The Air Jordan 1 caused controversy, and the Air Jordan II defied convention. The Air Jordan III tooted its horn when Michael Jordan wore them during the 1988 NBA Dunk Contest, winning in style over the favored Dominique Wilkins and performing the most memorable dunk in the contest’s history – one that will be forever instilled in NBA lore and imagery. The Air Jordan III presented a number of new features to the Air Jordan line, like visible Air, which debuted on the classic Air Max 1, the elephant print, which was a result of Jordan’s desire for an animal print on the shoe, and tumbled leather, which added a level of luxury to basketball shoes and satiated Jordan’s wishes.

The Air Jordan III opened the door to now legendary designer Tinker Hatfield, who went on to design the next twelve consecutive Air Jordan models. Hatfield and the design team worked tirelessly for weeks, sometimes going without sleep for days at time, to create a one-of-a-kind shoe fit for Jordan’s personal and specific tastes and grandstanding enough to be worthy of its own podium. The Air Jordan III also welcomed movie director and fellow Brooklyn-native Spike Lee into the Air Jordan marketing strategy; while the Air Jordan 1 & II utilized a dramatic angle, the III featured a comedic approach, with ‘Mars Blackmon’ hanging on a basketball rim while standing on the shoulders of his “main man” Michael Jordan and providing most of the dialogue while letting Jordan speak with his actions.

However, the Air Jordan III was almost at risk of never being created, as Michael Jordan considered leaving Nike, until a stern chat with his father and a meeting with Tinker Hatfield changed his mind and opened up a newfound excitement for the Air Jordan III and the future of his signature line. The excitement resulted in one of the most successful spans in Jordan’s career; Michael ended the ’88 season with an League MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star Game MVP, and Dunk Contest Trophy while providing a firm foundation for the following ’88-’89 season, which turned out to be Jordan’s best all-around campaign. The three original colorways were all in rotation – White for the Dunk Contest and regular season, Fire Red for the Playoffs, and Black for All-Star Game. The fourth original colorway, known as the ‘True Blues’, were never worn by Michael as a Bull, but he brought them out during his brief tenure with the Washington Wizards. The Air Jordan III is long considered one of the greatest footwear designs of all time, and by some to be the greatest Air Jordan in the label’s history. Continue reading for a gallery of Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan III and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the next volume of Michael Jordan Through The Years.

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Creative soul Chris Aylen hooked up with Sneaker Freaker again to get an updated look at his collection. Aylen, a UK-based music fiend and sneakerhead, was featured on Sneaker Freaker once before for his vintage collection, but here we get a look at some of his gems, like the Air Seismic, DQM x Air Max 90 ‘Bacon’, and original pairs of the Nike Air Flow. In the interview with Sneaker Freaker, Aylen talks about his latest projects as well as his thoughts on the current Nike releases, like his ‘must-cop’ of the Footscape Motion ‘Climbers Pack’ as well as the Chrome Ball x Nike SB Dunk. Check out some of Chris Aylen’s collection after the jump and head to Sneaker Freaker for the entire feature.

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One of the most hyped sneakers of 2010 and perhaps the most highly anticipated LeBron shoe is the Nike LeBron 8 ‘South Beach’. After an initial limited Florida-only release in October, the South Beach state of mind will hit the rest of the nation as Pre-Heats will hit select Nike Basketball retailers like Footaction and House of Hoops, and earlier today Sneaker News gave you a heads up on a release at Atmos in Harlem, NYC. Also releasing tomorrow is a colorway that covers a broader American audience in the USA or Veteran’s Day colorway, which LeBron James appropriately debuted on the national holiday last week. Check out the extra shots of both colorways after the jump and be prepared for the release, or snatch a pair right now on eBay.

Style: 417098-401
Color: Retro/Black-Pink Flash-Filiment Green

Style: 417098-100
Color: White/Midnight Navy-Varsity Red

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Just a few years ago, the phrase ‘sneaker keychain‘ would have you picturing a crispy new pair and their hangtags.  But as sneakerhead culture continues to grow, the demand for accompanying accessories is also on the rise, and Sneaker News has shown you a variety of keychain sneakers over the past couple years.  Some have been created by fans as a tiny tribute, but the latest shoes-on-a-chain come straight from the source, with Vans celebrating two of their foundational models in miniature form.  The Vans Sk8-Hi and Slip-On keychains are surprisingly realistic, eschewing the ceramic painted look and opting instead for genuine sneaker materials like canvas and leather.  That makes these the most ‘authentic’ sneaker key keepers yet, and you can see more photos of all three models after the jump. via Dunk.

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Plenty of Jordan Brand’s apparel and accessories feature depictions of the Air Jordan Legacy either in whole or partially, but few have offered this level of detail.  The Jordan Sublimated Tee is like looking at the shoe that started it all under a microscope.  You get a sense for the fine grain of leather used on the Air Jordan 1′s white/red/black OG colorway, with a Jumpman dog tag reminding us of the days before sneaker keychains were available in mass production.  Have a closer look by clicking the jump below and let us know how these rank against your favorite Jordan Brand tee shirts.  via Gallery2

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If last year’s big Air Jordan retro release was any indication, 2010 will forever be remembered as the year of ‘Cool Grey’.  We’ve seen countless accessories and apparel items set to coordinate with the upcoming Air Jordan XI release, and here’s a similarly hewn effort from one of Nike/JB’s main rivals.  The Reebok Zig Slash is pictured above in a mix of greys and white that while similar to the CG Elevens, certainly has its own look and feel thanks to the tessellated rear sections and that unmistakable Zig Tech sole.  Check out more shots by clicking the jump below and grab a pair today from FinishLine.

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Here’s a brand new Nike Air Max 90 for kids that has a bit of Kidrobot feel about it.  Utilizing the same gold and pink accents that characterized that 2005 collaboration and very much resembling the black pair of Kid Robot Air Max 1s, the latest AM90 adds a spotted pattern on the ankle collar along with a patent leather mudguard to further differentiate this drop.  Metallic gold is nothing new from Nike Sportswear, but the steely pink shade that appears on this pair’s laces is quite impressive and hopefully a sign of things to come from some other colored laces.  Have a closer look by clicking the jump below and grab a pair today from SneakersNStuff.

Style: 345017-004
Color: Black/Metallic Gold-Sport Pink

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“So many paths to choose from.  The outcomes for each are uncertain.  Decide on a path and keep moving.”  Sage wisdom, that, especially coming from a sneaker!  Rarely have kicks been as insightful as the upcoming WTAPS x Vans Syndicate Sk8-Mids, who feature the quote above on their side panel stripes.  That’s one of the ways WTAPS has made these two-toned colorups stand out beyond their potential on paper, with spiderweb graphics adding to the unique feel.  Check out new shots of navy blue and black suede/canvas designs after the jump and look for these to hit select retailers soon.  via ST

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Nike N7 is more than just a signature colorway.  It’s a collection designed “to promote active and healthy lifestyles . . . [in] Native American and Aboriginal communities in the USA and Canada,” and these latest releases are geared toward the single most basic athletic activity: running.  Here are four new Nike N7 running shoes, the LunarSwift for both men and boys in black and another pair in grey, plus a LunarGlide in grey just for ladies.  And while we mentioned above that N7 is more than just a palette, it sure doesn’t hurt that the combination of Cayman blue and Challenge Red common to all four pairs is one of the more aesthetically pleasing mixes in recent memory.  Have a look at all four pairs when you click the jump below and grab one or more pairs today from NikeStore.

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Think you’ve got what it takes to design a colorway of the Reebok Zig Slash for John Wall? Reebok just launched the ‘Customize John Wall’s Kicks’ contest where participants can pick out a color combination for John Wall to wear during the 2011 NBA All-Star weekend. Wall’s a lock for the Rookie Game, and with a current stat line of 18 points, 10 assists, and over 3 steals a game, being placed on the Eastern Conference All-Star team is a possibility. The individual behind the winning design will receive a grand prize of a trip to the NBA All-Star weekend to see Wall wear the kicks, with more great prizes for the other Top 10 finalists. Got what it takes? Hit up Reebok and let us know what design you have in mind.

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Considering how sweet the ‘South Beach’ LeBron 8 looks, sneakerheads are sure to have a treat in store when the annual ‘Dunkman’ colorway hits retailers.  That’s still several months off with not a single teaser image in sight, but a dope Nike Basketball sneaker has just released with a similarly ‘nucular’ colorup.  The Nike Hyperdunk 2010 is pictured above in a colorway that echoes its place as both futuristic and the key Nike BB shoe in 2K10, a Volt-accented palette largely crafted in shades of grey and black.  These joints look like radioactive bullets and whether you’re using them to fire down the lane or drop bombs from downtown, you can grab yours today from 95soleman on eBay.

Style: 407625-011
Color: Black/Metallic Silver-Dark Grey-Volt

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A big handful of great NBA games wrapped up last night and once again, the NBA pros wowed us with their on-court sneaker selections. Starting it off was Syracuse alumni Hakim Warrick an the Nike Air 1/2 Cent ‘Eggplant’ against Dwyane Wade’s Air Jordan 2010 and LeBron’s China joints. Gilbert Arenas continued his sneaker rotation by splitting time between the Air Jordan XI Space Jam and the Nike Air 3 LE (formerly the Garnetts). Teammate Andray Blatche wore the Nike Zoom Kobe V in a Wizards-personalized colorway, while Ronny Turiaf of the Knicks wore his own rendition of the Kobe V. Juwan Howard of the heat wore a white/red pair of the Jumpman Pro Strong, while big-man Antonio McDyess of the Spurs wore the Air Jordan One6One7. Tyreke Evans, who recently shunned the Nike Hyperdunk 2010 for its lack of ankle support, opted for the cushier Air Max Hyperdunk 2010. Check out the entire gallery of last night’s kicks and let us know who takes the crown from yesterday night’s games. via Yahoo!/ESPN.

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