Exclusive Jordans

Over the years, I've been amazed by how much people will pay for certain shoes just because they're limited. When the denim Dunk SBs came out, I had a chnce to get a pair for $250. I passed, because I thought that was a ridiculous price to pay for a shoe with an MSRP of $65. That same week they were selling on eBay for a grand. Whoops.

Speculation has become a huge part of this hobby, to the point where it's accepted that people will camp out all night for the next SB or Air Jordan release. I was riding my bike up 34th Street the night before the black/University blue Air Jordan 5s came out, and sure enough there were already people lined up in camp chairs outside Dr. Jay's. I've talked to more than one sneaker boutique manager who's had a shoe sell out to the line—as in, if you weren't there the night before, you missed out.

So when a couple pairs of TRULY exclusive shoes went up on eBay, I was curious to see how high they would go. They were two pairs of shoes that were worn in games by Michael Jordan, a pair of Air Jordan 1s from his rookie (or maybe second) year, and even more amazingly, a pair of Converse Pro Leather highs from his days at the University of North Carolina. The same model he was wearing when he hit the first of many big last shots, as a freshman in Carolina's 1982 NCAA Championship win over Georgetown.

As you can see by the links provided, the Jordans went for $3,300, the Converses for $2,700. And the way I look at it, both of those were absolute bargains. Game-worn, autographed shoes from the greatest player of all-time? Especially from so early in his career? And Grey Flannel is as legit as it gets when it comes to appraising game-worn items. I thought both pairs would have gone for considerably more, especially the Carolina Cons. If I had the loot to spare, I would have been right in there. When are you ever going to see something like that again?

And then, of course, these wind up going for more than either game-worn pair. If someone can explain that to me, I'd be eternally grateful.