Amare Stoudemire’s Nike history reads like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. It’s gone in so many different routes but inevitably finished up with the ‘unhappy’ ending we see today. STAT is a hell of a talent, but big men are the George Custers (and Costanzas) of the sneaker world. Before Nike pulled the plug on the STAT signature line, a sample (presumably the STAT III) was designed and manufactured before it was officially scrapped. Several design cues of the shoe are quintessential Nike Basketball, like the gaudy, jagged midsole and the oversized swoosh. The shoe actually features a number of deliberate touches, like the intricate embossed graphic on the heel, Amare’s logo on the insole, a polka-dotted inner heel counter, and perhaps the most detailed bottom sole in recent memory. Although it isn’t good practice to think “what could’ve been”, check out this Nike Basketball design that will be locked up in the Nike’s vault for a long, long time.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Nike’s new three-layered Torch is a mesh like fabric that allows maximum breathability with minimal mass.  We’ve seen the classic BW model updated with a Torch-equipped second-gen model, plus some Air Force 1s with the uber mesh.  But if you were looking for one shoe to best represent the new material, it’d probably be the Torch-covered Nike Lunar Hyper-Ventilate ND a/k/a Lunar Rejuven8.  They get the second name thanks to Torch itself resembling the latticework upper from the original Rejuven8, but this shoe’s high cut and LunarLite sole make it quite unique.  If you’re feelin’ the ‘Cyber’ colorway of this space-age shoe, grab a pair from select Nike Sportswear retailers or NikeStore.

Style: 384518-300
Color: Cyber/Cyber-Metallic Summit White-Black

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The updated Nike Air BW Gen II will release soon in the Big Window’s signature Persian Violet palette, but what about the original.  The Nike Air Classic BW will remain a Nike Sportswear staple, and it appears here in a colorway that has dominated the last 12 months.  It’s been about a year since the LIVESTRONG Stages collection debuted, and while these aren’t affiliated with Lance Armstrong’s charity, the yellow and white accents on a black base mean someone might think they were.  No matter the collab (or lack thereof), these are hot, and they’re available for your springtime running (the streets) exclusively at the UK’s JD Sports.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

It’s about time to pack away most of your jeans and break out the shorts, so you need some new kicks too, right?  Nike Sportswear fully expected that, so they designed a bunch of solid looks to anchor your springtime fits.  From the a flip-flopped duo of black and blue Dunks to the Dunk/deck shoe Nike Mad Jibe Mid, there are plenty of old familiar looks here.  Persian Violet BWs are back, but this time it’s the Air BW Gen II, which means a Torch-enhanced breathable upper for demanding climates.  Then there’s the totally new Aina Chukka, whose near complete lack of branding is unique amongst Nike releases.  Check out more photos of all of these, plus a few other Dunks, Blazers and more, all after the jump, then grab a pair or seven from your local NSW retailer like Long Beach’s Proper.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

(Photo not of B-Grade Air Jordan XI)

UPDATE: Original photos have been removed by request.

We’ve all experienced it. The once-in-a-lifetime gem of a find; the pair of OG heat found in your local Mom & Pop for $29.99, the stray pair sitting on the clearance rack with no box-top, the you-can’t-be-serious winning bid of an eBay auction titled so poorly that you’d stumble upon it only if you were searching for a tea kettle. For a lucky few, that opportunity may strike again.

At the Nike factory, some manufactured products are unable to meet Nike’s particular quality criteria, so they’re slapped with a “B-Grade” stamp and sent to the Nike Factory Stores for quick disposal. Fortunately for us, it looks like some pairs of the Air Jordan XI Space Jam didn’t make the cut, as the Space Jams have been spotted at Nike Outlets. B-Grade Nikes usually have a minor cosmetic imperfection – sometime obvious and at other times invisible to the naked eye – and typically arrive in bunches and not in lingering units. If you’re still in the market for a pair and don’t have enough funds to meet the current resale value, be on the look-out at your local Nike Outlet. The pair pictured here has already been auctioned off, but hopefully more will pop up on eBay.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Dying for June to get here and you’re not even in grade school?  Chances are you’re looking forward to the upcoming Powder Blue Air Jordan IX Retro release.  They are a spot-on reproduction of the OG model from 1994, after all, and the white leather with choice black and Carolina blue sections make for a perfect summer shoe.  Enjoy some new photos after the jump and stick with Sneaker News for updates on these and the rest of the 2010 Air Jordan Retro releases.  Via Sneaker XB on eBay

Style: 302370-103
Color: White/Black-University Blue

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The remaining kicks in the Nike Classics bracket are ready to clash in Round 2 of the SN March Madness Sneaker Tournament, and if Round 1 was any indication, we may be in for one of the biggest stories of the tournament. In the first round, the 5-seeded Air Foamposite One took out the legendary Air Max 90 in convincing fashion, leading up to a Sweet Sixteen matchup that will pit the underdog Foams up against the iconic Air Max 1. In the other Round 2 face-off, two more titans do battle as the Air Trainer 1 looks to fend off the Air Max 95. Both matchups should be interesting, so keep reading to get in on the fun and place your votes. Voting for the final Round 2 bracket will open tomorrow night at 8pm EST.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The Christmas season is months away, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start compiling a list of gift ideas for your loved ones (or to drop hints at what you’d like under your tree). Take a moment to review what Nike has in store for us this upcoming holiday season, and you’ll see an impressive collection of Nike Sportswear designs, like the Toki ND, Blazer, Terminator, and timeless Nike Dunk. The focus for the upcoming Holiday 2010 Sportswear collection seems more focused on the ladies, as a number of classic Nike silhouettes like the Nike Legend and Terminator are featured in colorways fit for a queen.

Included in the sea of lifestyle designs are two great basketball silhouettes – the Nike Air 1/2 Cent in Varsity Red (previously dubbed the Cranberry 1/2 Cent) and the Nike Air Max CB34. The CB34, part of Charles Barkley’s arsenal in the 90′s and releasing right after the “Godzilla” CB34, was a popular pair during that decade ruled by Nike Basketball. Both the 1/2 Cent and Barkleys are headed for an October 2010 release, but don’t forget to continue reading to get a full list of the Nike Sportswear Holiday 2010 collection.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Just yesterday we showed you a black canvas constructed adidas Original ZX77, which acts as the yang to this new white canvas pair’s yin. Since we’re talking adidas, a better comparison would be Stormtrooper to Luke Skywalker; the upper features a white no-sew canvas upper with a light-beige midsole and rear heel counter, a colorway similar to Skywalker’s get-up in the original Star Wars flick. Stick with Sneaker News for stateside release updates, as these are already available overseas at Schrittmacher.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The Nike Air Attack Pack is set to release in just a few days, but here’s a look at a secondary assault headed straight for our feet this upcoming winter season. Check out the Nike Air Max Holiday 2010 Collection, which features a number of great colorways of our favorite classic Nike silhouettes. It’s also a real visual treat to see some models that have been relatively quiet over the past year, like the Nike Air Max Light and Nike Air Classic BW. Check out the Nike Air Max Holiday 2010 after the jump and start compiling your checklist!

Tweet

Continue Reading   

This upcoming Air Jordan Spiz’ike has caused a moderate level of controversy largely due to its nickname being a misnomer. The “Grape” moniker has stuck with this pair ever since pictures first leaked, but as you can see, there really isn’t anything “Grape” about it. Nonetheless, this Spiz’ike, recently worn by Spike Lee in Knicks game, is worth a second look; it features the classic grey/black elephant print and a perforated upper – a design cue that seems to have been the deciding factor for some of our readers. Check out these detailed images and get ready for these to drop in April. via Dunk.

Style: 315371-102
Color: White/Aqua Tone-Varsity Purple-Varsity Red

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The Nike Air Trainer SC continues its push throughout 2010 with this new colorway of the Nike Trainer SC in white, blue, and black. Although the blue in this new pair is just a shade darker than the royal blue colorway that was an original release and a retro in 1998, it still maintains the retro look that many older Nike heads warm their hearts to. In fact, for sneakerheads with particular tastes, the Trainer SC in the Auburn colorway might have been the most anticipated retro of 2009 (even ahead of the Space Jam Air Jordan XI). This latest colorway of the Nike Air Trainer SC is available from JBseller on eBay.

Style: 302346-108
Color: White/Midnight Navy

Tweet

Continue Reading