A Little Preview.....

Before the much hyped Feb. 23rd release of the final installment of the Jordan series, and along with it my detailed review for the XX3 ($185 is no joke, wouldn't wanna leave a sour taste in your mouth with your last pair of J's), here's a few clips from the folks at JB to keep you sane for the next month, enjoy!


DVD accompanying the Jan. 25th release of the 

White/Titanium/University Blue XX3's

Just a cool fanvid I stumbled onto....

JB's Official Air Jordan XX3 Commercial

Peace, 

Sole-On-Ice

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Top 10 Greatest Lows of All Time

10. Air Jordan XI Low




Being the low top to one the most coveted Air Jordan's of all time has a big billing, but the Air Jordan XI lows fell under the radar as its style just didn't match its predecessor, but a combination of court feel, comfort, and stability kept it on the market due to better performance than the mids. Falling just one year short of the induction of Zoom Air, the XI Lows still relied on Air-Sole technology for cushioning, which, when sufficient, truly lacks responsiveness. The carbon fiber mid-foot shank plate is still intact for an extra spring to your steps, and by removing the ever so popular patented leather from the mids, the full grain leather of the lows provide much more durability. With Nike having Re-retro-ed the XI lows this month, these are the must-have retro's of the summer!




9. Air Zoom Generation Low





The stylish low top version of King James' first signature shoes has the performance to go with its style. Zoom Air the heel of the mids is replaced with a Visible Air-Sole with less responsiveness but for a shoe with hours summer basketball in mind, the Air-Sole in the heel proved to be more durable over long pickup games on the concrete. The Zoom Air pocket in the forefoot still remains, and provide great responsiveness from jabs and cuts, but gone is the sphere lining in the mids, and replaced with a slightly thicker padded inner, a versatile shoe fitted for all but the biggest of players.





8. Air Jordan XX 3/4





When I first slipped on a pair of Air Jordan XX's, an image of MJ spinning around a defender popped into my head, Mike's non-dribbling hand was almost touching the floor in an attempt to balance himself from tipping over, if Mike had these on, that picture would never have happened. Similar to the outriggers on the Zoom Huarache 2k4 and 2k5, the outsole of the XX have a similar extension on the outsole, one on the outside in the front, and one on the inside in the back, providing impressive stability and balance rarely exhibited in well cushioned shoes. The I.P.S. from the mids is still intact to provide exceptional cushioning, but the XX 3/4 was taken to a new level due to the removal of the mids' ever so irritating strap. If the midsole and sole are your concerns, the XX 3/4 are the shoes for you.





7. Converse Wade



The first of the surprises on this list, although listed as the Wade "mids" due to the release of the lows, the original was basically a low with next to no ankle support. One of the best valued signature shoes on the market due to the fact that it bears the name of 2006 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade and only a $90 price tag. The cushioning system consists of a CMEVA sockliner on top of a CMEVA midsole, the cushioning is surprisingly responsive and providing a natural ride underfoot similar to the 2k5's, but after only one month of heavy duty use, the cushioning became compressed from weight and thus less responsive overtime, effectively cancelling the advantage of the price, so in value, a shoe with Zoom Air at a slightly higher price would prove be a better investment. Similar to the Air Jordan XX, the Wade uses outriggers to provide balance, but the XX still wins in that category, nonetheless a interesting and solid shoe truly created with GUARD in mind.




6. adidas Gil-Zero Low



Gilbert Arenas has always been the enigma to all of us, from throwing jerseys into the stands after every game, to post game showers in full uniform, Agent Zero always had his own way of doing things. His approach to shoes was no different, famous for his reluctance to wear mid-cut shoes or even consider ankle tape, Gilbert just continues to surprise us by ballin' out of control in his lows. The first true signature shoe primarily designed as a low, adidas broke new grounds with the Gil-Zero first from a design standpoint, a truly unique, clean cut look has these shoes flying off the shelves for dual usage, whether it be jeans or mesh shorts, the Gil-Zero just manages to shine. More impressive however, is the performance breakthrough the Gil-Zero's made, the primary attraction for these shoes were the Formotion Pods, similar to those in the T-Mac 6, designed to create stability for the mid-foot area, thou awkward to begin with, Formotion was quietly effective. Combined with the Gil-Zero's unusually wide base, the Formotion Pods provided incomparable stability and balance, therefore eliminating the fear of an ankle sprain.




5. adidas T-Mac II




Another "mid" that's basically a low, and arguably the greatest performance shoe adidas has ever delivered (avid fans of the Pro-Model will beg to differ), the T-Mac II was simply the shoe of 2003, never has there been a year where a shoe from adidas blew all competition out of the water, and the T-Mac II did just that. When discussing with the T-Mac II, the first thing that comes to mind is the comfort of the shoe, to a point where your feet may simply fall asleep wearing them, everywhere you'd turn, more soft full-grain leather and inner padding awaits. The T-Mac II took a page from Nike's Air Jordan V with an asymmetrical ankle design (higher on the inside of the foot).Although not exactly considered a shoe for the lightest of guards due to its weight, this shoe belongs on this list just for its unrivalled combination of comfort and fit.



4. Zoom LeBron II Low



Just as advertised, the Zoom LeBron II low has everything its mid-cut cousin has without the extra baggage. The mids were, in my opinion, the only release from the LeBron series not to overly disappoint, and a blueprint future Lebron releases should build upon. The Zoom Lebron II Low has the usual pluses and minuses of a low top shoe with the freedom of the ankle are and the risk of an ankle sprain, but that's where the comparisons between the ZL II and typical lows end. The first edition of Nike's ZoomMax cushioning proved to be ever so pleasant as the Rolls Royce Phantom of footwear cushioning, any cut, slash to the basket, jab step, was rewarded with a moment of Zoom Air goodness under both the forefoot and heel. ZoomMax is also versatile as it proved responsive enough for point guards and firm enough for even the largest of test subjects. The only downside of the ZL II was its traction, it can be addressed by constant wiping of the soles during games, but still proves to be the thorns on a rose.





3. Zoom Turbine




To true sneaker and basketball junkies, the only words associated with this shoe should be Triple Double, as Jason Kidd simply balled out of control in 2002. A lifelong fan of J-Kidd, fond memories of J flying up and down the court, droppin' dimes to no namers, and carrying the entire city on his back all come to mind whenever I see the Zoom Turbine. On the Performance side, the Turbine, like J-Kidd, also had few peers. The turbine uses a one and only strap and lace combination on the heel counter to prove that you don't need to kill Achilles tendons to have great heel fit. Zoom Air in the heel and forefoot provide typical first class comfort and responsiveness, a funky but effective traction pattern was surprisingly grippy on even the dustiest of surfaces. A true classic definition of a shoe made specifically for point guard was endorsed by the greatest, as NaS would say, "These is classic".




2. Zoom Drive




Steve Nash's signature shoes for his exciting first MVP season proved just as much of a surprise as the Suns' sudden explosion onto the scene of contenders, while Nash took home the MVP, his shoes definitely took home the most discussed and highest praised shoes of 04-05 on any forum. Taking inspiration from Nike's Tennis collection, the Drives don't use any revolutionary new technology, no mind-blowing design concepts, just like its owner, the Drives are low maintenance, also like Nash, the Drives just out perform its more hyped, flashier counterparts. Nike simply threw Zoom Air, mid-foot strap, speed lacing, and various simple technologies all into an oven and out came the Drives. The Zoom Drives simply have the best combination of traction, cushioning responsiveness, and lockdown fit of any shoe period.




1. Air Jordan XIII Low





To many, the Air Jordan XIII was a love affair, the feelings of fans around the world, mourning the impending retirement of the greatest to lace them up, the admiration of an incomparable career, the final regular season MVP award, All-Star MVP, and finals MVP, all the emotion of MJ's last season rolled up into a pair of shoes, pretty tough to visualize, eh? In the summer of 2005, Nike re-released the low top version of the Black Cat inspired classics, a pair in Black/ Maize, the other in White/ Maize, both at a whopping $175 USD, but when it comes to love at first sight, Jay-Z and J.D. would simply tell you "bling, bling, money ain't a thing", but what truly separated the XIII lows from others and the nine below it on this list was its performance side. The XIII was the first shoe Nike mastered its priced Zoom Air technology in, and no matter the surface, no matter the maneuver, the cushioning just added a bounce to my step. In the Spike Lee Joint He Got Game, Denzel Washington tried on a pair of the XIII and asked "Where them holes at?", expecting old school lacing systems, the XIII was also one of the first to truly master speed lacing. The sole of the XIII was inspired by MJ's infamous nickname given to him by players around the league-Blackcat, and provided impressive stability and one of the most natural feel underfoot I've ever experienced in modern basketball shoes, the 2k5 and ZK1 may be its only competition. The inner of the XIII has no mesh, no Sphere lining, but in conjunction with the design of the hell counter, the lacing system and the upper, provides an extremely comfortable fit. The Air Jordan XIII holds lots of sentimental value for many shoeheads and basketball fans around the world, but outside of the 6 MVP's, the 6 rings, the fadeaway, the tongue, and everything else MJ, the XIII is simply a joy to play in.

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Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. : Can't Stop the Reign

The LeBron 20.5.5. is back for its second run, here shown as LeBron's ride in Team USA's quest
back to the top. The 20.5.5., like LeBron , is battle tested, and here to show that its worthy of its
namesake.

"Inexperienced", "Not clutch", "No playoffs", "Overrated", the list of "reasons" goes on. LeBron is used to this, but unlike the King of The South, Bron won't tell you to just respect it and keep his name out your mouth, he just smiles and plays on. "I created the hype by playing the way I play", these words are LeBron's, after he was snubbed for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team while averaging a 20, 5, and 5 that only Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson achieved in their rookie year. 21, 5, and 4 was LeBron's predicted line in '04-'05, the King answers with 27, 7, 7. Still not impressed, still more reasons. "But they missed the playoffs!", LeBron's not gonna have it, 31,7,7 and a 2nd place MVP showing later, still not impressed? Doubters joke at Nike's "Witness" campaign, as if there wasn't any greatness to witness, and that the Cavs can't even make it out of the first round. After a six-game dismantling of the helpless Wizards, a triple double, and a game winner, critics still figure that ignorance is a bliss. "You're supposed to make it out of the first round with homecourt advantage", "See, 0-2, LeBron can't do it by himself", LeBron is all too familiar, and serves the 64 win Pistons three straight losses. After a heart breaking two point loss in game 6, the Cavs were still on the brink of accomplishing the unthinkable, until the supporting cast shot 9/41 from the field in game 7. Although the Cavs were finished, nothing but praise was awaiting the young king. Here's to the doubters, he is The One, proof? I'm a god damn Witness!


Now for a player to own a signature shoe is one thing, but a low and an outdoor shoe, this is
in the territory of that other 23 guy.


The Nike senior designer of the LeBron 20.5.5. is Ken Link, who also designed the Zoom LeBron II and Zoom Kobe I. Link said in an interview that: "We're not gonna do middle-of-the-road shoes with LeBron, some people are not going to like them, and we accept that", Link meant this in a sense that even LeBron's marketing campaign was to be one of a kind. After the '05 NBA finals, Nike released the Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. without much hype or anticipation, the results was poor sales. To the surprise of many, LeBron wore the 20.5.5. in many regular season games and playoff games in special colorways, bringing the shoe's hype to an all time high. Although the 2nd release of the 20.5.5.'s includes no new features, it shows us the power of marketing, and what a 21 year old version of Mike, Larry, and Magic all rolled into one can do to us.



The Nike Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. is one of the most padded shoes I've ever tested.

I've regretted not purchasing a pair of the first release Zoom LeBron 20.5.5.s, so I jumped into my Air Max 360s early in the morning on the day of release and ran down to Footlocker for my black/black pair. For outdoor use, like the shoes are designed for, $125 is a huge price tag, the question always has been: "Are they really $60 better than And 1's?", and my only reply can be that it depends on your personal taste, your playing style, and all the other factors that go into making a great shoe. My job is to let you know how those factors may affect your decision, lets go to work now.

"We're not gonna do middle-of-the-road shoes with LeBron, some people aren't gonna like them, and we accept that" - Ken Link


The Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. features two straps on its upper to provide lateral lock down.

The First thing I noticed when I tried on the 20.5.5.'s was its plush inner bootie, fully padded down from behind the tongue to around the ankles to the top of the toebox, allowing for a comfortable, plush ride I've never experienced in a basketball shoe. In this world of trade offs, this comfort comes at a price, and depending on you, this may or may not be too much. The use of so much padding around the ankles and heel take a hit on its overall fit and support. The reason that the Huarache 2k4 and 2k5's wafer thin ankle straps provide such excellent support and protection is because the straps weren't padded, therefore leaving no room to stretch or compress. The case with the 20.5.5.'s is that, after being fully laced, whenever the padding around the ankle, around the heel, and all along the inner is compressed, it will create space on the opposite side, taking away some of the lock-down fit needed for outdoor play.





A common problem with most users of the 20.5.5. is that there have been complaints about the straps becoming undone, I also had this problem in the first few wearings. Taking inspiration from the "B1lly Hoyle Huarache 2k5 lacing method" (an NTer put his laces through the nearest "hole" in the ankle hole of his Huarache 2k5 for an improved fit and support), I put my laces through the 2 metallic loops of in the back of the trio of metallic loops, this effectively made the shoe's upper narrower, and with less tension, the straps stopped coming undone.


I've always been a sucker for shoes with good traction, and the Zoom 20.5.5.'s provide probably
*gulp* the best traction I've ever felt in a basketball shoe.

You might have noticed that I've become very picky and unsatisfied with the previous few shoes I've reviewed mainly due to their shortcomings in the traction department, as a change-of-pace guru, I truly value grip of the hardwood, sometimes even as the most important characteristic I look for in a basketball shoe. Rarely have I been thoroughly impressed by one shoe's traction, with the exception of possibly the Huarache 2k4 and 2k5, the Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. was such an exception. The traction of the 20.5.5. was so good that I went as far as wearing one on my left foot and wearing a Huarache 2k5 on the other, by now I was simply stunned, the traction of the 20.5.5.'s is even better than the Huarache 2k5, and any other shoe that I tried for that matter. Any ankle breaker will drool over the 20.5.5.'s traction, which is straight nasty on either hardwood or blacktop in any condition.

"I created the hype playing the way I play" - LeBron James

Nike's Zoom Air technology has always been known to the average fan as the only cushioning that you can feel "working", displayed flawlessly in the Zoom LeBron II, I had very high expectations for the Full Length Zoom Air used in the Zoom 20.5.5., and it didn't disappoint, but rather stunned me yet again. The cushioning underfoot of the Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. can be described as "mushy" and "plush", possibly the softest air sole unit I've ever worn, but that's not to say the Zoom in the 20.5.5.'s are not responsive, how can this be an ankle breaker's dream shoe if their feet sink in their shoe? The feel of the Zoom Air in the forefoot and heel are reminiscent of that in the heel of the Air Jordan XIII, where Double-Stacked Zoom was used. Nine years after its introduction, Zoom Air still remains the cutting edge technology when it comes to keeping your feet happy, the problem? You can't be without it.


Here is a view of the 20.5.5.'s heel, which have a "2" and a "3" on the left and right outsoles.

In the summer of 2005, the 20.5.5. and two "Kobe colorways" of the Huarache 2k5 were the Battlegrounds shoe of that summer, where players at Nike events would wear these on the blacktop. The 20.5.5. is the first high profile outdoor shoe since the fabulous Nike Shox Xplosive, and without a doubt the best performing outdoor shoe ever. Equally adequate for indoor or outdoor use, and due to the ultra-durable outsole of the 20.5.5., the shoe can easily be cleaned after outdoor use if you change your mind and decide to use it exclusively for indoor play.




To Sum up the, Zoom LeBron 20.5.5. is as much the best outdoor basketball shoe in existence as LeBron himself is the most freakish athlete in the world. This shoe is highly recommended for any all-round baller at any position at any weight class, this is extremely rare in a basketball shoe, but the 20.5.5. will truly hold up for lightning quick guards with its responsiveness and first class traction, wing players and big men will find the 20.5.5. more than adequate as well. It took me a full year to get off my couch to get these, and I've learned that simply, you can't stop the reign~




Peace,
Sole-On-Ice

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Uptempo Motion Nash Edition: Frozen Sun

Steve Nash embraces guest players in his 2nd annual charity all-star classic, the MVP was recieved warmly by the fans and players alike.

Having spent most of my childhood in the Great White North, Steve Nash has become a common sight, especially after his past two MVP seasons. The St. Michael's Blue Devils must have played 2,000 games in the '91-'92 seasons, because virtually anyone logically close to the age of 30 has their version of an encounter with the two time NBA league MVP.

I'd call myself a seasoned sports vet who's seen all but the most extreme situations, having been to Sacramento Kings games during the C-Webb era and Pittsburgh Steelers games, I was ready for any type of surprise, but not the reception Steve Nash received during the player introductions of the 2nd annual Steve Nash Charity Classic, the local hero who's impact cannot be described by words. The crowd reacted mildly to players such as Fred Jones and Raymond Felton, and slightly warmer applauses were given to current Raptor Morris Peterson and ex- Raptor fan favorite Charlie Villanueva, but when the new look MVP jogged out of the tunnel, an instant standing ovation was followed by cheers so deafening that had me thinking I had returned to a Up In Smoke Tour concert. Even Slim Shady himself would not have been received so warmly in Detroit, the crowd was made up of people who travelled from all across Canada to see the hero who's represented the Canadian people so well with unselfishness and benevolence, the event was simply a joy to watch.

Steve Nash's low maintenance attitude and quietly outstanding play have been the signatures on his career on the court, as I've mentioned earlier in the Zoom Kobe I review, a great signature shoe is one that aside from the title, is also truely representative of that player's style on the court. While the Uptempo Motions are his first signature shoe, there have been shoes in the past that the shoe-friendly identify as Nash's exclusive rides, such as performance classics Air Jet Flight and Air Zoom Drive. Both are affordable, low key, and perform like an Air Jordan of twice its price. After extensive wear of both the Jet Flights and Zoom Drives, I expected the Uptempo Motions to live up to its predecessors quality-wise as a Nash shoe, and like watching the Phoenix Suns, entertainment is always guaranteed.



First I'd like to give a shout out to my boy Ryan who hooked me up with the Steve Nash edition of the Motions, you know how those guys with the strips do, the Phoenix Sun's home colorway of the Motions are a Canada exclusive while the Black/White/Blue colorway are an Asia exclusive.

To my surpise, the higher profile Motions do not include the package of technology that the Zoom Drives did, most significantly is the Drive's fantastic Zoom Air cushioning. But the Motions make up for that with its much more affordable price tag at $90 USD or $110 CAN, which is not to say the Motions' cushioning is not sufficient either. Because of the absence of Zoom Air, Nike combines a very dense and thick EVA sockliner with a full length Encapsulated Air Sole unit to provide a less responsive but similar feel. Like the Jet Flight, which also did not use Zoom Air, the Motions provide excellent comfort and moderate response sufficient for quick guards, but if you're quite heavy for your height, this is the part where you stop reading.




The Uptempo Motions were an interesting shoe to play in, the combination of low profile feel and great fit were similar to that of the Converse Wade. Jason Kidd once said: "When I played in Jordans, I shot fade-aways. When I played in Weapons, I made no look passes or dunked everything. When I played in the forums, I posted up. Whatever shoe I wear makes me want to play like that player", the Uptempo Motions are such a shoe that made me feel like a playmaking point guard.

The one part of the feel of the Motions that surpised me is its snug and padded fit. The Zoom Drives also provided fantastic fit, but even as someone who has slightly narrow feet, the Drives put a lot of undue pressure on the sides of my feet and became a small distraction while playing, while also giving me blisters in the initial wearings. The Motions however, fit very true to its size, and provided a snug fit and comfortable feel right out of the box. The inner is padded with a silky smooth lining around the ankle, heel, and tounge.


An interesting feature of the Uptempo Motion is Nike's new Chassis System, which is basically a rigid material that extends from the midfoot to the heel, providing great lateral(side to side) stability.

One thing about the Motions that caught my eye was Nike's new Chassis System, which is a rigid plastic material extending from the midfoot to the heel, which provides great lateral support, the feel of the Chassis System is similar to the "heel cup" of the Zoom LeBron III. The Chassis System combined with the solid rubber material directly underneath rids the need for a carbon fiber support shank plate, as its rigidness provides excellent protection from midfoot related injuries.


Frozen Sun: The Uptempo Motion's outsole design is comprised of a very straight forward herringbone traction pattern and a awkwardly large Swoosh in the forfoot.

One problem I had with the Motions was a part of its traction, yes, a part. The traditional herringbone traction pattern on a solid rubber outsole provides very adequeate traction on all surface, but not the entire outsole of the Motions is comprised of this material. I sit on the sidelines watching my friends go through a light scrimmage and I wonder, what the hell was going through Nike's mind when they place a HUGE Swoosh on the most important traction location?! To this day I still question Nike's logic in putting a large Swoosh on the forefoot instead of the more conventional midfoot, the Swoosh's lack of grip of the hardwood had me slipping on some hard cuts and jab steps. This problem is only present on dusty indoor courts, I tried the Motions on a clean university court and the problem is nearly non existent, this applies to outdoor court surfaces as well.



The Uptempo Motion is the first official signature shoe of Steve Nash, which includes his #13 on the heel, a phoenix on the sockliner, and his new signature "SN" symbol on the tounge.

Steve Nash, like his signature ride, deliver the same way time and time again, like Steve's defensive liablities, the traction problem on the Uptempo Motion is something that you'll just have to live with. If you're a light guard who uses speed as your primary weapon and enjoy breaking down defenses, the Uptempo Motion provides great lateral support and cushioning designed just for you. But if you're a Phoenix faithful with a little more beef, you might want to settle with Steve's running mates' Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudamire's Shox Matrix or Air Total Force Max, because this shoe is just not for you if the desired traits are ankle support and firm cushioning protection.



Peace,
Sole-On-Ice

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Shoe Of The Week: Air Max 90 Rejuvenation

Rejuvenated

This week's Shoe Of The Week is the Air Max 90 Rejuvenation, part of the Rejuvenation Pack that also includes Air Max 95, Air Max 97, Air Max 360, Air Max BW, and the Air Max Tailwind 5+. The Rejuvenation pack in my opinion is an upgrade from the Evolution pack Nike released earlier in the year, due to lackluster sales from Evolution, Nike reconsidered their strategy and released the Rejuvenation Pack in a more appealing package and color combination, while also adding more models to choose from.




Special features of the Air Max 90 of the Rejuvenation Pack includes a sphere like lining along the inner of the shoe, a special Rejuvenation themed Sockliner, and Rejuvenation themed print on the mud guard, which is a reflective 3M material similar to that on the Air Jordan V, or the Air Melo V.5.

Peace,
Sole-On-Ice

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