Pleasant Valley, NY – Back when Kobe and the Big Aristotle were tearing it up in Los Angeles, Mr. Bryant was the poster boy for Adidas. His shoes, The Kobe and Kobe 2, were loved and hated by shoe enthusiasts. Yet, no one can deny that both designs were unique, something never seen before (atleast in a shoe).
According to a Nov. 27, 2000 AudiWorld.com article, the main source of inspiration for both shoes was the Audi TT Roadster. The article said,
When looking for inspiration for Kobe’s new shoe adidas did not have to look any further than Kobe’s back yard, Southern California. adidas asked the question, what embodies Southern Cal.? Answer, THE car culture. And one of the hottest cars on the market, the Audi TT Roadster …
The similarities of Audi Design language and The Kobe are easily identifiable. At a glance, the TT Roadster has three main features: a continuous line, a clean surface body side, and a bullet-nosed front. These elements also reflected The Kobe. adidas’ long-standing grooved shell-toe, from the Superstar, Originals line, looks strikingly similar to an Audi front end grill. The main shoulder line continues around the arches and through the bottom of the shoe as the Audi TT’s continuous loop runs from the side of the vehicle around the wheel arches and under the car.
I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of Kobe 2′s. They were a half size too small but I made it work. Once, after a rousing game of Taps, my friend Dan and I walked by a guy who was sitting on the gym floor, lacing up his shoes. The guy looked up, then down at my kicks and said, in the calmest voice, “Oh sh**, the Kobe’s.” Dan laughed. I retired the shoes shortly after that.
My Kobe’s are staying fresh in the box. Bryan’s Audi is fresh off the lot. Enjoy it, bud.
- east coast paper boy
Tags: adidas, audi tt, audi world, automobile, basketball, big aristotle, convertible, fujifilm instax, kobe bryant, lakers, los angeles, nba, new car, new york, ny, photography, pleasant valley, polaroid, shaq, taps, the kobes
