July 10, 2003 5:54 AM

Next, we'll pave Paradise and put a Swoosh on it

Nike hopes to cash in on 'retro' Converse

Anyone who played high school basketball in the late '70s as I did undoubtedly wore Chuck Taylors. In the final days before basketball shoes went high-tech and high-dollar, Converse Chuck Taylors were state of the art. With gum rubber soles, canvas uppers, and virtually no support to speak of, my Chucks just oozed basketball. Even better, they were relatively inexpensive. It's been long enough that I can't remember what I had to pay for a pair, but I do remember that I didn't have to save my lunch money for months ahead of time.

The highlight of my year was the beginning of basketball season, when my school would order the low-cut canvas status symbols. One pair would last me an entire season, and after our final game, I had a souvenir that screamed I PLAY BASKETBALL!! Now Chuck Taylors are a quaint "retro" concept, a memory machine for aging ex-ballers like myself. Whenever I see a pair, I can hear the sound of bouncing basketballs on a hardwood floor. It's a memory that always brings a smile to my face.

Of course, things change. Converse went bankrupt, and now Chuck Taylors will be putting money in Phil Knight's pocket. At least someone will be keeping my memories alive....

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on July 10, 2003 5:54 AM.

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