Final Product of the Air Zoom Kobe III (AZKIII)

People have been wanting something from Nike to push the envelope and set precedent in the design and performance side of basketball shoes. The Kobe line has done this since the incarnation of the Huarache 2K4 and continues it with the AZKIII. I Love Them! NDC pics courtesy of TVbbs.

Side Profile...MAMBA on the toe

AZKII In-Sole

Carbon Fiber Plate, Free Grooves, a great rubber think GoodYear

Air Jordan XXIII...Leaked

Thanks to thesyndication.com for this. I'm honestly lost for words and not in a good way. Looks like a hybrid of the Dub-Zero, XXII, Melo M4 and some D-Wades.

Rumors: Kobe and the Trade...

Rumors keep circulating around the web that Kobe will be traded before the start of the season. Maybe it's because I will be at opening day that I hope Kobe isn't trade or maybe it's the fact that the media always finds something that is anti-Kobe to report on. Let me point out some reasons for why I think Kobe won't be going anywhere.

1) Kobe has a no-trade clause. Which means, even if the Lakers front office can find suitable pieces, Kobe must approve the trade. Do not count on this happening especially if it is not a team who is a contender for the title. Chicago is a name that keeps circulating, Chicago is not a championship contender, period.

2) "My priority is to bring a championship back to L.A." -Kobe Bryant. Kobe has stated this in recent weeks yet the media has chosen to overlook this. Why? Because well anything positive by Kobe isn't news. On the contrary they have found a way to misconstrue everything he has said, whether positive or vague in order to vilify him. To the media, especially to Mr. Bill Plaschke, Mr. T.J. Simmers, and that guy who claims to be an insider, painting Kobe in the most negative light they can equals more readers. I believe these writers didn't "get hugs as kids" as Kobe once said about Raja Bell.

3) Bad business move. Mr. Jerry Buss is a smart business man and I firmly believe that he knows that getting rid of Kobe is a bad business move. Unless the Lakers can find a way to bring a big name, like Lebron, in exchage for Kobe, no other name will fill up Staples Center. For those who don't believe that Kobe is the reason for why Staples Center sells out, just look at the away games the Lakers play, most of those arena's sell out and have their first sell outs when the Lakers come to town. I wonder who they want to go see?! Ticket sales, both general and season ticket sales will decrease dramatically if Kobe is traded. Mr. Buss knows that this is a horrible business move and knows that unless he bring another face that can attract people to Staples center a la Lebron James, Dwayne Wade that he's not going to say bye to Kobe.

4) Don't believe the media. Like I said before all the papers care about is selling more papers. These writers are as unreliable as Shaq at the free throw line.

5) Kobe wants to stay in L.A. How do I know? My sources are more reliable than Plaschke's, Simmers or that other guy combined. Not to mention his wife is an L.A. native, his kids love it here and so does he. Plus he loves the fans, even though the media paints him out differently. Kobe is frustrated with the Front Office not Los Angeles.

I hope Kobe is still a Laker on opening night so I can cheer my ass off for him. His future depends on how the Lakers fare this season. Expect moves if by the All-Star break the Lakers are having a mediocre season.

Air Jordan XXIII...First Leak

First picture leaked of the Air Jordan XXIII, thanks to thesyndication.com forums for this. The picture is really blurry, looks like a running shoe but if you look at it closely it resembles the front of the AJXXII. The sole has pods like the Air Zoom Kobe II. Mesh upper, leather upper.

Pods a la Air Zoom Kobe II

Adidas Kobe3

This is by far the rarest Kobe shoe that I know of and the rarest of all the shoes I own. This was the shoe that was suppose to release had Kobe remained with Adidas, I'm glad he didn't because I honestly don't think these would have sold that well. I picked these up for a ridiculously cheap price. More pics on issforums.com, basketball section, Kobe this/Kobe that thread. Sorry for the bad pics, I need a new cam but I'm spending too much money on shoes instead lol. I plan to do a side by side photoshoot of these Adidas Kobe3's and the Adidas KobeTwo, to show the comparisons and the upgrades on the Kobe3 compared to the KobeTwo.

Adidas Kobe3, front, vent holes.

Adidas Kobe3, side, 3 vent holes, flash and card covers one of them. (Adidas KB8 II in background)

Adidas Kobe3, side, vent holes.

Adidas Kobe3, back, Kobe logo and vent.

Adidas Kobe3, sole and vent.

Adidas Kobe3, KOBE lace cover.

thesyndication.com

Please make sure to visit thesyndication.com for the latest info. on sneakers. This site is up to the date and ran by ISS very own, VulkantheKrusader aka V.

Air Zoom Kobe II Lite

The last shoe in the Air Zoom Kobee II Trio, the Lite. The shoe has released in Asia and in the PI. This colorway, white/black/grape (NOT ORCA), is slated to release sometime later this month here in the United States. Thank you to Jeyps11_C from ISS of course, for the pics, these belong to him. These weigh approximately 14.5 to 15oz. I can't wait for them to hit here so I can get my own pair.

Air Zoom Kobe II Lite , notice the medial side and the lasering/stitching

Air Zoom Kobe II Lite, takes the medial side from the AZK1, nice touch

Air Zoom Kobe II Lite , looks high, but is only about 1/4in. higher than the Ultimates

Air Zoom Kobe II Lite , loving the two tone color scheme.