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:
YO! Spike.. Why don't you make another one from AJ 3,5,11,13? and see how would they look.? This one is tight though I like it. Keep it goin. I'm out 1
Posted by: J.P. | May 20, 2007 at 12:08 AM
i think everything in the shoe is tight but the spike lee logo on the back. it made the entire package lose it's groove. hope they release some without the logo at the back.
Posted by: jumpman | May 21, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Where can I find a per of real Black , Green , and Red Jordon Spiz'ike thats under $200 in a size 13 ?
Posted by: Messiah | June 13, 2007 at 01:08 PM
i have a pair of all black suadespizikes top dat
Posted by: Hen-Loc from okmulgee oklahoma | June 15, 2007 at 11:50 AM
yo the spiz'ikes iz fire i went 2 mad stores lookin for them but couldint find them so i bought the 3's
Posted by: andy lovo | June 17, 2007 at 04:13 PM
yooooo da spiz'ikez is blazin' they iz ay combo. ov da 3's, 4's,and 5's
Posted by: jason | June 20, 2007 at 04:47 PM
i have some pairs of shoes
Posted by: fdh | July 22, 2007 at 08:09 AM
I cna offer nike jordan shoes etc with low price,pls visit www.cntradecity.com
Posted by: fdh | July 22, 2007 at 08:18 AM
min i just go some spike lee's mines are purple and black
Posted by: crazy t.j. | July 27, 2007 at 01:40 PM
dey aight i ah prolly rock em doe but i think da toung part ugly
Posted by: Aryn | August 02, 2007 at 06:25 AM
has anyone heard of the spiz'ikes that are black and red just like the black/ red/ and green ones except the part that is green is grey, Im trying to figure out if this guy at the mall sold me some fakes
Posted by: B | August 04, 2007 at 12:35 PM
i already bought me a pair cuz imma a G n i got connections like that i got em in white blue n black
Posted by: ya boi K | August 19, 2007 at 08:42 PM
these shoes are fed!!!
anyone dissin em aint got no style at all! good shit spike!!!!
Posted by: brad t | August 29, 2007 at 07:35 AM
go to http://www.dragonkicks.com
always do background check on a website using http://www.whois.sc
Posted by: iluvmakickz | August 30, 2007 at 10:16 PM
dang those brand new spiz-ikes are so freakin serious and im goin to get them this week end
Posted by: marquise | September 01, 2007 at 06:25 PM
Man dem Spiz'ikes is fresh to death i got a pair but they black , red , and yellow. But these are even more better i wish i had a pair lol. The Spiz'ikes are the best shoes out right now to tell the truth. Now i gotta try to get me a pair now.
Posted by: Fredo Ramirez | September 03, 2007 at 04:37 PM
Never one to give into the hype/hysteria surrounding the limited release of ANYTHING. But saw these kicks at my local provider of all things righteous in T.O. and just had to have them. A CLASSIC!
Posted by: BOD/media | September 03, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Big, big fan I try to get the shoes the day they come out so my size don't run out from either footlocker.com or finishline.com but they only come out with some of the retros or none, and one pair of spiz'ikes ??????????????????????? I hate waiting!!
Posted by: vj | September 10, 2007 at 11:18 AM
ok first thang first these thangs hit yall juss mad cuz yall cant afford em nd i just got da black red yellow nd wite ones them thangs definetly hittin anybody think these weak den get at me u mark haters
Posted by: Shonny bra | September 12, 2007 at 12:38 PM
omg on 4thousand of em damb were i get em at
Posted by: jim jones | September 20, 2007 at 06:35 PM
I NEED TO NO WERE TO GET THE SHOES
Posted by: ERICKA MARSHALL | September 21, 2007 at 08:20 AM
mane tha spiz`zikes iz so fye mane i gat all dem joints cuz i get paid no what i'm mean bruh . dez shoes iz off tha damn chain
Posted by: nea`mea | September 21, 2007 at 05:18 PM
love those spike lee air jordans !! want more !!
Posted by: Air Jordans | September 25, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I have hundreds of gymshoes designs/patterns that i would like to show you. I'm really interested in getting into shoe designing buisness. If you are interested please contact me at ([email protected]) thank you
Posted by: aaron bourne | September 27, 2007 at 08:00 AM
I GOT DEM JAWNS DEY EXCLUSIVE, DEM JAWNS IS HOTT!!!!
Posted by: ANGELICA AKA ANGIE | September 27, 2007 at 05:31 PM