The Air Jordan Collection - Part III

Air Jordan VII

I always thought of this shoe as a refined and sophisticated Air Jordan VI without the aggressive flair. I really can’t say much about this shoe because I don’t remember it being anything but a good basketball shoe though I’m sure the ’92 Trailblazers and the rest of the international basketball world remember this shoe quite well as Michael claimed his second NBA championship and Olympics gold.

Air Jordan VIII

Jordan versus Barkley…Jordan 3 and Barkley 0 (Championships). I like the anti-inversion straps that provided extra support but the “coolness” factor that was very evident in the Air Jordan III, IV, V and IV was starting to fade and it felt like the Air Jordan VII’s popularity was simply riding on the fact that this was Michael Jordan’s signature shoe rather than being a great shoe on its own.

Air Jordan IX

With Michael gone from the game of basketball to pursue his childhood dream of playing baseball, the Air Jordan line could no longer sit pretty atop the athletic shoe world and expect to sell shoes simply because they were linked to MJ. Tinker Hatfield had to step up his game and boy did he! The Japanese-inspired Air Jordan IX brought back the “coolness” factor which once again set the standard in terms of basketball shoe design. I once read a comment from a fellow sneakerhead who said that Air Jordans had a couture-like look (which I agree) and the AJIX had “it”. In the 15th century, the arts and sciences experienced a “Renaissance” and similar to that the Air Jordan line experienced its own “Renaissance” which I believe started with the AJIX. It would’ve been so cool to see MJ rock these on the basketball court though he did wear a pretty sweet cleat version on the baseball field.