Jordan Brand Spiz’ike

By Craig Kwasniewski

Is Spike Lee a traitor?

Last week, Jordan Brand released the Jordan Spiz’ike shoes, a tribute to Michael Jordan and Spike Lee’s historic relationship. The Spiz’ike was limited to 4,032 pairs with all of the proceeds from the sale to benefit Morehouse College.

And suddenly we hear that Mars Blackmon's now directing commercials for Converse (D-Wade's new kicks, the Freethrow 55).

Nothing wrong with finding different ways to bring in some cash, but couldn't he just wait a few weeks?

The kicks, which retailed for $175, were a limited release on the East Coast on October 21st. As described on kicksandthecity.com:

In celebration of their historic relationship, Jordan Brand and Spike Lee have come together to design the Jordan Brand Spiz’ike, a combination of the Jordan III, IV, V, VI, and XX. A relationship that began in the late 80’s through Nike’s agency Widen + Kennedy, Spike’s character, Mars Blackmon, and Michael Jordan became the defacto faces of the then emerging Jordan legacy. A key ingredient in helping to mold the image of the then young Jordan line, Spike Lee contributed to each sneaker represented through the Spiz’ike including his most recent return to the brand last year with the Air Jordan XX.

The designers behind the Jordan Spiz’ike took the most discernible characteristics of the Jordan III, IV, V, VI, and XX and combined them onto one upper. The Air Jordan III is represented through the cement print and sole of the sneaker, the wings of the Jordan IV are placed at the ankles of the sneaker, the netting, ankle, lacelock, and the overall shape of the sneaker are taken from the Jordan V, the Jordan VI is represented through its classic tongue, and the lasering on the Jordan XX makes another appearance on the sockliner of the Spiz’ike. In addition to the obvious Jordan design characteristics, Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon character and his “40 Acres and a Mule” logo are placed on the back of the kix.

I can't decide if these are the ugliest shoes or just uniquely cool. Given the limited release and the expected raping on ebay ($400), I'll never know.

Editor's note: yaysports.com correctly pointed out that Nike purchased Converse a little while back. Misguided premise and lack of research... Mark Heisler just called to welcome me to the "NBA Columnist Club."

Anyway, here's a few pics of the Spiz’ike's:

Comments

[15PJ85]

I don't know how any true Jordan collector could hate these, they're sick!!! and if you don't think so, you're crazy!!!!!!!!! :)

[t.rhines baby]

Deez J's Hard!

[gottohaveit]

I ONLY WISH THE BLACK COMMUNITY WOULD WAKE UP!!! NIKE'S $200 to $2,000 DOLLAR SHOES ONLY TARGETS BLACK'S!HIGHER AND HIGHER PRICES WITH NO END INSIGHT OF RETURNING TO NORMAL ATHLETIC SHOE PRICES!THE BEST EXAMPLE TO DATE:THE AIR FORCE 1 ( MID / LOW )

[keith gailes]

man where i from you got to work hard from a little so hope you could help me otu by giving me so shoes

[keith gailes]

man where i from you got to work hard from a little so hope you could help me otu by giving me so shoes

[Joe]

They r soo hot u guys r crazy these r the most amazing shoes ive ever seeen the true blue ones r even better

[abel]

i have a pair and they are great.. dont hate... how many ppl are going to actually have them...0... lol..these shoes are going to be worth alot... so if ur smart go get a pair and save themm

[CJAEY]

I would cop those for sure. I like em alot.

[Keith Parker]

I would like to get my hands on any pair of Jordan Spiz'ike that I get get my hands on. I haven't been able to do so because I'm in Iraq. I would like to know what Retail stores recieve them so I can try to get a handle on them as they come out. Please respond

[Remy Bleu]

Yo, the shoes are hot, but the colors are not kiccin so much. Make more designs with more colors but make sure the colors are matching.

[mack]

Fuck yall that is one great looking shoe... you all dont know how to keep it original when it comes to slipps .... the spiz'ikes are a fly fucking limited shoe

[Jon]

go to cankicks.com and click rare air jordans and go to 3's they got sum fake ones for $79 but they look real

[Jon]

I WOULD GET EM EVEN IF THEY FAKE!

I AIN"T PAYIN $500 FOR NO J's

[tanisha]

those shoes r like da best!!but they look better in the white,red,and blue ones that u could see on 23isback.com

[unknown]

yo these spike lee sneakers is crazy im fly so u no mad people be hatin on me but they dont get slick cause they no im blood. i live in queens mad people be asking me about were u get those from i just say yahll ni55as cant get them. spike lee and micheal jordan really came together spike lee is one of the best directors and jordan is one of the best basketball players yah'll should get together again and make some more. im out its dat 5^ 59 brim all day g stakin crip snatchin ni55a we out

[King Jay Jae]

hey hey hey yall, I GOT EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dem SHITS IIS HOT FIYAH!!!! I want da black ones too, I herd dey got a price drop on em, so im lookin forward to gettin dem, cuz dem white ones cont me da whole 500

[monkeys r u]

spiz'ikes are th shit nigga yall hella dumb those shit go

[Dwight Watkins]

THE BEST DIRECTOR . THE BEST SHOES.
IF YOU DONT LOVE THE SPIZ'IKES YOU ARE
DUMB.

[anonymous]

I would pay the money for them they is fresh ta death I would pay my money just to wear em to school. send me a pair of them fi fi J's I wear a size nine in boys.

[melofelo]

I WONDER! WAS A SWEATSHOP INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF THE 4,000 OR SO OF THESE LIMITED JAY'S

[tiar]

escuse me i have a question and i wrote down my email so you can anwser it my question is why arent the SPIZ'IKES shoes come in kid sizes like 6.0 because my daughter likes them but she is a size 6.0 in boys. please get back to me on this because she really wants them thank you very much for your time

[Edgar Rivera]

All I got to saey is that tis kiks are the shit i got me some the true blue ones how ever seas that ther ugly ther stupid the shoe is uniqe and rear i recomend you bey 2 pair one for your sealf and to kipe on ice i only got 1 pair but planig to get 1 more pair if i culd fined one but you should defanetle get your hands on a pair ther fuckin fres.

[jhun]

Where did you get the idea of this shoes?

[wallae]

ARE you guys serious ? if u dont drule on these man , what's wrong with yall , just call ur best freind on the phone and tell em u got the spikes today ... for sure he comin over and cooking for you .... these are a classic dont wear hide them under your bed , classic shoe ,

[leroy]

cool