By Shane Miller
Bronx Journal Staff
Police on hand to keep the peace while 50 men with short tempers stand outdoors for hours. Sound like an Occupy protest? Nope, it was just another Jordan sneaker release in the Bronx.
Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest players to play in the NBA. He retired years ago, but his sneakers are still selling very well and hundreds of people line up for a chance to get a pair.
Men, and a few scattered women, stood in line for hours outside on a February morning for a pair of Air Jordan Retro IV’s. The last time these sneakers were released, it was 1999. Sneaker lovers waited 13 years for the new Jordans and tempers were flaring as the dream of getting a pair started to slip away for more than half the people in line. “I’ve been out here since 12 AM and I’m not even sure if I’m going to get them,” said Nate.
At 9:35 AM, 25 minutes before Jimmy Jazz, one of three stores in the Bay Plaza Shopping Center set to release the Jordans, opened, Nate got into a heated argument with several people trying to trade their size 9 Jordans for a size 8.5. “It’s not fair, ya’ll can’t do that. I been out here all [expletive] night waiting for these and ya’ll just come here trying to get somebody to go in and buy ya’ll sneakers so ya’ll could trade. What if that’s my size someone buys and I can’t get them. Nah it’s not cool ya’ll can’t do that,” screamed Nate. The person Nate was screaming at replied, “I’ll buy whatever size you are just so you don’t get them. How about that?” Just in time, cops arrived in front of Jimmy Jazz and everyone calmed down a bit.
Two women passed by and one said to the crowd, “I’m sure most of ya’ll don’t even have jobs but you’re out here standing in line for some sneakers. Get your priorities straight.” The crowd had no comment for the ladies, but a few laughed at her sentiments.
By 9:15 AM, Modell’s and Footaction were sold out of their Jordans, so Nate and everyone else in line knew Jimmy Jazz was their last chance at the coveted sneakers.
At 10:01 AM, police went inside Jimmy Jazz to check inventory of the sneakers. The officers returned and told the crowd, “There are only 16 pairs in stock, so that means most of you should be heading home right now.” The line had no less than 50 people in it, but not one person budged when the officer made his announcement. The officers let four people in at a time. After the fourth set of people were allowed in, there was still a line of more than 20 people. Officers asked people to clear out and were greeted with angry, disappointed faces.
To some, this may seem like a pointless waste of time, but for sneaker lovers, it’s worth the wait. Tyrell Madhoo didn’t get his pair but said, “There’s another sneaker release next week. I missed out on these but I’ll try to get those. It’s not a big deal. I’ll probably get them off eBay or something.”
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