LeBron V or Jordan XXIII, which sneakers would you buy ?

Last week, one of the most recognize brand in the world, "Air Jordan", released the latest model of his "Airness" basket shoes in blue North Carolina : Jordan XXIII.

Other colors will be available on the market after the NBA 2008 All Star Game and to be honest with you I can't wait to get myself the White/Red model and maybe the Black one.

According to different sources on the net, the XXIII will be the last one in the Jordan series which started in 1984 and could beat any precedent selling record in the shoes industry, where a lot of this selling records are already owned by the Jordan Brand.

Like any Jordan fan, I'm a true collector and did manage over the year to own or wear each of the previous 22 Jordan released every February just because today like yesterday, wearing a Jordan sneaker is cool and fashion, no matter what you wear them for, as charismatic as Michael Jordan was and still is, his shoes always had this touch of class and taste without losing any strength or skills the game itself required at this level, and somewhere we all love it.

But what about the 2007/2008 LeBron V, the last model of Lebron James 7-years contract with Nike, which by the way will end in 2010, what about the design, the look and the success of the LBJ23 series since 2003.

In today NBA games, James, along D. Wade and TMac, is my favorite player and probably a strong candidate (with KG) to be MVP at the end of this season, but you know what, I never bought one of his shoes and know anyone around me who did. I've got a TMac 6 (Maui 2006 Edition), had the Wade "Christmas" Edition in red (nice looking shoes) and I'm on Ebay mostly everyday to get the Wade I (I love this model), I've got a Zoom Kobe 2006 model....but no LBJ23 shoes.

And let me tell you why, first I don't like any of the previous model or the new one, the look is just awful, I see no class in this shoes and the design is so far from what you would expect when you buy a sneaker you want to wear with your jean's or baggy short and $150 is a lot of money for what you get, I mean the Wade I and II were around $90, the new Zoom Kobe 3 come around $120 (the 81 points game shoes was $150) and yes the Jordan XXIII will probably cost a fortune.

I highly recommend a really good post on Brian Berger Blog, Sport Business Radio, who talked about the next big shoes contract LeBron James will look to sign in 2010 and on why he is so far behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in sale success.

Meanwhile, I have to get myself ready to queue at the NikeTown shop on Oxford Street, London in two week and explain to my wife why I have to blow over $250 on sneakers, be ready for the 2008 NBA All Star Week-End in New Orleans, be ready to accept the fact that my Miami Heat won't be part of any playoffs this year, be ready to see Jason Kidd with a new jersey pretty soon maybe and before I forget, be ready to buy something for Valentine' day if I don't want to sleep on the sofa....