Unless you're completely unfresh, and spend your days under a rock, you should be fully aware that the Air Jordan 11's hit the pavement hard last week.  Space Jam Jordan's son.  People lined up for hours for a chance at a pair.  Foot Lockers were bum rushed by thieves and angry mobs vying for a pair of the beloved gems.  It was hysteria.  It made me remember why I fell in love with Air Jordans.  See long time ago before this internet thing was popping, you couldn't find a pair of kicks using Google.  You had to hunt.  Fresh is not lazy, Fresh is persistent.  If you wanted to be Fresh that meant waking up early, catching the bus, going to the mall, and standing in line.  It meant calling Eastbay two hours before the shoe was released, and stalling out a customer service representative until 8AM when the shoes were available.  It meant saving your checks from a months worth of working at the mall, and feeling good about dropping $175.00 for your favorite pair.  See I'm an avid Air Jordan collector.  I've been one since my Fresh was creeping out of puberty.  I know the difference between deadstock, and retro.  The Air Jordan 11's have a special place in my heart.  Back in 1995 when they first dropped they were madness.  Nike was riding high that year.  The Air Max 95's were already killing the game, but when Mike laced up those patent leather Carolina blue joints we knew it was going to be a problem.  I vividly remember watching the 1996 NBA All Star game.  This was when the All Star game really meant something.  It wasn't just a hodgepodge spectacle.  The players came to ball, and brought along their "A" game.  Jordan ran with the East squad, and had players like Shaq, Penny, and Grant Hill to ride with him.  The West was pretty nice that year too.  Shawn Kemp, The Admiral, The Dream, and Sir Charles were no joke.  I spotted Mike with them on during player introductions.  White on white, with the Carolina blue accents.  I was determined to be the first with a pair.  I called around to to Foot Lockers in my area, and got a confirmed release date.  Back then Jordan's came out on a week day.  These dropped on a Wednesday in 1996 to be correct.  Back in 96 I was a high school freshman, and without having access to a car getting my hands on a pair would prove difficult.  Moms wasn't about to let me miss a day of class for a pair of kicks.  I devised my plan with surgical like precision.  I would go to my first period class, sneak out, get the kicks, and come back to school.  The day came.  I checked into English like any normal day.  When the bell rang to signify the end of class I raced down the stairs, to the back door, and headed straight for Northland Mall.  When I got there the crowd was already on swell.  But I was determined to get a pair.  As soon as they opened the gates I ran full sprint into the store and demanded a size 13 pair.  I dropped down the birthday and Christmas money I had saved that year on the register.  I slid out of the Air Penny's I wore that day, and slipped on my Jordan's.  I wish Kanye had dropped this song back then, because you truly could tell me nothing.  I walked back into school in time enough for my fourth period class.  The looks of envy on the other kids faces as I walked through the hallway were priceless.  People marveled in awe.  Even the teachers had to stop and take notice.  For that day at least, those kicks made me an icon.  Just like the man that inspired the shoe.  So today we salute Air Jordan's.  The G.O.A.T of the shoe game.  There will be many to come after him, but no one will be able to top the impact left by the shoe.  In fresh memorial of the Air Jordans, we present our favorite memories.

*I know this has nothing to do with Air Jordans, but I had to post it.  Shaq took the The Admiral down by the water and baptized him in the 1996 All Star game.  I couldn't let this moment pass.  Enjoy.