FirstCuts: A Dukie With a Tar Heel on His Feet

By Chris Littmann
Sports don’t start and end with a referee’s whistle. FirstCuts, a blog dedicated to sports culture, will cover everything outside the lines, from the games to the gear. Look for expanded FirstCuts content after the New Year.
A sneakerhead can smell his own kind. So when I was at the Duke-Davidson game on Saturday, I caught the scent, and confirmed my suspicions after the game.
Duke guard DeMarcus Nelson stands out with his strong all-around play on the floor, but if you’re shoe-spotting at a Blue Devils game, you’ll see that Nelson is the only one wearing Jordans. And he isn’t just wearing what came out that weekend, he has a penchant for wearing a few of the not-so-recently released editions.
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On this particular Saturday, Nelson sported the Jordan XIV in the “Redwood” Retro+ colorway. The shoe, released on Dec. 2, 2005, had seen better days.
“Actually, this is the last game I’m playing in these and then I’ve got to break some more out,†Nelson said.
A 79-73 win over Davidson isn’t a bad way to retire a pair of kicks. But the Jordan XIV isn’t his favorite. That title belongs to the Jordan XIII. If you spot Nelson during a Duke home game, you’ll likely see him wearing the Flint XIII, originally released in 1998 and again in March of 2005.
Nelson said he’s always been a Nike fan, and particularly a fan of Jordans after breaking his ankle during his sophomore season. It was shortly after that he began wearing almost exclusively Jordans -- on and off the court.
“I just like wearing what’s comfortable, and it’s even better when it’s Jordan,†Nelson said.
Nelson, who said he’s also a fan of the new Nike Zoom LeBron V, gets sheepish when you ask exactly how many pairs of shoes he keeps at his disposal.
“I’ve got a stash,†Nelson said. “I’ve got a pretty good amount to get me through a season or two.â€
After retiring his Redwood Jordan XIVs, he’s on the hunt for a new black shoe to wear in games. Just know this: If pro ball is in his future, there won’t be any question what brand is on Nelson’s feet.
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Chris Littmann is an associate editor for Sporting News and writes the Mid-major report for SportingNews.com. He has more shoes than his mother and sister combined.
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