It can be argued that the legend of Penny Hardaway was created by Nike, not by his career. Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway was undoubtedly one of the more exciting players to watch in the 1990′s and his commercial appeal made him a superstar off the court as well. His ‘Lil’ Penny’ commercials for Nike (featuring an impeccable Tyra Banks) and his role in ‘Blue Chips’ with Nick Nolte and Shaquille O’neal made him an iconic figure to more than basketball fans, but in pop media. All of that came to a halt when he suffered an injury in just his fifth season as an NBA pro, and the slightly diminished performance that followed slowly but surely pulled Hardaway Nike Free Run 3.0 V5 Womens out of the national spotlight. He didn’t have the prolonged greatness
However, Anfernee Penny Hardaway is still a relevant name in kicks and in basketball because of his signature line with Nike. The Air Penny line is the closest thing to the Air Jordan line, and with the current hit being the Air Foamposite One (and Pro) and Nike’s plans for yet another Air Penny hybrid (the Zoom Rookie LWP), Penny Hardaway’s name will righteously live on. For those who are staunch supporters of the Penny, here’s a rare collector’s item – a game-worn, autographed Air Max Penny 1 PE shoe (in an un-retroed colorway). Note that this rare auction is for one shoe only and not a pair! Check out this piece of Penny Hardaway history after the jump and if you’re interested, check out the auction from vivid.vintage on eBay.
The designers over at Reebok seem to have a particular distaste for sticking to the script. Looking through their greatest hits catalog, with sneakers like the Reebok Pump, Reebok Insta Pump Fury, and the more recent Zig line, it’s clear that they aren’t afraid of innovating. The latest chapter in their quest to build the ultimate runner is the Reebok REALFLEX, a sneaker that strives to mimic the feeling of barefoot running, coupled with advanced movement responsive pegs on the outsole. On top of all that technology, a flashy colorway certainly doesn’t hurt, with this blue and yellow Sprite-like get up setting the shoe off right. Get a better look at the Reebok REALFLEX after the jump and be on the lookout for them at your local Reebok retailer. via SoleMovement