Slam Dunk at Greater Heights!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

How the "Swoosh" Logo Was Adopted By NIKE


The Nike swoosh is the brand symbol used by the Nike corporation on all of its merchandise. The original Nike swoosh was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic designer student at Portland University. Originally penned in 1971, Davidson charged a rate of two dollars per hour for a series of designs. The Nike Swoosh was selected, and has been in use until this very day. The total fee for the Nike Swoosh was thirty-five dollars, making it one of the cheapest brand marks ever to make it to mainstream fame.

As a gesture of thanks, Phil Knight, the commissioner for the Nike Swoosh logo, gave Carolyn Davidson a diamond ring featuring the swoosh symbol. Included with the gift of the ring was an envelope full of Nike stocks as a gift of thanks for her earlier work. She received this gift in 1983, 11 years after the first shoe bearing the Nike swoosh was put on the market.

The Nike swoosh symbol was first presented in 1972, worn upon running shoes introduced during Olympic Trials in Oregon.

Ever since the establishment of the Nike swoosh, it has remained one of the top branding logos known on the planet. Famous athletes and celebrities wear Nike gear, whether it is on the court or for casual wear. It is now one of the most commonly seen brands, used on billboards, on shoes, and seen as sponsorship labels for Olympic games and other prestigious sporting events.

When you buy Nike merchandise, you can expect to see the Nike swoosh predominately displayed in the design of the gear itself. Shoes will usually sport the brand on the outer side of the material, usually using the classic white. However, in recent times, the Nike swoosh has adopted a variety of different colors to improve the appearance of more colorful shoes. Green, reds and blues have all made their entrance on Nike merchandise. There are even some Nike shoes with bright orange or pink swooshes for the women who enjoy wearing Nike products.

In efforts to improve their standing on the global market, the Nike Swoosh is being branded to show that the Nike corporation is a green company. By working to become more environmentally friendly, the Nike company hopes to associate their Nike Swoosh with the idea that success and environmental consciousness can be both acquired at the same time.

You can purchase shoes and gear bearing the Nike swoosh from a variety of online and local retailers, as well as at Nike outlet stores.

Monday, April 20, 2009

History of Nike Dunk


The Nike Dunk line is one of the vintage lines of shoes developed by Nike. The history of the Nike Dunk started in 1985 when Nike approached several college basketball teams for exclusive rights to gearing their teams in shoes. The benefit for the college was that their shoes matched their uniforms. These nine teams, and their nine distinctive color patterns, formed the foundation that would return in 1998 with the reintroduction of the classic Nike Dunk.

In order to live true to the classic Nike Dunk, Nike went out of their way to develop a manufacturing process that would make the shoes look like they had been waiting for twenty years before coming out of the box. This gives the modern Nike Dunk shoes a vintage feel while still maintaining the quality of new, unused parts. At first, the Nike Dunk line was released as it was back in 1985, with the same nine color sets. However, that quickly changed as Nike began releasing new versions of the Dunk. Due to the high popularity on the street and for skateboarders, Nike released a version of the Nike Dunk for skaters, dubbed the Nike SB Dunk. Adhering to the needs of skaters, the Nike SB Dunk included a puffy tongue and Zoom Air insole to provide the extra support needed by skaters.

When the fad of Nike Dunk grew, Nike took advantage of it and turned the Dunk into a collector's item. By making a wide variety of limited edition shoes, Nike guaranteed its place among collections for the years to come. Now, limited edition shoes, such as the 'What the Dunk?' line, sell for thousands of dollars at auction. Many of these limited edition shoes are never worn, allowing their legacy to continue on.

The Nike Dunk limited edition program has not been without fault, however. There have been instances of riots breaking out in stores and centers that receive shipments of the limited edition Nike Dunk shoes. One such incident occurred in New York, when over one hundred people waited in line and only twenty shoes were released to the store. This riot only highlighted the high demand for the shoes. That particular shoe, the Nike Dunk pigeons. There were only 202 of these shoes made, and they were only released in New York City.

If you are interested in collecting Nike Dunk shoes, it is not too late to get in on the latest trends. Nike releases several Dunk shoes each season, allowing new collectors to join in on the fad and enjoy the legacy of the Dunk.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

How to Choose Your Nike Boots


Nike offers a series of Nike boots suitable for winter wear. Combining warmth with traction, these boots are suitable for anywhere you might encounter, such as cold, snow or other poor weather conditions.


In addition to their winter boot selection, there is also a selection of hiking boots designed to provide superior ankle support for long hikes and rough terrain. Both of these styles of boots offer comfort and support for particularly different to walk over terrains.

When you are selecting your Nike boots, you will want to determine where specifically they will be worn. If you plan on hiking for example, you will want to avoid the types of boots primarily designed for winter protection or water protection. While these boots use some of the technology designed for walking long distances, the primary focus of these boots are to keep your feet warm and comfortable against chill, rain or snow. Hiking boots are typically used in spring, summer and fall, so they typically lack the snow traction of winter boots. In exchange, they offer superior grip on rocks and loose dirt, and protect the ankles against being sprained as you cover this sort of terrain. Hiking boots may also provide protection for your toes, as your toes are typically at risk of being stubbed against rocks and other natural hazards as you walk through the woods.

When you purchase your Nike boots, you will also need to factor the distance that you will be walking for on average. If you plan on going on hikes that last for several miles or days, you will want to be extremely careful about the Nike boots you intend on purchasing. It is very important that you pick the boots that provide superior support and comfort to protect against blisters. You also do not want the boots to be too heavy, as this will prevent you from walking as far before you are tired. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking, you will want to avoid Nike boots that do not completely cover the back of the heel. This will typically eliminate hybrid urban boots, as they do not offer adequate protection for the back of your foot.


For those planning on hiking, Nike boots are more suitable for the wear and tear associated with climbing over rocks, as the soles of the boots are designed to handle the friction caused from this sort of activity. Golf or running shoes, as an example, will be worn down extremely fast by using them on hiking trails. Cross country shoes would survive longest, as they are a hybrid between running shoes and hiking boots.

You can purchase Nike boots from online vendors, Nike stores, and Nike outlets. There are also many local retailers that will carry Nike products.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Nike Hoop Summit 2009



This annual basketball game is played under international rules and features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Select Team, comprised of the top high school boy senior players, playing against a World Select Team, comprised of top players 19-years-old or younger from around the world.

The Nike Hoop Summit will make its second consecutive appearance in Portland in 2009. Overall, USA teams have won seven consecutive games and nine of the previous 11 Hoop Summit match-ups. The 2009 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team roster is expected to be announced in early February, with the 2009 World Select Team announcement to follow in March.

The Hoop Summit has featured some of the NBA’s current stars including:Kevin Garnett • Tony Parker • Elton Brand • Mike Bibby • Ron Artest • Rashard Lewis • Mike Dunleavy • Stephon Marbury • Sergio Rodriguez • Kevin DurantMore Great Hoop Action in August: Nike Global Challenge


PS: Stay tuned for more updates on this Nike site


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