Earlier today we touched on the Holy Grail, a shoe store that was looted after the Los Angeles Lakers conquered the NBA Finals in Orlando. Richard Torres, owner of the Holy Grail, arrived on scene less than an hour after the game ended to find fewer than 20 pairs of shoes out of the 800 he had in stock. Neighbors told Torres and authorities that the celebrants broke down the door to the store yelling, “We want shoes, we want shoes.” Many of the vintage kicks are irreplaceable and the damage to the store’s innards is extensive; glass display cases are shattered, two computers, money, and accessories were looted. Torres estimated the damage at nearly $140,000 but expects to be covered by insurance. He hopes to reopen the Holy Grail by the end of the week. Via LA Times.

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After the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship last night in Orlando, riots broke near Staples Center. A shoe store called The Holy Grail was looted (robbed) during these riots. The saddest part of this specific story is that the shoe store stocks sneakers though consignment; meaning the real victims of this crime will likely be the individual consignees who (depending on insurance policies) may be burned for a knot of cash. The stolen sneakers are surely among the least serious criminal acts triggered by the Lakers win last night. More info on the riots and looting can be found via the LA Times. Second photo via: The Holy Grail

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Here’s a sneak peek at the Nike Zoom Fun Police, but with an awesome twist: they commemorate the Los Angeles Lakers! That’s right, these Nike basketball shoes feature a purple/yellow colorway with a black base to match with those #24 jerseys. The shoe uses a black suede upper contrasted by a purple midsole on top of a black sole. Yellow accents are found on the laces and swoosh with the Fun Police logo on the back ankle tab as always. Although these might not see the light of day for shoe collectors, these babies are fine just being eye-gazers.
Via NT.

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In the process of selling ankle insurance and breaking out the Zoom Kobe IV (4), Nike has drawn up another sneaker for Kobe Bryant to wear the Dream Season. This is quite possibly the dream season for Bryant who are the favorites to win this year’s NBA Championship. The Dream Season features a white leather upper with gold trim and purple accents. Bryant’s finishing touches are also included on the Dream Season with the Lakers guard’s autograph on the heel as well as KB24. Expect the Dream Season to release in this colorway as a few others this Fall and Winter.

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Jordan Brand is celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers with unique sets of footwear dedicated to each organization’s history and color scheme. The Lakers pack features a white/purple/yellow iteration of the heterogeneous Air Jordan Six Rings and black/white/purple/yellow variatons of the skate-friendly Air Jordan I (1) Phat. The LA triumvirate will hit stores on January 31, 2009. The Blazers pack also offers a pair of the Six Rings and two pairs of the Phat, but in white/black/red hues to match-up with the Blazers’ uniforms. The Trailblazers pairs will hit on February 14, 2009. The Lakers and Blazers Air Jordan Six Rings will be priced at an exorbiant $160, while all four pairs of the AJ1 Phat can be had for $95. Via Uptempo Air.

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Sun Yue may not be the next Michael Jordan or his teammate Kobe Bryant, but is the only the fifth player from China to enter the NBA which is quite an achievement aside from being drafted by the Los Angeles Laker. Though Yue has been limited to about 6 minutes a game, the guard has been seen wearing a player exclusive model of the adidas TS Creator. The sneakers are treated with the traditional white, purple and gold along with “QTip” written at the heel, one of Yue’s nicknames. Be on the look out for Yue and his TS Creator when the Los Angeles Lakers play against the Utah Jazz on Friday January 2nd, 2009.

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When Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the road, these may be his footwear of choice.

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