After all the hype,raffles, and L’s taken trying to cop, the Jordan 1 Obsidian finally dropped on Saturday July 31st.

Retail on this sneaker was $160, and although it was a general release it was in limited pairs. I was lucky enough to win the raffle through the Finish Line app and I got them for a great price with my employee discount. Resell on this sneaker was pretty good for smaller sizes like 7-9.5 capping out at around $400. Larger sizes didn’t quite see those profits, but if you put them on ice for a few months you could see deadstock prices rise to close to $400.

It has been proven that anything in the UNC colorway will sell even beyond Tar Heel nation. This is a very simple yet clean Retro 1 and comes with an extra pair of university blue laces if you want to switch up the look.

The Jordan Retro 1 craze is in full swing and we have been waiting for this colorway to drop since they dropped it in a patent leather model. The obsidian and university blue colors are a nod to Jordan’s time at UNC.

THE BOTTOM LINE

As far as comfort goes I give all Retro 1’s a 6/10. They released in 1985 and they haven’t messed with the original recipe too much so unfortunately we are left with the comfort level they felt in the mid 80’s. As far as looks though I give this shoe a 9/10. One’s are such a versatile silhouette that can literally be worn with anything. The colors pop but aren’t too loud. It’s an attention grabber in a classically simple manner. Shorts, jeans or even suits, this sneaker just works. If you were lucky enough to cop a pair for yourself than you have yourself the most hyped sneaker at this moment. The knocks on it are standard issue for all ones, the creasing on the toe cap and the lack of comfort.Overall i give it a 9/10 because I love anything UNC and the Retro 1 just works. My only regret is that I didn’t grab a personal pair.

Anyone who is a die hard boxing fan knows all too well about the corruption and greed that has plagued the sport for years. Gone are the days when the Heavyweight champion of the world is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. Most people can’t even name five top fighters right now. With the rise of MMA and the watering down of belts in boxing, the sweet science has taken a back seat in popularity. Corruption has always been a huge problem in boxing. Large sums of money are riding on particular fighters to do well or particular fights to go a certain way. Boxing is one of those sports that leaves final decisions up to judges. Unfortunately, they are often swayed by outside forces to decide one way over another. Another problem is the fact that there are so many belts from so many governing bodies. You almost never hear “undisputed” in front of any fighters name anymore. Somewhere along the line, having a loss meant that you were suddenly trash. So with this belief, fighters are carefully groomed to fight guys they will have no problem beating while robbing fans of the fights they deserve. Pacquiao and Maywether should have fought five years earlier than they did. The greedy people who control the sport wanted to wait to get the highest possible pay day, resulting in two of the best ever fighting when they were past their primes. Fans got fed up and switched to MMA and I don’t blame them. But recently the sport has been making some changes and its bringing some lost fans back. They are starting to show fights on fox and ESPN more, so people don’t have to pay high paper-view prices. They are making the must see fights happen sooner, and they are making more champions fight other champions to unify belts. The corruption and grooming of fighters is still there and it will always be there. At least we are getting the better fights sooner and we don’t always have to pay $70 to watch a fight that could end in twenty seconds. We’ll see if popularity can be restored to some what of what it used to be.

My dad brought me to the boxing gym when I was very young. Like most kids, I was nervous about what my time spent in the gym would be like. Self doubt and insecurities often rear their ugly head, especially when we are kids. I knew I was going to learn the techniques to be a good fighter while I was there. I knew I was going to learn the sport that the men in my family were obsessed with. I knew that I was going to be able to defend myself in ways I never thought possible. What I didn’t know, is all the life lessons and character building I would do in that building. Boxing is a rare sport due to the fact that it is you and yourself only performing. No teammates to lean on. Just you and your opponent standing toe to toe partaking in the most savage of sport. It is perfectly acceptable to get dominated and knocked out. Quitting on your stool is the cardinal sin in the world of fighting. You can get beat ten ways to Sunday but as long as you stay in the fight and keep moving forward, you did good. I have had my fair share of tragedy in life, most of it in short time frames. Most days I find it hard to get out of bed and do the things I am supposed to do. Work, school, or be there for the loved ones in my life. Something gets me up every morning though. I refuse to quit on my stool. I’d go out on my fucking shield before I quit and lived on one knee. This past month and a half has been a horror show for me and my family. I’ve had several losses in a short time span that most people never see over an entire lifetime. Depression and hopelessness throw a blanket over my personality and it seems suffocating at times. I was fortunate to be raised around a sport and by a man who’s as tough as they come. I’m not even talking about physical toughness, I’m talking about the strength to get up and keep moving forward aft the toughest opponent you will ever face hits you, Life. I was fortunate to have my will and dedication tested daily in a boxing gym . Not because I know how to fight a lot better than the next guy, but because I can now weather the storm that life has thrown at me. If you’ve got kids I would seriously recommended looking into getting them into boxing. Its a lot less of the savage sport you have in your mind, and more of a positive environment that molds mentally strong kids. We all get hit by life, wouldn’t you like to train to be better prepared?

I am a sneakerhead. My day to day smart phone use revolves around talking to my girlfriend and checking out sneakers. I’m on sneaker apps such as Stock X and GOAT as well as searching Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark and LetGo for deals on sneaker brands like Nike, Adidas and Jordan. A lot of my free time is spent running around town checking out Mardens Marshalls and Good Will to see if they got any new inventory. I am also a sneaker customizer with an array of every color imaginable as well as stencils if a customer wants words or a certain image on their kicks. I am in another stratosphere when it comes to pricing knowledge compared to your average person just looking to purchase some new shoes for themselves. Hyped brands and sneakers can be very expensive and to the average consumer it can seem impossible to find an in style pair for a reasonable price. This is false, and I am here to help. Most people will more than likely head to their local mall to hit Foot Locker, Champs or Foot Action when they want to purchase a new pair. It seems like the logical location to go when you want a new pair of sneakers. I can tell you as a self described sneaker expert that this is a mistake that is going to hurt your wallet unnecessarily.I will occasionally visit one of these stores just to browse and I usually only purchase when they have a buy one get one half off deal. That’s because I know better. We are in the age of the internet ruling our lives. Social Media is king and more and more people are shopping online, if you don’t believe me than please refer to the explosion of Amazon and other online tycoons. Take a minute before you rush out and buy the first pair that catches your eyes at your local retailer. Go to your local thrift shops or retailers like Marshalls or Mardens first. I was at Marshalls in South Portland Maine two weeks ago and came across a pair of Adidas Pharrell Williams HU in Ice Blue for $30. Huh? In laymen terms I found a very hyped and in style shoe for $30 that fetches a price on GOAT and the sneaker store giants for $80-$90. There was a few other pairs there as well with huge markdowns from retail just waiting to be found by you. My second tip can be done on your computer or smartphone right now. Apps like Poshmark, LetGo, and FB Marketplace are full of deals on very nice sneakers both new and used at much lower prices. If you like to try the shoe on first than you can simply go to your local Foot Locker, try it on and figure out what size fits best. Don’t buy there. Save yourself 30%-50% on one of these apps. I mentioned used sneakers too. People need to realize that the resale of sneakers in a billion dollar business in 2019 and many used sneakers are barely worn. I buy used constantly. A little soap and a toothbrush will have your discounted kicks looking new in five minutes. I bought lightly used Air Max 270 for $55 the other day. After a quick clean and gently cycle I have brand new shoes that retail for $180 in Foot Locker and Foot Action.Just about everyone is on Instagram nowadays and with a little searching you can find several pages that offer giveaways on Yeezys and Travis Scott Jordans. All it takes is liking a photo, following a few other pages, and commenting your size to be entered to win a pair of sneakers that can be resold for profits of up to $1000. So in short, check out your local thrifts for gems, definitely check the apps i mentioned, don’t be afraid of used and enter as many raffles as you can. Having nice sneakers doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, you just need to do a little research. Now get out there!

I moved to Portland about three years ago from the Boston area and while it has been quite the culture shock I have come to love this cool little city by the sea. Portland is a must see tourist destination and is one of the best “foodie” cities in the entire country. Great stores, great restaurants, cool tourist destinations but there is virtually no good spots to shop if you’re looking for some exclusive sneakers or street wear. I know the older generation will probably roll their eyes reading this thinking, ” I can’t believe I wasted my time reading an article about sneakers”. Now before you leave this blog in search of a better read, let me just tell you that according to The NDP Group global sneaker sales last year boasted profits of 17.5 billion. Did I get your attention? That isn’t even taking into account the 1 billion dollars the resale market netted. I am a self proclaimed “sneakerhead” and street wear enthusiast, and its been a passion and borderline addiction of mine since I was a kid. I remember stealing my brothers Ecko shirts and Triple Five Soul hoodies growing up and feeling like the coolest kid alive. Have you ever heard of the clothing line Supreme? I bet anyone in your family under the age of 40 has. Supreme started as a small clothing boutique/ skate store in Manhattan in 1994. A haven for the skater youth of NYC to hang out and purchase skate brands such as Vans,Spitfire, Thrasher as well as Supreme’s own clothing line. It had a “at home” feel and was more than just another retail store with no identity and connection to it’s customers. Supreme is worth about 1 billion dollars today and you can catch this generations clique camped out in front of stores for days to be the first one’s to buy an article of clothing when they release a new collection. This community is very real, very committed, very passionate and they are willing to pay outrageous prices to feel like I did when I had my brothers Triple Five hoodie on. Sneakers are no different. Our community has been around much longer and is even crazier about our collections and being the first guy with a new drop. Jordan, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Converse and Vans are the giants of the business profiting in a way no one ever saw coming.

We have Foot Locker and Finish Line at the Maine Mall. We have Urban Outfitters, Zumiez and Journeys. Those companies turn great profits but there is absolutely no connection to the community or costumers. They sell some of the brands I mentioned at a ridiculous mark up and they never have anything exclusive or new drops. There isn’t any events or giveaways like Flight Club (NYC) or Concepts(Boston). I was talking to the manager at Foot Locker today about the culture and what’s new and he agreed with me that Maine has no go to place for cool shoes and clothing with passionate and knowledgeable staff. He told me he goes to Providence when he is on the prowl for something new or exclusive. Its never a good thing when your customer base travels three states away when they want to buy a product. I’m speaking from experience that what makes these other companies great is that they are selling an experience as well. Bodega (Boston) is disguised as a run down old convenience store right down the road from Fenway Park. I’ll never forget being sixteen years old and having my buddy take me there not knowing what I was getting into. You walk through the dingy old store to the door in the back and you walk into a room filled with all the shirts and sneakers you heard were out but never saw. The staff was passionate and you could sit there and talk shop with them while you picked out the perfect pair to show off to everyone at school. It was hidden in plain sight and you felt like you were a part of something no one else was. It was a feeling of belonging coupled with great service and a great atmosphere. These chain stores will never be that, they can’t offer what these smaller shops could. I’m a college student and I’m around town quite a bit and I see the passion for sneakers and street wear in this younger generation. A store that offered exclusive drops and an experience of belonging would absolutely kill it. There is nothing like it in the entire state. If I had start up capital and some financial backing I would do it in a heart beat. Its a very safe move and I’d be doing what I love. Selling sneakers and creating a community where skaters or anyone else who wants to just hang out and enjoy the culture could chop it up. This is a can’t miss business opportunity and if you’re reading this I hope you do yourself a favor and at least think about making this a reality. The reality is that sneakers and street wear are big business. Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.