We’re back with a check in on Rick Williams of The Distinct Life and Burn Rubber fame and his epic New Balance 30 for 30 endeavor. Rick is rocking a different pair of NB’s every day for a whole month, a project that began on June 1st. He’s halfway through the month as of today and the selection so far has been excellent. Notables include both the Black and White versions of the Spy vs. Spy MT580 and the Freedom Trail 1500CP collaboration with Concepts. Rick’s clearly got a nice New Balance hookup as he has been sporting several unreleased models as well. The 30 for 30 will culminate in a giveaway of two custom New Balance 574′s, so be sure to stay tuned. Continue reading after the jump to take a look at all shoes so far from the 30 for 30. via: The Distinct Life

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Believe it or not, the Nike Blazer was once at the forefront of basketball sneaker technology. While this old school model generally doesn’t see much time on the courts these days, its undeniable style and simplicity have made it a favorite for retro releases. This new batch of summer colorways features the standard Blazer material of suede, found in Dark Copper, Gorge Green, and Medium Grey across the three new pairs. These Nike Blazer Mids also have a vintage treatment on them, something we have seen quite a bit on this shoe over the past couple of years. Thankfully, the effects are minimal, with the suede boasting a slightly worn down look and the midsoles having some minor yellowing. Continue reading to get a look at all three of the new summer colorways, available now at Premier.

Nike Blazer Mid Premium VNTG
Gorge Green
429988-302

Medium Grey
429988-003

Dark Copper
429988-800

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Could we be seeing our first glimpse into Shawn Marion’s footwear choices for next season?  Having just seen The Matrix’ Nike Air Shox Hyperballer PE from the NBA Finals, we can’t help but think that this tonal blue getup with black accents would make a perfect road shoe to match the Mavericks’ uniforms.  But these are definitely not a player exclusive release, their black and Photo Blue design something you can expect to find more widely at Nike Basketball retailers when they hit store shelves later this year.  Click through for a better view, let us know how they compare to the others we’ve seen so far and stick with Sneaker News for updates on these and all Air Shox Hyperballer release dates.  via mizoguchisports

Nike Air Shox Hyperballer
Black/Photo Blue-Black
454154-002

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Japanese streetwear label A Bathing Ape would never be accused of borrowing anyone else’s original designs, right?  Ok, so that’s a bit of blatant sarcasm, but to some, BAPE’s reappropriation of classic styles amounts to little more than biting.  But Nigo’s brand is not without some self-awareness (it is named A Bathing Ape, after all), so when you consider the Bathing Ape Bapesta ‘Lettered’, it can be seen as more of an homage to last year’s Air Force 1 ’5 Boroughs Pack’ than an outright rip-off.  Pairs in brown, blue, grey and green add tonal chenille Stars to their leather uppers, an accent color outlining the separation and pointing your eye to the heel where a safety-pinned varsity-style ‘B’ finishes off the letterman look.  Click through to see more of all three and look for these now at the BAPE e-store and select retailers around the globe.

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Nearly 25 years after the Nike Air Max line first debuted, these runners are still going strong, with constant updates to the Air Max family utilizing new technology being made. This summer Nike Air Max 2011+ colorway comes with some nice flashes of Volt, the bright green that Nike has been going crazy with as of late, found on the side swoosh and outsole. The uber-comfortable full length Max Air cushion on these comes in a more subtle Pine Green,  really setting off the two toned green set up on these. The overdose of air found in the cushioning combined with the breathable mesh upper results in a great summer runner and a worthy addition to the Air Max line.  Hit the jump for some more photos of this new pair of Nike Air Max 2011+, which is available now at Finishline.

Nike Air Max 2011+
Dark Grey/Volt-Pine Green-Neutral Grey
429889-030

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Nike iD is a godsend for those who have creative ideas for sneakers, but lack the crafty handiwork to do it themselves. That isn’t the case for sneaker customizer jwdanklefs, who has wowed Sneaker News readers in the past with his simple concepts and impeccable execution. You might remember his Nike Air Max Light Customs, inspired by the Air Max 90 ‘Homegrown’, or his simpler Air Max 1 iD that he adroitly customized to appear like the Air Jordan IV ‘Eminem’. Here’s another pair of customs inspired by another – a Nike Air Max 90 that adopts the famous color combination from the Air Max 95 designed by Brooklyn-based artist Stash. The upper features the same colorway as the Air Max 95 version, using a light blue, navy, and a dark grey, but the shining feature of this custom is the black/blue speckled midsole. Check out the rest of jwdanklefs’ custom after the jump and let us know what you think.

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Just how do you give the most stylish shoe in your line-up a ‘premium’ treatment? The Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski is one of those few skate shoes that has managed to permeate not a casual-wear crowd, but the fastidious lifestyle crowd. Such a sleek design wasn’t meant for skating, but the Janoski is just that, and for the Spring 2012 season, it’s about to get a bit of an upgrade. This Premium Janoski features a clean colorway of Metallic Silver, White, and Anthracite, and uses premium materials to complete the upgraded package. One bit of news to note is that the Premium variety carries a price-tag $12 higher than the original ($90 vs. $78). In any case, expect more Nike SB news soon, so let us know what you think of this upcoming Janoski release. via CK.

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Sample sneakers are created to give retailers a preview of what to expect on their shelves in the coming seasons while giving designers a chance to improve upon their prototypes.  But in the case of the above pictured model, its design has been finalized since 1988 (2003 if you consider the heel branding), and though they do indeed represent a significant design shift, the purpose of the shoe seems to be more like a splash of cold water in the face.  Wake up, sneakerheads!  One of your all-time favorites is coming back when the Air Jordan III ‘Black Cement’ releases this holiday season, but Jordan Brand wants you to remember how perfect the AJ3 really is/was.  So despite the fact that the retail version will feature the classic black tumbled leather we’ve come to know and love, a sample pair of AJ3s crafted in nubuck has been circulating.  These joints also feature grey suede on the tongue, ankle and eyelets in place of the traditional leather, so what do you think of the material swap?  Click through to leave a comment and see some additional angles and stick with Sneaker News for updates like the ‘Black Cement’ Air Jordan III release date.  via MN

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Chad Muska’s Supra Skytop III is on the way and while he is one of the head honchos of the Supra skate brand, Nike’s have had an influence on him and his signature line of flashy kicks. For instance, the tongue of the Air Jordan VI served as the inspiration for the Skytop II, and even his love for the Air Mag may have had a hand in his high-reaching sneakers. Some of his favorites range from the Nike Air Max Series to the Air Jordan line and of course, the Supra Skytop, so check out some of Muska’s favorite sneakers after the jump and head over to Complex for the entire feature.

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Jalen Rose wore adidas during his days in the NBA, but have he and Nike Basketball finally come to an agreement?  A signature model would be downright laughable at this point in time, so we’re not talking about an endorsement deal, but rather a consensus on who is currently the world’s best basketball player.  Right now, NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki is featured front and center (top-left, actually) on the Nike Basketball EPIC Family minisite.  Dallas’ Dirk is joined by the usual suspects like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and others, though you might be surprised by the distribution of star power throughout the list.  In any case, each star pictured also has links to his personal profile and Twitter account so you can connect with the world’s greatest basketball players.  Click through for a preview and head over to the Nike Basketball EPIC Family site to check it out for yourself.

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When we first saw the Nike Air Max Alpha 2011 just over two weeks ago, its use of a familiar typeface on the tongue tag had us recalling the immortal Air Max 95.  Those comparisons will only be strengthened by this new pair of AM Alpha 2011s, a colorway that blends white, grey and black with neon accents like the OG AM95s.  But aside from the colorway and ‘airmax’ tag, these are a whole ‘nother animal entirely, their Hyperfuse constructed uppers both lighter and more breathable than the Ninety-Five’s signature ‘muscle fibers’ build.  Click through to see more angles on the Air Max Alpha 2011 ‘Volt’ and stick with Sneaker News for word on the US release date. via Tenisfuki

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Japanese designer Jun Watanabe started the year off with a Converse Jack Purcell for his Comme des Garçons label, but it was the ‘Mr. Bottle Head’ Reebok Insta Pump Fury that garnered the most attention.  This new Jun Watanabe x Asics Gel Lyte III picks up where that polka-dotted pair left off, utilizing the same colorway, but to a different effect.  Instead of a spotted overlay, these joints use zebra striping to bring out their wild side, the golden midsole section serving to further distance these from Watanabe’s recent RBKs.  Click through to see more angles and stick with Sneaker News for updates on what we expect to be an October 2011 release.  via GLLTN

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