I was up early this morning watching the Today Show as I do so often before I go to work. While sitting there on our couch, enjoying a bowl of cereal, I notice all the shoes in our guest bedroom that seem to be literally looking at me, almost talking to me. I had to take a couple of pictures for the illustration.

They were looking at me, with their eyes.

The Tower of Babel?

Then I began to think. Am I a Sneakerhead? What exactly is the definition of a “sneakerhead” anyway? So I looked to urban diction, which gave these answers:

1. A person who collects limited, rare, OG, or flat out exclusive kicks. Usually the collection consists of Jordans or Dunks. Or, a person with background knowledge of certain sneakers.

2. Somebody who owns a number of sneakers and is always up on the latest J’s that come out. Their collections consist of rare, vintage, and collectable sneakers from classic Chuck Taylor’s to custom Nikes.

Now I don’t really fit into either of those categories, I just have a lot of shoes. Honestly, I could care less about all the different types of Dunks that come out, their perceived value, and how many or how little are in circulation. I’m just fortunate enough to have friends that work at NikeSB to hook me up with shoes from time to time. Humble or not, I can’t say that I have EVER bought a pair of Nike’s and I own all sorts of Dunks and Blazers.

It is nice to have friends that are sales reps for companies like Vans and Fallen Footwear and TMs and Designers for companies like NikeSB. However, my house is now officially cluttered with all the shoes I’ve since acquired while I’ve known them!! Guys, it’s getting ridiculous.

Sneakerhead, I am not. Shoe admirer and fashion victim, yes.

I found some older photos from a trip I took to Portland, OR a while back. The pictures were of the Nike Private Skatepark, and more specifically, Chet Childress’ private studio at the Nike Skatepark. I sort of stumbled into the room actually – poking around – my good friend who’s a shoe designer for SB and 6.0 then tells me that it’s Chet’s art room. I ask him if it’s ok to go in and look around, he says ‘of course’. Conscience and respectful of artist’s work, I be sure to not touch or move anything. Instead, I just fired away with my DSLR. You can really get a sense of who ‘Luda Crooks’ is when you see some of the photos. I mean, look at his collage.

(continue reading…)

Jereme Rogers and Hunter Muraira (Nike Brand Manager) seen below. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my DSLR, so I had to revert back to an archaic SLR. The four rolls of film are being developed as I write this – more coverage to follow tomorrow.

If you’re in the Seattle, WA area on October 31st, you’d be crazy not to swing byBellevue’s Highland Plaza at 6pm for this year’s spooky skate sesh at their new outdoor plaza. Costumes are required and though it’s Sponsored by Converse’s new CONS program, Paul Rodriguez is rumored to show up to skate with everyone.