Jay Jones (AKA Dependable Jay) posted his forty-five pair Air Jordan IX (9) collection on NikeTalk nearly a month ago. The quiver of grips just might qualify for the “9th Wonder of the World”, as Dependable Jay hit his digital audience off with Kaazaam samples and many other delectables. One of my favorites from the shoot was this white/gold version concocted for treacherous turfman and ex-St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk. The shoe is distinguished by Faulk’s number, “28″, stitched along the heel underneath Tinker Hatfield’s ingenious Jumpman Globe logo. If you want these, you can’t have ‘em, so it’s probably better just to forget you saw these. Via NikeTalk’s Dependable Jay.

Unfortunate perhaps, but a plethora of Jordan Brand products have shorter shelf lives than Lil’ Bow Wow. Everywhere you look, signature models are cracking and degrading at alarming rates–even MJ himself can’t escape the ol’ “yellow” funk on his Columbia XI (11) Mids that were recently acquired and posted digitally by Alaska shoe buff Phase2. (His momma calls him Jermaine.) The model has been creased, laced, and rocked by the King (Chill, LeBron) making it the dopest player sample product I’ve seen in a New York Minute. Who cares about the discolored soles, anyways? (I hear they build character.)  The model was produced to fit Jordan’s size 13.5 skis and was manufactured in Taiwan.  Only one question remains–how many underfed Taiwanese children were terrorized and bruatlized during the sneaker’s production process to ensure that Mike himself was terrorizing opponents on-court? 

 

As I mentioned here, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has a penchant for rocking kicks below the ankles, but Agent Zero also experimented with mids early on in his career. Gil wore the sleek, Asimovian a3 Superstar Ultra during his formative years as an NBA’er. The shoe is distinguished by a full-length a3 cushioning unit and “cat tongue” inner lining, a velvet-esque material that soaked up sweat very effectively when your feet got moist. The shoe was complimented by a TPU support bar out back and a straightfoward lacing system that provided uncompromising fit. This black/silver pair was worn by Arenas on the road, and features his “G0A” logo in blue and copper respectively. Images courtesy of eBay seller j_boogie2K3.

Back before AND1 fell off, the Le Habra, California-based brand built quite the rapport with both NBA players and NCAA teams. Nearly 25% of the athletes in the League were sporting the “Player logo” and teams like the Wyoming Cowboys and Pacific Tigers were outfitted in the brand’s footwear and apparel. The Tigers were hit off with an exclusive pair of the ’05-06 Devastate Mid in white/black/team orange with a Harmonix heel unit and Pac’s “Tiger” logo stitched on the medial side below the ankle. If anyone has a pair of Wyoming Cowboys AND1 Mystiques in a size 12-14, hit me off in a reply, we need to do business! Devastates courtesy of eBay seller Noleyjoesmom.

Though adidas frontman Gilbert Arenas is famous for sticking to low top product on-court, the Washington Wizards court sported the luxurious adidas a3 Superstar Ultra Mid early on in his career. The Superstar Ultra featured full-length a3 cartridges in a foward-canted position, which provided unmatched comfort and delightful court feel. Unfortunately, the all-encompassing cushioning SSU offered an unstable ride and lead to some separation at the midsole. In turn, Adi. felt it best to recall their product from the NBA, NCAA, and retail divisions, making this white/blue Agent Zero sample with his logo “G0A” stiched on the upper extremely rare. Images courtesy of eBay seller

j_boogie2K3.

Oh yes, the coveted NCAA player sample. Division one ballplayers have been hit off with buttery one-of-ones, samples, and exclusives in colors often unreleased to the public. The Boston College Golden Eagles campus is located near Reebok’s Canton, Mass. headquarters. It is this close proximity that led to the brand sponsoring the Eagles, who wear team colors of burgundy/gold. In ’07, the team wore Allen Iverson’s first sigature ride, the Question Mid, in a gorgeous gold/burgundy/white color scheme with a burgundy suede toe cap. Images via RBK Basketball’s Myspace. (A great spot for your latest Vector news!)

With Harmonix Air embedded in the heel, the AND1 2Chi was the brand’s 2004-05 reinvention of the classically half-toned Tai Chi. The Deux Chi was offered up in leather/suede accents, leather/patent accents and full-patent variations. NBA guard David Wesley was running with the New Orleans Hornets upon the model’s release, and was hit off with this beautifully gaudy aqua/purple.yellow version of the shoe. “BHJ” and Wesley’s jersey “4″ are inscribed upon the shoe. Man, I need these! Via NT member WW055