pushback from the skate community was apparent, when people realized their favorite skaters were getting to design shoes (and seeing a paycheck for once), it was apparent Nike SB was going to be a mainstay.
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DANNY SUPA The first sneaker to be released officially under the Nike SB sub-division in March of 2002, the Supas will always be remembered as an important piece of Nike history. These sneakers started off Nike’s ever-so-popular skateboarding line. As the nickname indicates, the sneaker’s color scheme was picked by, famed skateboarder, Danny Supa. These colors were made to represent Supa’s hometown baseball team, the New York Mets. Although not an instant hit when initially released, the Supas are one of the most rare and sought-after SB’s to date
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THE TOKYO Remember the revered, ultra-rare “Tokyo” Dunk of 2004, crisp and cool in solid white textile and gum bottoms, but, alas, limited to just 202 pairs? Well, Nike Skateboarding remembers, and it’s appropriating the aesthetic for a remarkably similar, thankfully less-limited new look. A not-quite-dead ringer for that original aught-four shoe, if a shade or two lighter and materially remixed, the Nike SB Dunk Low White/ Gum comes correct with a crisp, bright white upper that mixes suede and textile to flawless, fashionably understated effect. The upper’s instantly-familiar at a glance, but the departure from solid-textiles, the inclusion of leathers, delivers an identify of its own. A gum bottom sits below, meanwhile, celebrating the timeless style of the Dunk while contrasting that sea of white just above.
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AIR MOGAN Nike Air Mogan- Men’s Wake Shoe- For the ultimate performance on shore and water get the one of a kind and exclusive Nike Air Mogan Men’s Wake Shoe. One of the only retailers to carry this shoe, evo gives The Air Mogan our seal of approval. The combination of leather, suede and Nubuk upper give it a nice fit, while the optional internal lacing system gives you a snug fit to swim in without having to worry about losing your shoes. The breathable mesh on the side allows water to drain freely and not weight you down while you’re showing off your kick flips, the perfect shoe for a hot summer day permitting your foot stay cool and dry. The signature NKE 6.0 provides maximum traction while doing ollies out there on the wake.
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PACMAN The hype around Dunk SB’s seems to have died down a little lately with the creative concepts and colorways that made them so vigorously coveted now coming few and far between. The latest Dunk Low Quickstrike from Nike SB seems to be a good step back in the right direction. The shoe takes its inspiration from the Ms. Pacman character from the popular 1980’s arcade game. The kicks feature an eye-catching color combo, using a pink and aqua upper with a yellow tongue label and trim and black eyelet panels and laces. Additional black accents appear around the ankle and tongue piping as well as on the outsole. These will likely be a must-have for many of the Dunk craving disciples who haven’t had much to spend their money on lately, so get over to DQM before they’re snatched up like a row of Pac pellets.
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Often times in design, the simple solution is the best option, a notion demonstrated quite well in the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Neon J Pack. Nothing more than just three colors distributed in harmony, there is no crazy colors, no wild effects or even wilder materials. Just black leather and suede uppers create a textural contrast. While this might sound too plain, the neon accents around the Swoosh, shoe laces, toe box, heel logo and outsoles, balanced out the monotone scheme quite well as a sharp contrast against the black backdrop.
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Extreme force, abrasion and 360 degree contact are all part of the daily routine but when you need board feel, flexibility and precision movement on top of that, things get a bit more difficult. A union of durability and style, the Koston 2 merges skate shoe needs with running shoe insights. Thanks to Eric himself, increased ventilation and comfort were where not to be compromised. The product of a complete overhaul ready for the rigors of the ground, gaps and stair sets, Koston’s insight and enthusiasm for innovation is present in every element of the Nike Koston 2. The Nike SB Koston 2 retails for $90 USD and is offered in multiple colorways.
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The latest Nike SB Stefan Janoski Max is set to leave a lasting impression the minute you see the “Hyper Jade” upper that it’s rockin! The hybrid version of the Nike SB Stefan Janoski attempts to stand out on its own by coming out with fierce colors that will for certain demand attention.Coming with a sole unit that combines Nike’s Air Max and Free technology, the Janoski Max is a lot more technologically advanced than the OG Janoski. The upper is composed of a Hyper Jade suede that is offset by hits of white seen on the Nike Swoosh and sole unit. The tongue also comes in Hyper Jade but opts to go with breathable mesh build. True Yellow and Fuchsia Flash appear on the tongue branding and insole to give the sneaker just a bit more overall pop.
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Nike’s Hot Lava colorway continues to make the rounds throughout the brand’s long list of silhouettes that align well with the seasonal months ahead. The latest is the Nike SB Eric Koston 2 Max. The low-cut, lightweight silhouette incorporates the alarmingly bright colorway while also implementing black accents and speckled detailing. Constructed in breathable mesh fabrication with perforations at the paneling, the Nike SB Eric Koston 2 Max “Hot Lava” moves away from its all-over vibrant red base to black Swoosh branding and matching tongue script.
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HERE COMES ‘P-ROD’ Paul Rodriguez, also known as “P-Rod” was recognized as a prodigy at the young age of 14, only two years after he started skating. His consistency, effortless style and persistence on his board led Paul to travel far from his home town of Northridge, CA to the City Streets around the world as a part of the legendary City Stars team. His passion for skating and filming with his friends led to his breakout part in Logic 6 in 2000, Street Cinema in 2001 and landed him Rookie of the Year in 2002.
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P-Rod was one of a few skateboarders to form the Nike SB team, and later, Paul was the first skateboarder to be endorsed as an official Nike Athlete, as well as the first Mexican American to earn a signature shoe for Nike. In 2004, he won his first of 3 Gold Medals in the X Games. His favorite things to skate are ledges, rails, and stairs. Paul’s partners/sponsors are: Nike, Primitive Skateboarding, Mountain Dew, Target, Nixon, In-Case, Cricket Wireless, Venture, Markisa, Andale, Glassy and Fuse Science.
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LIVING LEGEND Son of famous comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez, Paul bought his first skateboard at the age of 12. When he’s not skateboarding, Paul enjoys studying the lives of influential individuals, including his favorites such as Alexander the Great and Bruce Lee. Paul currently lives in Los Angeles.
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