20 Sneaker Rumors That Haven't Come True

Image via Complex Original

Outrageous (And Outraged) Nike LeBron X Pricing Speculation 

Year: 2012 

Source: Allegedly respectable news outlets

We aren't exactly sure how this one happened since numerous well-respected sneaker publications had stated the two price levels for the LeBron Xs from the start. Regardless, some sites who typically don't report on shoes unless it is negative started posting stories that the shoe would go for $315 with no mention of the lower price point for the shoes without the Nike+ technology. (Not to mention the initial price point even for the "+" version was $290.) Much hand-wringing ensued. C'mon novices, don't try this shit at home.

Nike Air Mags Releasing Everywhere 

Year: 2011

Source: Twitter

It took decades before the fictional shoe every sneaker and tech geek lusted after finall dropped. The rollout of the sneaker and the philanthropic gesture that accompanied it might make it one of the greatest sneakers of all time beyond aesthetic reasons. While people were dropping mortgage payments to grab a pair, rumors started surfacing that if you held out long enough you could grab them at a retail price of around $300. We can't blame people for trying to force Nike's hand, but it was going to cost to get on your Marty McFly-ness. 

Air Jordan I x Nike SB

Year: 2010 

Source: Sneaker message boards

This one might finally come true in 2013 (although not from what we've been hearing) but for a few years now there has been talk that the SB Dunk friendly design of the Air Jordan I was actually going to get a skateboard makeover to accomplish a hybrid J that had everyone excited. Yes, the Bones Brigade (and everyone else) skated Air Jordan Is back in the late '80s. But just because it makes perfect sense doesn't mean it's going to happen.

Air Jordan XI Low Snakeskin Returning 

Year: 2010 

Source: Sneaker message boards

Anytime news of a pair of Jordan XIs surfaces it typically has the internet going nuts. In 2010 there was word that the underrated "Snakeskin" XIs would be making a return. It never happened but the holiday release of the "Cool Greys" was a great consolation prize. We're still waiting on these to make a comeback, but it doesn't look like that will be happening soon — until then start the rumors on these XI lows making their way to shelves in 2013. 

Ecko Buys Supreme 

Year: 2007 

Source: Message boards.

In 2007 Supreme's sales were apparently seeing a bit of a dip and supposedly Marc Ecko had purchased the streetwear giant to help them get by. This might have been an interesting scenario (Ecko did acquire Zoo York), and although some elite sneaker and streetwear personalities co-signed the news, it never happened. 

Kobe Bryant Signing With Jordan Brand

Year: 2003 

Source: Sneaker message boards

When Kobe Bryant became a sneaker free agent, the rumors of where he would wind up started flying almost immediately. And Jordan Brand seemed as sure a bet as anything. For starters, dude got some sick PEs, and if he wasn't better than Jordan (stop it), he was the closest anyone had ever come. Thing is, anyone who knew Kobe at all could have told you that the only person's name and logo that was gonna ever appear on his shoes was his. You're welcome.

Full Zoom Air For Rasheed's AF1s 

Year: 2009 

Source: Sneaker message boards

The fact that Rasheed Wallace was getting laced in PE Air Force 1s a full 20 years after the shoe's launch was pretty amazing on its own. But was that enough? Nooooo, of course not. Around the time sneaker blogs started to recognize that Wallace wasn't just rocking a new colorway there was some talk that the only way 'Sheed was rocking them was if Nike had implemented a full Zoom Air unit into the sole to catch up with current sneaker technology. No such thing took place, although the brand eventually did make a few alterations to the materials to make them lighter and more breathable. It's impressive that Wallace rocked an '82 sneaker on a regular basis in the NBA, but keep one thing in mind — Rasheed is crazy.

Dwyane Wade to Li-Ning

Year: 2012 

Source: Sneaker blogs

This one has currently been the talk of basketball sneakers (and may wind up being true) but it hasn't happened yet. For the past few weeks, people have stated that Wade is unhappy with the attention he is getting from Jordan Brand so he was bolting to up-and-comer Li-Ning. We have yet to see Wade do any grip and grin with an executive from another brand, or wearing anything other than the Jumpman. The fact that various blogs were reporting this as "confirmed" when Wade was still very much under contract with JB leads us to wonder whether people actually know what "confirmed" means. 

Black Friday Nike Air Yeezy II Release Date 

Year: 2011

Source: Twitter

Once Kanye broke out the Yeezy IIs at Coachella, the rumors started up like crazy. Everyone had some Chris Broussard type sources of what colorways were happening and when the kicks would drop. Possibly the most foolish rumor was the alleged Black Friday release being reported by so many people without any concrete proof. Granted Nike did keep it pretty tight until weeks before they did finally release, but the conspiracy theories and speculation that lasted for a half a year only helped build the hype and the sneakers needed absolutely no promotion. We took journalism classes and don't remember the "if there isn't any news, just make it up" rule.

Air Jordan XI "Columbia" Holiday 2012 Release 

Year: 2011

Source: Sneaker message boards

Before most people even get a chance to fuck up their latest Jordan XIs on New Year's Eve (greatest shoe to beat a formal dress code with) there are always rumors circulating about which shoe we will be blessed with under our tree next year. Right from the jump, forums and sneaker blogs were reporting that the icy white and Columbia blue Js would be making a return in 2012. Instead, the black and red colorway Mike won his fourth ring in will be back in December. Well hey, you were close, guys.

Air Jordan III Premio BIN 23 

Year: 2011 

Source: Sneaker message boards

Fresh off the Doernbecher III release there was some noise that Jordan Brand would be coming out with a BIN 23 pair of the classic treys. The closest we ever got to the concept was photos of a blacked-out silhouette and a question mark to help build the suspense. Almost two years later there hasn't been any more news of the shoe taking place, we're going to have to file this under an overzealous sneakerhead's wet dream. 

The Original Nike Dunk SBs Re-Releasing 

Year: 2012

Sources: Sneaker message boards, blogs

When a photo of these Nike Dunk SB "Danny Supas" samples wound up on blogs earlier this year, it was followed by talk that Nike would be re-releasing all the original SB Dunks from the introduction season of 2002 to celebrate 10 years of greatness. The joke was on us all, the kicks were a well-executed custom job —sample tag and everything. The red colorway of the Supreme Dunks that dropped in July were as close as we got — if you were lucky enough to grab a pair. 

Air Jordan VI QS 

Year: 2008 

Source: Sneaker message boards

In 2008 there was talk that the classic kicks that helped Mike get his first ring were going to drop without much notice. Nike Talk and Hypebeast forums were filled with buzz about the shoes returning and allowing people to re-up on a must for any sneaker collection. As you know the quickstrike never happened, but a few years later they made their return as part of the "Infrared" pack along with the white pair June of 2010 proving good things come to those who wait. Now, can we get a real Carmine retro, please?

adidas Trying to Modify Derrick Rose's Shoes to Get Him Back in the Playoffs

Year: 2012  

Source: Twitter armchair doctors

It was a damn shame to D. Rose and the NBA when he spent most of the season on the injured list and ended up right back there after he tore his ACL in the playoffs. Shortly after the Bulls' doctors diagnosed his injury there was chatter that adidas was going to try and modify his adiRoses to cater to his bum knee and let him continue to play during the post-season. There was no truth to this, simply people with too much time on their hands and unrealistic expectations for a world-class athlete. Don't fret Chicago, your boy is returning. 

Nike "Galaxy" Foamposite Restocks

Year: 2012

Source: Twitter hypebeasts

One of the craziest sneaker releases of all time caused mass hysteria throughout the U.S. with resale prices hitting well over $2,000. Shortly after the limited number of "Galaxy" Foams released, rumors started up that more people would get a shot with multiple restocks that were going to randomly take place throughout the year — we're still waiting. (21 Mercer actually did get a restock — of about a dozen pairs — which didn't help anyone.)

Nike Air Yeezy II Third Colorway Release 

Year: 2012 

Source: Sneaker blogs

People were butt-hurt when they missed out on one of the two colorways of the Air Yeezy II that Nike released on June, and to make matters worse someone gave them false hope by starting a myth that The Swoosh had intentions to release a third colorway sometime in the fall. Horribly photoshopped South Beach versions among other colorways started to surface — as did these real "Kobes" — and a few gullible people are still waiting for that Twitter notification to confirm. (Of course you can get virtually any color you want right now, provided you have a valid credit card and no sense of shame.)

"Gold Medal" Nike Air Foamposites

Year: 2012 

Source: Sneaker message boards

As the Olympic Games were preparing to kick off, news started to break that Nike was going to honor some b-ball classics from past years as well as cook up some gold-medal influenced current versions of shoes releasing. Made sense — it wasn't like the 2012 team was actually going to come in second. Most of the talk was right, but one of the most intriguing concepts — a gold colorway of the Air Foamposite One — never dropped. With the release of the "Gold Medal" pack on the 29th, it doesn't seem like it will be happening for another four years. Taking home silver copper will have to do for now. 

"Toning" Sneakers 

Year: 2008

Source: Advertising, word-of-mouth, gullible journalists

Women thought they had it made when the "toning" shoes dropped through Skechers, Reebok, and other various brands but the whole thing was a hoax. Oddly enough the only way you were going to get fit wearing these is if you were walking five miles a day, same as with any other sneaker. Eventually this past spring a lawsuit sided with consumers that the results from the shoes were false and people got refunds. We can't front, we are still grateful for all of the ad work the companies did with Erin Andrews and Kim Kardashian. 

More Retro Air Jordan Packs 

Year: 2010

Source: Sneaker message boards 

Shortly after the Roman numeral designated Jordans ended, the company started going crazy with various packs of retro Jordans to keep people interested in the history of the shoe and keep their profit line intact. Everyone was guessing which two shoes they would pair together next, and no combinations drew wood like the Jordan V "Grape/Laney" pack and "Slam Dunk Contest" pack. Sorry, but wishing doesn't make it true.

Air Jordan Line Ending At XX3 

Year: 2008 

Source: Sneaker message boards, gullible blogs

The number 23 has always been synonymous with Michael Jordan. While Jordan Brand continued producing kicks for MJ even after he retired, some people started spreading the word that that the G.O.A.T. signature series would stop right with the 23rd incarnation. Um, y'all aren't familiar with the concept of killing the golden goose? The XX3 was indeed the end — of numerical designation for Air Jordans. The fencing-inspired Air Jordan 2009 dropped, the line continued, and the speculation about the end of Air Jordan looked awful silly.