Ben Lyons knows and loves three things: movies, New York (and the Knicks) and sneakers. It was all about the Celtics this year, so maybe we’ll talk about the Knicks next year. For now, here’s his list of the finest kick flicks and the shoes that made them sneaker classics.
Hoosiers
Chuck Taylors
Hands down the most classic hoops film of all time featured the simple yet timeless style of the Chuck Taylor. Now relegated to Cali cool and hipster chic, the Converse All Star was once the symbol of America’s athletic prowess. Here’s some Hollywood Hoosier trivia: Catt Sadler, host of E!’s “The Daily 10” got her first job as a featured extra in the film.
Hoop Dreams
Nike Flight series
The Oscar-nominated documentary from director Steven James featured classic early ’90s basketball sneakers that nowadays sell for hundreds of dollars in shrink wraps on Fairfax to trendy Japanese tourists. The story of Arthur Agee and William Gates touched the hearts of millions around the world, while thousands of sneaker heads go back and watch the film, screaming at the screen because the kids dirty up their classic kicks on the blacktop with no remorse. Whatever happened to those dudes anyway?
Do the Right Thing
Air Jordans vs. Larry Birds
Nothing rips at my heart and soul more than when a brand new pair of sneakers gets that first scuff. It’s the beginning of the end, the inevitable downfall of flyness. That feeling is captured on film in the classic encounter of fresh and stale, black and white, Jordan versus Bird, in Spike Lee’s classic Brooklyn tale, Do The Right Thing. The Bird fan on the bike goes down in history as one of the great jackass clowns of all time, and those Jordans look even fresher today than they did then. Timeless… Then factor in the Mars Blackman character and Jordan’s cross-promotion with Spike, and the rest if history.
Bugs Bunny Jordans
Staying with the greatest player and shoe designer of all time, Michael Jordan got to make a weak knockoff of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? with his buddy Bill Murray and great cameos from Barkley and Larry Johnson. Although it’s somewhat disguised as a movie, in actuality it was one giant Nike commercial. And what happened to cartoon characters in pop culture? Now kids care about cheesy pop stars and reality hoes, but back then, Bugs was cool and so were those kicks. Remember the #9 Olympic editions? Out of control.
Back to the Future
Terminator high tops
Why Nike never put these on the market in a big way is a complete mystery. The futuristic high tops were so fresh you wanted to fire up the Flux Capacitor and get the Delorean up to 88 miles an hour so you could get a pair, too. Everything else in the future looked wack as shit, except those shoes. Truly iconic and ahead of their time, I think I’d rather have those than the hover board.
lyonsden.eonline.com
This Column is also available in Vapors 49 – The Sneaks Issue
