When it comes to Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski samples, most of what we’ve seen over the past couple years has eventually made its way to market.  Notable items previewed in this way include this year’s ‘Brogue’ Mids and the ‘Wino’ Quickstrike, but an even more radical departure from the Janoski’s base construction was in the works and might have even turned out to be the final verison of the shoe.  In a parallel universe, this sample version would have replaced the Zoom Stefan Janoski SB we’ve come to know and love, but it’s hard even with your best sci-fi/fantasy hats on, to imagine this edition outselling the hugely popular boat shoe-infused final release.  But you could argue that we got a taste of this design even if it didn’t have Stefan’s name attached, their classic skate style not all too dissimilar from the P-Rod 4 we got a short while after the Janoski debuted in 2009.  Do you agree Nike SB made the right call here?  Click through to see the non-boat Janoski samples and stick with Sneaker News for more rare Nike SB showoffs.  via N-SB

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Among the standout comments in our most recent look at the ‘White Cement’ Air Jordan 4 Retro was the “number one reason why we [sneakerheads are] broke . . . fresh.”  And while it merely takes a quick look at some of the Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke designs to realize that plenty of heads are doing quite well, the point is still valid that Jordan Brand is hitting us with scorching heat in a rapid-fire succession never before seen to this point.  After a six week stretch in late ’11 that includes the ‘Black Cement’ AJIIIs, ‘Last Shot’ XIVs and ‘Concord’ XIs, we’ll start 2012 with the ‘Chicago’ Tens followed in a month by the ‘Old Royal’ colorway of that model coming just one week before we get the first ‘White Cement’ Fours inabout thirteen years.  So as you can see, the next rolling quarter-plus is absolutely inundated with beloved classics; will you structure your sneaker savings to include funds for these AJIVs?  via Soleland

Air Jordan IV
White/Black-Tech Grey
308497-103
02/18/12

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The last time we heard from the UNDFTD x Converse team-up, it was for the all white collection from their Ballistic Pack. Depending on your post-Labor day rotation those may or may not be a no-no, so here’s a heads up on the blacked out version set to drop next week. Grabbing the Converse Academy Low and the Converse Star Player once again, UNDFTD works their magic on these unassuming models, giving them a tech-feel thanks to the ballistic upgrades. Get the full look after the jump and be on the look out for this capsule at UNDFTD locations on the apropos release date of Friday, November 25th.

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It is with good reason that the period between mid-November and the end of each calendar year is commonly called the ‘holiday season’.  So many of the world’s local cultures have contributed to a melange of occasions suitable for celebrating, and the one that starts off the annual spike in retail sales starts later this week in the United States.  But even if coming together during the winter results in increased sales, getting the major sneaker brands to cooperate is a task on the order of creating world peace.  So Foot Locker‘s ‘Black Pack’ for Black Friday not only launches the store’s Kicksmas celebration in earnest, but it also manages the ambitious coordination of releases from adidas Basketball, Jordan Brand, Nike Basketball and Nike Sportswear.  Dark colorways of the adidas adiZero Power Howard and adiZero Rose 2.0 join the Air Jordan III Retro ‘Black Cement’, Jordan 1 Flight in the same colorway, triple-black Nike LeBron 9s, Zoom Hyperdunk and Hyperfuse 2011s, the Total Air Foamposite Max also in black/anthracite, and John Wall’s Reebok Zig Encore.  Last but not least is the ‘Binary Blue’ Zoom Rookie LWP, a model presumably included because it’s the darkest colorway on a model that has no ‘blackout’ edition (yet?).  It’s a mouthful and enough to drain your wallet, and even if FL’s best wishes come true, it’s unlikely anyone will seek to complete this ‘pack’; so which ones are the must-haves?

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So you like the general concept of the ‘Flip’ look, but you think that the Air Jordan III ‘Black Flip’ may be just a bit too serious for the little ones? This greyed out version available exclusively for the kiddos may be a bit more fitting given the age group, with a palette that is quite a few shades lighter. Aside from the obvious grey treatment, these also get some covert hits of blue, showing up on the eyelets, the outsole, and then again on the Jumpman logo on back. Are you wishing you could grab a pair in adults sizes or should these stay strictly for the elementary school crowd? Let us know what you think and be sure to check the up close shots after the jump. via Millenium Shoes

Air Jordan III GS ‘Grey Flip’
Cool Grey/Blue Glow-Neutral Grey
441140-015

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‘Really‘?! adidas Originals, really?!  You’re just going to put out a Kermit the Frog sneaker on the heels of The Muppets appearance alongside Jason Segel on Saturday Night Live, really?!  SNL sendups aside, you really couldn’t ask for better timing on these in the wake of this weekend’s TV appearance and the launch of the film this Wednesday, November 23rd, and the adidas Originals Superstar II ‘Kermit the Frog’ is positioned to be the sneaker game’s answer to Tickle Me Elmo this holiday season.  In fact, they probably won’t even make it to the Wednesday premiere, with details like the tongue and ‘The Original Hip-Hop’ branding on the lateral sides making these a must-have for Jim Henson fans and avant garde sneakerheads alike.  Click through and you can see more images, then look for these at select Three Stripes retailers like Extra Butter.

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Winter can be a bleak time for sneakerheads, with the weather forecast often forcing you to throw on a pair that you don’t mind beating up a bit. adidas Originals is looking to alleviate that problem, dropping a quartet of styles that get some seasonal upgrades that should stand up the elements. The two pairs of the adidas Originals Kopenhagen and the adidas Originals Superskate High both get a waxed fabric for the upper that should shake off the moisture. Beyond that there’s the metallic styling for the lacing system which completes the armored look. Check out all four pairs after the jump and scoop them up now exclusively from the good folks at Size? out in the UK.

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If Japanese streetwear giants XLarge had to declare a favorite sneaker, wouldn’t it have to be a pair of Reebok Pumps?  We’ve seen the brand and its XGirl ladies subdivision crank out a variety of classic RBKs in recent years, the Reebok Insta Pump Fury a prime example of how they can apply new twists to old favorites.  This new model slated to drop on Black Friday features the kind of colorway you might expect from a womens release, though its purple and pink accents are made more masculine thanks to a healty portion of black on the overlay in addition to earthy browns on the heels and toes.  Check them out in greater detail after the jump and let us know if these are import-worthy.

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Nothing brings on that hometown flavor like local artists can. For the upcoming Maui Invitational, adidas Basketball hooked up with Hawaii native Che Pilago of Moku Nui to create this exclusive set of gear for the Maui Invitational championship, during which Kansas, Michigan, UCLA, Tennessee and Chaminade will face off during the ten-day tournament. In addition to the local art-infused gear, the adidas outfitted schools will wear the adiZero Crazy Light as well as the adidas Crazy 8, while the coaches will don the adidas X-Hale Low training shoe. Check out some extra imagery of the art (inspired by Ku, the Hawaiian god of war) and tune into the Maui Invitational games beginning tonight!

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Arizona alum Mike Bibby was one of the first of a wave of scoring-friendly point guards that infiltrated the NBA during the late 90′s and early 00′s. He really shined during his days as a Sacramento King, playing the best ball of his career during the 2002 Western Conference Finals, and if it weren’t for Robert Horry’s buzzer-beater, the Kings may have been crowned as the NBA Champions of the 2001-02 season. During Bibby’s time with the Kings, he rocked these sweet Air Jordan XII Low PEs, which featured a black leather upper with a purple mudguard, and personalized stitching on the lateral sides of the heel. There seem to be quite the number of Bibby PEs out there in the open market, so if you want to add these to your own personal collection, check out the auction from disciple_mikey on eBay.

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Is this the best week of Sneaker News Blogs: Best of WDYWT ever? Two pairs of the UNDFTD x Air Jordan IV, OG Air Diamond Turf 2s, tons of great Air Max collaborations like DQM, Opium, and Dave White, OG Air Jordan 1s, a mini-showcase of Air Jordan Doernbechers – it’s sneaker heaven right below. The voting, which will be ready for you at the end of the last page, will be rather tough, but there’s already a clear frontrunner (ahem, the UNDFTD AJ4s). Regardless of that fact, there’s still a lot to see, so check out this week’s twenty best of Sneaker News Blogs: WDYWT and don’t forget to submit your kicks as well!

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With Nike taking the helm of the NFL’s on-field jerseys and equipment in 2012, consumers and athletes can expect an even more emphatic focus on one of Nike’s most indestructible pillars – Nike Training. Nike invited select media from around the globe to experience Nike Football at its finest, outlining its earliest and most honored roots and introducing some new and innovative products. At center stage of the information session was the revolutionary Nike SPARQ Sensory Performance, which, according to Nike SPARQ Performance Director Paul Winsper, allows them to ‘integrate both sensory and physical training together’ and build the best athletes in the world. Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback and Oregon Ducks alum Dennis Dixon demonstrated a few of the tailor-made Nike SSP drills, which we, in a nutshell, can describe as an exponentially advanced form of rubbing your belly and patting yourself on the head simultaneously. Trust us – it’s a lot tougher than it sounds. The results of the SSP tests could then be compared to scores achieved by others in the same sport, giving the athlete an idea of where improvements could be made and to highlight the athlete’s peak talents. Dr. Alan Reichow, Global Research Director of Nike SSP, boils it down even more concisely by stating that SSP allows the athlete to ‘see sport better’.

In addition to the Nike Football/Training educational experience, the media attendees were given a rare opportunity to test Nike’s newest training tools side-by-side with top-flight football players at Nike World Headquarters as well as on the Autzen Stadium field (home of the Oregon Ducks). The marquee training tools introduced during the training session was Nike Hyperwarm Shield Mock Top and the Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe Eyewear (available online and at select retailers for $300); the Vapor Strobe is a high-tech set of stylish goggles that purposefully inhibits an athlete’s sight via vision-blocking blinking strobes at various frequencies, allowing the athlete to rely on and refine sensory abilities. NFL superstars such as Greg Jennings, Darrelle Revis, and Larry Fitzgerald have trained with the Vapor Strobe and have individually concluded that Nike’s state-of-the-art Training methods as well as the advanced performance gear have directly contributed to their individual success in a sport that rewards training more than any other. Nike has played a major role in the overall increase in athleticism and performance in the NFL for decades, and with the implementation of Nike SPARQ Sensory Performance and game-changing tools like the Vapor Strobe, expect the bar to be raised even higher.

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