The Shoe That Saved Air Jordan Basketball Shoes

The year was 1987. Michael Jordan was about to become the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. He was also about to kill the basketball dynasty that Nike would eventually create. That’s right. His Airness was literally days away from opting out of the contract he had with Nike and signing on with another sneaker powerhouse, Adidas. The short lived era of Air Jordan basketball shoes and perhaps the best basketball shoes available to mankind was seemingly coming to an end.

The source of Michael’s discontent? It was simple. He just didn’t like the look or feel of the Air Jordan II. Didn’t care for the shoe is putting it mildly. He hated it. So much so that signing with Adidas was his only option. He was closer to signing with Adidas than most people realize. Oh, the horror that would have been! The legendary line of Nike shoes for basketball that is known as the Air Jordans would not exist today. Before that happened, a soon to be legend in his own right, Tinker Hatfield, changed the fate of basketball mankind.

Thank God for Tinker! Mr. Hatfield was the shoe designer that stepped in and designed the Jordan III. Tinker Hatfield, it can be said, is the man that made the Air Jordan shoe same shoe that kept Michael Jordan under contract with Nike. The shoe that would ultimately save the Jordan basketball shoe and elevate it to legendary status. A status that is likely unattainable by any other basketball shoe of our lifetime. A shoe that is the most sought after basketball sneaker of basketball players and casual fans alike.

So what possibly could a basketball sneaker have that would change the shoe game so abruptly and began a lifelong legacy? Two words: Elephant Print. All sneakerheads and even most of the general shoe buying public are aware of what this design is. The grey based trim with black accents that adorns the uppers of numerous Jordan shoes. It was and is a one of a kind design that will be impossible to duplicate.

The Jordan Retro III has made a return to the sneaker world in a big way in 2011. A total of 5 different colorways including the Doernbecher edition will be released by the end of the year. The most recently released colorway to drop was titled “True Blue”. And indeed it was true to its origins. The quality, specs, and even packaging was identical to the original Air Jordan III of 1988. There are still 2 colorways of this magnificent sneaker to drop this year. Make plans now to purchase one, if not the best, Jordan Retros ever made. These are not Nike shoes for basketball we are talking about. These are Jordan Retros. They are going to sell fast.