KRS-1 x Air Jordan III x Fresh for ’88

Yes, there was a time when Larry “KRS-1” Parker (and thus Boogie Down Productions) had the rap game on positive smash. When he stepped out of the Jeep rocking the Black and Cement Grey Air Jordan IIIs (0:48 mark) in the “My Philosophy video (directed by Fab 5 Freddy)… Official streetwear before there was “streetwear.” Fresh, for ’88.

Nike Air Flight Lite x Gerald Wilkins x Marty Funkhouser

The last time I was a New York Knicks fans, Gerald Wilkins was their starting shooting guard. That said, #21 repped Nike’s “Flight” line of basketball kicks and his commercials usually displayed the fact that like his brother Dominique, Gerald had serious hops. The above commercial for the Air Flight Lite, at the time (1991) the “lightest Nike basketball shoe on earth.” The point of this background is to now point out that dude that takes a serious L in the aformentioned commercial is none other than Bob Einstein aka Super Dave Osborne aka Marty Funkhouser from Curb Your Enthusiasm. How great is that?

via Vintage Heat

VIDEO: LeBron James “Rise” Nike Commercial

LeBron James addresses all his detractors in his new commercial, part of a multimedia campaign via Nike called “Rise.” Yes, it’s a display of brash ego. Kind of like when he elevates to throw down a rim cracking slam dunk.

Only winning a championship—multiple ones at that—will really gets the naysayers to shut their traps. But in the meanwhile this ad is well put together and entertaining. And since it features a cameo from Don Johnson aka Sonny Crockett (I am a Miami Vice junkie), it is a win.

Charles Barkley’s infamous “I Am Not a Role Model” ad, that LeBron’s new clip winks at, is below.

Kobe Says He’d Beat LeBron 1 On 1

While make an appearance at the London School of Basketball a while back, Kobe Bryant says he would beat LeBron James in a game of one one. Mr. 5 Rings’ reasoning, that’s he’s a one on one player to the core while LeBron is more of a team player (a la Magic Johnson), is legit. Then there is the fact that Kobe dropped eighty firikkin’ one points in a single game (vid below).

The Mamba [||] also rocked Air Jordan III True Blues in an NBA All-Star game. I’m with Kobe on this one. But the Boston Celtics are winning in 2011.  [Spotted at The Smoking Section]

The Perfect Sneaker – Air Jordan III

The perfect sneaker; the Air Jordan III (1988). Nike pump faked and said another retro run would drop this year, but now it’s looking like 2011 will see their return. Below, Michael “Air” Jordan throws it down, with room to spare, from the free throw line in the ’88 Slam Dunk contest. [OG scan via Classic Kicks]

Vintage Nike Sneaker Ads

Classic Kicks just posted some vintage Nike ads that will surely have long time sneaker connoisseurs feeling nostalgic. Also makes a good point about how all current marketing bells and whistles (celeb endorsements, limited edition releases, etc.) tend to overshadow the performance aspect of the shoes. It used to be that style always followed function, which isn’t the case nowadays.

Dope ads for coveted kicks like the Air Max 90, Air Tech Challenge and Air Trainer SC and many more (exactly why plenty have been reissued in recent years) are included. Now Nike needs to stop playing and deliver those Air Jordan IIIs back to stores as promised.

Sneaker Con x Aqua’s LeBron VII P.S.’s

Was at Sneaker Con this past Saturday and unbeknownst to me a photog for Freshness snapped a shot of my Nike LeBron VII P.S.’s. Glad I had on clean socks. Check my coverage of kicks at DrJays.com. Below, the designer (Jason Petrie) of the first new age sneaker from retro-happy Nike I’ve really liked in a good minute speaks on its design. Sorry LeBron, but the Celtics got this.

Charles Barkley’s Taco Bell Commercials Suck, The OG Nike Ones Did Not

FACT: Watching the lame NBA Dunk contest, and most other All-Star festivities on TV, has made it clear; Charles Barkley’s Taco Bell commercials are God awful. [Side Note: Here that TB can help you lose weight? GTFOH.]

To his credit, The Round of Mound of Rebound’s T-Mobile commercials with Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard have been amusing. But Charles Barkley’s OG Nike commercials were classic material. With that in mind, watch some of the best below, if only to get that nasty Taco Bell visual out of your mind.

The infamous “I Am Not a Role Model” Commercial

Sir Charles  yams it on Godzilla. Of course.

For the Nike Air Force Max 180s, Chuck goes anime.

Charles Barkley + Humpty Hump = Harold Miner lost.

Never really liked this one, but Barkley as an opera singer is gold. Plus, it’s a commercial for the “Fab Five” Air Force Max.

Neneh Cherry raps #34’s praises.

David “Mr.” Robinson, and his flattop, chops it up with Barkley about fines.

Chuck D + Charles Barkley = a winner.

Back Again: Air Jordan III Retro White/Cement Grey

Air Jordan 3

I was in the 6th grade, standing at the bus stop on the corner of 174th Street & Longfellow Ave., waiting for the BX36 to take me from my South Bronx hood to what was then CS 102 in Parkchester.

It was while waiting for that sure to be too crowded bus in the a..m. where I saw a high school aged dude with a high-top fade rocking the above kicks; Air Jordan IIIs. At that point in time I had no clue what the shoes were. They were bright white, with illy snakeskin—no Nike check, but aha…the Air bubble. Those had to be the latest Js.

Seeing Kid ‘N Play rock them in their “Gettin’ Funky” video on Video Music Box (below), and Mars Blackmon (above), made me fiend for a pair just as much as Michael Jordan’s feats on the basketball court. But being that I wasn’t anywhere near a child of privilege, I didn’t even bother asking mom dukes for a pair. Knowing they were a buck ($100) plus at retail, i had to make due with my lo-top Air Trainers (about 60 to 70 beans at Dr. Jays on 3rd Ave, sale).

When the Air Jordan III’s get a retro-release sometime this year—Nice Kicks says they’ll be part of a Slam Dunk pack (MJ won the ’88 Slam Dunk contest in them)—they will get copped (two pairs), off g.p.

Nike SB P-Rod III Commercial (Extended Version)

Love. This commercial.

As for Paul Rodriguez’s latest kicks, eh.