The Last Dance: Sneaker Watch Ep. 9 and 10
Episodes 9 and 10 may have been my favorite…some of my favorite Jordan memories as well as it features my favorite shoe. But, we’ll get to that. We’re at the end of The Last Dance and we see some of Jordan’s finest moments.
Cover Art by Jeff Manning
AIRMAX 95
Air Max 95s are definitely in my top 10 shoes of all time. And seeing them on Gus in this episode, I had to add them to the list. Gus was around from the beginning and when Jordan’s father passed away, it was Gus who Jordan turned to. You didn’t see Jordan without him. So I had to include this shot of Gus in his Airmax 95s to pay homage to the man who meant so much to MJ.
JORDAN 13 BRED
We see the Bred 13s in a few shots during The Last Dance. But I remember them clearly from the Bulls’ series with the Pacers. The Pacers gave the Bulls a run for their money. Lead by a fearless Reggie Miller. Reggie Miller is definitely one of the leagues biggest trash talkers. He taunted Jordan as a rookie, “‘You’re Michael Jordan, the guy who walks on water?’”. Welp…in the second half of that game Jordan held Reggie to only 2 points, while he had “a lot more”. Jordan let Miller know…”Don’t ever trashtalk Black Jesus.” Reggie Miller never called him Micheal Jordan again. It was always Jordan, Black Jesus, or that Black cat.
JORDAN LOW 13 PE
The 1998 playoffs also gave us the low version of the Playoff 13. Jordan wore pairs with both a white and black outsole. The public never got this pair, but a similar Bred low released.
JORDAN 14 THE LAST SHOT
And this is how this story ends…the last shot. The legend Bob Costas calls this one of the greatest sequences you’ll ever see in sports. It truly was poster worthy. I wont set up the whole 40 seconds here...just know at 37 seconds left the Bulls were only down 1. Jordan being Jordan, reads the Jazz’s next play, swipes the ball for the steal. Facing Bryon Russell back up the court, winding down the clock, Jordan attacks and the shot is a beautiful mid range jumper.
Exactly how a fairy tale should end.
JODAN 12 FLU GAME
One of Jordan’s most talked about games ever. 1997 finals, game 5. The night before, Jordan’s teammates eat without him - forcing him to order pizza. A pizza delivered in Salt Lake by not 1 but 5 delivery men. Suspect right? Right. Jordan eats the entire pizza and is throwing up by 3AM. In the fetal position, Jordan says he’ll play. Hooked up to an IV pregame, Jordan is supposed to just play as a decoy. Yea….right. Remember that switch? Activated. Jordan goes off for 38 as Scottie practically carries him off the court.
JODAN 12 PLAYOFF
The Playoff 12s debuted in the 97 All Star Game, where Jordan is the only player to score a triple double in All Star history. Fast forward to Game 1 of the 97 Finals. Good ole Bryon Russell… Russell made a critical mistake while Jordan was in retirement. If The Last Dance has taught us anything, it’s Jordan never forgets.
“When I was playing baseball, Utah was in town to play the Bulls. They were practicing at the facility, I go over to say hi to John and Karl, and this kid Bryon Russell comes up to me and says, ‘Man why you quittin? Why you quittin? You know I could guard your ass, I couldn’t wait, you had to quit.’ I said, ‘Karl, you need to talk to this dude, man.’ ‘Nah, he’s just a young rookie.’ But from that point on he’s been on my list.”
The rest is history…twice. Jordan hits the game winning shot in game 1 of the 97 Finals. And we know what happened in 98.
The Playoff 12. Just look at it. Beautiful right? So classy. It goes with everything for me. They look good coming, going, sideways.
This is where it all started for me. My very first Jordan.
Gather round…it’s story time.
Up until its release in 1997, I’d had every other shoe you could think of. Diamond Turfs, Griffeys, Bo Jacksons…the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted Jordans. I needed them. But my mom was a hater.
I needed a plan.
I’m in the 7th grade, what job am I working? I was a good student, mostly A’s a couple B’s. BINGO. Jordans came out around every marking period…the Taxis were out and I was sweating them tough. No one loves a good bet more than my dad. Especially if he thinks he’s going to win. The bet? Straight A’s for a pair of Js. He took the bet. He didn’t think I would do it (I’ll admit I was lazy). Fast forward to report card time….A after A after A. Size 7 me please. It’s been the Jordan chase ever since. My dad helped me get the same pair when they retro’d the first time in 04. I grabbed them again in 2012.
Even though now I buy my own, every now and then I’ll get a text from my dad…a picture of a pair of Jordans, “ You gettin these?”
