Tommy Deadstock

Ooooowweeee! Yes, this unofficially exists as one of my favorite colors, but what would you call it though? I've read it's called hazelnut but I wasn't feeling that. Amber? Nah. Burnt orange...yams lol? Closer. Here we go...cedar mulch? Whatever it is, as soon as I properly calibrate my vocabulary to a universally acceptable term, I'm going to add it to my favorites list and make it official. But let's not start shakin' hands and pumpin' fists just yet. I'm trying to avoid getting all overexcited and making crazy suggestions like Nike did when they started splashing this "have a baby by me baby"....blue over the Swoosh and sockliner of these shoes. That accent color is a little too soft and sweet for Tommy D....not about to have a baby by D baby. But if I did have these babies, I'd have to be the type of dad that's all about discipline to prevent the light colored front bumper from getting dirty. I've got a lot love for these kicks though and would claim them any time, any day.

The Skate Mental x Nike SB Dunk Primos are due out sometime in December but if you want go ahead and get your ducks in a row, pre-order from CCS. Yesss!

Think back to where you were in the winter of 1996, yes that was 13 years ago...whoa! I was in the 8th grade and excited for the upcoming basketball season where expectations were set high for a couple of us that led our football team to a successful season. Yeah, I was a boss (or felt I was) and was ready to accept my role as the middle school King of the Hill (yeah it was a small hill but whatever). We were going to be good and I had every intention of looking good as well, this of course meant I had to get some NEW KICKS! Now in middle school we had complete autonomy as to which kicks we sported on the court. But which kicks were fit for the King? The same that were worn by the ruler of the highest court in the land of course....His Airness. The Air Jordan XI's came out just in time for the season and nothing (past or present) could compare to their design. I got'em...and you couldn't tell me nothin'.  I felt like royalty while wearing these kicks, the ruler of all I surveyed.

Although I owned the original black and white colorway, I still look at the black-on-black Space Jam version you see here with a heightened sense of adoration, admiration and a feeling of nostalgia. Just look at these things...BEAUTIFUL. I compare the shiny patent leather belt that wraps around the leather and structured mesh upper of these J's to the glossy black piano finish on the bezel of a flat panel TV. Both are considered functional, contemporary works of art in my eyes. But like many fine pieces of art, it is recommended that in order to preserve their original condition, one must only allow such pieces to exist in highly controlled environments (indoors) which in the case of the Space Jam XI's would help protect the fully translucent outsole from being tainted (turned yellow) by the elements.

Sneakerheads have good reason to join in on the consumer mosh pit this year as the Space Jam XI's will be released on Nov 27, aka Black (on black) Friday. How appropriate.

               

Click here to download:

Air_Jordan_XI_Space_Jam.zip (650 KB)

I came up on a dope new pair of kicks a couple months ago, they were way flashy and way fly.  In fact, probably the flashiest and flyest that I've ever had. From the very moment I began to wear them, they were the giving me all sorts of attention, attention I wasn't expecting to receive right away and honestly I didn't really know how to appropriately respond. I mean, I was being treated differently than ever before and going places I had never been, my ego was in shock...these kicks were putting me on to so many different things in so many different ways. It was as if the kid had changed overnight...but I knew better. I soon realized that it wasn't so much about me being extra fly, it was really just the nature of my kicks. Needless to say I became accustomed to the attention and I truly enjoyed all the new experiences, but deep down I had reservations about the sustainability of it all. I knew that if I wore these kicks too often too early, they'd get played out.  Nevertheless, I found myself wearing them more often than any other I had owned. I really didn't want to play them out, but the kicks had a mind of their own and I seemed to be just going along for the ride...trying to be flexible and accepting of things not necessarily done my way. But how fast is too fast? How frequent is too frequent?  I didn't have a definitive answer but I had to draw from past experience. I wanted to slow the pace and ease up on the frequency in order to keep the kicks in tact in case they became classics (classics can be worn for a lifetime and never seem old), but that just never happened. It was frustrating, the soles were beginning to wear and I began to take the style for granted...damn.

There were instances where upon leaving a room, sneakerheads would comment on my kicks. They would say things like "He doesn't even know what he's got" and that "He better take care of his kicks"...as if they could tell I wasn't.  Even when I was around, people familiar with my sneaks would pull me aside and tell me what a genuine article I had in my possession and that my kicks were sure to be classics.  I absorbed those words and could see where they were coming from, but it was difficult to take them to heart because my perspective was from a different angle. I had the top view but they had the front and all the sides. Although I was the one that was wearing them all the time, it seemed like they could see more than me. Still, I was wearing these shoes at what seemed to be every available opportunity but the feeling wasn't right, the laces were becoming too tight. I didn't want to take them off, I just wanted to loosen them up a little bit 'cause that's how I was used to rockin' my kicks, especially when they were new. I tried to wear them tied-up tight for a while, and although I appreciated the feeling of security and support, I couldn't force myself to get comfortable with that style. But when I tried to loosen things up and move forward, the shoes just came off.  If the shoe fits, I'll wear it. But as I said in a prior post, the best fit is when your personality matches your kicks...so I had to take my own advice.

Every time I go in my closet, I'm reminded of their dopeness and although I'm not wearing them like I used to, I'm glad the kicks are still around. If they are indeed classics, perhaps we'll get back on that heavy rotation again, but until then...I'm ok with just wearing them every now and then.

It is unprecedented for Tommy D to post sans photos, but I think you guys get the picture, these were no ordinary kicks.

Mane...although these kicks share your name, they're not about to follow your lyrics. See unlike chicks, you miss these and I guarantee another won't be comin' in the next fifteen. So don't delay, get on board and make sure your watch says 11a on 11/14 before you request to stop @ Atlas skate shop. When you see the dope Gucci Dunks danglin' in the window, you've arrived...act like you know, and tell'em Tommy D sen'cha. Strikequick! 

     

Click here to download:

Nike_SB_RESN_Quickstrike_Gucci.zip (102 KB)

Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso said in an e-mail to the Orlando Sentinel, "The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas. As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

Jordan, son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, opted to wear Air Jordans during UCF's season opening exhibition game Wednesday night (Nov 4) despite a controversy surrounding his footwear choices.

UCF officials reached an agreement with adidas regional representatives allowing Jordan to wear Nike shoes despite the school's exclusive adidas contract. Higher-level adidas corporate officials later objected to Jordan being allowed to wear a competitor's shoes. UCF stood by the promise it made to Jordan that he could wear his father's shoes.

The university and adidas had a previous agreement that ran from 2005 to 2010 but had reached a tentative deal a contract valued at $3 million to run through 2015 and were already operating under the terms of that agreement. UCF was slated to get all apparel, shoes and equipment free of charge. It was a step up from the previous deal that had required the university to buy some items at wholesale prices for 15 UCF teams. UCF was already operating under the contract terms thanks to a verbal agreement, but adidas' statement indicates that verbal agreement will no longer be honored.

Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans with no prominent logos. His teammates wore white adidas with black trademark stripes. Jordan also was wearing black ankle braces with the adidas logo prominently displayed. As a result, the only clear logos near his feet belonged to adidas.

UCF awaits official notice from adidas ending their relationship and whether the school will be asked to pay for any of the equipment and apparel it has already received.

This news is about 6 days stale (I apologize for that) but I thought it was still relevant enough to post. I can't claim to knowing all the facts, but after reading a couple of articles from different sources on the topic I became quite annoyed with Young MJ for appearing like a brat (c'mon dude, leave Bow Wow alone, your Dad is Michael Jordan...silly). However, if the excerpts from above are accurate, and regional reps did in fact tell UCF that Young MJ could wear Daddy's kicks and the reversal from higher-ups came after the fact (or after Marcus had committed to play at UCF), then I'd have to be easy on all the Young MJ criticism. And I do commend him for his willingness to take one for the team by wearing those adidas ankle braces in combination with his non-adidas kicks...a serious faux pas there. Quick opinion, I'm not a fan of the OG colorway but the all-white "Rising Sun" editions look pretty tough. Hope all turns out well for UCF and Young MJ.

     

Click here to download:

Air_Jordan_XII_Rising_Sun_Youn.zip (140 KB)

Chris Rock recently co-produced a documentary about how people around the world and specifically, the African-American community describe the most desirable attributes relating to one of the most important (apparently) and undoubtedly most distinguishable part of the human physique...hair. The movie delves into the extreme lengths (no pun intended) in which African-Americans go, physically and fiscally, in order to have this so called "good hair". IMO, the movie serves viewers with equal parts of education and entertainment and most will leave theaters with some level of concern or disappointment, and maybe even a bit of shame. But the overall vibe of the film is good and upbeat thanks to the straight-up foolishness supplied by Chris Rock's narration. A notable appearance was from the one and only Ice-T with his LA gangsta-pimp-beauty commentary, and also, putting the lovely Lauren London and Nia Long (did she really say that?) squarely in front of the camera for a few minutes was a solid decision and certainly kept the kid intrigued. And was it me or did Eve look better than she ever has in this movie (in spite of the big dark sunglasses)? Apologies, I digress.

Now I can't truly confirm which ethnicity of human or class of animal covers the Gourmet Quattros you see here, but pony hair on my kicks...never that. Tracks and weave on my lady....never that (wait what about Lauren, Nia and Eve?). Ok well maybe I'd deal with some weave for a while...but I'd work tirelessly to try and stop her steady bobbin' and weavin' ways. In the end, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, but I personally wouldn't go to great lengths physically or fiscally to cop these Quattros. It doesn't matter to me that it is jet black, bone straight, shiny and extremely well maintained, the upper on these kicks represent my definition of..."bad hair".

   

Click here to download:

Gourmet_Quattro_Spring_2010.zip (136 KB)

I was once told that patent leather on men's sneakers should be illegal. Well, Asics better get ready to reach the ultimate hot seat because the honorable webm is ready to sound that gavel and send them right down a long concrete hallway to a room with one oscillating lightbulb (tethered to the ceiling), which illuminates the chair known for helping those truculent foes reach their final destination.

Description was a bit much huh? Yeah, well that's what I thought about the patent leather legislation sent down from the bench on which webm sits. But if you ask me, the jury is still out when it comes to the fate of Ronnie Fieg and the kids from High Snobiety. I'm not willing to put my head a block to claim that the latest collabo will definitely do right in the future, but I do believe that some good may come from the neck snapping appeal of the blue/grey suede. Unfortunately, this is the only (mug) shot we've got so we'll just have to wait and see if these provide enough promise and show enough evidence to make webm change her patent punishment laws. Otherwise, she's definitely saving a spot in cell block six for the tri-colloboration Asics. The final decision will ultimately be made by a jury of our peers.

Although I'm sharp enough to avoid initiating some Ignant $hit like trying to battle Drake on a lyrical tip, I do have some opinions that would likely spark a verbal battle with him. However, let me start by saying that when it comes to the job, Drake never seems to take A Night Off and the unique qualities of his lyrical deliverables are consistently expressed at the highest of federal levels. I recently gave another thorough listen to all the tracks I own of his, and it really is no surprise that his ascension to the top has been virtually Unstoppable with the most critically acclaimed conceding to let loose far reaching balloons that say Drake = Successful. However, ya'll knew that Sooner Than Later Tommy D would cut back on all the Congratulations, come back to the kicks and Say What's Real...so here it is...I'm Goin' In...no Fear.

I'm sure Drake's lyrical elusivity is what helped him cop these kicks whose exclusivity is only truly known by the player marked on the side (Ray Allen aka Sugar Ray). That's why they're called Player Exclusives (aka PE's). And because these will never reach retail shelves, all Drake has to do is avoid letting his drool drip (and stretch) all over these kicks like damp spider webs and they'll appear Brand New...Forever. But I'm not on that "whatever he like, I like" hype because specifically, the Air Jordan VIII's don't even make my top ten when it comes to the J's. Dry bibs over here baby, appetite not even whet. The Celtic green colorway looks rather shyttie IMO and in a bladder based emergency, I might have to use these to wipe my aes due to their lack of aesthetics. But I try not to make jokes on gifted folks like Drake and the retarded kids who like these solely because they jock his steez. Let me be clear, when I say retarded I mean those most prone to follow, like those who are slow, yeah slow like screw, yeah screw like the beat in November 18.

I kinda feel bad now. I need to receive the good Word...or at least go where I can hear some evangelical organs play. I prefer to roll Uptown for that. That collabo with Bun B was the Best I Ever Had heard (awkward English yes?) from young Degrassi at one point in time...and it's still one of my favorites. But don't be mad that I focused more on the accomplishments of Drake rather than the Keltic colored kicks you see here. I have a Lust for Life so I stay with my palm on The Calm button and these extra mild J's are not worth getting all heated and hateful over. So as for the debate on the VIII's, Let's Call It Off and reconnect on vacay in a city of your choice, I know sneaker spots in all 48 contiguous states. Houstonlantavegas.

   

Click here to download:

Air_Jordan_VIII_PE_-_Drake.zip (202 KB)

I carry a bookbag to work everyday...and I often carry it with me on the weekends too. Outside the lines of the academic areas the bookbag exists as one of the most functional yet highly underutilized accessories around. My bookbag is brown and no, it is not canvas. Can it hold a lot of stuff? Well no, it is not really that large but it is a sufficient size for my needs. Yes, some could probably call it kinda small. So with such a description, I've been the recipient of all sorts of flippant comments and haters (look here Merce, it ain't a merse) have tried to tie a rope of coarse jokes around the pack in an attempt to choke out my confidence. And I did almost end up suffocating, but only because those haters were covertly trying to inhale my air of freshness. But this post isn't meant to be about me or my backpack, it's about the idea of a man trying to match a his shoes with a bag. Belt yes, bag no. Call my bookbag on the edge of sus if you want, but until you find me (and you never will) intentionally trying to match my shoes with any kind of bag, your declaration will be null and void. Listen closely my dubious friends, Tommy D has no doubts about this disposition.

However, Trussardi thought it would be remarkable to find out if such a traditionally feminine concept is re-marketable toward men (shaking my head). Separately, I can't knock either product, but pairing these kicks with a matching duffel is something I simply cannot condone for the fellas reading at home. But I'm sure some very colorful cat that thinks he's flashy fly (big up AME) will pull this combo off and be crowned as the forerunner of "fierce"...I'm just not at all into that. In fact, I wouldn't be mad if I never sat behind the wheel of that Forerunner with the chrome plated decals that said I am dressing, acting, dancing or even fighting...somethin' fierce. That's right, I implore you to use any other adjective to describe the kid, banish the word altogether. Refocus D...the kicks (deep breath).

You know what, forget it, I'm tired now, let's cut to the quick conclusion. I think these kicks are pretty dope and SEPARATELY, the duffel bag is too. Click here if you are choosin' to consume Trussardi's shoe + bag snack pack. Holla back(pack)!

We all have to climb this mountain whether we like it or not, it is going to happen...it is happening. Reluctance won't stop it and wallowing in sorrow won't slow it down...in fact it'll probably push you even faster up to the apex of uncomfortable age. But some seem to ascend to the top of the hill gracefully...making it look so easy. But don't just aspire to make the inevitable climb look easy...make it look good. Tommy D recently reached another checkpoint along the spiraling vertical path, and although the kid isn't really that close to the top, he's always on the lookout for that which will provide him an edge as the hill gets higher and the terrain gets tougher. Proper footwear is essential. Irony will work in your favor if you lace these boots loosely because they'll actually look tight, trust me. Take the hill in stride.

Bring your wintertime sneaker game to another level with the protection of Gore-Tex @ adidas Originals.

     

Click here to download:

adidas_OT_Tech_Tokyo_Gore-Tex.zip (81 KB)