The Archive Pack applies classic Converse graphics to a performance silhouette for the first time.
Source: Converse All Star Pro BB Archive Pack Official Images
I’m in sneaker stores everyday. I go to malls so often I know the majority of the store managers in this region by name and they know me. With over 30+ options to pick up sneakers in Memphis I have yet to run across the new Converse Pro BB. I actually hate that I haven’t been able to see the shoe in person and to be honest the Converse shoe is one of the main reasons I’ve considered relaunching my basketball recruitment website.
It’s the type of shoe (not these two colors in particular) that I’d love to build my site around. By the spring of next year I’d have player camps for underrated players and before this fall hits I’d have at least 20 schools in this region wearing the shoes. That says a lot for a shoe I’ve never held or put on my foot. I can’t even hoop any more since we had a car accident earlier this year, but as I build my way back to running at full speed, and as the football seasons rounds into shape, I’d love to be back in the car driving to gyms and rapping with high school coaches about the guys they have who people are overlooking. Which leads me back to the title here, Converse has made an intriguing model, but it isn’t in any stores in the city. Memphis is a basketball crazy market, but I have yet to see the model, and once again it makes sense because with the abundance of shoes that Nike is releasing stores can’t give shelf space to a basketball performance model when Nike has just dropped in the last two weeks:
Air Jordan 4
Zoom Freak 1 Coming to America
Nike Daybreak Undercover
Air Max 270 React
Air Jordan Tinker 3
Air Jordan 1 Defiant
Air Force 1 Type
PG 3 Nasa
Air Jordan 13 Lakers
KD EYBL
Air Jordan 11 Retro Low
This is getting ridiculous isn’t it? The bad thing is I didn’t even list the GS releases or the women’s releases. Nike floods the market with so many models that a shoe like the Pro BB is lost and that’s a shame because I think it’s one of the coolest launches from Converse in a very long time.
So what has to happen for Converse to actually shine? I mean the fact that they’ve launched a print version of the Pro BB is clear evidence that they are targeting those BAPE and Camo fans, but where and when will this shoe be given a spot on YouTube or any coverage at all?
I know someone is saying this video is on the channel, but for an old school guy like me who sees the model as a shoutout to a time where basketball was a bit more hardnose and team shoes were always Converse Weapons, this feels like something thrown together for the brand and for the shoes. You know what would have been better? Camps held throughout the summer to get guys that last look from Jucos and small colleges. Converse deserves a grassroots program. Not the glossy EYBL stuff from Nike, but the gritty, driving three hours for one final chance to impress a two year college coach looking for a 6-4 power forward on his JUCO squad this fall. Converse needs a grassroots program that gets all of the schools that don’t have D-1 sneaker deals, but they worked all summer to fund-raise for dope uniforms and sneakers that are affordable.
Converse needs a grassroots program and I might come out of retirement to do it if I’m asked. 🙂