The Sneaker Game
Let’s say you’re an avid collector of sports memorabilias. How far would you go to get hold of a shoe worn by Michael Jordan? Better yet, how much will you pay for a pair of black and red size 13 Jordan 12s used by MJ in that famous “Flu Game†in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals versus the Utah Jazz where he scored 38 points?
Some guy who up to this moment still remains unidentified, actually went overboard as he bested other bidders when that historic piece of “sick†pair of shoes went into auction. As long as the flu virus came from MJ, who cares if he gets infected.
Preston Truman, who once was a Jazz ballboy somehow befriended MJ during that season by working on their bench and lockers when the Bulls visited Utah. He used to get MJ his pre-game applesauce ritual. On that night, even if His Airness was ill and didn’t feel like eating, Truman still dutifully got him the applesauce. After that game, MJ autographed and presented Truman with his game-worn shoe.
He then placed the shoe inside a safety deposit box and left it there until 2005 when it was first consigned for bidding. It only generated a little over $5,000 and he promptly deposited it back to the box. A friend recently suggested to have it auctioned and the results were record-breaking.
Truman had many other pairs of game-used shoes from other players during his years as a ballboy. He said he never was a collector in the strictest sense as he did it only for the challenge. And what a challenge it has been with all the game-worn shoes he has accumulated. With a not too passionate state-of-mind as far as collecting is concerned, there was no attachment, so naturally, letting go of things is easier for him.
Bidding on the Jordan 12s started middle of last month with a starting bid of $5,000. After 15 bids, the amount reached the $100,000 mark and finally was sold for $104,765. This amount eclipsed the previous record of $31,070 for another pair of Nikes worn by MJ during his rookie season.
Authentication was not a problem as Truman showed a photo of him and MJ, taken by MJ’s bodyguard, signing the said shoe. He said the amount will be used for his children’s college fund and some non-fancy stuff. Not to worry though if he uses up the cash. Truman still has an MJ game-worn shoe used during the 1998 NBA Finals and there will always be bidders willing to spend atrociously astronomical amounts of money just to have a piece of an extraordinary athlete called Michael Jordan.
Translated at 43 pesos to the dollar, the shoe sold for P4,504,895.00, enough to finance at least 20 classrooms for our school children which our Department of Education sadly and mysteriously provide.
Still on shoes, the NBA usually features marquee games on Christmas Day and this will be the time of year when shoe companies release player exclusive issues and color coordinated for the Holidays.
This year won’t be any different with three of Nike’s biggest stars playing in their Christmas footwear. The company will be releasing, in limited quantities, Christmas Edition shoes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant in the traditional holiday colors.
Bron-bron will rock the courts in a minty green LeBron XIs adorned with snowflake patterns in darker green, accented with bright red laces, inner linings and a shiny red Swoosh. Durant will wear KD VIs with an opposite colorway to the LB Elevens. The Mamba plays on the KB8 System, still with the snake-themed thing, conservatively in two-tone gray with neon green accents.
Sneaker heads can have the three models in the Christmas Pack Edition retailing in the vicinity of $500 to $600 or you can get them individually at maybe $200 a pair. These sneakers come with lace locks, whatever that thing is, which the company say, can be used also as Christmas tree ornaments. Considering the limited production, chances are these shoes won’t wash up on our shores. Good thing as a pair will run up to P10,000 if ever they make PH landfall.
The best way is to ring up relations in the US and pray really hard that they will have the patience to get in line and have the extra resources to get them fancy sneaks. Me, I’ll be settling for a nice, colorful pair of Islander slippers.
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