In front of me is an Instagram post by @shoezeum. He’s holding a pair Game-worn NBA Finals LeBron shoes that are off to @goldin
A voice, in the back of my head, sounding like Dennis Hopper from Speed: “Pop quiz, hot shot: What shoes was LeBron James wearing the night he won his first championship?”
Me: I should know this. I don’t. I really don’t. I know I don’t know. If my life depended on it: The game. Game 6 or 7, right? I watched it. Where was I watching it? I think it was that restaurant in downtown SF: Tommy John’s. It was after work and I walked over and I had a French Dip and a Bud Light. Or two. Or was it three? Doesn’t matter. LeBron was on the Heat and I distinctly remember him playing against Dirk and the Mavs. I don’t remember any particular plays or anything, but I remember the heat were wearing White and the Mavs were wearing Blue. Er…was that it? I remember seeing LeBron smiling jumping up and down as the final clock was winding down. Finally! What was I wearing on my feet? No clue. Jeans and a button-up with a baseball hat, though. But what was LeBron wearing on his feet? No clue.
Dennis Hopper laughs maniacally as he blows it all up.
Amongst the rubble…me…trying to pick up the pieces of my brain.
*sigh*
Now I’ve gotta Google this…
As it turns out my memory isn’t that great. The restaurant in SF wasn’t Tommy John’s, but it was ‘Leftys’ on Geary. And the only time I had ever been there was to watch this game, Game 5. I grabbed some cafeteria-style dinner and some drinks to watch the final quarter. Being a Warriors fan, I had no vested interest in either team. But I DID want to see LeBron win a championship so the NBA world could move past that talking point. I just wanted them to let dude live. I didn’t care enough about that game to even remember who they played against (OKC). Harden, Westbrook & KD? How did I forget that? The shoes, tho? A quick Google Images search shows me they were a pair of LeBron IX’s. White/Gold/Black LeBron IX’s.
So, definitely NOT the pair that Jordy had posted for Goldin.
Makes me wonder - if Nike didn't tell us what Jordan was wearing, would we have remembered on our own?