Nike’s got you covered in force, flight, uptempo

PORTLAND, Oregon – Do you have springs for legs? Can you hang in the air seconds longer than your competition? Or are you a power player — a solid mass of strength that won’t back down from a fight? Or maybe you burn the court with your feet, smoothly shifting gears as you effortlessly blow by the competition?

Which one are you: Force, flight or uptempo?

Nike believes three laws govern the game of basketball, and none is more important than the rest. And they have shoes to fit one’s need whether he or she can explode into the air at a moment’s notice, power his or her way through the paint or move in any direction at any speed.

In a summit with selected sports media from the Asia Pacific region at the Nike World Headquarters here, Nike creative director Kris Aman said they designed these lines of shoes defined by the best athletes in the game.

"Nike owner Phil Knight keeps on saying never forget to hear the voice of the athletes. So create irresistable products that inspire athletes to play the game has become Nike’s mantra," said Aman.

Giving tremendous influence on Nike’s latest performance silos are Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and Amare Stoudamire — no doubt among the best athletes in the game today with different styles of play.

Bryant is a great one-on-one player and he best interprets Nike’s Uptempos; Carter is Nike’s resident high-flyer and he inspires consumers with the Flights; while Stoudamire is big, agile and dominates the paint with the Nike Force.

The latest Nikes out in the market are the Nike Shox VC V AF for flight players, Zoom Kobe I for uptempo and the Air Total Force Max for force.

Designer Tracey Teague said the Nike Shox VC V AF is kind of elegance meeting arrogance for a perfect combination of explosiveness and responsiveness.

The shoes’ upper is a combination of rich full-grain and synthetic leather. The midfoot provides a support saddle with an elastic band for enhanced lockdown and lateral stability. The heel unit provides for an additional heel lockdown. The midsole is made of durable full-length polyurethane with the six-column Nike Shox system in the heel.

Another Nike designer Jason Petrie, meanwhile, said the Air Total Force Max was designed for the player who is looking for the ultimate ride in a supportive, yet lightweight package.

"Combined synthetic leathers make up the outsole of this sharp looking shoe. Synthetic overlay with TPU eyelets on the midfoot give it enhanced lockdown and support. The heel TPU further provides lockdown and stability. The full length Phylon midsole with a full length Max Air-Sole unit provides the ultimate in lightweight cushioning from heel-to-toe. The solid rubber outsole with maximum traction herringbone pattern," said Petrie.

Then there’s the Zoom Kobe I specifically designed for Bryant.

"It’s a revolutionary, lightweight, highly responsive basketball shoe designed for the player with the ultimate game, inspired by the personality and play of the game’s fiercest warrior Kobe Bryant," said designer Ken Link.

NOTES: Male sports media practitioners from the Asia Pacific had their taste of Nike’s different lines of shoes in a three-on-three basketball tournament serving as among the highlights of the Spring 2006 media summit here. The Philippines’ Jinno Rufino, Chickoy Antonio and this writer proved up to the challenge as they narrowly lost the championship to Hongkong, 12-14, via overtime. The Filipinos were the first to make the finals as they beat Hongkong in their elims duel then also whipped China, Japan, Korea, Chinese-Taipei. Five-foot-11 deadshot Mike Lui Hoi Pan proved to be a big thorn for the Filipinos who are all 5-foot-7 or below.