words by Steve Jaconetta
First off let me apologize to everyone who missed out on the My Shoes, My Story for the month of November. I completely forgot to post a story due to all of the other fun and exciting things we are planning over here at Sole Collector! But fear not I am back once again so without further ado, here’s my story…
Let me take you back thirteen years ago to 1995. MJ was back in the Bulls uniform and gearing up for his first full season back in the NBA since his first “retirement.” This season marked the Chicago Bulls picking up where they left off by winning title number four and the 1st of the second three-peat. We all know that this also means the new Air Jordan model is set to come out.
The eleventh of the series to date, and man did these put a mark on the Air Jordan sneaker legacy in a big way. The first colorway released was the “concord’s,” white/black/dark concord. This was the first basketball shoe to feature patent leather on it. The reason behind the idea was that MJ wanted to create a sneaker that looked good both on the court and off, something he could throw on with a suit just as much as lace up for a game.
I remember the first time I saw this shoe, my jaw dropped and I instantly fell in love. I remember going to school the next day and asking people if they had seen it yet and talking about it until school was over. But that didn’t stop me, I went home and was still talking about it, this went on for awhile. All the way until early ’96, February to be exact. Michael had unveiled the second colorway for the XI’s, the white/columbia blue/black aka the “columbia’s” at the All-Star game. Yes these were nice and everything, but they had nothing on the concord’s in my opinion.
My best friend at the time we’ll call him “J”, came from a more fortunate family then me and always had nice sneakers. I always talked about sneakers and Jordan’s to him and really anyone who would listen to me. His shoe size was bigger than mine which was unfortunate as I would’ve loved to have some of his hand-me-downs (even if I don’t remember what they were today). But you can’t always get what you want, and I learned it the hard way this time.
So a few days after MJ unveiled the columbia’s, out of nowhere without even telling me my friend J came into class wearing them. I was like “WTF!?” as I felt he did it in spite of me since he knew he could get them, and I could not. I honestly don’t even remember him really saying he actually liked the XI’s in all the months and months we talked about them. Well what’s done is done, and thankfully he liked to wear all white sneakers more so he got the columbia’s. I’ll settle for that anyday because if he had gotten the concord’s I think I would’ve flipped.
Anyways, I knew it was a LONG shot but I had a proposition and figured i’d give it a shot. After school that day I went to my mother and said, “when can I get a pair of Air Jordan’s?” Stop bothing me about sneakers that you want but cannot have, you know as well as I do that we cannot afford them she said. I knew that response was coming as it’s been the same story for a few years now, but I had to try. So a few days later, in the middle of the week I had an idea.
I said mom, “you can take all my presents for the year birthday, Christmas whatever away if you get me the white and black Air Jordan XI’s.” Immediately she said no. It did sound like a great idea at the time, but I knew she couldn’t come up with the money for the shoes at the drop of a dime. So saddened I went into my room and tried to forget about her answer as well as my friend having what would become my favorite Air Jordan model of all time. The weekend hits, my mom is off from work and I didn’t have any plans with friends.
My mom comes in my room as tells me to get ready to go out with her to the mall to shop, so I did. When we got there she said, I want to take you up on your offer. Trying to hold back my joy (which is hard for a pre-teen), I said what offer. I will get you your Jordan’s you want and you won’t ask me for another thing again until next year. Acting mature I said deal and then lost it soon after and kept thanking her and smiling like i’d never smiled before.
I don’t know how she had got the money but she did, and looking back I am very thankful for whatever my mom did to do it. So first sneaker store in the mall was Champs Sports, I ran in there only to find out that the concord’s were sold out. I even looked around and the columbia’s were as well. I was saddened but didn’t get to down as there was a few more stores left to try. Store after store after store same story, the Air Jordan XI was completely sold out. We even tried another mall not that far away, same result.
I was completely heart broken. All I wanted was a pair of Air Jordan’s like any other kid, but I couldn’t have them. I felt as if I wasn’t allowed or something, or they’re too good for me. As a kid you like to bear everything on yourself and come up with the craziest answers to why you couldn’t have what you want and believe me, I did just that. After a countless period of sobbing, I looked my mother straight in her eyes and said, “Mom one day when these shoes come back out again I will get every single pair I can find.” To this day, my mother still remembers that moment.
Lets fast forward to 2000, the new millennium. I’m not in high school and even more into sneakers than ever. I now have been able to afford Jordan’s and once I could I never looked back. So Jordan Brand started the retro line a year prior and were gearing up to bring back the XI’s. Once I heard that news I was overwheled with joy. In October the first colorway would be released and it was to be the concord’s! That’s all I needed to hear, I immediately began to plan.
A week before they were scheduled to be released I got word that a store in my area was selling them now. I had never had a Jordan early before so what better than to have it be my favorite one. I had been saving for months and once I got that info I ran to that store (my dad actually drove since I was too young) and there they were. Sitting there sexier than ever right in front of me. I immediately grabbed them and asked them for a sz.12. A few short moments later the person came back with the box and handed them to me. Upon opening it I felt like I was in awe with the inspirational music playing in the background and everything.
Holding that shoe in my hand was a dream come true, a four year dream. I put them on and like magic they felt like they were made specifically for me and it was destiny. I put them back in the box, paid the man and went home. I brought them to my mom, called all my family and couldn’t wait to goto school on Monday (I got the shoes on a Saturday). Monday came real quick and the minute I stepped foot into the school I was like “hell yes bxxxxes!” Everyone knew me for always having all the Jordans by now so people always looked at my feet on the daily.
I turned so many heads that day i’m suprised I didn’t get expelled for causing all those broken necks! Some people couldn’t believe I had them so early while others didn’t even know they were coming out. I felt like a king and that whole week I was the happiest kid alive. Then I remembered something, something I promised my mother. I haven’t fulfilled it yet. I then did some research and set out a gameplan. Saturday morning the day of the release I had one incredible journey to take.
I ventured to every sneaker store I could possibly goto and got every pair of concord’s in my size I could get my hands on. Once I got home and showed my mother she was a loss for words and I said, “I told you I was going to do it mom and I don’t break promises.” As time went on and more and more XI’s were released, my promise grew larger than originally stated as I copped multiple pairs of every single colorway released to this day. Highs, lows, women’s, etc. To this day my XI collection is probably my biggest quantity of an Air Jordan model I have in my collection, and I am damn proud of it.
The white/black/dark concord Air Jordan XI changed my life forever and forever will be my grail. If you don’t know me it’s ok because you don’t have to look far to see my obsession. I mean just look at my username: airjordanxi for example, or my avatar below. Yes, the tattoo’s real and I got it on my 18th birthday (lookout for a better look at it in a future issue of Sole Collector magazine). I owe my whole passion for sneakers to this one shoe because if it never was released, there might never of been an “airjordanxi.”
Well, that’s my story and I hope you all enjoyed it. Got a story to tell of your own that you’d like to share with the world? Click here to find out exactly how to do so.
OG:
Retro:
Keys: jordan, jordan shoes, jordan xi, jordan 11 concord, jordan original, jordan retro shoes, jordan 11 retro
December 14th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
wow thats a very very good story i see i have seen u comment like on every shoe first to now i finally see ur story its a great one and should be told to the world also those are some awesome shoes
December 14th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
the best story about sneakers ive ever heard and very nice about ur mom just amazing i read the whole thing
December 14th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
i was like your friend. i had all of these my eight grade year of middle school. i kept good grades and played sports so this is how i was rewarded for my work. as years passed i gave shit away and now i kick myself in the ass everyday for helping the needy. if i had all of my og nike/jordan/etc… i could get a small fortune. im in the rebuilding process
December 14th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
i remember i brought my friend william alexander to tears because i used to copp them and debut them to the hood before i wore them to school and everyone wasnt fortunate but ive always been big and tall so i wanted someone to try me for my kicks; it wouldve been a terrible mistake on their part
December 14th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Very inspiring story! I feel just like you, I couldn’t get no jordans as a kid neither. But now I’m almost a man, I can get all the jordans I’ve ever wanted now by working my ass off at work lol. Keep the love of jordan in the air. =]
December 15th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I remember the Summer of 96′, The family took a trip to Hawaii and I saw, at a small unremarkable strip-mall, the most beautiful pair of sneakers I have ever (and to this day) seen. The Air Jordan XI’s in red/black Championship colorway. The Jordan XII’s had already come out by then, but they still paled in comparison to the absolute pimpness of the XI’s. I was the coolest kid in class when school started and I wore those Jordans till they literally fell apart. My only regret is that i didnt keep the remains.
Cant wait for the throwbacks to hit my country.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:02 am
that’s awesome man. you tell that story perfectly
December 15th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Great story, I can totally relate too. I was 13 when these dropped in 95 and couldn’t afford them either. Thankfully Jordan Brand has given us a chance to buy all the classics from our childhood, now that were getting grown man money.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I definitely can relate. I wanted the 11′s something terrible back then. But mom wasn’t having it. But since then I have made up for lost time. I have about 33 pairs of Retro now. My wife just looks and me and smiles. Keep the passion.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I too, was a boy of little Jordan..coming up in a one parent home, we just couldn’t afford the luxury..had to spend half of what the Jordans cost on 2 or 3 pairs of shoes for all of us at Payless, keepin it real..but when I put myself in a position to get J’s..is there any lookin back for anyone? I mean, to me the Mecca of Athletic Gear is and will always be Jordan, the greatest Athelete of them all…keep them retros coming Mike…
December 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Wow, this story is almost identical to how I got the Bred 11′s It was my birthday present and my mom put them on layaway. You story brought back great memories. Thanks Mom R.I.P. Jordans 4ever.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
great story! felt the passion in it.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Oh man guy that was a very good story i am a teen as well and i also have experienced what you have gone through you inspire me to be more of the sole collector i am now thank you. You are like one of my new heros or inspierers.
December 16th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Great story. I agree, XI’s are a great shoe.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:11 am
haha wow. nice story. i actually read every single word. I love the XIs the most. They’re my favorite Jays. I only have the Breds though. I’m just starting. nice story!
December 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
nice storyy dude ….. wow how nicee i personali havee 3 pairs of 11ss they’re so nice … many people think that they r da best jordansss
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Wow, great story Steve. I feel as if we are related…lol, same thing happened when I was 10 when the retro “Concord” XI’s released. 6 pairs of XI’s will never do!!!!!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Very nice information. Thanks for this.
February 19th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Can you provide more information on this?
February 21st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I liked this article!
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
yea man
great article..
i love d XI’s man..
i think its an obession lol
February 25th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Thanks for the post, it was a nice reading, i like it.
March 24th, 2009 at 2:15 am
I really liked your blog with the toys mention.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Can you provide more information on this?
March 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Very nice information. Thanks for this.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Hey ! thanks for the material, a salute from Chile, iam adding your blog to feedreader !
March 27th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Nicely said, I enjoy the time that it took to research and write. Great work.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Now thats what i call a good read, i have bookmarked your site and will certainly be reading more of your posts.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Thanks for this, unfortunately there isent info about this in spanish, so i will be happy if you can still blogging about this.
April 1st, 2009 at 5:35 am
Great stuff man… I loved that part of the blog. Much better than your earlier posts.
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Excellent blog, thanks for all the hard work. Subscribed to feed
April 7th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Great work! I also have my own blog I just find it hard to write quality content like this.
I guess I really don’t have the time.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Great stuff. Nice to read some well written posts. A long way between them.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Great post, i will be pleaced if you can write more about this topic.
Julie.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:40 am
That’s an interesting article. I just wondered if you could tell me where to find more info on this topic ?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Good post! Found it doing a quick blog search. Subscribed! Mark
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I really liked your article. Keep up the good work.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Looks like I found another great site to add to my feed reader. Mark
May 11th, 2009 at 10:13 am
interesting… but why are you so harsh about your views
May 17th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Hey, do you have facebook account to add?
May 18th, 2009 at 2:49 am
What an inspirational post. It’s great to see some unique content and interesting read for once. There is too much rubbish cycling around on blogs now, so keep up the great work!
May 27th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
wow, nice story.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:50 am
Thanks for sharing. This website is a helpful source of information.Thanks
John
July 21st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Some more tips would be great as stuff does change. Any more information and experiences are appreciated.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
that was the greatest story ever mad respect to this guy