Aaron Hope 
There exists within the sneakerhead community a certain group who appreciate the little differences that sometimes come along with the latest Air Jordan Retro colorway, noting that it’s these quick signals that can easily identify a particular issue’s exact vintage with just a glance. They seem to be a small minority, however, and are most certainly a less vocal group than the purists who want the same exact details that defined the OGs. The single detail that’s commanded more attention than any other is the presence of ‘NIKE AIR’ on the heel of early Air Jordan Retros, the first series of which remained true to their original branding. But as Jordan Brand became its own unit within Nike, Inc., we’ve gradually seen all of these familiar icons replaced by the equally beloved Jumpman.
Even with this unmistakable icon in place, every new set of photos for a model like the Air Jordan IV that’s enjoying the 23rd anniversary treatment in 2012, we continue to see numerous comments begging for the pre-2001 build style, and that movement has hit a critical mass with a new Facebook petition to Bring Back ‘NIKE AIR’ to Jordans III-VI. It’s hard to say whether something like will actually end up on an important desk in Beaverton, but given that last year’s Nike Mag 2011 release was preceded by similar fan-based efforts, is it possible that Jordan Brand might make us even happier? They’ve undoubtedly hit the nail on the head when it comes to gauging fan sentiment demanding more Retros; would Jays take over even more of your life if new drops more closely resembled the OGs? via DeFY
