Grandmama Inspired Converse SICKS

Well someone is listening to all of those people missing the days of Grandmama.  While we're still holding our collective breathes for some Grandmama Retros (with real react juice), it is nice to see these.  I am not sure where you'll actually find them, as a full run was not produced and they never showed up on Converse.com.  Anyway, at least we have pictures to know they made them.  

Look for Udonis Haslem in his colorway of the Converse SICKS tonight in game 5 of the NBA Finals.


Thanks for checking out the blog and remember to follow along on twitter @TheConverseBlog and on Facebook too.

Converse Friday Flashback Aero Jam Ben Wallace Sample

These bad boys showed up on eBay a few weeks ago so I thought I'd pass them on to you for a Friday Flashback.  These are the Converse Aero Jams that Converse last reissued in 2003...aka it's been too long bring them back.  As it would appear there were at least talking to Ben Wallace about rejoining team Converse.  For those of you that don't remember the Pistons won a Championship in 2003, so that would have been nice. 

As you can see there is a #3 on the lace cover where Larry "Grandmama" Johnson's famous #2 usually was.  Also there was a Big Ben on the heel strap.


Oh well, just another case of "what might have been." 


Thanks for checking out the blog and remember to follow along on twitter @TheConverseBlog and on Facebook too.

PS.  GO CATS!!!!

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: Classic Grandmama Back Jam T-shirt.

Well I made it through day one of US History, now if I can just make it through the rest of time haha. In one of the classes we're deep into the progressive era and the other two AP History classes we're just at the Jefferson presidency. With that in mind today's flashback features someone who was progressive for his position and wore a wig for Converse...see what I did there.

I found this stinkin' prime Grandmama shirt on ebay the other day. It is was made to promote the CONS Back Jam's. I always loved when she would hold down her hat when going in for that monster jam.

That will be it for today, I am still trying to get the hang of this new schedule I am trying to keep. Thanks for your continued support and feedback here at THE Converse Blog.

The Converse Blog: Even More Breaking News...maybe....Derrick Rose to Converse!

It seems like I've been doing this a lot lately. First with reports on Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, now with a report on Derrick Rose. Again I haven't heard anything official, and he was photographed wearing Fila's the day before the draft. But this is the day after the draft, in a very public appearance. How public, throwing out the first pitch in the White Sox Public. He is also wearing a navy colorway of the Pro Leather Ox which I don't believe has been released yet. So accept this as pure speculation.






This is very exciting. I do have an update on the Kevin Love signing, it also being reported through Sole Collector. If you would have told me that Converse signed just one of these three rookies I would very pleased. If they have actually signed all three, well I am not sure how I would respond. To put this perspective, Converse hasn't signed a number one draft pick since Larry Johnson in 1991. They also haven't signed the rookie of the year since Larry Johnson either. And while neither Rose, Beasley, or Love are locks for the award I like their chances, even with Oden being a rookie too. With the other brands reportedly shy about passing out endorsement dollars, Converse has the chance to make a big splash with this class.

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback

Today is a special day here at The Converse Blog. 24 years ago today on 4-4-84 my Mother almost pulled my Father's ear off and I was born. So today to give myself a birthday gift, I will be featuring my favorite basketball team of all time. I am not sure what attracted me to the Charlotte Hornets. The team colors perhaps? Most likely it was Larry "Grandmama" Johnson, Alonzo Morning, Muggsy Bogues, and Dell Curry to name a few. Whatever the reason I was stung by the team from Charlotte. The last few years of the team's existence in Charlotte we would travel to a home game close to my birthday.

I've been to a few Bobcats games, but it's just not the same. So my birthday gift...to myself?.... today is the Converse NBA Charlotte Hornets. That wasn't the real name, but you get the picture.

Long before Adidas was the official supplier of NBA gear, which grants them rights to use NBA logos on footwear, Converse did the same. Part of being the Official shoe the NBA meant that they could use NBA teams logos and they did. They actually made performance shoes with the teams logos and not just casual shoes like Reebok and Adidas have made recently.


Teal and Purple, it doesn't get any better than that, True Story.



Thank you all for coming to the Converse Blog. There are only a few days left in the poll and I totally thought Kentucky would win, but it doesn't look that way. Keep voting though anything could happen.

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: Incoming

Have you ever had a cross roads moment? Sure you have, you're alive aren't you? Well, today I am going to share with you a cross roads moment from my past. I am going all the way back to 7th grade. I remember going to JC Penny one day to purchase a pair of shoes. At the time they still had all of the hot stuff. Anyway, I had recently seen the new Converse ad for the All Star 2000. "The Shoe that started it all is back in ball," was the tagline. That ad caught me, hook, line, and sinker.

However, when I got there something different caught my eye. It was the Converse All Star Incoming. Three things jumped out at me. First was the design, I couldn't explain it but it was like nothing I had ever seen before. I think it was just that feeling you get when you see a new shoe for the first time, in person. Man those were the days.

Second, it did not feature the chevron in star logo or the Chuck Taylor patch. Nope, the logo was a simple star. I was really excited because I had never seen a basketball shoe with just the star. Thirdly, the tag had Larry Johnson on it. I was still in complete denial and shock that Grandmama had been traded from my Charlotte Hornets, to the Knicks. At the time I thought nothing good happened in New York.

It was right there that I had to make a decision. Do I stick to my guns and go with the All Star 2000, or do switch and go with the Incoming....... I went with the All Star 2000.

I wore them on the first day of 7th grade. I still remember my social studies teacher and one of the coaches at the high school, telling me to go upstairs to show my shoes to the 8th grade coach. He told me to tell him that my shoes were the shoes that the high school was wearing and that the middle school should to. I'd never been so proud of my footwear. And it was that moment that truly propelled me to my love of Converse.

Recently a pair of the Incoming made it to eBay. And even though they were 1 1/2 sizes too big, I almost bought them. I've always wondered what would have happened had I bought them instead. Well after that book, I guess I should finally show you the shoes.

I apologize for the lack of pics, but this is all I've seen online. I don't know much about them




Here is an action shot I found of LJ rocking the Incoming's as a Knick.