Sweet, sole music

Someone once said what’s good for the foot is good for the soul. Or did he mean sole?

If you ask Nike’s Rely San Agustin, the issue is all about sweet, sole music. Don’t get Rely started in talking about shoes because you’ll never hear the end of it. That’s because he’s completely sold out (or is that souled out) on Nike’s extensive range of footwear products.

What’s keeping Rely floating on air lately is the Air Jordan XX which made its first appearance in the local market two weeks ago. Only 550 pairs were brought in for sale here at a retail price of P8,995 each. The latest Air Jordan model comes in two colorways–the white/varsity red-black and the black/silver.

I’ve seen what the Air Jordan XX looks like. It’s not only one of the most good-looking (read "handsome") shoes in the market but it’s also quite historic. The shoe has "collector’s item" written all over it.

The upper features a full-grain leather and nubuck material with detailed laser etching to depict the Air Jordan’s 20-year history. The design in the laser etching is a collage of images and symbols that literally tell a hundred stories.

You’ll get a kick figuring out what the symbols stand for. The black cat, for instance, is somewhere in the etching because that’s what his Airness was called by friends and foes in the National Basketball Association (NBA)–a tribute to his ferocity on the court. The word "Pops" is encrypted in a drawing of a tool kit because Michael Jordan’s father was known as Mr. Fix-It, handy with just about anything with his hands. There’s a whistle with the initials CPH shaped into it in honor of Clifton Pop Herring, Jordan’s high school basketball coach. A six-fingered hand commemorates Jordan’s six NBA championship rings. A baseball home plate shows Jordan’s minor league stats with the Birmingham Barons–three homeruns, 51 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases.

The numbers 02-17-1963 signify Jordan’s birthday. Also in the etching are the familiar "Jumpman" logo, a drawing of several Air Jordan models, a sketch of a man wearing goggles and a Brooklyn cap (that’s Jordan film commercial director Spike Lee, of course), "45" which he wore in his first comeback, the words "death defying" and "Chicago" among others.

At the back of the shoe are six chrome "lines" which symbolize Jordan’s six NBA titles and his new passion for motorcycles.

In the US, the shoe sells for $175 excluding tax. If you translate that into pesos and add in the tax, it’s close to P10,000. So you’re better off buying a pair here. The Air Jordan XX is available in all Nike, Toby’s and Olympic Village stores.

Rely says the white model is almost all gone from store shelves.

Celebrities, athletes and collectors are gobbling up the shoes. Rely says a popular showbiz manager (initials are D. Q.) was spotted buying shoes for his players. He adds that Coca-Cola hotshot John Arigo is being targeted as the shoe’s official local endorser.

Since 1985, MJ has put out a different Air Jordan model every year. A division of Nike, the Jordan brand made its debut in 1997 and has grown into a complete lifestyle collection of sport, casual and style products.

Aside from its "good" looks, the Air Jordan XX has other enticing features like a new cushioning technology developed exclusively for it and a podular suspension. Overall, it is lightweight and comfortable, offering mid-foot, ankle and arch support and providing protection against toe-drag.

Another unique feature is a customized ankle strap which can be worn as a free-floating wrap, anchored only in the heel, for maximum flexibility and mobility. The strap can be integrated with a flip-up tab on the tongue-top to provide an additional anchor.

The shoe was launched during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Denver with Jordan himself hosting a party for some 750 guests at a night club that was transformed into a replica of an airport terminal with boarding passes as invitations, a baggage carousel as a platform for a fashion show and flight attendants pushing food and beverage carts.

Jordan hasn’t played in nearly three years and is permanently retired but his name is still magical in sports. He’s the greatest cager who ever played the game and that legacy is what propels Air Jordan, year after year.

Air Jordan XX is one for the history books. It captures what Jordan was all about as a basketball star. It defines his Airness. If you’re looking for a solemate, there’s no better fit.