General

FirstCuts: Air Jordan Countdown Continues

Jul 18, 2008, 7:15 PM UTC

Rich “MaZe” Lopez from KixAndTheCity.com stops in on a regular basis to let you know what’s coming in the world of kicks.â†µâ†µSaturday, July 19, Jordan Brand is set to release the Air Jordan 4/19 Countdown Package. The Air Jordan 4/19 Countdown Package features the classic OG “Black/Cement” Air Jordan IV in its retro form (pictured above the jump), and, the OG “Black/Red” Air Jordan XIX (below the jump) in its retro form.â†µ

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â†µâ†µAfter saving the Jordan line in 1988 with the Air Jordan III, Tinker Hatfield’s Air Jordan IV permanently positioned the Air Jordan as the sneaker line of all time. With a little help from Spike Lee/Mars Blackmon and Do the Right Thing, the Air Jordan IV built on the ground work laid out by the III and cemented the Air Jordan legacy for decades to come. With the Air Jordan IV, Tinker introduced several new innovations that would be seen in later models including the mesh netting, the script Flight logo, and for the first time ever, the Air Jordan line received a taste of Nubuck. Though many would complain that the plastic heel tab cut up their ankle, the heel tab and the “wings” made the Air Jordan IV. When the plastic was replaced in subsequent retros, a huge uproar took place until a couple of years back when the “Mars” IVs and the “Military” IVs brought a rubber heel tab and wings with them.
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â†µâ†µThe Air Jordan XIX is one of only a few Air Jordans that Michael never played in and it is the first Air Jordan to release during MJ’s permanent retirement. Though MJ was retired at the time of the Air Jordan IX release, he did wear a cleated version of the sneaker while playing for the Birmingham Barons. He once again retired at the XV, came back as a Washington Wizard for the XVI, XVII, and XVIII, and said goodbye forever at the XIX. Although MJ never played in the XIX it did release in the classic Black/Red Bulls colorway during its release and it did feature some of MJ’s most beloved design characteristics including patent leather and the lace shroud.â†µ

â†µâ†µThough many of us will find meaning in each of the Countdown Packages, the Air Jordan 4/19 Countdown Package marks the first time that the Air Jordan line would penetrate pop culture, and never leave, and the first time that MJ would never again play in a pair of Air Jordans.â†µ

â†µâ†µFor a more detailed look at the 4/19 Countdown Package, visit KixAndTheCity.com.
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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