The Last Dance: Sneaker Watch Ep. 7 and 8
This Sunday’s Last Dance pulled on my heartstrings watching Jordan deal with the death of his father. It was truly an emotional two episodes. I was still able to pull out my favorite sneakers from Sunday night.
Before I get started…I have two honorable mentions.
Scottie’s Nike Uptempo and Rodman’s Nike Air Shake NDESTRUKT
To the favorites…
Jordan 9
Jordan announces his retirement, the world stops. Jordan announces his step into baseball, the world scratches its head. But if you knew his story, you knew baseball was his first sport. Jordan signed with the Chicago White Sox, playing for their AA team the Baron’s before officially moving to the team. In episode 7, you catch a glimpse of the OG 9 while Jordan is in the batting cage. He takes the diamond in an all black PE cleat.
Jordan 13 Chicago
Jordan holds up in the locker room- cigar dangling, swinging a bat Negan style, lamenting on his matchup with BJ Armstrong. Armstrong’s celebration was short lived. After winning Game 2, Charlotte went on to lose 3 straight as the Bulls took the series. Jordan averaged 30 points per game…Poor BJ.
He should have known better.
Jordan 10 Chicago
Rumors were buzzing that Jordan was coming back. While sitting the bench, Scottie Pippen sent up the bat signal egging Jordan to come back to the game. The shot of Scottie highlights my favorite part of the shoe. The sole lists all of Jordan’s accomplishments from seasons prior…makes Pippen’s gesture all the more meaningful.
“I’m back.”
It was just that simple. Jordan announced his return to basketball and took the court wearing 45 in the Chicago Jordan 10s.
Jordan 11 Concord
The Concord made their debut a little prematurely. Legendary designer, Tinker Hatfield had the sample ready that May, right in time for the ‘95 playoffs against the Orlando Magic. Tinker warned Jordan' that the shoes weren’t ready for release yet, but of course Jordan wore them anyway. The Conords were another shoe that violated league uniform rules and we know that comes with a fine. So game 3, what does Jordan do? He wears “the kid’s” shoes, Penny Hardaway’s Air Flight Ones. This was the only time Jordan wore another player’s shoes, Jordan would debut the Space Jams by game 4. Hardaway says he simply told Nike, “Hey, man, give me some of the kid’s shoes.” The story goes, Jordan wore them without Penny’s 1 Cent on the heel tab. Heel tab or not, Hardway said, “For him to do that for me, it was the ultimate level of respect.”
Jordan 11 Bred
June 16, 1996. Father’s day. Jordan had just won an NBA Championship for the first time without his father, the late James Jordan. The shots of Jordan sobbing on the locker room floor clinching the game ball are the most gut wrenching of the episodes. As someone who considers her dad her best friend, there was always something relatable about Micheal’s relationship with his father. The shoe is not only my favorite of the episode in appearance, but in significance. This championship was dedicated to his father.
