The first round is over in Foot Locker’s Old School vs. New School sneaker showdown. Sneakers advancing include…
Old School: Jordan Retro XI, Reebok Pump, Converse Chuck Taylor, Nike Air Force 1
New School: Zoom Kobe V, Jordan CP3.III, Jordan 2010, Lebron VII
Make sure your favorites survive the next round, and register to vote here. If you vote you could win free kicks for a year.
People again migrated and piled into a small space for an unannounced Q&A session that definitely surpassed expectations. Carmelo Anthony came through the House of Hoops by Foot Locker in Town East Mall on All Star Saturday, and his fans were definitely excited to see him. People packed in tight from all sides, leaving less space than Friday’s Dwyane Wade’s appearance. Carmelo wore an unreleased colorway of the AJ 2010’s, and even with my extensive searching, to my knowledge, it’s not planned to be released. (Oh, to be a Jordan athlete. . .) He stayed for a little over a half hour, and even when it was time to go, he stuck around and answered some more for the kids. There were a few lucky ones in the crowd this evening as well, as Melo autographed some shoes that got handed out to a few lucky trivia winners.
HoopsTalk is a perennial Q&A session that features a plethora of Nike Basketball athletes. Scheduled to make the appearance today were Shannon Brown, Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant and LeBron James among others. This year, a live simulcast brought the interactive show to House of Hoops by Foot Locker locations across the country and around the globe, and, thanks to Facebook, right into fans’ living rooms, making this a global event. All Star fans in Dallas eagerly lined up outside the crowded store to catch a glimpse of the athletes. Everyone that didn’t get into the store was accommodated with monitors in the windows and throughout the mall to watch the live feed. I, on the other hand was one of the few people that was allowed to move around freely and meet some of the athletes in the green room. One of the few that left a lasting impression was DeMar DeRozan, scheduled to participate in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest that evening. He was fairly quiet, but was happy to meet a fan and grateful for the encouragement for the evening’s festivities.
Foot Locker at North Park Mall Hosts Dwyane Wade
“D-WADE!” Chants could be heard all the way back in the tunnel. People chanting your name has a pretty resounding effect. But having people buzz as soon as you walk into a room? Well over 200 people packed Foot Locker North Park for what was originally supposed to be a small Q&A appearance. People were packed wall-to-wall, front-to-back. The store was basically shut down by a more than enthusiastic crowd. Focusing on the kids in the crowd, Dwyane answered all questions that were thrown at him. Favorite Retro J? Black/Red Jordan XI. Would we see him in the AJ 2010 this season? “Only if you want me to.” Cheers erupted. Clearly, the crowd was into this man.
“Paul Pierce is here!” The whispers rippled through the store the minute he hit the back door. The lineup was down a couple stores. For such a quietly promoted event, there was definite excitement in the air at The Parks in Arlington’s Foot Locker tonight. Pierce was a little late, as was everyone else, due mostly to the 9.5 inches of snow that hit Dallas in the last 24 hours. True heads came out, some with Celtics gear on, and a few came with Kansas jerseys (Paul’s alma mater). Paul was friendly with everyone, did multiple signings for a few people who lined up more than once, and took pictures with all who asked, even when it held up the line.
Personally, I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to get myself all the way across Dallas and into Arlington for this appearance. Pierce is one of those “true” guys in the NBA. Guys who love the game, work at it, and have defied some sort of odds to get there. I’m not a hardcore Celtics fan, but he’s one of the guys I love. Not overly strong, but amazingly skilled. He’s one of the guys I’m looking forward to seeing live on Sunday. Meeting him today was a milestone. He’s the first NBA guy I’ve met, was friendly, and he even knocked my choice of Valentine’s Day gift (“get her some roses, dawg!”). He was only there an hour, but his presence was felt. Fans were truly hyped to see him, and there were mall employees that ran across the hallway to jump in line. One guy took his break from the hat store down the hall and stood for a good half hour before getting his uniform and a dollar bill signed. After signing for an hour, he took some candids with the Foot Locker stripers, talked for a minute, and then rolled out. Paul was really genuine with the fans, he lived up to his nickname, “The Truth.” I’m super hyped for more appearances, and hope this was only the beginning for my All-Star ’10 adventure.
What’s up, everyone? To those who don’t know, I’m Notebook Nick. I’ll be posting here over the All-Star weekend about sneaker releases, athlete appearances, and my first All-Star experience. I’m a huge sneakerhead, and have been in the sneaker game ever since I was old enough to get a job. My first pair of really dope shoes came in my freshman year of high school. I had these crazy gold patent leather adidas Feet-You-Wear. They turned heads everywhere. I’ve been known to rock flashy stuff when I get my hands on it, and those were no exception. Other favorites that I’ve had over the years: White/Orange Reebok Questions, White/Cement AJ IIIs, and my most recent acquisition, the Space Jam XIs. Outside of sneakers, I’m a performance/slam poet - I run a local night in the city, a comic book/action figure fiend, and local hip-hop supporter.
Seeing as I’m here for sneakers, let’s stick to the list. Things I’m most interested in seeing this weekend in no particular order: Copper Foamposite 1s, Brandon Jennings’s Under Armor Prototype 2s (even if they’re only on his feet), the AF1 All-Star releases, the understated adidas Superstars, and the perennial over-the-top player signatures for the big game on Sunday. Really interested to see how the faux-wood grain texture plays out on the LBJ VIIs and the Hyperizes. I’m hyped for my first (and certainly not last) appearance at All-Star Weekend. I’ve heard tons of stories from friends in the blogging world, as well as other sites that I regularly read, and hopefully, most of the positive ones come true. Cubes has said that this year’s festivities are supposed to be the best ever, and judging by the way he wrangled Cowboys Stadium for the big show, I’m assuming he’ll follow through on his promises. I’m going to try to give everyone a steady flow of information this weekend not only through the site, but also over on Twitter (@NotebookNick), the goal is to keep you as informed and up to the minute with what’s going on down here. Sneaker releases are a huge part of this weekend, and we’re hoping to keep you on top of it. Keep checking back for the latest postings and info.
Notebook Nick / @NotebookNick
Chicago Bulls phenom and NBA All Star Derrick Rose will be hanging at Foot Locker in the Dallas Galleria Mall Sunday, February 14th from 12-1pm. Swing by, grab an autograph, and wish him luck in the NBA All Star Game that night. Don’t forget to check out a pair of his TS Supernatural Creators available at Foot Locker now.
GALLERIA MALL
13350 DALLAS PKWY
Dallas, TX 752402230
(972) 490-4437
Want to meet Superman? If you’re in the Dallas, Texas area during All Star Weekend this is your chance. Dwight Howard will be hanging at the Foot Locker in Parks at Arlington this Saturday, February 13th from 2-3pm. Come down and grab an autograph or a pair of his TS Supernatural Commanders. Or even better, get him to autograph a pair of his TS Supernatural Commanders…
PARKS AT ARLINGTON
3811 S COOPER STREET
Arlington, TX 76015
(817) 468-3903
Brandon Jennings will be in Dallas this week for the NBA Rookie Challenge (Rookies vs. Sophomores), playing guard on the Rookies squad. Even though the Sophomores have owned the 1st year players (7 wins in a row) the Rookie squad looks to be pretty strong this year.
If you want to wish him luck or get an autograph, Jennings will be at the Foot Locker store in Dallas Galleria Mall Thursday, February 11th from 7:30-8:30pm.
GALLERIA MALL
13350 DALLAS PKWY
Dallas, TX 752402230
(972) 490-4437
The 2010 NBA All-Stars that will be competing in this year’s Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout were just announced. Here’s the lineup and their stats from this year.
| Player | Made | Att | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chauncey Billups, Denver | 88 | 212 | .415 |
| Daequan Cook, Miami | 27 | 90 | .300 |
| Stephen Curry, Golden State | 78 | 182 | .429 |
| Channing Frye, Phoenix | 119 | 272 | .438 |
| Danilo Gallinari, New York | 126 | 313 | .403 |
| Paul Pierce, Boston | 77 | 165 | .467 |
If you want to test out your own three-point skills check out our Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout videogame
