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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Converse Blog's Weapon Wednesday, Weapresent your Roots and a crazy Weapon idea.

As you've probably seen or heard Converse is bringing back the Weapon in 2009. It's set to be a big year for the Weapon, with new colorways and even a place at ConverseOne.com so you can customize your own Weapon. I hadn't shown any pics of the new Weapon yet, but I thought I'd bust out the most classic pair for a view today. I even saw a few websites, like Dazed Digital, that this new group of Weapons will be joined with a new tag line, Weapresent your Roots. I can only hope that there will be new Weapresent shirts for sale to match the shoes.
All of this talk about the Weapon got me thinking the other day, which is dangerous. Anyway, I was thinking that an updated Weapon would make a pretty nice performance shoe. Some basic Weapon details have been used before in the Converse Legend and more recently in the Converse Loaded Weapon. A shoe that came out the same year Converse signed Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, and others. However in recent years we've seen Adidas produce a updated Pro-Model every season and of course there was the Nike Air Force 25 from a few years ago, which should remind everyone that sometimes less is more.

While it wouldn't be a completely original idea, I think it would be interesting to see how strong a reaction you would receive from an updated Weapon. Back in 1996 when the Converse All Star 2000 released, there was a tremendous response. People knew and trusted the Chuck Taylor All Star name and ankle patch, now I think people, (coaches) have the same respect for the Weapon. They grew up watching Magic, Bird and many other NBA players and college teams rocking the Weapon.

It would also be a good opportunity to introduce a new technology or continue using the Converse Suspend Technology in the new Wade 4. It would also be a good opportunity to get Magic Johnson and Larry Bird back in the fold. I can see the commercial now, you get Larry to drive up to Magic's house with a group of NBA players and they could join some NBA players with Magic for quick pick up game.

Oh well, just a crazy idea I wanted to share with everyone, either way look for the Weapon 86 coming in 2009. Hopefully I'll have some more pictures soon. Thanks for stopping and checking out the blog.

Monday, December 29, 2008

The Converse Blog: CONS ERX 300 SB

Previously I showed you a picture or two of the new CONS ERX 300 Skateboarding shoe from Converse. But you know that just one picture isn't enough, so I am back today with a more complete view of this new SB product. Even though I don't skate, I love these and can't wait to get them on my feet. I am really looking forward to the memory foam in the ankle area. Well enjoy the pics below.


















Look for these and other CONS Skateboarding shoes soon, check out www.Converseskateboarding.com.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Converse Blog: Christmas Chucks

Hi all, Merry Christmas Eve! In honor of the season today I bring you a pair of Converse All Star Christmas Editions. These come in the Christmas classic Red and Green colorway with an added touch of a Jingle Bell on the side of the shoe. As you can tell from the first picture these were made in the U.S.A. so you know they go a few years back.










Below is a close up of the same ankle patch used on these Christmas shoes, they come from a different pair of Christmas Chucks.



Thanks for checking out the blog, Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Only two shopping days left until Christmas...aka Get Busy People!  Speaking of getting busy, whoever put these Converse Pro Team's together sure did.  Below you will see a Black/Black Patent/Ice Blue colorway of this classic Converse shoe.

I think these are a China release but I am not for sure.  Also while I have your attention, let me just say... Dwyane Wade...dang. 

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback

Welcome to The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback, today's Flashback is running shoe from the Psycho Trainer era. These Psycho trainers featured React juice in the heel. You've gotta love the puffy heel and tongue.

I really wish I had pictures of the outsole for these. All of the Psycho era shoes had some pretty crazy outsoles, plus you could see the React. Oh well, no worries, you get the idea. That's it for today, only a few shopping days left until Christmas so get busy!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Converse Blog's Weapon Wednesday: Extra High Weapon

Today's Weapon comes from Japan, at least I am pretty sure anyway. I am calling these the Weapon Extra High. These work really well in this clean white leather/suede upper. They feature two straps around the extra high top upper. They also threw in a heel tab for good measure. And as you can see in the back ground they also come with a nice retro inspired Converse box.








That's all for Weapon Wednesday, but check back on Friday for another Friday Flashback here at the Converse Blog. Also I am looking for a good idea for a new poll for the blog, so sent me over your ideas and I'll get one of them up soon.

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Converse Blog: Kyle Spain of San Diego State

When you run a picture and information based blog about a particular brand of shoes, you have to keep your eyes open for anything. Today is a great example of that philosophy. I was searching around on a popular sneaker site when I came by a group of photos from the NCAA basketball season. And out of the corner of my eye I got a surprise, a pair of Converse on some Aztec feet. Those would be the feet of senior Kyle Spain from the San Diego State Aztecs. The 6-5 forward from Newark, California has been wearing the Converse 099 on a team outfitted by Nike. Outside of Marquette I am unaware of anyone else wearing Converse this year, so this was exciting to find.







If anyone sees anything else like this please let me know. I'd really like to hear Kyle's story on his footwear choice, I am trying to find a way to contact him, but I haven't been able to yet. Thanks for stopping in here at the Converse blog, and come back again.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Friday Flashback: The Winner Built by Converse, Just for Sears. Plus Converse/Eastbay Classic.

All is right with the world...well relatively speaking that is. What I am trying to say is that we finally have our new (old) PC back. This means a few things, but for the purposes of this blog it means that I have all of my pictures back. Honestly it was touch and go there for a few days, but we made it through. It couldn't have worked out any better because today is Flashback Friday.
With a big return, I'd better make it a winner...okay that was cheap, but stay with me.


Back in the day Converse teamed up with Sears to produce a unique brand of shoes by the name of the The Winner. These shoes featured 4 stripes and only reference converse on the heel plate.




This bottom picture is from Sneaers.Pair.Com, if you haven't been to this site you're really missing out on some serious knowledge. If you think about it The Winner brand is a precursor to what's going with Converse and Target with the One Star brand.



Well that's it for today, thanks for checking out the blog.
Converse and Eastbay are putting on the first annual Converse/Eastbay Classic tomorrow at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. For more info check head over to eastbay. For more breakdown on some of the teams participating in the one day event check out this article over at Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Converse Blog: CONS R-001 Japan

Converse Japan just released three new basketball shoes under the CONS brand. One of which is the CONS R-001 pictured below. All three versions come in a customizable midfoot strap and heel tab. Or you can wear it without the color inserts or without the midfoot strap all together.











While the upper is pretty clean and simple, the outsole is where the action really is. There seems to be traction in every possible direction you'd want. Well that's it for today, thanks for checking out the blog.


Friday, December 5, 2008

The Converse Blog: Converse 0100 Celtics Colorway.

I apologize for the late post today, but I had a crazy day being an 8th grade Science teacher. Today's post, which is normally a Friday Flashback, is pretty exciting for me. Today we have the Converse 0100 in a Boston Celtics colorway. If you can't tell, I love these shoes. They're extremely comfortable and I can't wait to see them on the NBA courts soon.


Well that's it for today, thanks for checking out the blog and come back for a visit soon!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The Converse Blog's Weapon Wednesday: Hip-hop Weapons

Hello to each and every person visiting the Converse Blog. If you're a first time visitor then take a few minutes and dig through the older post. Wednesday are usually reserved for the Converse Weapon and today we'll continue that tradition. Today's Weapon is a Converse China release and is a black colorway of a Weapon I've shown before. They are designed with Hip-Hop elements. Can you spot all of them?



Well that's it for today, sorry for the late post. I got called in late to sub for the Art teacher at the middle school today. I didn't have any plans, so I made them design shoes. A lot of them designed some chucks, one actually looked pretty good. It was even a product (Red) chuck. Anyway, I'll be back Friday for more Converse goodness.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Converse Blog: NBA Pics

Happy new Month to each and all. December marks the final month of the year long Converse Century celebration and I am willing to bet that there might still be some surprises in store for the final month. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed a few days off from work. Without further delay lets get to the pics.



First we have a few different pictures of Elton Brand wearing the Converse EB1. It appears through the pictures I've seen that Elton has a hard time keeping the midfoot straps down.





Here is Dwyane Wade, who has been playing MVPish basketball, however he has been doing it while wearing his first Converse basketball shoe the Wade 1. Does anyone know why he hasn't worn the 4's yet? I haven't heard anything besides he doesn't like them, which is odd because overall I've heard more positive talk about the 4's than I did about the 3's. Oh well only time will tell.


Here is another question mark, Udonis Haslem wearing the Converse 099 which he has been wearing for during the 3rd different season now. I got really excited at media day when Udonis wore the 0100, but I still haven't seen them on an NBA floor yet. W




Maurice Evans has been switching between last years Converse Hops and this years Converse Assist. Until recently he has been wearing the Hops in his Orlando Magic colorway, which looked really out of place in a Hawks uniform. He finally got in a pair of Black/White Hops, but has been wearing a PE version of the Assist as pictured below.




So far this year Acie Law has wore three different Converse shoes, the Converse Attack, Converse Assist, and the Converse Wade Slash. This is a real tale of past, present, and future. The Converse Attack came out last year and I believe it was a Champs Sports exclusive, or at least that was the only place I ever saw them released. The Assist is a team shoe from this season which Alando Tucker and Kirk Hinirch wore before they got hurt, neither are pictured today. Finally the Wade Slash is a shoe coming out soon and I've heard a lot of positive response from the sneaker community so look out for those in the future. However, I only have pictures of him wearing the Converse Attack.




Here is Kyle Korver wearing the Converse Assist, I don't have many pictures of him because he has been out hurt also.


Finally we come to Jameer Nelson, who I guess technically isn't a Converse endorser. At least according to Converse.com and the EB1 press release. But he has been wearing the Converse Assist in both home and away colorways all season long. If anyone knows any more about this situation please email me, I can't seem to find anything out.





Well that is it for today, enjoy Cyber Monday and check back for more updates here at The Converse Blog.