" IN HOT WATER " MICHAEL PHELPS FOR LOUIS VUITTON

" OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST MAYBE BE IN TROUBLE WITH THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OVER LEAKED PICS "

Swimming champion Michael Phelps might be in hot water with the International Olympic Committee after photos of his posing in a bathtub for part of a Louis Vuitton ad campaign were leaked on the Internet.Phelps was photographed for the campaign in a bathing suit and goggles in a bathtub reportedly by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The photos were released during a time when Olympic athletes are banned from participating in marketing campaigns.The regulation was introduced this year by the Olympic Committee and is known as Rule 40, prohibiting athletes from participating in advertising from July 18 to Aug. 15, which included periods before and after the Olympic Games.

The photo of Phelps in the bathtub next to a Louis Vuitton bag, however, popped up on the Internet in early August, appearing on Paper Mag and the Los Angeles Times, among other websites. Athletes who break Rule 40 can face sanctions, including financial penalties and disqualification from games, which can mean a loss of medals, as outlined in the Olympic Committee’s guidebook. The U.S. International Olympic Committee and Louis Vuitton declined to comment. Representatives for Leibovitz did not immediately return calls from ABC News.

source:abcnews/lousivuitton/urbanmessmag

"AIR JORDAN GOLDEN MOMENTS PACKAGE CAUSING ANGER AMONGST SNEAKER FANS"

" IN TODAY'S SNEAKER GAME: RESELLERS WINS, AND TRUE FANS LOSE "

This past weekend made for an historic release of the Air Jordan 6's & 7's "Golden Moments Package". So for months this hype of this release had many people waiting in anticipation. The internet was buzzing about these on every sneaker site you could find. Plus the fact that release came in two's and not just one made fans want them more. The iconic Air Jordan 6's which his "Airness " captured his 1st championship and the Air Jordan 7's where he was able to capture his 2nd Olympic Gold with the 92' Dream Team.  But the thoughts on many minds were "Will we be able to get a pair? and if so how much will it be?" The retail going price was $350, which was about average $175 per sneaker. At this price fans would litterally die to get these. So these were just released to the general pubic with out some type of ticket raffle headed by the good people at Footlocker, Finishline, and Footaction. This raffle idea was suppose to be a simple plan to allow everyone a pair of this much anticipated sneaker. Potential buyers were litterally forced to signed themselves up on-line and setup an account via twitter for a sure short to get a apir of sneakers. But this was too good to be true for many!

Many online participants weren't guaranteed to score a pair and  many stores claimed that didn't have as much sneakers to go around for everyone because the stores got a small amount of sneakers. Many small mom and pop stores in cities such as New York were raising prices 3 times as much. Kids were camped out in Times Square the previous night waiting to get a chance to get a pair the following day. Some were lucky and some weren't. One of the main reasons some weren't able to get a pair was due to people we call "Resellers". These so called resellers are the ones who ruin the game for us true sneakerheads who are denied a pair at the retail price, because someone else has purchased all the sneakers available before you even get a chance to. This unfair practice totally ruins the game we know and grew to love. It's like  now a days it's not about getting a rare pair of sneakers for the love, but who can get their hands on the most packeges for the bigger score later.   

Man! I miss the days when you were able to walk into a store and get a fresh pair of sneakers without going through so many hoops. It saddens me that not people love the game for what it means. I loved the game for the sports that it was associated with, and not the greed it stands for these days. I miss the good old days when getting sneakers was for the love and not so much for the money. In my opinion "Love" played a big reason why I never fell out my relationships with sneakers, but it seems like greed is slowly ruining the game we all love. I watched Michael Jordan play and though I hated the Bulls I still wanted to be like Mike in everything and buying a pair of sneakers made me feel like that as a child, what a great feeling.Now a days you have to be lucky or have deep pockets in order to get a pair of sneakers. I hope the sneaker companies can change their tactics sooner than later before it's too late! 

Sincerely: Jay ~ CEO UrbanMessMagazine (Sneaker Lover for Life!)  

" AIR JORDAN PRESENTS THE GOLDEN MOMENTS PACKAGE " AIR JORDAN VI & VII REVIEW

 " The Golden Age "

I'm a true sneaker head when it comes to kicks on the feet. I must say that I'm not really impressed by many sneakers that are currently out now. The sneakers that mostly catch my eye are the retros that are usually re-issued again to the gereral public within recent times. Now I have to admit that I've purchase a pair or two, if I really want a pair and trust me when reseller get their hand on these the prices are nearly trippled immediately! But I really must say that the Nike/ Air Jordan brand has put a pretty nice package with the release of these coming on Aug 18, 2012. the Classic AJ 6's in White and Gold, and The classic AJ 7's in Black and Gold are CRAZY!!!! I know that there will be lines for these "Early!"  dropping in 2 weeks. I must say I'm really impressed with this new package. The detail colorways are very nice with these classic Air jordan sneakers which debuted in the early 90's and now still making a statement today!

FYI: I was surprised that Jordan didn't package the most recent Olympic 6's & 7's a few weeks ago?! But no matter this latest edition will be priced @ $ 350.00 at retail. So get your hands on them before they are gone and never to be seen again!

source:jordan/nike/urbanmessmag

" DREAM CHASERS "

" KOBE THINKS HIS 2012 DREAM TEAM CAN BEAT MICHAEL'S1992 DREAM TEAM, BUT HIS AIR-NESS THINKS KOBE'S COMMENTS ARE PRETTY DUMB "

Michael Jordan wasn’t too pleased with the comments Kobe Bryant made about the 1992 Dream Team. According to a statement made by the Los Angeles Laker in Las Vegas this week, this year’s Dream Team could take down 1992’s Dream Team in their primes. He backed up his statement by reasoning all of the members of the 1992 team were at the tail-ends of their careers while this year’s team are in their primes.As reported by the Associated Press, Michael Jordan laughed at the baller’s statement.

"I absolutely laughed, he said during a golf tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. "For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done.”

The 1992 Dream Team, which was made up of 11 Future Hall of Famers, won six Olympic games en route to the gold medal. "I heard Kobe say we were not athletic," the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats said. "But we were smart. He said we were too old, but I was 29 and in the prime of my career. Pip (Scottie Pippen) was 26 or 27, (Charles) Barkley was 29, Patrick (Ewing) was 29 and Chris Mullin was 29. Almost everybody was still in their twenties."

"I imagine he's trying to say it to legitimize his own Dream Team," he later said. "But to me it's not even a question what team is better."

Jordan isn’t the only one to refute Kobe’s statement, Magic Johnson took to Twitter to voice his opinion as well. “I laughed as well,” he wrote. “The 1992 Dream Team had 11 HOFs, 23 champ rings & the greatest player of all time in Jordan. No chance this years team would take us. Our '92 team had too many winners, were too smart & too competitive to lose to Kobe & the 2012 team. I am excited to watch them though.” Bryant has yet to comment on Jordan's and Johnson’s rebuttals.

What do you think? Does 2012's Dream Team have anything over 1992’s Dream Team?

source: vibemag/urbanmessmag