Summer is officially here, and this Sunday, the grill will be blazing and the PBR will be flowing as Packer Shoes welcomes the legendary Biz Markie to help celebrate their recent PRO-Keds collaboration with a backyard BBQ. Leather colorways of the classic PRO-Keds 69er Lo are available at the store and online now in black, olive and the Packer exclusive white. The shoe will be packaged along with a special t-shirt and Biz USB keychain and will also grant you entrance to the barbecue. Space will be limited so you’ll need one to get in, but the chance to toast burgers and Pabst Blue Ribbons with Biz should be well worth the price of admission. Those who placed orders online can pick up their shoes and BBQ admission pass beginning at 12:30 pm on Sunday, and anyone looking for a last-minute pair can grab them then as well. Keep reading for more pics, including a side-by-side with an original vintage pair and a video invitation from Biz himself.

BACKYARD BBQ WITH BIZ
Sunday, June 26th
1:00-5:00PM

Packer Shoes
941 Teaneck Road | Map
Teaneck, NJ 07666

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There comes a point in a sneakerhead’s life in which you have to hang it up for good, to go out on top like Michael did in ’98. Coltrane Curtis, long-time sneakerhead, influencer of style, and creative director of Team Epiphany, has come to grips with the fact that he’s laced his last pair of kicks (in order to make room for his latest pick-up, a newborn child). For $40,000, you can own Coltrane’s massive 1,200-pair collection, which includes some rare gems like a pair of Nikes signed by the Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith). This lot of kicks is reserved for “…celebrities, real-rappers, and weight-movers ONLY…”, so if you fall into that demographic, hit up Coltrane on Twitter and talk business! (And for those who don’t do math, $40,000/1200= $33.33 a pair) .via FRESHNESS.

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The post-recession ‘maturation’ process undergone by the majority of streetwear purveyors has left sneakers in a state of deep reflection, as in the echoing of a base color across various tones that typifies models like the ‘Cool Grey’ Air Jordan XI.  The 2010 re-release of that legendary model was perfectly timed and we’ve seen a ton of tonal grey kicks in its wake, but here’s proof that you can get your all-over fix in a variety of shades.  The Nike Dunk High Premium just hit retailers in an Obsidian mix of suede and a woven synthetic that looks quite nice against white on the laces and midsole, and you can see several more images when you click on the jump below.  Leave a comment to let us know how these compare to the best Dunks we’ve seen this year and grab yours today from select Nike Sportswear spots like JD Sports.

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Regular Sneaker News readers have seen Nike Basketball officially unveil the Hyperfuse 2011 this week along with a few colorways hitting retail this month, but those with a crisp memory might see the above-pictured model and wonder what happened to the models previewed back in March.  What we expected back then to be the Q4 lineup of Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 Lows has turned out to either be a sample or some other Hyperfuse construction, the difference between them as simple yet drastic as the placement of the side panel Swooshes.  But the Photo Blue and Volt colorway having been previewed earlier this week, you have a good idea of what’s in store, and with more images after the jump you’ll be well equipped to make the decision to buy them at a store like FinishLine.

Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 Low
Photo Blue/Volt-Black
454137-400

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In yesterday’s look at the ‘Mariners Emerald’ Air Griffey Max 1 retro slated to hit retailers in August, we remarked on how MLB’s first round of expansion in the ’90s introduced the sports world to the tertiary colors and beyond.  One of the clubs instrumental in making teal a must-use shade in that decade was the Florida Marlins, a 1993 expansion team that seems to win a World Series every few years then promptly dismantle the roster.  Luckily, your purchase of a new pair of Nike Air Max 95s is a one-and-done deal, so you can grab this high-contrast leather take on one of that decade’s defining models and they’re yours forever (though another unlikely playoff run could add some resale equity).  Click through to see how perfectly this matches the classic Marlins snapback and grab yours today from Miami’s Sole Fly.

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Ray Allen made history on February 9th when he broke the all-time NBA record of 3-pointers made, capping off a sure-fire Hall of Fame career. During that game, Jordan Brand outfitted him in a sweet White/Green Player Exclusive colorway of the Air Jordan, featuring his ‘RAY’ logo on the tongue. News of a limited release of the Air Jordan XIII Ray Allen PE stirred up some debate, and now Sneaker News has the official release date and information for one of the most limited Air Jordans in recent memory. The Air Jordan XIII Ray Allen PE will release on July 16th at House of Hoops in Boston, MA, and at SoleFly in Miami, FL. Also available is a limited edition Ray Allen Jordan Brand t-shirt. Check out the official images of the Air Jordan XIII Ray Allen PE below and let us know if these are a must-have for you.

Air Jordan XIII Ray Allen PE
07/16/11
Release date changed: 7/23/2011

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The Nike SB Dunk Mid ‘Griptape’ of 2007 is considered to be one of the best SB Dunk Mids to have released, thanks to its no-frills color selection and use of skate-specific materials. The Griptape Mid returns in 2011 in the revamped/retooled form, featuring the newly enhanced outsole traction and of course, no strap. The rest of the sneaker remains true to the 2007 release, which uses the Black suede upper and Light Graphite accents and the griptape-like material on the toebox and lace placket. Check out the additional images below and cop this July 2011 release now from Nike SB retailers like Premier.

Nike SB Dunk Mid
Black/Light Graphite
314383-014

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The Air Jordan Alpha 1 Low is a modern take on the classic basketball shoe that started Michael’s footwear legacy. Fortunately, the Alpha 1 doesn’t stray too far from the OG Air Jordan 1 on which it was built, maintaining the general silhouette but opting for more advanced materials on the insides. The sole for example comes with an encapsulated air package in the heel area and additional grooves for added flexibility. Another new feature is the seamless upper, an option that was unheard of for sneakers when the Air Jordan 1 debuted back in 1985. The Air Jordan Alpha 1 Low pictured above is a simple black and white colorway, with a couple subtle hits on varsity red to give it the right amount of Jordan Brand flavor.  Hit the jump to get a full look at the Air Jordan Alpha 1 Low in White/Black/Varsity Red. These are scheduled for a July release, but you can get your pair right now from 95soleman on eBay.

Air Jordan Alpha 1 Low
White/Black/Varsity Red
453839-101

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When Ray Allen broke the all-time three point record for the NBA on February 9th, he did it in style, wearing this Celtics flavored Air Jordan XIII PE. Fortunately for Jordan Brand fans, the Air Jordan XIII Ray Allen Celtics PE will be released to the public this summer, a rare treat for those looking to snag some Ray memorabilia and own a piece of NBA history. We’re back with some on foot images of this killer colorway, coming in a green and white motif with a slick “Ray” logo on the tongue. A release like this doesn’t come around often, so make sure you have your ducks in order when these drop this summer. The rumored release date is July and this will be a House of Hoops exclusive. Continue reading for more detailed on foot photographs of this very special Air Jordan XIII. via Kickz-Lab

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The biggest single Air Force 1 release from last summer was the AF1 Foamposite in the initial silver colorway, a model that’s all at once quite similar and very different from the one pictured above.  One one hand, the Nike Air Force 1 Hyperfuse can be lumped together with the AF1 Foams through their use of updated materials via Nike Basketball, but the Hyperfuse Air Force 1s go in the opposite direction of their Foamposite counterparts by slashing the model’s weight instead of fortifying it.  The Midnight Fog AF1 Hyperfuse features a tonal look thanks to the various mesh sections along with the laces, lining and strap materials, the last of which is also done in reflective 3M.  Click through for a closer look and grab the first Nike Air Force 1 Hyperfuse today from select NSW retailers like New York’s Extra Butter.

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For decades, counterfeiters have been making some nice money selling items falsely branded as genuine merchandise. The counterfeit sneaker has been a particular cash cow for these overseas thieves, peddling their wares on the internet through wacky online stores and even on eBay. The New York Times delved a bit deeper into the world of counterfeit sneakers last August and later in November, U.S. Homeland Security took action by shutting down counterfeit footwear sites, but for every closed store, a handful of new ones pop up, so the only way to truly fight the counterfeit sneaker market is to smarten up with your sneaker knowledge and laugh at the truly hideous beasts that have surfaced.

Take for example the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse ‘Grinch’, which wouldn’t be a bad shoe were it not for LeBron’s L23 logo on the heel, or the grey/neon Air Yeezy with the Air Jordan VI midsole. Just what are they thinking? Then again, the thought of an Air Jordan shoe with a full-length Air Max unit would be laughable (that funky-looking Air Max Jordan XIII 360 or Air Max Jordan IV 360), but Jordan Brand just released the Air Jordan 2.0, which is exactly that – an Air Jordan shoe with visible full-length Air. It seems like a hit or miss with these counterfeiters. In any case, Complex compiled a list of the twenty craziest footwear fakes, so head there for the full feature after checking out the sampling below.

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The first free agent to get locked up during the 2010 NBA Offseason extravaganza (‘fiasco’ might be a better term) was Amare Stoudemire, who inked a max-contract deal with the New York Knicks. It proved to be money well spent, because STAT was garnering attention as a legitimate MVP candidate, displaying offensive prowess and finishing ability that the Knicks lacked for an entire decade. Stoudemire went most of the season wearing the Nike Zoom Huarache TR Mid, but that might change for the upcoming 2011-12 season because he was just spotted at the Nike Basketball Amare Stoudemire Skills Academy wearing the all-new Nike Air Max Sweep Thru. From what we can notice here, the Air Max Sweep Thru features a unique in-step strap that locks down the entire forefoot and midfoot – similar to what we saw in the Nike Zoom KD IV. Air Max cushioning isn’t new for STAT either, as his entire Nike STAT signature line featured Air Max support. Check out Amare in the all-new Nike Air Max Sweep Thru after the jump and stick with Sneaker News for more updates regarding this new Nike Basketball model.

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