So I have heard Niketown is opening in Georgetown in August

[Bickerstaff]

No Nike swoosh on the official NBA game ball.

No, just a giant Spalding logo. Oh, for simpler times...

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

No Nike swoosh on the official NBA game ball.

No, just a giant Spalding logo. Oh, for simpler times...

True, but my point is Nike is nowhere to be found. They only have shoes and thats it.

[fishercob]

I think I just found video of WTA in his younger days: http://vimeo.com/40983667

[ST21]

Who would you rather make an appearance at their grand opening?

Kevin Durant or Lebron James?

Other than expensive overpriced footwear has Nike really contributed anything worthwhile to professional Basketball?

All of the legendary professional team issued basketball gear from back in the day was made by Spalding, Champion, MacGregor, Rawlings etc...

The Bullets during their existence never wore anything made by Nike.

ok so? it's not supposed to specialize in just NBA gear or anything so what's your point?

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I think I just found video of WTA in his younger days: http://vimeo.com/40983667

Well I just watched the video and I already knew the full code as soon as he said "up up down down" so yeah I guess you pretty much hit the nail right on the head with that one.
My hair was much much longer back then though. Roth was one of my idols.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Who would you rather make an appearance at their grand opening?

Kevin Durant or Lebron James?

Other than expensive overpriced footwear has Nike really contributed anything worthwhile to professional Basketball?

All of the legendary professional team issued basketball gear from back in the day was made by Spalding, Champion, MacGregor, Rawlings etc...

The Bullets during their existence never wore anything made by Nike.

ok so? it's not supposed to specialize in just NBA gear or anything so what's your point?

My point is all they have contributed to professional basketball is expensive overpriced footwear and thats it.

MacGregor > Nike

Recently they acquired the NFL license and now they have raised the prices of NFL team merchandise.

A basic NFL team t shirt now sells for $25+

[fishercob]

This is a great piece. I actually thought of WTA. http://m.theatlanticcities.com/politics ... n-dc/2914/

[jmrosenth]

That was a really good read. I lived on U Street from 99-2003. I guess I didn't really realize I was a pioneer at the time. Truth be told it was closer to the Adams Morgan side of U Street, and we didn't really venture past 16th Street (except for visit's to Ben's, Republic Gardens/State of the Union, or 9:30 Club), but still, there was a crack house on my block when I moved in that was later condemned and converted into, surprise, condos.

[C-Droppa]

Who would you rather make an appearance at their grand opening?

Kevin Durant or Lebron James?

Other than expensive overpriced footwear has Nike really contributed anything worthwhile to professional Basketball?

All of the legendary professional team issued basketball gear from back in the day was made by Spalding, Champion, MacGregor, Rawlings etc...

The Bullets during their existence never wore anything made by Nike.

ok so? it's not supposed to specialize in just NBA gear or anything so what's your point?

My point is all they have contributed to professional basketball is expensive overpriced footwear and thats it.

MacGregor > Nike

Recently they acquired the NFL license and now they have raised the prices of NFL team merchandise.

A basic NFL team t shirt now sells for $25+

I think your view on NIKE may be a little bit blown out of proportion and maybe even a little biased. To say they haven't contributed anything to professional is a little far-fetched. I mean just recently who do you think designed those team USA jerseys that were so proudly worn to represent in the Olympics. Or what about those NIKE basketball camps such as the Nike Hoops Summit which displays top young talent for the NBA future. Not only that probably more than 60% of NBA players wear Nikes on there feet...from Jordans, Lebrons, Kobes, Pennys, Huraches, Hyperflights, Hyperdunks, etc...etc..etc. Nike also is a leading contributor when it comes to technological advancements in shoes...You have to admit, while maybe being overpriced, the ability to be able to track things such as your vertical, distance you ran, steps per second and other crap due to sensors in your shoes (Nike +) is kind of cool.

By no means do I work or Nike or anything like that, but I have a nice little collection of sneakers probably around 100 pair. I can't stand the way prices have risen but thats life. The hottest sneakers like retro jordans and such, get snatched up by resellers and re-sold on ebay for twice the amount. It's just the way our country is. I remember when gas was .99 and now I pay 4-5 dollars a gallon...but I can't say gas didn't contribute to cars. Remember when you could by a phone for 100 dollars and now phones going for 500+..crazy and over priced. But I can't say companies like Apple and Samsung haven't contributed anything.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

This is a great piece. I actually thought of WTA. http://m.theatlanticcities.com/politics ... n-dc/2914/

Gentrifiers are the lowest level of human life form on the planet. They are scum. They are the gum stuck on the bottom of my shoes. They are disgusting. Everybody hates them. I am just more vocal about it than others.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

That was a really good read. I lived on U Street from 99-2003. I guess I didn't really realize I was a pioneer at the time. Truth be told it was closer to the Adams Morgan side of U Street, and we didn't really venture past 16th Street (except for visit's to Ben's, Republic Gardens/State of the Union, or 9:30 Club), but still, there was a crack house on my block when I moved in that was later condemned and converted into, surprise, condos.

I am a pioneer too.
Back in the day when I was in elementary school...
I used to ride bicycles.
I used to snowball fight.
I used to listen to record albums.
I used to walk my dog.
I used to play kick ball.
I used Apple computers (at school)

ADULT transplant, wanna-be urban, attention seeking, inflated rent paying, urban pioneers in 2012 are at least 25 years behind me and all of my friends from elementary school.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I think your view on NIKE may be a little bit blown out of proportion and maybe even a little biased. To say they haven't contributed anything to professional is a little far-fetched. I mean just recently who do you think designed those team USA jerseys that were so proudly worn to represent in the Olympics. Or what about those NIKE basketball camps such as the Nike Hoops Summit which displays top young talent for the NBA future. Not only that probably more than 60% of NBA players wear Nikes on there feet...from Jordans, Lebrons, Kobes, Pennys, Huraches, Hyperflights, Hyperdunks, etc...etc..etc. Nike also is a leading contributor when it comes to technological advancements in shoes...You have to admit, while maybe being overpriced, the ability to be able to track things such as your vertical, distance you ran, steps per second and other crap due to sensors in your shoes (Nike +) is kind of cool.

By no means do I work or Nike or anything like that, but I have a nice little collection of sneakers probably around 100 pair. I can't stand the way prices have risen but thats life. The hottest sneakers like retro jordans and such, get snatched up by resellers and re-sold on ebay for twice the amount. It's just the way our country is. I remember when gas was .99 and now I pay 4-5 dollars a gallon...but I can't say gas didn't contribute to cars. Remember when you could by a phone for 100 dollars and now phones going for 500+..crazy and over priced. But I can't say companies like Apple and Samsung haven't contributed anything.

Yes I know this I used to buy Air Jordans in the 1990s.
The ORIGINAL Jordans.
Not the fake RETRO Jordans that are being sold in the stores today.

[fishercob]

This is a great piece. I actually thought of WTA. http://m.theatlanticcities.com/politics ... n-dc/2914/

Gentrifiers are the lowest level of human life form on the planet. They are scum. They are the gum stuck on the bottom of my shoes. They are disgusting. Everybody hates them. I am just more vocal about it than others.

Out of curiosity, did you read the piece?

Gentrification goes hand in hand with development. What's better -- "sanitized" urban neighborhoods, or drug and crime infested ones? I'm not arguing for one or the other, I'm curious as to your take.

[jmrosenth]

WTA, I know you want to back to the good old days when DC was the murder capital of the world that had a mayor who was caught on videotape getting high, but those days are long gone. You are very much in the minority of folks who want to "keep it real". you should read the article that fishercob posted, seriously, and may also want to look at history from a wider perspective than the last 25 years. It wasn't until the late 60s that DC's demographics changed dramatically. My grandparents and many of their friends lived and owned businesses in Southeast DC.

[Zonkerbl]

I'm considered an urban pioneer for being a white guy living in Anacostia and I object to being labeled as wanna-be urban and attention-seeking. I'm a govt employee paying child support -- I can either live in Anacostia or Gainesville. The "rent" I'm paying is a ton lower than I would have to pay living in an all-white enclave.

I get that obliterating a neighborhood's existing culture and replacing it with an obnoxious white culture would be sad. And I get that white people are usually jerks. I get that when rents go up, people who rent rather than own can get driven out of a neighborhood involuntarily. Well, maybe that's not all bad, if you believe what was in that article.

Diversity is good, though. Trick is to finish off the whole "emerging from decades of economic stagnation" stage with a diverse, strongly knit community full of people who take care of each other. That would take the sting out of the higher rents.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

This is a great piece. I actually thought of WTA. http://m.theatlanticcities.com/politics ... n-dc/2914/

Gentrifiers are the lowest level of human life form on the planet. They are scum. They are the gum stuck on the bottom of my shoes. They are disgusting. Everybody hates them. I am just more vocal about it than others.

Out of curiosity, did you read the piece?

Gentrification goes hand in hand with development. What's better -- "sanitized" urban neighborhoods, or drug and crime infested ones? I'm not arguing for one or the other, I'm curious as to your take.

An elderly relative of mine (who I have not seen in quite some time) was commenting the other day on how the DC streets are much safer but complained about how now there is nothing but restaurants and bars, CVS and Starbucks.

One day this past summer I decided to take a walk around Downtown DC just for old times sake and it was revolting in every sense of the word.
I even voiced my opinion to one of the guys wearing those red "Downtown DC" jackets/vests...

"When compared to the downtown DC of my childhood and my youth this new Downtown DC Sucks!
It blows."

Oddly enough, he nodded his head and agreed with me. "It sure does." He said.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

WTA, I know you want to back to the good old days when DC was the murder capital of the world that had a mayor who was caught on videotape getting high, but those days are long gone. You are very much in the minority of folks who want to "keep it real". you should read the article that fishercob posted, seriously, and may also want to look at history from a wider perspective than the last 25 years. It wasn't until the late 60s that DC's demographics changed dramatically. My grandparents and many of their friends lived and owned businesses in Southeast DC.

I am well aware of the history of DC prior to the past 25 years. I am also well aware of the many family owned businesses that used to exist in DC proper and in the surrounding areas too.

I only used 25 years as an example so I could include myself being involved in childish activites.
Activities I last participated in decades ago, but for some reason these activities are now being celebrated because they are being participated in by pasty, nasal voiced, flip flop wearing, inflated rent paying, ADULT transplants.

Kickball, walking dogs, snowball fighting, riding bicycles, wearing no pants on the subway, seeking out attention towards one's self etc...

^ BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT BACK WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I'm considered an urban pioneer for being a white guy living in Anacostia and I object to being labeled as wanna-be urban and attention-seeking. I'm a govt employee paying child support -- I can either live in Anacostia or Gainesville. The "rent" I'm paying is a ton lower than I would have to pay living in an all-white enclave.

I get that obliterating a neighborhood's existing culture and replacing it with an obnoxious white culture would be sad. And I get that white people are usually jerks. I get that when rents go up, people who rent rather than own can get driven out of a neighborhood involuntarily. Well, maybe that's not all bad, if you believe what was in that article.

Diversity is good, though. Trick is to finish off the whole "emerging from decades of economic stagnation" stage with a diverse, strongly knit community full of people who take care of each other. That would take the sting out of the higher rents.

This has nothing to do with race. But there clearly is a divide. Tensions are definitely rising.

Does "emerging from decades of economic stagnation" in 2012 mean we must have a CVS and a Starbucks on nearly every city block?

Soon there will be no diversity.

Hopefully by then I will be on a beach somewhere (Gulf of Mexico) wearing my authentic Bullets jersey in December while sitting underneath a palm tree with my very own power boat docked nearby.

[payitforward]

I love this thread. And I'm enjoying the show WTA is putting on here -- being more or less a newbie, I'm seeing posts by you for the first time, WTA.

Of course there are a lot of elements here! The time 25 years ago, which you remember so fondly, I was already looking at and mind wandering back to a time 25 years earlier! I was thinking "the '80s have ruined everything." To prefer the time when you were young... it's inescapable.

Someone in this thread mentioned remembering when gas was 99 cents a gallon. I remember when it was 25 cents a gallon! And you got a free carton of cigarettes w/ a fill-up! Then again, I remember one late '60s day in Chicago when I left my apartment, walked halfway up the block, and then headed back home. The air was so polluted that it was near impossible to breathe.

Not all change is bad, and a high price for gasoline is fine if it means you can breathe the air!

[Induveca]

DC has undergone massive change since I moved away 7 years ago.

Honestly, I prefer the 1998 version of DC. The Starbucks/CVS vibe really is over the top. I stayed next to the Verizon Center my last visit in December. The city, at this point in time, feels forced and ungenuine. It's as if a suburban strip mall infected downtown.