By Montreal Spencer/reporter

Michael Jordan retired years ago, came out of retirement and retired again. He has not played professional basketball in years, yet his Air Jordan shoe sales have not suffered.

People of all ages and races stand in long lines to spend roughly $150 for a pair of Air Jordans, but their reasons for preferring the shoe over other shoes vary.

“ Jordans changed my life,” Antwan Ervin, South Campus student, said. “I love the look, the comfort, the status. I love them, man,” he said.

Tim Neal, another South Campus student, agrees with Ervin.

“ Jordans make you more confident,” he said. “It feels like you are moon walking when you wear them.”
South Campus student Jeff Inman has worn Air Jordans since he was 6.

“ My grandma bought me my first pair before I started first grade, and I swore I could jump higher,” he said. “I’m 22 now, and I’ve been wearing them ever since.”

Some people wonder when the Air Jordan line will retire like the man it was named after. Others speculate that in honor of the man, the last Air Jordan will be the Jordan 23.

One thing is for sure: people will not stop Jay walking anytime soon. Here are a few reasons:

The Brand

The Air Jordan brand, on its 22nd edition, has been the highest-selling basketball shoe since its debut in 1985. Nike was then a struggling shoe company, and signing Michael Jordan to an endorsement deal was a profitable move on Nike’s part, according to www.sneakerhead.com.

Air Jordan became its own sub brand of Nike in late 1997. Since then, there has been no Nike Swoosh on a pair of Air Jordans. That’s when the Jump Man logo was introduced.

The Price

Depending on style, Air Jordans run from $100-$300.

“ They might cost a lot, but they’re worth every penny,” Neal said. “I love Jay walking.”

Many people disagree with Neal and refuse to spend that much money on a pair of shoes. Women, such as South Campus student Alisha Goins, may like Air Jordans but not the price.

“ I got a pair a few years back,” she said. “But the older you get, the desire begins to fade out. It’s the same with name brand clothes. You end up paying for the name.”

Kogy Davis of the South Campus said Air Jordans are hard on the budget.

“ That’s too much money to spend on shoes,” she said. “I got kids. You can get shoes just as good for less than half of the price of Jordans.”

The Knock-offs

Air Jordans have become so popular, bootleg copies of the shoe have begun to appear all over the world. Styles and colors Nike has never released can be found at local swap meets for cheap prices.

A lot of bootleggers sell them hand-to-hand, by word-of-mouth. Thieves even scheme to steal the shoes because they know how much money can be made.

“ Bootleg Jordans ain’t cool, man,” Inman said. “They’re ugly; they look fake, and they offend me. I pay for the real shoe, and I’m insulted when I see a fake pair of Jays. It’s like having fake spinners.”

The Image

Some young men will go to the extreme to achieve the social acceptance they believe is granted when they wear Air Jordans, thinking women look at a guy’s feet right after his face.

Two such women are students on South Campus.

“ He has to wear Jays. He has to be upgraded,” Olivia M. and Gabrielle W. said simultaneously. “I don’t prefer Jays on girls, but on boys, they are a must. Tennis shoes and skirts are a bad combination. But boys look cleaner in Jays.”

Some women do like to wear Jays. Others, like Krystal King from South Campus, do not wear the shoe, but like them just the same.

“ I like the colors and everything, but they hurt my feet,” she said. “They’re cool ’cause everybody wants to get them, but they’re uncomfortable.”