Under Armour To Release A Steph Curry "Back to Back " Pack for Second Straight MVP Trophy

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To commemorate Steph Curry winning his second straight NBA Most Valuable Player Trophy, his family at Under Armour has made a special Curry 2 in honor of this event. The 1's shown in the picture were released last season to friends and family only, but didn't however feature the gold coloring on the toe box and instead possessed a white color. They will be included with the new 2's in a special "MVP Pack".

The theme of this pack revolves around the idea of Steph's back to back MVPs. Now including Curry, there have only been 11 back-to-back winner of the MVP trophy, the last time it happened was when LeBron James won it in both the 2008-9 and 2009-10 seasons, putting Chef Curry in both iconic and rare company.

The shoe comes equipped with a gold and black color scheme that reflects colors for both the MVP and Larry O' Brien Trophies (NBA Championship). Steph told the guys at Under Armour that he wanted more of an emphasis on his team with these shoes and it clearly shows.

On the inside of the tongue in gold lettering are the Warriors' team values such as faith, passion, drive, and will.

The outside of the shoe shows a true gold Under Armour logo with certain words in white that have been significant in Curry's life. For example, the date 1988, signifies the year Steph was born. One of his favorite Bible verses, Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" makes an appearance as well.

While in a nod and tribute to his Head Coach Steve Kerr, the shoe's sole possesses words that Kerr has used as the building blocks for the Warriors' success. Behind a gold background are the words Joy, Mindfulness, Compassion, and Competition. The 2's also features "MVP" written on one shoe and the "SC" Curry logo on the other.

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How Drake Put His Stamp on The Sneaker Game

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What a time to be alive.

It seemed like only yesterday when Aubrey "Drake" Graham came onto the scene with that signature letterman jacket in his Best I Ever Had music video. That video, combined with his verse on Lil Wayne's Every Girl track, have become the warning shots to the industry of what was soon to come from the Canadian superstar.

Fast forward to the here and now in 2016 and the world of Hip Hop has become a playground for the almighty 6 God. From his mixtape collab with Future, to his Hotline Bling music video that has generated over 675 million views on Youtube. And just for time constraints we won't even mention Drizzy's upcoming album Views From the 6, his fourth studio album that already has generated enough buzz online to plug thirteen artists.

Yet if anyone has followed Drake's timeline in his rise to stardom, they would know he loves being around other influential and productive people in the world.

From rising up and firing shots at Kentucky's annual Big Blue Madness, being courtside during Raptors' playoff games in the camo jacket, and being spotted at In-N-Out with NBA MVP Steph Curry and company, everywhere Drake goes he influences those around him.When it comes to the world of sneakers this is especially true in regards to Drizzy. In order to fully understand the impact Drake has made in a short amount of time we need to rewind the clock and look at the timeline for Drake's rise to sneaker supremacy.

2013: The Signing, The PEs, and the Start

When Drake signed to Jordan Brand in December of 2013 it changed the landscape of how shoe companies and artists dealt with each other in the past. Drake, who had a concert in Portland the night before Jordan Brand officially announced the deal, called it  "one of the best days of my life".The signing came off a bitter divorce from Kanye West and Nike, which had problems with how West felt disrespected at times by the company and in how Nike felt they had been disrespected in numerous rants on West' Yeezus tour.

What occurred in both Jordan Brand and Drake's situation can be summed up in two words:

A link

Growing up Drake, like many kids, watched Jordan do amazing things on the basketball court. Just like those same kids Drake dreamed of wearing the same sneakers he'd see in the shoe shops. The first of those sneakers was the Jordan 15, a gift from his Father (story confirmed in the Jordan commercial seen below this).

On the other side of the fence the Jumpman saw in signing Drake an ability to link the past to the certain future. Drake symbolizes those numerous kids who grew up loving the shoes Jordan Brand made and the desire to wear them. Yet what Drake also represents is an artist who can be seen almost everywhere and is recognizable to almost everyone in the world. Why not let him represent the brand? Why not let those who see him in concert, television, and other pathways of connectivity in a Jordan sneaker, pullover, headband etc.?  This way of thinking has led to other artists and celebrities with no connection to athletics getting their own shoe deals such as Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Tyga. 

Drake wasted no time in showing the world what he and Jordan Brand were up to when he took to his Instagram in the very same week he made the announcement of signing with Jumpman. There the 6 God gave the world the first sneak peek at what would soon become the Air Jordan "OVO" 10s and 12s in both their black and white colorway. Having sneakerheads everywhere in anticipation for when these particulal pairs of Js would drop. 

2014-5 - OVO Fest, OVO Night, Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman  

Drake started off the New Year of 2014 with a bang. On January 11th the Raptors held the first ever "Drake Night". There the entire OVO camp sported the 10s and 12s courtside. Amir Johnson rocked the 10s on court, with Drake handing out a few special pairs to lucky fans who were in attendance. Not to mention, the woman who received a pair during Drake's halftime set in the video below made $100,000 on her eBay bid of the shoes. Talk about a come up.

Later that year in August at the 5th annual OVO Fest Drake rocked a pair of Gold 'OVO' Air Jordan PE 3s. The concert alone was crazier than ever just based off the list of acts such as YG, J. Cole, DJ Khaled, Lauryn HIll, Usher, and G-Unit. But when people saw those 3s the internet went abuzz. To this day no one has seen that pair on the market and the only other person who has been seen in a pair has been Usher.

Yes life was certainly beginning to look good for Drake and Jordan Brand. Drizzy had people clamoring for pairs that weren't even scheduled for release yet, and he was beginning to expand the limits of the brand like wildfire.

And then in 2015 he and Future dropped their now cult classic mixtape What a Time to Be Alive. 

"Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman, they gave me my own collection wooh!" 

The track Jumpman on the mixtape became a solid hit. It went platinum in the US and became an instant track that has become thrown into every DJ's set across clubs worldwide. With references to famed NBA shot blocker Dikembe Mutombo and one-third of the Spurs famed big three Manu Ginobli the song became beloved in basketball circles eveywhere. If 2014 and 2015 were good years, then 2016 was about to have everything come full circle for Drake and Jordan.

2016 - All Star Game Supremacy, the Key to The 6, and The Ultimate Pop Up Shop 

Three years from that December night in Portland where he had announced his deal with the Jumpman, Drake took the crown during his stint as host of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto. The fact that Toronto was hosting All-Star Weekend  in part you could make a huge argument for was behind Drake's impact as an ambassador to the Raptors.  He received the key to the City of Toronto before the Celebrity Game (where he served as Coach opposite of Kevin Hart).

For a lot of guys that could've been the apex. Not for Drake, he was just warming up. It was during the Skills Competition where Drake, decked out in a pink and white OVO varsity jacket, sported a pair of white and blue Jordan 8s. If the OVOs were something new back when he first snapped them on his Instagram, then the blue and white 8s were like witnessing something new and never before seen.

It was one thing to break out a new pair of shoes no one had ever seen before, but to break out two pairs never before seen was something exotic. Drake had literally won the weekend without even trying and had stamped his legacy in sneaker history. Combined with his own kicks, the 23 and 6 pop up shop in Yonge for All-Star Weekend featured a store full of the latest drops for the Jumpman from Chinese Low 5s to PSNY 12s.

So what does the future hold for Drizzy Drake? Whatever it does might just be the icing on an already loaded cake.

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The One Year Anniversary of Wale's "The White Shoes" Video

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Since he arrived onto the scene with his debut Album, "Attention Deficit" in 2009, Wale has left a trail of lyrical treasures in his career by being able to take certain topics and drop more than his fair share of opinions in tracks with clever wordplay and flow. They have left even the most thoughtful and spiritual people pondering what he just said to the point that he makes you want to rewind and listen to the whole thing again and again. The Washington DC native has made a trademark on expressing his unique views on numerous hot button discussions that can range from the modern day College Athlete (listen to Varsity Blues) to referencing over 15 iconic sports moments (listen to Barry Sanders).

These tracks have helped pave the way for a sound that resembles modern day life and water cooler talks everywhere.

"Vic Paige never made it, Len Bias never made it. See God give us the talent, but the devil make us famous" - Wale

One of Wale's passions other than his love for all Washington sports teams has always been sneakers. His love for the game has always been high when he discusses shoes in interviews. His sneaker collection resembles a renaissance of all different brands. One day he's paying homage to the foams that his hometown of DC has become famous for loving and the next he can be seen in a Kung Fu stance in the Nike SB Tiffany Dunk Highs.

So what happened last year when Wale teamed with Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld to produce his 2015 album, "The Album about Nothing" ?

Pure Gold.

The Album that was given 4 out of 5 stars from XXL Magazine featured Seinfeld discussing certain topics and memories from his career that followed with Wale's verses on the same subject . The mixture of two people from seemingly opposite worlds combined to showcase both their opinions on topics even if their ideas and viewpoints were not on the same wavelength. 

One of the most memorable tracks in the Album is The White Shoes, a four minute song that depicts the dark and twisted elephant in the room when it comes to the sneaker world. A world filled with peer pressure, crime, and sorrow over a pair of shoes. The video, while amassing over a million views on YouTube, is also one of my all time favorites. For that I've always made it one of my favorite videos to talk about and as it inches closer to its 1 year anniversary (one week from today) it's only right we discuss what makes it amazing.



Jerry Seinfeld was known for his white shoes in his legendary sitcom Seinfeld 

The video begins with Seinfeld talking about one day walking down the street and a woman complimenting him for staying with his white sneakers. The shoes Seinfeld says just make him feel good. Even during the rise of his status as a celebrity Seinfeld was seen in nearly every episode on his hit show in white sneakers.


The chorus of the song reiterates Seinfeld's views over and over again as Wale sings, "We gon' be good long as them sneakers white". The lyrics depict a feeling of joy even in the toughest of times. That just a fresh pair of white sneakers in itself could make someone feel good about themselves.

The video shows a young kid sweeping up hair in a Barbershop to earn money. He is then shown later that day wiping off tables, taking out the trash, and mopping the floor of a taqueria. This shows a kid working hard to make enough money just to buy something. But what?

Fast forward in the video and that same kid is seen passing a group of guys who mock him for his dirty and beat up white sneakers. His confidence clearly shattered with the look on his face he stops by a sneaker store and stares from outside the glass window to the display shoe for a pair of White Air Jordan 11 Columbias. This shoe now becomes his main goal and he is saving up to get it.

(The clowning the kid in Whale's video goes through isn't necessary nor needed and could avoid a lot of inferiority in the sneaker game)

Throughout song Wale's lyrical power cascades over the entire track and gives depth to the problems surrounding the sneaker world. Lyrics such as 

"the sneaker stores and laundromats get all the money Cause it ain't 'bout what you're doin', 'bout how you're lookin'" show the need to fit in and look fly often poisons our mind into buying things just so we can fit in with other people instead of investing that time and money into our future. 

"Back then the h**s checkin' for your zapatos

So even dirty n****s had the foams ya know!" this line shows how much males in particular invest into our look and see the necessity to buy certain shoes to impress women. The last line reflecting that instead of investing that money we spent on those foams into our total appearance we waste it all with what's on your feet. While a certain pair of shoes can impress others, i'd be the first to tell you from personal experience that not once have I ever picked up a woman because of my sneakers. 
 

Eventually that same kid gets enough money to purchase those Columbia 11s, with Wale handing him the bag and giving him dap. He walks down in the street in the video with a new hat, the new white shoes, and a smile full of confidence. As he sees a group of girls who stare and point at his shoes the video takes on an emotional happy ending. Or so we think.




(The hard work paid off for the boy in the end, sadly not everything has a fairytale ending)

Because as he turns the corner, that same kid is robbed by the same group of guys who were hating on him earlier. He gets pinned to the ground and has his shoes taken from him. The next scene shows Wale picking up a newspaper to see the young boy's face with a headline that shows he was robbed and killed for the shoes that he sold him.



Wale is obviously crushed, shaking his head in frustration. 

The video's message is clear that some people will never truly allow for someone to have a come up or be happy. The long and hard work the kid in the video shows is nullified by a group of people who possess no job and have to resort to robbing him.

(This happens everywhere, only thing is sometimes doesn't get reported)

The truth, while cruel, shows the harsh realities of the streets. That not everything ends in a fairy tale. A year later and the video still speaks to the problems the sneaker game has been facing for the past thirty odd years. People will do anything for shoes. If that means taking another person's life or feel the need to resort to violence so be it.

 

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Why The Kickback Tour Was (And Can Continue to Be) Amazing

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I pray that March 26th becomes an annual event. Not in the sense that every year we have to put the Kickback Tour on that same exact day but I would like for it to be every year in Sacramento. What started out as an idea grew like wildfire from word of mouth. To the point that I was having people I know ask me if I was going to, "the sneaker event". The word is out now nearly four days later. This was and can continue to be something special. If I had to do it over again maybe I wouldn't have worn the same pair of Cement 4s 1 in 4 people had on but other than that no regrets. It's hard to pinpoint an exact subject I'd prefer to write about in regards to the event. So I just preferred to list what made it so special in detail. Happy day, and remember that the French 12 is coming this weekend. Salud. (Big thanks to Laura Allen for the pictures)



#1. I really, really, like BODYARMOR

There were a lot of tents and companies who invested their time into having a spot for their items and merchandise for the event. For that the gratitude is endless and when I say my next sentence it isn't meant to disrespect anyone.

(

BODYARMOR may have one of the best products to hit the scene these next couple of years. They say that the best way to test out your product out is to bring it straight to the customer's hand. That's exactly what their team did last Saturday. I was not like everyone else who waited in line because I was able to walk in early and tour everything. Within five minutes I was handed one of their drinks by a kind woman and had broken the seal on the top. I first tried the Tropical Punch flavor and was blown away.

The drink didn't taste like a Gatorade or Powerade in the sense that it wasn't overly doused with flavor. Yet it tasted smooth and clean, while at the same time giving enough taste to the point that you were satisfied but left wanting more. Then I was able to try the Fruit Punch later in the day (and by later I mean I went and got another one twenty minutes later because I didn't want to be greedy but it tasted too good for me to pass up) and loved that one even more. If they had let me I would've walked out with the entire barrel.

With athletes sponsoring the drink from promising Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis, to NBA Champion Klay Thompson, the company is already getting more than enough backing. Bottom line is this.

Drink BODYARMOR. You won't regret it. 



#2. The Champ (and more) were there. 

(Don't worry Steph I have the same problem when I go outside too)

I'm going to ruin the surprise for everyone that came Saturday.

I knew ahead of time that Steph was going to be there. No one spread it or told anyone about it because had they done that we would've had to have been escorted in with three times the security that was already at the event.

(On second thought, maybe someone should have spilled the bomb that he was coming).

 All jokes aside it was amazing to walk in as a spectator and see the star power that was in that building. Anyone knows the game of basketball and sneakers go hand in hand. I'm never surprised at the creativity and
unique personas NBA players share on their feet by rocking a pair of sneakers. They wear a revolution on their feet with the amount of TV and general media cameras they bring to their feet. As William Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage".

As I walked into the building it started with Riley Curry (who quickly is becoming a celebrity in her own right), then you would see Sonya Curry helping out at the Kick'n It table. In walked Willie Cauley-Stein and he was soon to be followed by Seth Curry. Then came Boogie Cousins, Caron Butler, Rudy Gay and it seemed like everywhere you went there was someone there. A friend of mine turned to me and said, "What's next, Steph ?".

(Wille Cauley-Stein had one heck of a weekend after coming to the KickBack Tour, where he proceeded the next day to score 21 points coming off the bench in a win against Dallas)

When Steph walked in the entire room collectively turned to the stage. Only a few people that have ever existed could get that kind of reaction. Elvis, MJ, Wilt Chamberlain, and Steph. What made it better was that no one was on an ego trip. Long as you were polite and kind (which everyone that came was) they would take pictures with you, talk to you etc. That's always a great feeling when you're able to meet someone and are able to leave with a positive experience.

Which is what the purpose of the event was. To have a positive experience. So to those who came thanks you for your involvement and keep doing your thing on the court, off the court, and just life in general.



#3. Play Bang Bang Ball If you Have the Trash Cans

Created when Seth Curry's friends and family threw him a birthday party, Bang Bang Ball came to the Kickback Tour and was given a close up experience to the Sacramento public.

The game is basically a bigger, larger version of beer pong (minus the beer because this is family friendly). The KickBack Tour had three teams. Team Sacramento Kings consisted of a group of the Kings in attendance such as Boogie and Caron Butler aka Tuff Juice. Team Kick'n It received a special cameo appearance from Riley Curry alongside her mom Ayesha and dad Steph. Meanwhile Team Sac Town was created from five random guests at the event.


Bang Bang Ball I find entertaining for the sheer fact that it's a bigger game of beer pong which allows for more arch on your shot from a farther distance as you watch the balls float on a magic rainbow towards the trash cans. Not only that, but since it's family friendly everyone can play (as shown by Riley) which means you can get the kids vs the parents etc.

(Devontee performed the Kick'n It theme song during the Bang Bang Ball portion of the event)

#4. Everyone had a good time

This topic would be #1 on my list if I had actually wanted to organize these points in order.

Everyone had a good time. Isn't that the point of events such as these? Look we can sit here and talk about certain shoes and styles all day when we go to these venues. The purpose remains the same, that everyone enjoy themselves and have a good time.

That's why I as not just an ambassador to the City of Sacramento, but as a citizen to the sneaker game in general in America think we need more events like this. Where we help people in the process and are also enjoying being around others who like the same things that we do.

It's amazing to go to sneaker conventions like a DXC and now a KickBack Tour Event and see, interact with other sneakerheads to share opinions on certain pairs, collections, and etc.
Otherwise what are we buying, selling, and trading these shoes for? There'd be no purpose if you can't share them with others (don't be a hoarder). Thankfully we do have a purpose and hopefully we continue to have this event around the Country and convince more sponsors and people to hop on board.

The more people to get going with it the better, and hopefully I'm able to see all of you at next year's Kickback.

(The 2k Station also featured Ronnie 2k to stop by, as well as games that involved Trill and Seth)

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NCAA Tournament in Sneakers (Round 1)

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The NCAA Tournament is a Basketball Festival for all who enjoy watching, playing, and discussing the game. It allows over 60 teams a fair shot to cut down the nets and bring home the Championship. It also over the years has become a platform for the teams and players involved with the media market and Television exposure to display their favorite sneakers. And with that I  will be providing pictures to some of my favorite sneakers round by round. Enjoy.






(Lamonte Bearden from the University of Buffalo in the KD 8 "Aunt Pearls" showing us that real men aren't afraid to wear pink. A lot of people slept on this model but obviously it wasn't by enough to keep Bearden from rocking this cool and fresh model. Even in a tough loss to 3rd seeded Miami the pink reflects good with the blue socks and black uniforms)



(Grayson Allen of Duke sporting another KD 8 colorway, this time the Blue and White. A solid colorway and not too flashy while matching that traditional Duke Blue. While Duke avoided an upset in the First Round against UNC-Wilmington Allen was sporting one of the most loved colorways of the KD 8.) 



(Jalen Adams of UConn sporting the Kobe Elite 11 Low black and white during the Huskies upset against 8 seed Colorado was a perfect blend. The white on the back of the heel meshes well with the white trim on Connecticut's uniform, while the black is around the shoe just enough to where it is technically still looking and feeling like a black shoe from afar)



(UConn was so nice in the opener they had to make it twice. As Sterling Gibbs brought out the Air Jordan 13 "Bred". One of my all time favorite shoes you can never go wrong with the AJ 13. Gibbs could easily make my All-Tournament Sneaker First Team when this whole thing is over with even if UConn doesn't make it far in the tourney. Well played Mr. Gibbs indeed)


(Isaiah Whitehead of Seton Hall was in the spirit for St. Patrick's Day by busting out a unique pair of Under Armour Clutchfit Drive 2 Lows in green and gold. By far one of the most dazzling and eye popping sneakers of the tourney so far. And while Seton Hall being upset by Gonzaga last night signals the last time this season at least Whitehead brings them out on an NCAA court he definitely set the bar high for the rest of the field)



(Matt Thomas of Iowa State is hidden by Iona's Isaiah Williams. Those Air Jordan Columbia 11's however are not. You can't go wrong with any pair of Jordan 11s on the hardwood regardless of any level and Thomas shows us his variety in his collection. Meanwhile the entire Iowa State team is getting bonus points for busting out a cult throwback in the Nike Air Zoom Hurrache 2k4)

 

(Austin Peay's time in the tourney was short lived to top ranked Kansas. However they did manage to include some style as Kenny Jones sported the Air Jordan 11 "72-10"s on court. While they won't be bringing home the trophy, Jones makes sure that they at least leave the field with some swag points)




(Like Father, like Son. Gary Payton II came out in the KD 8 "Woven Black and Gold" for his Oregon State Beaver's First Round Game against VCU. Just like his Dad revolutionized the sneaker game with his own trademark shoes, could we ever see a day where his son pays homage to the Glove's kicks by wearing them in the tourney should the Beavers get far?)




(Alex Poythress kept the Jordan 13 First Round trademark going with his pair of the "He Got Game" Air Jordan 13s. A smooth shoe that transcends well into Kentucky's known history these past couple of seasons with a huge sneaker tradition in the Calipari Era. Somewhere Tyler Uliss has to make this list during the Tourney)

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Tournament Throwbacks: How Mike Bibby Put the Foamposite on the Map

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After Penny Hardaway reached into his Nike Reps' Bag and asked about the Nike Air Foamposite One prototype and before he ever stepped onto an NBA court with the shoe on his feet, it was a young Point Guard at the University of Arizona named Mike Bibby who put his stamp on it forever. In the 1997 NCAA Tournament #4 seed Arizona was firing on all cylinders on their way to facing the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 regional. 

It was the Wildcat's Nike Rep, Eric Lautenbach (now Nike's Director of College Basketball Sports Marketing) who would present one of the most iconic shoes in entire sneaker game. Where the Freshman Bibby would see an opportunity to put his mark in both the sneaker and College game, most guys on the team decided to pass. 

Miles Simon, who would soon become the Most Outstanding Player of the 97' NCAA Tournament, would decide to pass on the sneaker and stuck with his 1997 Nike Air Max Uptempos.

" I wore them in practice, but they were too slippery on the bottom" said Simons,

"But Mike did not care he thought they were hot and he was going to wear them regardless". 

The foams on Bibby's feet would see a lot of TV time as the Wildcats knocked off A loaded Jayhawks team in the Sweet Sixteen (a team that would feature future NBA Pros Paul "The Truth Pierce" and Scot Pollard) and then both North Carolina and Finally Kentucky in the National Championship. 

In the process Arizona beat three number one seeds to win the program's first Title, an impressive feat that we possibly may never see again in the Tournament. Bibby would see his name plastered onto the All-Final Four team and capped off a Tournament run for the ages with 19 points in the Championship game against UK. 

Nowadays seeing a Foamposite to a sneakerhead is as common as walking down the street and watching cars drive by. A lot of that has to do with the max output of numerous colorways from the Radars to the recently dropped University Blues. But at the time what Mike had put on his feet was revolutionary. NO ONE had seen those. It was different, it was cool, it was unique. And it had first been seen on one of basketball's biggest stages.

"Cats in the streets wouldn't say 'oh those are the foamposites', they'd say 'Oh he got the Arizonas!"


And while Bibby would go on to an impressive sneaker run in the NBA with multiple Jordan Brand PE's and colorways, it all started back in '97 when he put on the Royal Foams before anyone else (including Penny) ever saw them in a store.

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Year of the 12

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If there’s one thing that Jordan Brand has made clear in the first three months of the 2016 Calendar Year it’s this  

They have, and will plan on continuing to flood the market with new Jordan 12 releases.

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