In Sneaker News: Controversy Over Vogue Cover
Yes I know this news is old… in fact it mad old. But anyway, here we have a cover that shows Lebron and Gisele “posing together” for the front of the magazine. LeBron seems to be in Basketball mode while Gisele is in model mode. LeBron, who just happens to be Black, is in his aggressive “fighting warrior” stance looking like he is “taking” Gisele, a white Brazillian model, by the waist. Some how this image as a whole brings up th stereotypes of black men wanting to steal (and eventually rape) the white woman.
If that stereotype isn’t good enough, then what about LeBron being presented as a “threat” and over aggressive? Some say he is being represented as the stereotypical black male who doesn’t smile (LOL) and is always hyper aggressive especially in sports (and I guess dancing and sex).
Nicekicks.com has an article about the situation. For me, the cover looked funny for 3 reasons:
- They don’t really look like they are together in the shot. It just looks like 2 separate shots Photoshopped together to work.
- LeBron just looks off for the cover of Vogue magazine. He just looks so out of place. It doesn’t even seem to be a picture, more like a moment in the game totally divorce from it original background What is with the hyper-aggressive looks?
- Why does the ball look like its about to hit his foot? LMAO
What did Vogue have to say? They were looking to, “celebrate two superstars at the top of their game” so I am guessing that the concept is 2 people at the top of their game, doing what they do for a living, “posng” wit each other while they are doing their thing.
A great concpet if that is what it is, but I think it wasn’t carried out very well. Even without the controversy, the shot looks forced. Here is Vogue’s video feature explaining the focus of the issue.
No word on how feminists feel about this. Giselle looks like she is totally in some other plane of existence.
I don’t really see all of this and only saw something when others pointed out that they looks like there is more going on here than a bad detached cover.
There are plenty of comments on this subject. More than 100 comments. Many of them are insightful and very interesting. You should take a look.
So is this cover racist? Does it bring the steroetype of the black man being the wild ape animal wanting the beautiful white woman? Here is a picture of what people are talking about:
Your thoughts? I think its really not there and its is really being forced. I can say that with all the controversy, I do wonder what’s up… Oh and can anybody figure out what sneakers LeBron is wearing? Looks more like the IV ‘s than the V’s
Nicekicks.com Lookbook: PPG x Pony City Wings Lo FOOTACTION EXCLUSIVE
Pony has hooked up with a company called PPG that has a process that gives cars their shine called Vivaflex and has put in on its shoes (if I am reading what is on the site correctly). It looks like what Jordan has on its Spiz’ike sneakers (I even think Jordan wanted it on its AJ 14′s but the technology wasn’t there) except WAAAYYY more polished.
Just take a look at this detail found on Nikekicks: (more…)
In Sneaker News: The Walking Bike – On Current.com
Sooooooo… does anybody recognize the sneakers and shoes currently posing as wheels on this bike? Good because I don’t! I only see 2 I recognize and the rest are drawing a blank.I do, at least, know the sneaker brands represented… well except for that white and red sneaker at the top of the front “wheel” and the gray sneaker.
If you can name them, the post it in the comments, I’ll edit the post to recognize your supremeness and sneaker savvy. If your wondering where my sneaker savvy is, well I’m new to this game! lol
The original link is here: New Launches.com
And now the video (this thing actually works??? LMAO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSzzgFb5rkg
I wouldn’t ride the thing to work, but it would seem a great way to get some excirsize. Then again, you could run in one pair of sneakers.
By the way, has anybody noticed that he picked some of the coolest sneakers to become a wheel? Is that an adidas Y-3? And those Air Force One low with the green gum is fresh! I must have missed it when those came out. Here is a closer look at the front wheel: (more…)
Super Sale: Converse All Star Deluxe Athletic Inspired
On Overstock: Converse Deluxe Boot
Original price was 70.00 – Current sale price $34.99
I never seen these sneakers before (or at least I don’t remember seeing them). They look like hi top Converse sneakers but apparently they are “boots”. For the guys who are getting excited about this, please keep in mind that this particular sneaker is for the ladies.I love the color and it shape is pretty cool too. I can’t imagine why they call them boots, but I guess I would have to see them in real life to know why. Too bad there are not many of them left at Overstock.com so if you don’t go now, your not gonna get any.
I wonder if my girl would like this sneaker?
On Sale: Nike Experience + on Eastbay
Price: $139.99
Wow.
I have been looking for something that will work with Nike+ and its iPod system along with a Nike sneaker that will really support my workout routine (like I have one). I have a pair of Shox (one of the first that came out) and truly planned on working out in them at the gym. I think they are great, from what I have done in them, for jumping jacks, walking in, lifting weights and such activities that are not like running or jogging. I mean, I guess you could run in them, but I try to run on my toes and not on my heels so what good would Shox do for me while running or jogging?
Nevertheless, I like this new “Complete new cushioning system combines Air Max™ cushioning, Nike Shox™ technology and Zoom Air™ to provide a unique experience under the foot” thing. I especially like the Nike+ thing. I just need an iPod and I will be ready to go.
The bad news: What the hell is up with the guy colors??? That picture above you see is one of the 2 colorways for the ladies. What does the guys colorway look like? It looks like this…. WACK!!!!
So other than the guys colorway being boring, this sneaker is the bomb! Can’t wait to see if its worth the hype by trying one on one of these days.
In Sneaker News: Nike Strike Ends But There Is Violence
Can the title be more misleading? Well as the story goes the workers at a Nike factory went on strike for about 2 days. The strike ended but as the workers wre on their way back to work, there was a fight.
About 17,000 of the Ching Luh plant’s 21,000 employees reported to work Wednesday morning after the labor union and management of the Taiwanese-owned plant reached an agreement to increase monthly wages by 100,000 dong (US$6) amid record-high inflation, said Pham Thi Lap, head of the labor union of southern Long An province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where the plant is located.
But after a brawl broke out following a spat between a former worker and a security guard, police were called in and the plant was closed, Lap said. No one was seriously injured, but several workers were beaten during the melee, she added.
I found somewhere how much it costs for Nike to make its sneakers and it seemed legit. It was something like 10 dollars a shoe. If I find a link or a video about it, I’ll post it here. The workers and their union managed to get a raise and now get 65 dollars an hour week month. I don’t know how much 65 dollars a month goes in Vietnam but in NYC it would get you 2 slices of pizza and a drink. Damn sure wont get you a 184.99 pair of Jordans. But they do get free lunches according to the article (and according to the workers the lunches before the deal sucked lol).
Sneaker Fiends Are Leaders: Always buying sneakers is the sign of a leader
Always buying sneakers? It’s the sign of a leader: poll
Its true ladies and gentlemen. I AM PROOF OF IT!!! lol Well, anyway, while I was going the news of the day, I came across this gem! It would seem that people who buy more than 3 sneaker a year are 61% more likely to be a leader (or the qualities of a modern leader). Not 3% or 20%. 61% of the people who love footwear and tend to get it at or more than 3 times a year are natural born killers leaders! We are also more likely to be assertive (I’m not too assertive) and 47% percent likely to be spontaneous (I’m not that spontaneous… I’m a little bit like that).
Here’s a quote from the news article:
“It is often said you can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear, and now we have some hard data to back that up,” Arvonio told Reuters.
“What is interesting is that these personality traits held true across the board, regardless of age, income, or gender.”
The news article also goes into what type of person buys hybrid cars and people who pay their credit card bills on time. That stuff is TOTALLY UNRELATED TO SNEAKERS OR SHOES but it is interesting.
On Sale: Stan Smith 1 De Lux on Eastbay
Stan Smith 1 De Lux on Eastbay
Price: 79.99
I love it!!! I really do. I still have my first Stan Smiths (got them on super DUPER sale) from like 8 years ago and they still going strong!!! Now I have a chance (of which I might pass because my sneaker budget is ballooning to astronomical proportions) to get a classic remix. I usually get white and green for the Stan Smiths, but I can deal with the brown/tan and white look of these.
Here is the description o the sneakers from Eastbay:
The adidas Stan Smith 1 DE Lux is a new version of the iconic Stan Smith that is presented in a luxurious leather with subtle colors. The ultimate head-turning point is the beautiful perforated upper and stylish sockliner and lining. A rubber outsole provides grippy traction.
Sockline h’uh? Head Turning too? I’M SOLD!!!
They also have another colorway of this (of which I do not like, but its still appealing). It on sale now at Eastbay.com
Air Jordan Six Rings and Re-Release of AJ 11 Space Jams?
Now here is a concept drawing provided by
The Retro Kid and The Shoe Game
And here Is A Real Image
Ladies and Gentlemen, it looks like Jordan will be doing a Spiz’ike like type fusion of multiple sneakers again. Instead of being a continuation of the Spiz’ike nameplate (I wonder if they will come out with a Spiz’ike 2 just using a different combination of the same AJ sneakers?) This time it will be called Air Jordan 6 Rings. The 6 Rings will include all of the sneakers Micheal Jordan used while geting to the 6 Rings. I personally think it is missing one sneaker; Air Jordan 14 aka The Last Shots.
How can you not include the AJ 14′s? It was the last time we saw MJ playing at that level and in a championship game. What was he wearing? The 14′s
Yeah, its true that the 13′s was the sneakers he played in for most of the season, but you can say the same thing about the 11′s of which he only played the last games and all of the playoff in.
Well, I guess he just wanted to limit the sneaker to 6 shoes so he had to pick how he was going to do it. This makes me wonder, WILL HE DO A SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE AIR JORDAN 14?
Also in the news… it would seem there will be a retro of the 11′s early January 2009. If he is going to do this, then please MJ, do something special for the 14′s (other than the 14.5 SE) Now this brakes the “no more retro after 2008″ thing but I don’t mind too much… I have always wanted the 11 and here is a chance to get them BY THEMSELVES not in a pack (the Countdown pack containing the 11′s will release in December of ’08 along with the 12′s)
Anyway, this “6Rings” thing looks alright. The real picture does the concept more justice than the “drawn image”. I don’t see anything that look like the AJ 6 or 7. Anybody can point out where the AJ 6 or 7 is (other than that lace holder lol)?
