OG Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor 2's

Back to my roots

What's going on all my sneakerheads? It's been a long time, but I wanted to hit you with a great new post about a shoe that started it all that's been recently upgraded. Without further ado, please say hello to the Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor 2's! Back when I was a kid, I used to MURDER the original versions of these shoes and had to get replacements every 3 months. My mom would say "How did you manage to get a hole in the heel" or "How did you wear down the rubber?" I wore these shoes for 6 years, and I absolutely loved them. Whether I was playing two-hand touch football on the field, or playing handball on the blacktop, my Chucks took me where I needed to go (I even wore a pair of purple Chucks at one point). So when I say the Chuck 2's are a huge improvement, you can rest assured I know what I'm talking about. From the cushy Lunarlon sockliner, premium canvas, non-slip tongue, and suede lining, these shoes are literally night and day when it comes to comfort. What I truly appreciate about this pair is they pay homage to the originals, which gives it the classic look but with today's comfort and technology. I highly suggest you get a pair if you loved the originals, you will thank me once you do! In the meantime, please check out the pics below of the Chuck 2's!

Premium canvas.

Classic rubber toe.

Elevated lettering on the heel.

Classic look in a modern da era.

Embroidered All-Star patch donning Chuck Taylor's name.

Micro suede lining. Look at those Chuck Taylor 2's!

Looking back at the future. 

Pay respect to the originators

Before you think about the future, you should always understand your past. The origins of the Chuck Taylor All-Star 1's go way back to 1917 when the Converse shoe company came out with the All-Stars. The popularity of the shoes first started to take off once a man named Chuck Taylor of the Akron Firestones began to work and market the shoe in the 1920's. He was so successful at promoting the shoes at all levels (as well as a major influence on the design of the shoe) that in 1932 his name was bestowed upon the ankle patch. The Chuck Taylor All-Stars became the first mass produced basketball sneaker in the world!

Before Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, Converse ruled the sports/basketball world. The Chuck Taylors were used in the Olympics, training for WWII troops, and most importantly the world of basketball. Legendary icons from the 1930s-1970s were making history in these shoes, and we must pay our respects to the originators. Before you lace up your Jordans, Pennys, Pippens, Barkleys, and even your Curry Ones, remember to think of Chuck Taylor and his influence on the sneaker game! Please take a look at the pics below for a piece of history and see some of the greats who donned the All-stars!

Chuck Taylor in his Akron Firestone uniform.

The first All-Stars are introduced in 1917 with no ankle patch.

In 1921 the ankle patch is introduced.

Team USA Basketball during the 1936 Olympics in Germany sporting the All-Stars.

Pair of All-Stars used in US Army training in the 1940's.

 World War II All-Star flight boots.

One of the original centers of the professional basketball world, George Mikan, had a 10 year career in which he played on the Lakers from 1947-1956. He won the first ever NBA Championship in 1950 when the National Basketball League (NBL) merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA). He is also credited for the NBA instilling new rules to make the foul lane bigger (from 6 feet to 12 feet), the shotclock (teams would hold onto the ball to avoid Mikan), and also goaltending. 

Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell donning the high tops and low tops. These men would battle it out in some of the most epic match-ups during the 1960's. 

Wilt and Bill competing.

Wilt lacing up his high tops.

 

In 1962, Wilt scored 100 points in a single game, a record that still holds til this day. Of course he was donning a pair of the high tops!

Elgin Baylor played in the NBA from 1958-1971. Here he is donning the high tops vs. Bill in the lows. A great all-round player and former #1 pick of the 1958 NBA draft, Lakers fans had plenty of entertainment watching Elgin compete.

More of Wilt doing his thing against Bill. Wilt was and is still considered one of the most dominant players ever to play in the NBA. His career average is an astounding 30 points and 23 rebounds per game over a 14 year career.

Jerry West aka "The Logo" played in the NBA from 1960-1974. Here he is donning the high tops with the Lakers. "Mr.Clutch" was known for his shooting, raw athleticism, and his execution in big moments.

Wilt played with the Lakers from 1968-1973. 

Bill donning a pair of high tops. It's like watching poetry in motion. Considered one of the dominant basketball players of all time, Russell led his college team to two consecutive national championships, won an amazing 11 NBA championships, and was the first Black head coach of the NBA. 

Low tops going above the rim.

Bob Cousy played in the NBA from 1950-1973. The "Houdini of the Hardwood", Cousy revolutionized the sport with his ball handling and passing skills on the court. He is a 6 time NBA champion.

Oscar Robertson aka "The Big O", is one of the most influential guards of all time. Considered one of the first "big guards", Robertson is also credited with the head fake and fadeaway jumpshot style that is an integral part of today's game. With freakish athleticism and superior scoring/passing skills, the Big O once averaged a triple double in a single season (30.8 pts, 12.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists)! He still holds the records for the most triple doubles at 181. Oscar played in the NBA from 1960-1974. 

Julius Ering aka "Dr.J" had the swag, natural ability, and presence that the modern-day NBA still emulates today. With his high-flying dunks and flawless afro, Dr.J revolutionized the "above the rim" game that we see in today's NBA. Dr.J played in both the ABA and NBA from 1971-1984. He was also known for his free throw line dunk during the 1976 ABA Dunk Contest, and his behind the backboard layup on Kareem Adbul-Jabbar. 

Dr. J rocking the high tops in the early 1970's while playing for the ABA Virginia Squires. 

The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars have kept their design relatively the same since 1949. A globally recognized shoe that holds so much history, character, and style will always be a part of the American fashion/sports world forever. 

Air Jordan 1.5 Retro "Chicago"

Sometimes you just get lucky

Yo what's going on my fellow shoeheads? It's 1:30am here on the West Coast, and I got nothing but kicks on the brain so I decided to bang out this entry for your viewing pleasure. Please let me introduce to you the Air Jordan 1.5 Retro "Chicago"!!! Now don't get it twisted, this particular shoe is a hybrid of the Air Jordan I upper with the sole of the Air Jordan II.  As you've probably heard, these shoes have NEVER been released to the general public, which makes this pair one of a kind. There's a ton of history behind this shoe (which I'll cover below) that as a collector I had to have this pair, but for overall aesthetics it's literally second to none. With the classic red/black colorway, the black Nike Air tongue, and the sweet black laces, these shoes are a timepiece that any novice sneakerhead can appreciate. They are light and feel cushier than its Air Jordan I predecessor, and man do they look mean in the streets. Please enjoy my shots below and scroll to the next section of this post to learn the history behind these amazing kicks!

You can't beat that classic look.

Noticed they went with the "Nike" wings instead of the "Air Jordan" wings.

Checkin' it from the backside.

Classic bird's eye view.

Look at how rich the color is on the leather.

Nike Air baby.

Fusion please.

Throwback.

Beauty in it's simplest form.

School is now in session

The background on these shoes is deep, so pay attention closely guys. As we all know, Michael Jordan was signed to Nike and was the premiere guy to launch their basketball brand to world class status. To do this, they needed to have a shoe that would represent the brand, Michael Jordan, and be marketable to the public. If you read the history books, the Air Jordan I was highly successful due to it being banned in the league, the flashy colors, and of course the swaggy rookie that was rocking the pair. But little that you knew that Michael did not have any influence on the construction of the Air Jordan I, which was technically an adaptation of the Nike Dunk. Michael has always been known to be very particular with his shoes, and so they needed to mold the shoe to his specifications. This is how the Air Jordan 1.5 was born. To be technically correct, this was the FIRST shoe that Michael had custom made for him by Nike, which in my mind makes this pair a cornerstone of the Air Jordan brand. Eventually the sole was used in the making of the Air Jordan II, but there's no denying that the Air Jordan 1.5 holds a special place in history in the sneaker world. Let that settle in, and please check out the pics below of Michael wearing the Air Jordan 1.5!!!

Coolin' in the 1.5's.

Young Michael paying attention to the action on the court.

One of the rare times Michael is on the bench.

NikeiD Kevin Durant 7 "Milky Way" aka "The Dark Knight"

Custom Fitted

What's going on y'all? I apologize for not posting in a long while, but I definitely got some heat lined up for you! Let me introduce to you a custom pair I got made just for me; the KD 7 "Milky Way" aka "The Dark Knight"!!! Let me be clear, most of the colorways that came out for the KD 7 were god-awful and downright ugly, and so I had to redeem them with a custom colorway. The shoe itself is a beautiful design with an aerodynamic body with the classy tongue and strap to add form to the shoe. The multiple textures, the classic air bubble in the heel, and the mean look of the shoe is definitely a head-turner in the streets. Choosing to go mostly all black, the shoe itself has a galaxy-like feel to it, while also reminding me of the aggressive appearance of the Batmobile. Don't let the design fool you, these are also one of the most comfortable shoes I own as well. Also, please take a look at all the fine details. Under the strap are the names Wanda (mom), Barbara (grandmother), and Wayne (dad). You'll also find the state of Maryland on the sole, as well as Big Chucky, who was KD's first basketball coach. KD dons the number 35 as his first coach was killed at the age of 35. Please take a look at the pics below and enjoy!

Cleaner than my car, my goodness!

KD on the tongue, "35" on the strap!

Side profilin'.

Back side.

"Custom Fitted".

Look at all those stars in the Milky Way.

Rest in peace Big Chucky.

Silver swoosh.

KD's family members on the strap.

What could've been

Although this is one of the better looking shoes from Nike, unfortunately KD was not feeling it during the season. Numerous injuries riddled KD during the 2014-15 season, and he simply did not wear the KD 7's and instead chose to wear the KD 6's from the previous year. He wore the 7's sparingly, donning a pair of Aunt Pearl PE's to honor his late aunt, but that was it. He did wear them during the FIBA tournament during that summer, but pulled out of that competition due to fatigue. Unfortunately the shoe was a reflection of the player's season; a reminder of disappointment and what could've been. Ugly colorways and the lack of endorsement on the court from whom the shoe was created for, you could technically call this a flop of a release. I personally like the shoe, and that's how you can separate posers from the true shoe fans. It's not about the hype, it's about what you like and how you mix them into your personal sense of style. For me these shoes are on point, and I made sure to capture the beauty of this shoe with my own colorway. Please keep on coming back for more heat, and please remember to check out my past posts too. Until next time shoeheads, peace!!!

Rocking the USA PE's during the FIBA tournament.

Ballin' for the USA!

Aunt Pearl PE editions.

Some rare action that the KD 7's saw on the court.

Sorry Rondo, you're about to get burned!