Air Jordan IX (9)
Head Designer: Tinker Hatfield
On October 6th 1993, Jordan gave the basketball
world a shock when he announced his retirement
from the NBA. This was just one day before Training
Camp and it was not what anyone had expected at
this time. The greatest basketball player of all
time retiring at the age of 30. A decision probably
affected by the fact that his father was murdered
in North Carolina in the summer of 1993.
Multilingual
The shoe being released was plain and sturdy and
was the first model that Michael did not wear
in an NBA seasonal game (due to the retirement).
The sole had lots of details and a large 23 was
stiched at the back of the shoe.
There were also words in different languages on
the soles of the shoes, this is what is said;
Right shoe:
dÍdiÍ (french) - dedicated
fuerza (spanish) - force
intenso (italian) - intense
libertÍ (french) - freedom
anmutig (german) - graceful
Left shoe:
спорт (russian)
- sport
uhuru (swahili) - independence
свобода
(russian) - freedom
athletisch (german) - athletic
muundaji (swahili) - ?????
There are also two Japanese words that reads "world"
and "sport".
Cleated air
As Michael had placed the basketball on the curb
he decided to take on the game of baseball. A
special cleated version of the IX's was made and
helped him in his Birmingham Barons baseball career.
The Air Jordan's had not disappeared from the
courts though. Known as player samples there were
Air Jordan IX's being produced with not only #23
on the back, but with individual numbers for players
such as Kendall Gill (#13), and Mitch Richmond
(#2).
 |
