Trialz Of A Sneaker Fiend

Most of my close friends and family are aware of my sneaker fetish... The feeling of copping/ wearing a fresh-out-the-box pair of kicks that aren't on most poeoples feet is truely a one-of-a-kind feeling of elation.

Now I condider myself a sneaker "fiend" and not a sneaker "addict" becuase I am very particular about the sneakers that I collect and wear. Not becuase it's the "hot" sneaker of the moment automatically means that imma pick that joint up. I'm also not one of those dudes scouring the internet and ratty basements of obsure sneaker spots for super inflated-priced sneakers.

But I must say that the one pair of sneakers really got the fiend-juices flowing are the kicks pictured above.. the Air Jordan Spi'zikes. A celebration of the shoe and the era that pretty much birthed this sneaker-fiend culture. And during Air Jordans creative apex [in my humble opinion]. They ran these really cool advertisments with Spike Lee [as Mars Blackmon] and His Airness adverising what I believe to be the holy trinity of kicks. The Air jordan III, IV, & V. The cutting edge design of these sneakers and the union of Spike & Jordan are all combined in this limited edition sneaker [4025 made worldwide].

I treked out to L.E.S. [Lower East Side] last saturday morning to pick up these joints at ALIFE. After waiting with a few other sneaker-fiends & addicts for almost 2 hours, the manager of the store, Matt opened the door and proceeded to tell us that his staff claimed all of his alotments of Spri'zikes and there was absolutely none left for any customers. Needless to say, people were heated and one particular woman was quite vocal and pissed. Matt proceeded to tell her that basically he didn't give a flying f%#$ how anyone felt becuase only his regular customers that "constantly give him business" got the kicks. One dude told me he was squatting in from of the store since 1AM that morning...crazy. Later on Spike Lee showed to to the store and signed sneakers. I almost wanted to tell him what a prick the store owner was but I fell back from the crowd around him and headed home...empty handed [sigh].

Later that day, my homeboi told me that other sneaker spots were already selling the sneaks for as much as $450 - $600...BANANAZ!!. Well.. I guess the beat goes on.....