On Feb. 26, a line that had started two days prior wrapped around the block in front of the Niketown on Stockton and Post Street. However, there were no actors, rappers, or famous athletes in the building. The guests of honor were the highly anticipated Air Jordan XIII basketball shoes in black and “altitude green.”

In the sneaker world, camping out in the snow and spending hundreds of dollars on a single pair of shoes is nothing out of the ordinary. While sneaker fanatics, or “sneaker heads,” as they are more popularly known, have different reasons for collecting, many agree that the money and great lengths spent to obtain them are worth it.

“It’s just ridiculous now,” said John Wong, 23, a marketing senior. “People have gotten addicted to it.”
Sneakers have been an integral part of the urban and hip-hop culture since Michael Jordan’s dunk from the free throw line and Run DMC’s hit, “My Adidas.” However, with the help of Nike’s hype and hip-hop artists like Nelly, the sneaker craze has crossed over into a mainstream phenomenon. No longer do kids want to be like Mike, they also want to be like Jay-Z and 50-Cent.

As a hard core basketball fan, Wong began collecting shoes casually in high school. On average he bought two to three pairs a year. It wasn’t until he started working that he became a serious buyer. However, Wong wouldn’t call himself a collector because he actually wears all of the shoes he owns.

“If I haven’t worn them, it’s only because I haven’t gotten around to it yet,” said Wong. Over 100 pairs later, Wong’s love for shoes is still fueled by the athlete he idolized as a kid, Michael Jordan.

Just like Wong, undeclared sophomore Jason Jangar, 20, started collecting Air Jordans to support the dynasty of his favorite basketball player.

“Kids want to be like Mike,” said Jangar. “This is one way they can.”

Jangar said he got his first pair of Air Jordans after asking an admirer of his older sister to steal them for him. Although he says he would never spend more than $200 on a pair, he doesn’t seem to mind waiting in line for two days like he did recently.

Other sneaker heads collect shoes for their exclusivity. Dixon Lam, 26, prides himself in knowing that when he steps into a club, he’ll probably be the only one with his particular pair of shoes on.

“They’re like trophies,” said Lam.

Lam has about 20 pairs now, including a pair of traditional white Air Force Ones that he had custom airbrushed by a renowned LA artist who worked with rapper Missy Elliott.

When hairstylist Janelle Gaddi, 23, goes shopping for kicks she looks for rarity and color scheme, she said.

Gaddi said finding certain sneakers for herself is difficult because manufacturers tend to overlook their female fans and make very few styles available in women’s sizes.

“Not all girls like fluffy stuff and butterflies,” said Gaddi, who added that she began buying “kicks” (another slang term for sneakers) because she hated the fact that dressy shoes made her feel even taller than she already was.

Although Gaddi says she will never bend over backwards for a set of shoes, there are some like Clarence Castillo, 19, who will do what it takes to get that rare pair.

The business sophomore at the College of San Mateo once bought a brand new pair of white Supreme Dunks for $500.

Castillo said he believes that every shoe has a history and story behind it, and thinks each shoe he has represents his own style.

“I like to buy shoes that I like, not the shoes that everyone wants just because of how limited they are,” said Castillo.

However, if a pair is no longer in stock, it might be because Johnnie Angeles, 24, has it.

“The last time I counted, I had 265,” said Angeles. “I know I’ve bought at least 20 pairs since then.”

There’s still one more pair that he wants for his collection.

“The Air Jordan IV’s in grape,” said Angeles. “I’d bust one in my pants if I had them right now.” The former employee of Nike Town has seen just how crazy sneaker fanatics have got in the past. He, like others, had heard of shoe buyers being robbed of their Jordan XIII’s just blocks away from Nike Town right after buying them.

While some non-sneaker heads may not understand what the hype is all about, it seems as if sneaker heads have a culture of their own. A multitude of Web sites, museum exhibits, magazines, newspaper articles, books, and of course stores are dedicated to the sneaker craze. Sneaker heads have their own language, which you can see if you ever go on a sneaker chat rooms like Niketown.com, and one sneaker head can always identify another.

“There’s an understanding between sneaker lovers,” said Gaddi. “We can just look at each other and know what’s up.”