The Air Jordan Collection - Part II

Air Jordan IV

I remember sitting in class in the 8th grade staring at the brand new pair of white/cement Air Jordan IV’s worn by one of the “cool” 9th graders. Alas, I never knew the joy of owning a pair myself. But as soon as another retro is released, I’ll be first in line to finally show off my very own pair and know how it might have felt like to be a “cool” 9th grader. Oh, I also fondly remember these shoes as the ones Michael wore when he hit the game winning shot over Craig Ehlo and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Air Jordan V

“Is it the shoes?” “No Mars.” “Money, it’s gotta be the shoes!” “Do you know, do you know, do you know?” “Shut up, I’m doin’ a Nike commercial here, shut up!” – Spike Lee aka Mars Blackmon made the best Air Jordan commercials…Bar None! Tinker Hatfield partly drew inspiration from the Mustang WWII fighter plane thus the “flames” on the side of the shoe. I also liked the reflective tongue which effectively brought out the “Jumpman” logo. The Air Jordan V is one of my “Top 5” all time favorite Air Jordans.

Air Jordan VI

“I hate these shoes.” Not because of the design, which is vintage Tinker Hatfield, or because there was a lack of the latest technology from Nike. I hate these shoes simply for the fact that these were Michael Jordan’s shoes when he won his first NBA championship against my beloved Lakers. Ironically, they will release a retro of the Air Jordan VI in, get this...a Lakers colorway. I don’t care if it was 19 years ago but that’s just rubbing salt in an open wound.

Hoops Challenge Basketball Tournament (Week 5)

The Accenture Knights and Gasolink battle it out during Week 5 of the Hoops Challenge Basketball Tournament on April 24, 2010.

For the latest standings, results and schedule check out the HOOPS CHALLENGE INFO page on this site.

Spot & Shoot Basketball Tournament (Week 2 & 3)

Jedrik Ching of Accenture shoots over IBM defenders during their game on April 25, 2010.


IBM's ace H. Vergara drives to the basket as Accenture players defend on April 25, 2010.

For the latest standings, results and schedule check out the SPOT & SHOOT INFO page on this site.

The Air Jordan Collection - Part I

The Air Jordan line is arguably the greatest basketball shoe collection in history, inspired by arguably the greatest basketball player in history.

Before I review the latest Air Jordan in the collection (Air Jordan 2010), I thought a trip down memory lane, along with some of my thoughts and insights, on the previous 24 models would be a fun thing to do.

Air Jordan I

Michael Jordan was initially reluctant to wear the shoe stating that the predominantly red/black/white colorway were “devil colors”. It was rumored that his “Airness” preferred Converse (his 1st Choice) or Adidas over the "Swoosh". We can probably thank Michael’s dad and agent for convincing the then fresh out of college sophomore to sign with Nike since Converse and Adidas didn’t offer anything better. And as MJ set off on his 1st NBA season to rewrite the record books, the Air Jordan I went on to set sales records amidst fines (which Nike gladly paid for) imposed by the NBA for violating the league uniform policy. But despite all the initial success, Nike (and the Air Jordan brand) wasn’t out of the woods just yet…

Air Jordan II

Michael Jordan claimed his first slam dunk crown wearing the Air Jordan II’s but it did little to prevent him from seriously thinking about leaving Nike for good. The Air Jordan II was the first shoe not to use the “Swoosh” logo. Instead, a “Wings” Air Jordan logo was used but the shoe wasn’t received favorably by the general public and sales of the AJII suffered.

Air Jordan III

Enter Tinker Hatfield. He can probably be attributed to saving the Air Jordan from extinction while at the same time bringing it to iconic status. Tinker involved Michael in the design process (something not commonly practiced at the time) and what they came up with was nothing short of ground breaking. Two words…”Elephant Print". Michael rededicated himself to Nike, won his second slam dunk title and sales of the AJIII went through the roof.

Hoops Challenge Basketball Tournament (Week 4)

JR De Vera of the Accenture Knights throws down a two handed slam during tournament play on Saturday, April 17, 2010



The competition is heating up in both divisions as teams battle for playoff position during the last (2) two weeks of the eliminational round.



Catch all the HOOPS action as these teams take to the court next week at CLUB 650 in Libis:

ZOOM KOBE M.S.

A few months back, I was searching through the internet for a glimpse of the new ZOOM KOBE V. I stumbled across a few pictures of what appeared to be just that…and boy was I disappointed. Now don’t get me wrong, what I saw wasn’t bad but I felt more could have been done and I had high expectations for the ZKV after the phenomenon that was the ZOOM KOBE IV. A few weeks later, I saw official pictures of the ZKV and learned that what I initially saw was a ZKV spin-off called the ZOOM KOBE M.S. The M.S. stands for “Makes Sense” which ironically doesn’t make sense to me. Spin-off shoes are nothing new and we’ve been seeing quite a bit of them in recent years from the LEBRON SOLDIER to the KOBE DREAM SEASON X to all the different Jordan Brand spin-offs too many to mention. So I decided to buy myself a pair and after a good session on the court, there was very little to be disappointed about.

STYLE

The ZOOM KOBE M.S. isn’t as visually stunning as the ZKV but it has its good points (and bad). If I were to call the ZKV a supermodel, the MS would be the supermodel’s sister. Both come from the same genetic stock and are both attractive but the MS just lacks that supermodel flare. The MS doesn’t have too much “bling” in the form of shiny metallic uppers or patent leather toe covers to demand people’s attention but there’s enough detail to catch an onlooker’s eye. The upper is made out of high quality, durable leather and there is stitching on the sides to resemble the Flywire on the ZKV. After getting over my initial thoughts that it somewhat resembled a woman’s running shoe, the MS is indeed a good looking basketball shoe. Whether out on the court or out on the town, the MS in terms of style won’t embarrass its wearer and may even get a few appreciative glances. Just don’t expect to get the kind of attention its supermodel sister would get.
Rating: 3 out of 5


Just like the ZKV, the ZOOM KOBE M.S. comes in a variety of colorways. Shown here are the Bulls and Lakers inspired colorways.

PERFORMANCE

If the MS rates as average in terms of style, performance is where this shoe starts to rise above the competition. The obvious reason is because the MS shares the same outsole and molded “soccer style” heel as the ZKV. This provides excellent cushioning, stability, and traction. The MS is not as light as the ZKV since the MS uses a traditional leather upper instead of the synthetic one-piece upper used on the ZKV. Don’t get me wrong, the MS is still a very light shoe and I found myself playing at an active pace for longer stints since I didn’t have to carry such a heavy load on my feet. However, you may experience some foot movement in the MS compared to the ZKV. Wearing a single pair of socks during light scrimmages and shoot arounds is more than enough to protect your feet from blistering but doubling up the socks wouldn’t hurt when you lace up for league or tournament competition. I would recommend this shoe for players who are looking for a lightweight shoe with good cushioning and traction. Although lateral support is good due to the outsole, the MS “feels” like a low top shoe and post players may not feel comfortable “banging down low” without some added ankle support.
Rating: 4 out of 5

OVERALL

Being a spin-off shoe, it’s hard not to compare the ZOOM KOBE M.S. to the ZOOM KOBE V and from that perspective, the M.S. falls short. But if you were to look at the MS as a stand alone, it’s a great shoe that you would be proud to own. Even though the MS is priced considerably less than the ZKV by no means is it a cheap shoe in price or quality. So if you’re short on cash but still want a high quality sneaker with the latest technology that will help you play better basketball, then it "Makes Sense" to have the ZOOM KOBE M.S. be a part of your “Top 3” choices.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5


The ZOOM KOBE M.S. shares the same outsole as the ZKV which contributes to the shoe's exceptional court performance.

ZOOM KOBE V

Now that I’ve got giving props to the JORDAN 2.5 TEAM out of the way, it’s time to review something a little more current and what better shoe to start things off than the super popular NIKE ZOOM KOBE V? Ever since the Lakers took home the NBA Championship last year, I could only imagine what the designers at Nike would come up with for an encore to the highly successful ZOOM KOBE IV. The ZKIV was not only a commercial success but it also brought back the low top basketball shoe into serious competitive play with some serious shoe technology. With that said, along with the great look, design and not to mention the gazillion colorways of the ZKIV, I was in great anticipation for the release of the ZKV. My contact at my favorite Nike retailer told me the ZKV would be released in late December but to my dismay, the shoe didn’t make it to the display shelf until late February. But after getting over my initial disappointment, along with fighting and shoving my way for a pair in my size and color, the ZKV did very little to disappoint me once I got them on my feet and on the court.

STYLE

If I had to use just one word to describe the ZOOM KOBE V’s design it would be…sleek. Unlike most shoes which have a symmetrical and somewhat mechanical look (ZKIV included) the ZKV has a streamlined, low profile design with curves that seem to want to hug your foot. The look of the shoe is stunning without being too flashy and they look great whether you’re ballin’ in them on the hardwood or chillin’ at your favorite hang out wearing a pair of jeans. The fashionable looks of the shoe may even make you think twice before wearing them on the court since you may not want to get them dirty before a night out on the town with friends or that special someone. But another “cool” factor of the ZKV’s is the fact that the material used on the upper is so easy to clean that even after a competitive session on the court and a quick cleaning with a rag, soap and water (though an old toothbrush would be highly recommended for cleaning any shoe) they look just as if they just came out of the box. And just like its predecessor, the ZKV is not at a loss when it comes to a variety of colorways to suit your style preference. I was particularly drawn to the “Dark Knight” edition (I’m a huge comic book fan) which had a predominantly black and gray motif with “Neptune blue” accents which were complimented by a variety of textures from a “sand paper looking” black at the toe to a shiny metallic to bring out the blue in the shoe. If the available colorways still don’t suit your personality, the ZKV can be customized via NikeID for an additional cost.
Rating: 5 out of 5



PERFORMANCE

The ZOOM KOBE V is loaded with the latest basketball shoe technology from Nike. From the “Flywire” and lightweight phylon midsole to the low profile Zoom Air; this all translates to optimum performance on the basketball court. As soon as you put your feet in the shoe, you can already feel that this isn’t a regular pair of basketball shoes. The one piece upper, “Straight and cross-wired Flywire” and “soccer inspired molded heel” work together to wrap around your foot giving you an idea of what a shoe specifically designed for you might feel like although there was some slight pinching at the front of the foot which was probably due to the one piece design. Aside from that, the technology contributed to unbelievable stability as you made quick cuts and “stop on a dime moves” on the court. Once fully laced, your feet barely move and you can practically play barefoot (though a pair of good socks wouldn’t hurt) in these shoes. After my initial warm-up lap in the ZKV I instantly noticed how light the shoe was and how much easier it was to keep up the pace after 10 minutes of running. I was never a big fan of the HYPERDUNK or HYPERIZE shoes which touted lightweight as a performance feature since I felt the shoes gave up some stability and I always gravitated to the slightly heavier yet more stable mid cut models such as the JORDAN 6 RINGS but the ZKV made me a believer that lighter is better. The cushioning was more than sufficient in reducing the shock to your feet from all the running and jumping one would do during a regular game of basketball. The ZKV is definitely best suited for those who play a shooting guard type of game (which is Kobe Bryant’s position) but I would still recommend this shoe if you’re a versatile big man who can play without the added ankle support of a mid cut shoe. In all honesty, the ZKV is so stable, they rival the stability of a lot of mid cut shoes out in the market today.
Rating: 5 out of 5



OVERALL

To sum it all up, the ZOOM KOBE V is a great shoe…period. Some folks may shy away from the shoe because of its retail price as the ZKV is not cheap but if you can get passed the price one can easily justify spending the dough on a shoe that not only is a stunner on or off the court but has so much advanced technology that it literally helps you become a better basketball player. There have only been a few basketball shoes ever made that seem to possess the “complete package”. The AIR JORDAN XI (which I’ve had the honor of owning two pairs when they were first released in 1995-96) immediately comes to mind and the ZOOM KOBE V may very well be in the same category when all is said and done.
Rating: 5 out of 5