Is MizzeeCustoms‘ latest creation his finest to date?  That’s a question you’ll be considering as you take a gander at the Nike LeBron 8 ‘Big O’ custom he recently crafted from the China edition that hit retailers as one of the model’s first colorways.  This shoe gets its name from LeBron having posted only the second triple-double in All-Star history this year at Staples Center, a feat famously averaged by Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.  So the palette here is designed to match the Milwaukee Bucks’ classic jerseys and also happens to reflect the traditional Christmas colorway we see annually from the Nike LeBron series.  Miz certainly has a gift, so click through to see more shots and his video description after the jump and let us know how these compare to the rest of his and the other customs we’ve shown you here on Sneaker News.

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Hiroshi Fujiwara stands among the most important Nike contributors during the age of collaborative designs, his own tag team with SOPHNET’s Hirofumi Kiyonaga on the uniform experiment label having come in on a variety of projects.  2010 was a quiet year for UE collabos but almost as soon as the calendar flipped we got a view at this uniform experiment x Nike All Court Mid back in early January.  Looks like those sample images were a preview of one of two pairs in this pack, the only difference between them being the application of various sized white stars across the deep blue denim uppers.  All the rest is the same, from the white vulc sole and toecap to the tonal leather accents and a multicolored heel strip reminiscent of the end of a TV channel’s broadcast day.  Click through to see more of this release slated for May 14th at SOPH. stores and stick with Sneaker News for word on a possible US release date.  via HB

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Hitting Nike Sportswear retailers this May is an OG-esque colorway of the Nike Air Trainer SC II in White/Dark Grey-Neutral Grey-Citron. Just short of teal-blue lining to be considered a ‘true’ Retro (true as in a ‘true’ attempt at re-creating the OG), this upcoming release still captures the sensational design and colorway of the Air Trainer SC II when we first laid eyes on it two decades ago. ‘Citron’, a neon-green/yellow pigment that purportedly conjures up thoughts of tennis and those fuzzy balls, provides the necessary pop for this soon-to-release Nike Retro, while the basic trio of White and two tones of Grey does the rest. You can expect these to hit retailers next month, but in the meantime check out the additional images of the sample pair below and check out the entire auction from checkmarksthespot on eBay.

Nike Air Trainer SC II
White/Dark Grey-Neutral Grey-Citron
443575-102
05/2011
$110

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When it comes to summertime kicks, you’re looking for style and comfort, preferably in a lightweight and cool package, and what Nike Sportswear retro running release better reflects these desires in name and execution better than the Nike Air Max Light?  The AM Light is still something of a cult favorite here in the US thanks to many of the best releases remaining European exclusives, but this new duo is sure to draw its fair share of attention when they hit store shelves shortly.  One model has quite an intense look with Alarming Red accents setting off the otherwise black design while another in neutral grey with Photo Blue and Neo Lime hits has a bit of the ‘Sprite’ look.  Quench your thirst for more images by clicking on the jump below and grab a pair (or two) today from Kix-Files.

Nike Air Max Light LE
Neutral Grey/Black-Photo Blue-Neo Lime
315827-036

Nike Air Max Light LE
Black/White-Alarming Red-Voltage Cherry
315827-035

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Grass or clay, it doesn’t matter. Nadal is THAT dude. Currently ranked number one in the world, Nadal is looking to further engrave himself into tennis history this season while wearing the Nike Air Max Courtballistec 3.3 in a stunning White/Gridiron-Green Apple-True Yellow colorway. The Courtballistec 3.3 features a Drag On upper for supreme stability, LunarLon cushioning for a springy yet shock-absorbing support, an off-center lacing system for a lock-down fit, and just a sweet design that would make Jon McEnroe and the Air Trainer 1 a proud papa. Will we see a tennis-ball like colorway, similar to the Air Max Courtballistec 2.2 from last year? These have begun to hit retailers like CitySole so take a look below (these look sweet for casual wear) and pick up a pair now on eBay.

Nike Air Max Courtballistec 3.3
White/Gridiron-Green Apple-True Yellow
429985-100

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The mid-90′s Seattle Mariners squad was one you just couldn’t hate on. The Pacific Northwestern baseball club featured two of the biggest stars of our generation in Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, two sure-fire hall-of-famers that gave the game an intangible ‘cool’. Of course it was Griffey whose star shined brighter at the time thanks to (arguably) the sweetest lefty-swing we’ve ever seen, his mildly defiant signature backwards cap, and that unflappable swag that he displayed after he knew he hit one 445 feet into the Right Field bleachers. Griffey never let it get to his head (the only gigantism he experienced when he drank a bit too much tonic), but Nike gave him his dues with a signature line of kicks that included the Nike Air Griffey Max II. Undoubtedly one of the hottest releases of the year, the ‘Freshwater’ joints won’t officially drop ’til next week, but grab a pair early right now from WEST NYC or on eBay.

Nike Air Griffey Max II
Black/White-Freshwater
442171-001
04/23/11

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The 2011 Jordan Brand Classic kicked off yesterday in Charlotte, N.C., with the day’s event beginning with a team practice at the Charlotte Convention Center while sporting the upcoming Jordan Fly Wade. The players were then taken to the Joe Gibbs Racing Facility where the players were presented with a showcase of the race car garage, pit-stop demonstrations, and other team-building aspects of racing. The players were joined by Team Jordan athlete Denny Hamlin, who chimed in with his racing knowledge and partnership with Jordan Brand. The final stop of the day’s activities was at a local bowling alley, where the players participated in an NBA 2K11 videogame challenge. The players were also joined by a few celebrities such as Jadakiss, Teyana Taylor, and Dre Bly. Check out a quick recap of the day’s events and stick with Sneaker News for more Jordan Brand Classic coverage.

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When the CEO of Nike went to your school, you know you’re set when it comes to athletic gear. Nike often uses the Oregon Ducks to showcase the best and brightest Nike technology, but it was a pair of redone sneakers originally from 1994 that had us aghast. Jordan Brand outfitted the Oregon Ducks players with this tonal-black suede Air Jordan IX Player Exclusive for Media Day, as the Ducks football team was preparing for the National Championship Game. Although the Ducks were a few quacks short of a victory, they still looked like winners while sporting some exclusive Jordans. You know it was only a matter of time before these became available to the highest bidder, so take a look at the detailed shots below and grab one of the available pairs now from sole_supreme on eBay.

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Jordans, Nike SB, Nike Running, Nike Basketball, Movies, the Break Room, Television, Video Games, Music…what else is there to cover? Believe it or not, what Sneaker News has been showing you over the course of four weeks isn’t the entire picture, and falling in-between all the major and minor cracks are other themed groupings of sneakers worthy of their own exhibits in The ShoeZeum. It’s clear that Jordan Geller takes the time and effort to place his sneakers in a precise manner so in this latest chapter of Sneaker News’ visit to The ShoeZeum, we’ll do our best to show you the best of what’s still left to uncover.

Throughout the first eight installments of the Sneaker News x ShoeZeum features, it’s easy to recognize that Jordan already has particular ideas set in stone, and that acquiring the right shoes and props are the only hurdle to completing these exhibits. Take for example the back wall of The ShoeZeum which faces the Nike Running and Nike Basketball aisles, a set of Holiday themed showcases that cover Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween inspired sneakers, or the Nike SB Dunks ‘Bic’, ‘Brut’, ‘Aquafresh’, and ‘Old Spice’ shelved in the corner of the restroom. Geller’s got a soft spot for Nike’s charitable causes, as he devotes an entire wall to the Nike Livestrong campaign, the Brain Wreck collaborations, featuring an actual Todd Bratrud-painted body-mold of a breast cancer survivor, an exhibit devoted to the 9/11 tragedy, and the Air Jordan/Nike x Doernbecher Freestyle. Sitting below is his tribute to Beaverton, OR, where Nike is headquartered, and across the room is his ode to the Olympics, featuring rare Nike apparel for the Games and other Olympic-inspired Nike sneakers.

Other notable displays include his ‘invisible’ kicks like the Nike Air Force II ‘Espo’ and the Nike Air Force 1, the school-related displays, expressing his acknowledgement of the importance of education, and his Nike Dunk paint splatter project, which shows the artistic side of the sneaker madman. The most impressive of these remaining exhibits is his Nike Training aisle, featuring most of the memorable silhouettes from the early days of Jon McEnroe and Bo Jackson, placed in chronological order. It’s a row filled with Trainer SCs, Tech Challenges, and more, but the most prized possessions of this grouping… a pristine pair of OG Nike Air Trainer 1s and the even more scarce Nike Killshot. Opposite the Nike Training wall is Jordan’s tribute to Nike’s innovation, like Lunar technology, Flywire, Boots, and shoes fit for aquatic sports.

As you can see, there really isn’t anything missing with The ShoeZeum. Jordan’s got nearly every corner covered, and while he may not own every single Nike sneaker ever created, he’s certainly building up to that point, because The ShoeZeum collection is growing with each passing day. It’s taken on a new life, evolving into something more monumental, triumphant, and awe-inspiring than it was the day before. Continue on to Sneaker News HD for a full gallery viewing of the ‘Best of the Rest’ in The ShoeZeum, and and be sure to check out the video tours of some of these exhibits after the jump.

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Sneaker News’ Michael Jordan Through The Years has detailed Michael Jordan’s entire professional career in the Air Jordan. Beginning with the Air Jordan 1 and ending with the Air Jordan XVIII (don’t forget the three-part Air Jordan XI series), each and every Air Jordan on Michael’s feet was included in the feature. But keep in mind that Michael Jordan came before the Air Jordan, and that there were a few instances in his career during which he wasn’t representing his own signature shoes. Let’s begin with his collegiate years; Michael and the entire Tar Heels squad wore the Converse Pro Leather and Pro Star in a matching White/Carolina Blue colorway. It wasn’t until reaching the NBA that Michael signed on as a Nike athlete; on October 24th, 1985, the world of footwear changed forever.

Before the word ‘Air’ became synonymous with his name, Michael Jordan began his journey as a professional basketball player with the Nike Airship Hi in three colorways – White/White, White/Red, and Black/Red. Michael later debuted the Air Jordan 1, and the astounding international sales combined with Jordan’s apparent megastardom in the making pointed to a long-standing relationship between Michael and the Swoosh. Since the Airship Hi, Michael has rarely been seen without an Air Jordan shoe on the court, but he did appear in a few Nike Running, Training, and Basketball shoes, like the Air Trainer SC II High, Nike Air 180, and Nike Air Force Low for photoshoots, fan events, and other promos.

It wasn’t until 1995 when Michael would sport a non-Air Jordan shoe in an NBA game; when he came back from retirement in 1995, Michael unofficially debuted the Air Jordan XI during the second round of the Playoffs. The White/Black-Dark Concord colorway was an immediate crowd-pleaser, but didn’t do much for the NBA bigwigs, as the white/black colorway did not fall in line with team-uniform guidelines and was unsuitable for use. For Game 3 of that series, Michael, with no shoes to wear, borrowed a pair of the Nike Air Flight One from Penny Hardaway’s stash, and cut off the heeltab as it featured Penny’s One-Cent logo. Michael ended up dropping 40 points that game, but the Bulls were not able to win the game. Michael’s final non-Jordan appearance came during his Washington Wizards days, when he wore the Jordan Team F.B.I. in the White/Royal and White/Varsity Red. Continue reading for a recap of the Non-Air Jordan Edition of Michael Jordan Through The Years and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the next installment of Michael Jordan Through The Years.

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Manny Pacquiao is already considered to be one of the greatest boxers to have ever entered the ring. A sport that has slowly diminshed in popularity thanks to the rise of other fight sports as well as a lack of super-star talent was rejuvenated by PacMan earlier last decade, when he entered the ring and gave the smaller guys some deserved attention. Releasing tomorrow is the EA Sports x Nike Zoom Huarache TR Low in a Varsity Red/Metallic Gold colorway, signifying the next installment of EA Sports’ widely successful Fight Night game franchise. The Red/Gold upper features a white midsole with a red heel and a gum outsole, and is labeled with an EA Sports badge on the tongues. Continue reading for another look and let us know which athlete-based Zoom Huarache TR Low (these or the Joe Mauer PE) is better.

Nike Zoom Huarache TR Low
Varsity Red/Metallic Gold-Black-White
466512-671
4/15/11
$110

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