A DAY IN THE LIFE, Vol. "GAME 7!!!"

I had to win a different kind of contest to get these bad boys. #FLOTG is everything. All day, baby!
#ChampionFeel #CountOnCobra #ThankYou

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HOW THE AIR PACK SAVED NIKE | AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY

I always say that shoes are my favorite way of curating history. From a certain decade's identity, to the technological wonders of an era, down to the bare sentimentality of a moment - for me, shoes are the best medium to immortalize time.

In our first infotainment exercise, Locker Room Legends will narrate the story of Nike's fabled "Air Pack", and how it saved the company from impending bankruptcy. I could have done this the old-fashioned way - a long-ass post filled with text and no photos... But I'm sure you wouldn't read that. Heck I wouldn't read that myself. So I made a nice infographic/timeline based on Brett Golliff's interview with Tinker Hatfield.

Check HOW THE AIR PACK SAVED NIKE after the jump. Scroll down and give it time to load.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE, Vol. "ONE LUNAR CHRISTMAS"

Let it be known: I HAVE THE GREATEST GIRLFRIEND IN THE UNIVERSE. And here's why.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW /// CONVERSE MVP MID

Whoa... It's been a while since I did a review. Great to be doing this again! Anyway...

For a month, I used the Converse MVP Mid to our local open runs. In previous reviews, I based my performance assessment solely on a single-day skirmish. This time, though, I ran with the shoe through four consecutive runs to get a more intimate understanding of the shoe.

But before we go further into the review, let's talk about the aesthetics first.

The Converse MVP Mid shares the same design DNA as the Converse Defcon Mid (as reviewed here). A synthetic one-piece vamp forming a seamless cage encasing the foot. Buy one major difference, or should I say upgrade, from The Star's previous top-tier basketball footwear is the incorporation of Nike's marquee innovation - The FLYWIRE. We'll discuss its performance benefits later.

The integration of Flywire aesthetically gives the shoe a sense of effectivity on the court. In my pair, the bright streaks of thread come alive against the black upper.

The finish of the shoe fades from the very dark toe and forefoot, to the very bright collar and heel counter. As I was lacing it up, the Converse MVP immediately broke necks - even the ones that were on the court!

The color pops... And to say that it's bright is an understatement. The fading color blocking truly sets it off. I would definitely buy these on looks alone.

Let's now proceed to the performance assessment of the shoe.

INTRODUCING: THE NIKE KD V

From the mind of Leo Chang comes Kevin Durant's fifth signature shoe - The KD V. It is Kevin Durant's heart and soul manifested in a shoe; it's design is the most honest and pure yet.

The Nike KD line, in my opinion, has become the most genuine and conceptually rich among the footwear franchises today. The V just proves my point.

The depth of the concept is remarkable. Still present are the minute details that tell KD's history, a tapestry of symbols that represent his deep and unwavering love for his family and hometown. But completely unique to this model is the incorporation of the numeric symbol "V" and the pentagon. Symbolizing his fifth shoe, the "V" is also a representation of the "team" - five men on the court aiming for victory. On the other hand, the Pentagon is a literal symbolism of The Pentagon, the military landmark in his hometown Washington, D.C.

The KD V is a truly inspired piece of art. Yes, I said ART. It looks like art, and I'm sure it performs like one, too. This partnership of Leo Chang and KD will go down in Nike Basketball's 20 year history as one of the most exciting and inspiring footwear lineages to ever grace the hardwood.

I just had to do this - The KD V on my feet. Are you inspired yet? The detail on the tongue is crazy...

Thank you FIVE TIMES FIVE TIMES, Nike Philippines.

TITAN X UNSCHLD "DEER VALLEY TITANS" DUFFEL BAG

I don't know about you, but it is close-to-impossible for me to go home empty-handed whenever I drop by The Deck.

I picked this up last week - TITAN X UNSCHLD "DEER VALLEY TITANS" DUFFEL BAG. Coming from one of 2011's strongest capsule collections (if not the strongest), anything DVT is highly coveted. The quality on this is on point, and it's crafted by UNSCHLD - there's no doubt it looks good. This joint just makes me all the more excited for this year's TITAN X UNSCHLD connection.

FADE TO BLACK.

If you are familiar with Jay-Z, then call this my Black Album.

There are 3 things I want to share:

///First.
As soon as I can open my eyes, my father has been encouraging me to watch basketball... And not just basketball... but LAKERS showtime basketball.

My first vivid memory of a great basketball game was way back 1991. It was the Bulls visiting the Lakers. The finals. I think that was game 1... I was 6, and my Dad, a die-hard Laker, was urging me to root for Magic and the showtime squad. I admired Magic, more so now because I mostly play point - but that Jordan guy was very, very hard to hate.

I didn't want to be like Mike... Because Magic, then and even now, is my only peg of a great basketball player. But as a kid growing up in a Laker household, I felt really guilty for being a Jordan fan. I felt awful coveting those black and red shoes that Mike had on... With the Porsche-like spoiler... And clear bottoms. I didn't know what they were called back then... All I knew was they were beautiful.

But at some point I realized, with the help of my Laker-loving family, that what I was feeling was not anything negative - rather a deeper sense of respect for the game.

And so, very much like Magic's beautiful game, Mike in these shoes were instrumental in birthing my love for basketball.

///Second.

I wouldn't call this my retirement... Because no one really does.

All it is is a conscious effort to end the days when I'd come home with 10 pairs of limiteds in the trunk of my car after just one night, or doubling up on a pair just for the heck of it, or doing something really financially stupid involving my wallet and eBay. I would still buy once in a while, a pair here, a pair there... But my "ball-so-hard" days are now behind me.

Truth be told, when all is said and done I wouldn't want to end it with copping just any pair. If I'm going out... I'm going out with a bang... switching hands in mid-air, banking it on the glass, and I would make it count.

And just like Jay-Z's ALLURE, I'll never leave this, I just can't. I don't think I can turn my back on this THING, this hobby that has made me so happy. I'm just taking a step back. I'll return... Wearing 45. I'm sure of it.

///Third.

In this game, we always put a premium on the footwear a little more than the people who wear them. Fortunately for me, I fell in the right circle. I'm pretty blessed to be with this group of people who, if I may say, are way more valuable than any pair of limiteds. You can't buy them, you can't trade them, and you can't cop them from eBay.

Clear soles yellow. Air units pop. Needless to say, shoes turn to dust. But these people, these friends... Brothers... Are all solid individuals.

Honor amongst hustlers - that is the rarest of all the grails in this culture. I am truly humbled to be in rarified AIR... In the company of great men.

Mackie Correa and Jason Tan are two of those people. These dudes gave "Presyong Kaibigan" (Friendly Price) a whole new meaning.

Mackie, thanks for hooking me up with these. And Jason, Pare, thank you for entrusting them to me. I can't thank you enough. Haha you lied tho, bro. You said they were VNDS... They seem very DS! Haha!

///

I know it's a lot to take in just from a pair of Infrared 6s. But please indulge me... I've come full circle.











What more can I say? :)

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST /// KOBE VII "LEOPARD" PICK-UP

Christmas is proving to be the Lakers' least favorite holiday. My broken and battered Lakeshow collapsed under Derrick Rose and his Chi-town Bulls' clutch offensive and defensive onslaught. Heart breaker indeed. Oh well... December games don't matter that much anyway. The Lakers are gunning for June, 'blee dat!

The Lakers may have had a rough start to their season and eventhough Kobe's wrist is hurting (not to mention all that divorce drama), at least he's still slaying everyone with his shoe game!

Year after year, The Black Mamba's Nike line pushes the envelope of performance and concept! This is what I like about the Kobe series; the shoes that they come up with are actually smart, and I do dare say avant garde. Kobe's thought process is very definite per shoe. One moment everyone's hating on 'em coz they are so low. They keep on saying that it's a bum ankle waiting to happen... Next thing you know two-thirds of the league is wearing 'em! Can I get a witness? They were so good, Rondo wore them once!

Even the colorways are very well conceptualized... Witty, even! I LOL'd really hard when LeBron broke out his Captain Obvious Red and Green Christmas joints last year... Right next to Kobe's grinches! Grinches? Really? Who would've thunk that?

This year, Nike and Kobe made the entire shoe process more participative and interactive. How? The shoe adapts to your game via the interchangeable insoles. Check out my in-depth Kobe VII entry here.

Anyway, eventhough I'm a huge Laker fan and I can't be completely objective on the matter, you have to admit that Nike and Kobe's partnership has churned out a bunch of intellectually forward shoes.

This is the latest from that proud lineage, I picked it up right after Christmas: Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme. The Leopard VIIs. Or Cheetahs. Or Christmases. Or Decepticons. Or Sex-On-Feet. Call 'em whatever you want... It doesn't matter. It won't change the fact that they are sick! On with the photos...

The box is so huge, my mother thought it was cake.


Straight out of the box, ATTACK STRONG is pre-loaded already.


The print on that purple upper is MONEY! I particularly like this new typeface that Nike used.


KOBE IS A CHEETAH! #Divorced


The interchangeable insoles look so good, you'd want to wear them on their own! It proved to be a real workout taking them out, though!


Right shoe is armed with the ATTACK STRONG insole, while the left show has the ATTACK FAST.
Both look good... Can't go wrong with either. Just go with your game!


Gotta love the fact that it looks like a sportscar, a decepticon, and a sneaker that a villain would rock!


Thank you @Titan_22! :)

A FORCE WITHOUT WARNING /// NIKE TRAINER 1.3 MAX BREATHE "MANNY PACQUIAO"

Manny Pacquiao is not just a Filipino, or a fighter, or a lawmaker... He's a force of nature.

And just like a devastating storm, or a category 9.0 earthquake, or Pacman's left hook, the Nike Trainer 1.3 Breathe "Manny Pacquiao" came with the quietest of warnings.

"BREATHE" might actually be a giant understatement to describe the gravitational pull of this shoe:

-360 Air Unit.
-Hyperfuse upper.
-Nike+ equipped.
-Effective Filipino color blocking.

An all-around strong trainer worthy of flying Pacquiao's flag.

///

Manny knows the goddess of Victory.


Manny knows Steve.


Manny knows Hyperfuse tech.


Manny knows destiny.


Manny knows POWER.


Manny knows how to lace it up in style.


Manny knows how to live it up.


Manny knows that greatness is in the details.


Manny knows stacks.


Manny knows.


For more photos, you can check out our friend Solemovement's post here.

CHOWKING.

LeBron 9 "China". As always... Good looking out, Titan!

This doesn't change anything, LeBron!

 

 

IT'S 1996 ALL OVER AGAIN

"Black Maybach, white seats, black piping
Remind me of Paul McCartney and Mike fighting
You know, The Girl Is Mine
Life's A Bitch, so The Whole World Is Mine..."

4th grade joints!

TOP-TIER SCORER

 

There's something inherently bad-ass about being called a "TOP-TIER PLAYER". 'F yeah!

The Durantula should know... He got the title!

NIKE ZOOM KD III "Scoring Title". Thank you again, Titan!