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Over the weekend, a video of Travis Scott and tennis legend John McEnroe arguing over their Nike collaboration circulated around social media. While it seemed like the two men were at each other’s throats over the name of their sneaker, it was just business as usual.
Arguing over whether to dub the collaboration “Cactus Jack” (as Travis normally names his Nike collaborations) or “Cactus Mac” (which John prefers), the two just couldn’t seem to agree on which direction to go as Travis wants all his Nikes to bare the “Cactus Jack” moniker.
In his signature fiery tone of voice, McEnroe took over the Zoom call and professed his preference for the shoe to be called “Cactus Mac” and told Travis to show a “little respect” for his and the sneaker’s history at Nike. Travis didn’t seem to too receptive to the idea and responded by saying that “Cactus Mac” sounded like a “burger or something.” Well, he’s not wrong. Though Travis remained calm and collected, McEnroe walked out on the meeting in frustration.
To make matters worse between the two heavyweights at Nike, Travis went and spray painted over John McEnroe’s championship plaque at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton because, well, who’s gonna stop him?
Still, that didn’t keep John McEnroe from sporting the exclusive “Cactus Mac” sneakers while out for a stroll in the city. He didn’t go off on Travis but while talking about him he said, “The thing is: I was wearing these things in the 80s— before this guy was born. Now, all of a sudden, Travis Scott’s got this thing, ‘Cactus Jack.’ So I just made it ‘Cactus Mac,’ I mean come on. Have a little respect. That’s all I’m asking.”
Real talk, we’re not mad at the “Cactus Mac” on those McEnroe kicks. Whether or not those actually drop remains to be seen.
What we do know is that the “Cactus Jack” x John McEnroe Nike Mac Attack’s are set to drop Dec. 19. Will you be coping a pair? What do you think they should be named? Let us know in the comments section below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Adidas is spreading the Christmas spirit with a new How the Grinch Stole Christmas-themed collection in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that’ll have your heart growing at least three sizes this holiday season. Three fresh colorways were released on Friday (Dec. 1) in the Forum Low style, including a cream and green version inspired by the curmudgeonly character, a pink Cindy Lou Who-theme version, and a brown style inspired by the Grinch’s do, Max.
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Each style is available starting at $130 on Adidas’ site with kids, women’s and men’s sizing available to choose from, but sizes are quickly selling out. If you’re unable to find your size, you may be able to get a sneaker deal from resale sites including StockX and Ebay (though the prices will vary).
The athletic wear brand isn’t new to Dr. Seuss collaborations — this marks their second collection on Grinch apparel, except this time it includes triple the colors and clothing that collectors will be antsy to get their hands on.
Whether you’re shopping for gifts for everyone on your list, or are preparing for the holiday season by putting up your real or artificial Christmas tree and decorating it with ornaments, these sneakers bring the classic story to life in a stylish yet streetwear-inspired way that you may even want to show off into the new year.
Keep reading to shop Adidas’ The Grinch collaboration.
Adidas x The Grinch Collection
Adidas
Forum Low x “The Grinch” Shoes
Take on your holiday get together with the family in these Forum Low sneakers with a Grinch twist. It comes in a green, cream and red design with decorative pins you can personalize each show with. The inserts feature graphics from the story and you’ll also be able to switch out the laces with green and red shades.
Adidas
Forum Low CL “The Grinch” Max Shoes
You can’t have The Grinch without his trusty sidekick Max. Now you can show off a dog-inspired pair featuring a brown suede material, red sole and lip featuring the dog’s face. These include pins to decorate your laces with as well as a red pair of laces you can add for some pop of color.
Adidas
Forum Low CL “The Grinch” Cindy Lou Who Shoes
These Forum Low CL sneakers are bright and bold just like the character Cindy Lou Who. The suede material comes in bright pink and red shades with pins to personalize your shoes with. You’ll also receive some red laces that’ll help make a statement no matter where you rock these sneakers.
And, if you’re curious about the first version of the green-themed collection, you can still get a pair of the 2022 version of Adidas x The Grinch. While it’s sold-out on the shoe brand’s website, StockX and Ebay are carrying the shoes, which you can shop below.
StockX
Adidas Forum Low “The Grinch” Shoes (2022)
Snag the very first pair of Adidas’ The Grich Forum Low sneakers featuring a two-tone green suede material and pins to customize your laces with.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best matching holiday pajamas, platform boots and teddy coats.
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Source: @knowing_kicks / Instagram
Earlier this year it was rumored that the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 collaborations would be coming to an end after 2023, but now the sneaker community has gotten word that 2024 will be seeing another highly anticipated installment into the “Cactus Jack” x Air Jordan 1 collection.
According to Hypebeast a new and spiffy colorway for the highly popular Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 low is on the way and will feature a black and olive color scheme that will go beautifully with a pair of camouflage pants that New Yorkers are known to feature in their weekly fashion ensemble. Travis himself previewed this particular pair of sneaker months ago, but many assumed it was one of his many “Friends and Family” pairs that have never seen the light of day (we need those purple Air Jordan 4’s, Trav!!!).
Per Hypebeast:
An initial preview of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Black Olive” has appeared, pointing to next year as a possible release period. Similarities can be drawn to the duo’s initial “Mocha” pair that stirred up the sneaker scene back in 2019. This time, the mocha brown has been swapped out for an olive finish that combines with a black base, a white lateral reverse Swoosh and an off-white midsole. Red branding elements are scattered throughout while the medial favors an olive Swoosh to complete the look.
At the time of writing, information surrounding the release of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Black Olive” is very limited. However, reputable sneaker insider zSneakerHeadz has shared that the pair is currently expected to release during the fall of 2024. Stay tuned for updates as we expect it to be made available via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at some point next year.
Needless to say demand for these will be through the roof, but like the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 releases before these expect stock to be extremely limited with anywhere from 100,000 – 250,000 pairs being made available. With millions of sneakerheads foaming at the mouth for these, those kind of numbers really are just another a drop in the bucket.
Check out pics of the next “Cactus Jack” Air Jordan 1 lows below and let us know if you’ll be trying in vain to snatch a pair when they drop sometime next year.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Rihanna and Puma have teamed up again to release a “Phat” new collaboration that reimagines the athletic apparel brand’s classic Creeper […]
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Source: @thesocialstatus / Instagram
Sneaker resellers have become a plague amongst the sneaker community as they’ve made it damn near impossible for heads to get their hands on grails for retail price. But now a businessman from Charlotte, NC has the feds on his ass for lowkey partaking in the practice, allegedly.
According to WOSC-TV, said businessman is under investigation by authorities for a money laundering scheme that involved Chinese money couriers which the Feds believe led to millions of dollars going through the spin cycle. The businessman at the heart of this investigation is said to have a few businesses under his umbrella including well-known high-end sneaker spot, Social Status.
Since the initial report, and citing the legal docs, multiple outlets have named the owner as James Whitner—which was easy to determine since he is the founder of The Whitaker Group, which owns Social Status and A Ma Maniere. But Whitner has not been charged with anything yet.
Allegedly, “someone” would take the sneakers Whitner would get directly from the plugs (Nike, Adidas, etc.), and sell them to a Chinese national who would then turn around and resell them on the secondary market. The exchange went on during a five-year period and authorities figure around $32 million was made throughout that time.
No wonder it was damn near impossible to hit on that website’s raffles, respectfully. The product was backdoored to China. And here we thought they were just backdooring the kicks to friends and family.
WOSC-TV reports:
Investigators said the group didn’t report cash payments over $10,000 like it was supposed to, lied to U.S. banks, and potentially broke federal anti-money laundering law.
The man does not face charges at this point.
Stoogenke reached out to him in three different ways on Monday and has yet to hear back.
In general, Stoogenke says money laundering organizations have become underground banking systems that have taken off over the last few years, “cleaning” money from romance scams, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
The Whitaker Group, the ownership of Social Status, issued a statement essentially saying that they have been cooperating. “The recent action by the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina (USAO) comes after significant cooperation and good-faith negotiations on our part,” reads the statement. “To be clear, while we take the allegations in the complaint seriously, they are unfounded, unrelated to our business or this community and unjustified. Our professional inventory management team runs a transparent process built on systems that are both legally compliant and consistent with industry standards. We have also complied with all tax obligations annually.”
Reportedly, the forfeiture actions stems from the almost $1.2 million in cash seized from Antwain Freeman, a friend of Whitaker’s, in New Jersey in 2021. The Feds claim the cash was part of the money transmitting scheme.
Don’t be surprised if everyone’s going to start hitting on those Social Status raffles this holiday season as they now know the jig is up, allegedly.
What do y’all think of this situation? Let us know in the comment section below.
“F— Kenny G!” Action Bronson playfully exclaimed halfway through his performance at New Balance‘s TCA New York City Marathon Kick-Off Party on Friday night (Nov. 3). The Queens rapper wasn’t really throwing shots at the Grammy-winning smooth jazz saxophonist, he was simply singing the praises of Matt Carrillo (aka Young Mexico), the incredibly impressive saxophonist and keyboardist that served as one of the main anchors of the band’s whimsical set.
At New Balance’s TCA New York City Marathon Kick-Off Party, sports and hip-hop continued their decades-long convergence as Action Bronson helped celebrate the imminent 26.2-mile race, as well as the latest evolution in his partnership with sports footwear giant New Balance.
After Adidas unexpectedly canceled his UltraBOOST collaboration back in 2019, Bronson teamed up with New Balance, officially announcing a new multi-item collaborative capsule with the brand back in March. Among the items in the capsule were the New Balance 990v6 “Baklava” sneaker. A few months later, a second 990v6 sneaker — named “Lapis Lazuli” — arrived exclusively on Bronson’s specializinginlife.com website (Jun. 22), receiving a global release on Jun. 30.
“I’m just enchanted by nature,” Bronson mused backstage before his performance. “Nature’s beauty. It’s natural beauty. It’s whimsical. It’s like stranger than fiction.”
Given the forest green hues and deep blues that appear across his different colorways, Bronson’s relationship with all of nature’s gifts truly inspired the design of his New Balance collaborations. Finding a home with New Balance was a special journey after the less-than-favorable way his Adidas partnership dissolved, but “I’ve been a New Balance guy for years, way before any of this other s—,” Bronson explains. “I’ve come from a family of f—ing chubby feet, flat feet, where you need a good walking shoe and something with stability and comfort as well as performance. This provides all three for my type.” To further explain, Bronson likened his foot type to “a triangle slice of pizza.”
During his set, Bronson tore through lively renditions of “Latin Grammys,” “DMTri,” and “Baby Blue,” allowing his five-member band to riff to both their heart’s desire and the audience’s pleasure. Embodying the whimsy he attributed to nature, Bronson delivered a characteristically charismatic stage show that even featured him literally touching his toes onstage and adding idiosyncratic percussion flourishes.
Cocodrillo Turbo, Bronson’s last studio effort, arrived last year, but the Billboard Hot 100 hitmaker is already formulating his next LP, although he’s purposely keeping his plans lowkey. “Lots of things [are] coming in the new year,” he teased. “Exciting things if you can’t tell how excited I am. I’m just stoned!”
The TCS NYC Marathon launches on Sunday (Nov. 5) at 8:00 a.m. EST.
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Source: YouTube / WGN9
Another high-stakes sneaker robbery took place, but this time it went down the old fashion way with thieves breaking into a sneaker consignment store and taking any and everything they could.
WGN9 is reporting that Chicago sneaker spot Flee Club was hit hard Wednesday (Oct. 25) when thieves rammed their SUV into the brick-and-mortar store around 4:30 a.m. and ransacked the place for its high-end sneakers and attire. After it was all said and done, thieves made off with more than $100,000 in merchandise, according to Flee Club co-owner Darris Kelly.
Per WGN9:
“Just devastation, my heart is broke,” Kelly said. “You put so much time and money into your store, someone just comes in overnight and takes your dream away.”
Following The Flee Club incident, authorities were trying to determine if the building can support the apartments above due to the severity of the damage. On Wednesday afternoon, owners told WGN News the structure has been deemed safe.
At around 6:05 a.m., Chicago police responded to an attempted retail burglary at the Louis Vuitton store in the 900 block of North Michigan. A group of five to six were unsuccessful after trying to damage the front glass door.
It’s not the only recent “crash-and-grab.”
We lowkey wish we knew which exact sneakers were taken. Sneakerheads love to know that kind of information.
Whether the thieves plan to sell all the merchandise or actually keep it for their own collection is anyone’s guess, but regardless, it was definitely a quick come-up for everyone involved as $100,000 worth of clothes and sneakers is quite the haul.
Don’t be surprised if sneaker consignment stores up their security protocols and invest more in protecting their spots. Smash-and-grabs are on the rise across the U.S. these days. These spots might begin hiring armed security sooner or later the way things are going.
What do y’all think of the latest high-stakes sneaker jux? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty
Over the last few years high-stakes sneaker heists have become routine as the sneaker business is just as profitable as anything else out here on these streets. The trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon as everyone out here is looking to make bank off the ever-growing sneaker culture.
CBS Chicago is reporting that police in the Windy City uncovered a den of stolen sneakers in a warehouse on the West Side of Chicago that housed millions of dollars worth of stolen Nikes, Jordans and Yeezy sneakers that were lifted off of freight trains carrying the valuable footwear. Apparently the hot merchandise was transported there from all corners of the United States to the Austin-based warehouse and flipped to retailers who had no idea that they were buying stolen sneakers.
CBS Chicago reports:
“Whether it be Nike products or UGG products or Adidas or Supreme, a lot of massive amounts of property, it’s probably close to $5 million in merchandise, minimum,” said Lyons Police Chief Tom Heroin.
The massive bust was the result of an investigation by the Lyons Police Department after a cargo theft was reported in the village about a week ago. That led investigators to the warehouse, where a search warrant was issued, and the mother load of theft rings was uncovered.
The site was already on the radar of multiple railroad companies and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as rail cargo thefts have surged nationwide and become costly for companies.
“What they would do is they’d commit these cargo thefts, like from Memphis, Tennessee. They’d re-label it, and they would ship it here. They would unpackage it, repackage it, and it’s a 100% markup, because they got it all for nothing,” Heroin said.
That sounds like quite the operation that required much man power and coordination. Though only two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the bust, a few others are under investigation. Who knows how many other dominos will fall as a result given the size and scope of this undertaking.
The Lyons Police Department is expected to hold a press conference later this week to explain its finding in the case and information on the individuals involved in the investigation, but what sneaker heads really want to know is which grails were found in this massive bust. Limited edition Jordans? Jarrito Dunks? Supreme Dunks? We. Must. Know!
What do y’all think of this latest massive sneaker bust? Inside job or very well coordinated crooks? Sound off in the comments section below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Tyler, the Creator and Converse have teamed up yet again for another collaboration on the classic Chuck Taylors, and this time […]
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If we’ve learned nothing else about Nike it’s that they’re all about their bottom line, so when they decided they’d begin selling refurbished sneakers on a new website, we weren’t really too surprised.
As part of their “Move To Zero” initiative to curb global warming, this week Nike launched a new program on their website dubbed “Nike Refurbished” where they began selling “new” sneakers that have been returned, exchanged or simply didn’t hit the shelves due to small imperfections. The best part is that lots of these sneakers are being sold at a discount of up to 50% off original retail price. Of course sneakerheads are hoping to stumble upon some grails, but chances are you won’t as real heads will hold onto some exclusive kicks or wear them until the sole falls off.
Do expect to see lots of Air Jordan 1’s, 2’s, and 5’s that bricked upon arrival or that were returned when resellers saw that there wasn’t a market for them. Just sayin.’
Per Nike:
What shoes are eligible for Nike refurbished?
Nike footwear that cannot be sold as brand new is eligible for Nike Refurbished. This could include a pair that a consumer returned or exchanged from a recent purchase because it wasn’t quite right for them, or shoes with a small imperfection. All product is then inspected, graded and refurbished by hand by a team of experts.
Well, at least you know you’ll be getting an authentic pair of Nike sneakers if they have their own experts inspecting them. Don’t expect find any Off-White’s, Travis Scott’s or any other top tier collaboration on Nike’s Refurbished site though. Y’all already know sneaker aficionados would rather hold those for the rest of their lives before handing them back to Nike regardless of how it might help slow climate change. Heads will keep that heat for the feet until they disintegrate even if it means earth’s temperature continues to rise to unsustainable levels.
That’s just the sneaker game.
What do y’all think of Nike’s Refurbished sneakers program? Let us know in the comment section below.