Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

[mbenga28]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

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[sportscentury]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

A photomatch is a great way to authenticate an item obviously. That does not require paying money for an authenticator to evaluate the shoe though. It's not part of the service that they go out and seek every photo from every game to attempt to match the shoe. It's a task that would take hours and hours of research and even at that may not be possible.

Shoes are tough to photomatch, easy to style match but to find an exact match of these shoes to a particular game is one hell of a stretch and if it would be possible to do, its not the job of the authenticator. My point was that why pay someone to "authenticate" the shoe when a knowledgeable collector can take a look at see if its model issued for game use to MJ....

MeiGray does photomatch authentications. I have owned basketball shoes that have been photomatch-authenticated by MeiGray. Shoes are tougher than jerseys to photomatch, I agree, but when you are working with high resolution photos, such as MeiGray has access to through their contract with Getty, it can be done in many cases. The vast majority of collectors do not have access to the high resolution images owned by Getty.

I agree with your general point that authentications are often a waste of money, but true photomatch authentication is an undeniable exception. Once you start photomatching with high resolution images, it irreversibly changes your perspective on and approach to collecting. Other than getting the jersey or shoes directly from the player as he walks off the hardwood, there is nothing that compares to it. Of course, there are many, many good items that cannot be photomatched, so this type of authentication is far from the "be all end all" of collecting. As for these Jordan shoes, I do not know whether such an authentication service would be useful, but wanted to point it out as a possible option.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Authentication based on a definitive photomatch would provide certainty.

A photomatch is a great way to authenticate an item obviously. That does not require paying money for an authenticator to evaluate the shoe though. It's not part of the service that they go out and seek every photo from every game to attempt to match the shoe. It's a task that would take hours and hours of research and even at that may not be possible.

Shoes are tough to photomatch, easy to style match but to find an exact match of these shoes to a particular game is one hell of a stretch and if it would be possible to do, its not the job of the authenticator. My point was that why pay someone to "authenticate" the shoe when a knowledgeable collector can take a look at see if its model issued for game use to MJ....

[sportscentury]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Save your money...No authenticator can guarantee you anything it is just their opinion. They have no way of knowing whether Jordan wore them or not. The only way to know for sure is if Jordan wore than them and you saw him physically remove them and hand them to you. You are much better off asking knowledgeable Jordan collectors (ones who have years of experience and well respected in the hobby for their expertise) who can identify them as being made for Jordan to use in a game, then by evaluating use and characteristics it can be concluded it has a good chance Jordan actually wore them.

About the year, Jordan would not have worn these in the Finals against the Sonics, that was the 96 year and he wore the famous patent leather shoes. In the Finals, the team went to all black shoes as well. If I remember correctly this model was used for part of the 97-98 season.

Authentication based on a definitive photomatch would provide certainty.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Hi All- Thanks again for everyone's input and advice. I would like to get these shoes authenticated, however I am wondering who would be the best person to take them to? I heard Upper Deck will authenticate Jordan items. Does anyone know anything about this?

Finally, can someone please tell me what season Jordan wore these shoes? The seller mentioned that he received them after a Finals game against the Sonics, however I have tried to photo match these shoes from that series and struck out. Any input would be awesome!

Save your money...No authenticator can guarantee you anything it is just their opinion. They have no way of knowing whether Jordan wore them or not. The only way to know for sure is if Jordan wore than them and you saw him physically remove them and hand them to you. You are much better off asking knowledgeable Jordan collectors (ones who have years of experience and well respected in the hobby for their expertise) who can identify them as being made for Jordan to use in a game, then by evaluating use and characteristics it can be concluded it has a good chance Jordan actually wore them.

About the year, Jordan would not have worn these in the Finals against the Sonics, that was the 96 year and he wore the famous patent leather shoes. In the Finals, the team went to all black shoes as well. If I remember correctly this model was used for part of the 97-98 season.

[jmwill82]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Hi All- Thanks again for everyone's input and advice. I would like to get these shoes authenticated, however I am wondering who would be the best person to take them to? I heard Upper Deck will authenticate Jordan items. Does anyone know anything about this?

Finally, can someone please tell me what season Jordan wore these shoes? The seller mentioned that he received them after a Finals game against the Sonics, however I have tried to photo match these shoes from that series and struck out. Any input would be awesome!

[fabes23]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

The shoes are legit for sure. that's the right tag for his shoes that year. if they were "General Release" shoes the number at the top would start with 97 or 98. the sig looks a little off though.

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

I think we've already spoke James and like I said these are game issued Air Jordan's not retail. Also that signature is 100% authentic, it's an in person sig done very quickly on a bumpy surface so I'm sure it changed the lines of his stroke on his letters. Hope that helps James. As far as value goes, it depends on the timing and who's looking I've noticed that the price on that model fluctuates alot from 1500- to I guess 10k! Lol which I think is BS, but that's just me!..... Anyways hope I helped and you have my email if needed.

Regards
Mike.

Mike I am glad to see that you agree with me on the signature. I am afraid that many people judge sigs off of the UDA style signatures they see!

[SWPY]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

I attached the print screen of the Grey Flannel Auction ended at 9/11/2009. It ended at $10,200.00 with buyers premium.

[mb23]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

I think we've already spoke James and like I said these are game issued Air Jordan's not retail. Also that signature is 100% authentic, it's an in person sig done very quickly on a bumpy surface so I'm sure it changed the lines of his stroke on his letters. Hope that helps James. As far as value goes, it depends on the timing and who's looking I've noticed that the price on that model fluctuates alot from 1500- to I guess 10k! Lol which I think is BS, but that's just me!..... Anyways hope I helped and you have my email if needed.

Regards
Mike.

[SWPY]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Thanks so much for your help! Do you have any idea what something like these can go for?

It's difficult to say the market value of MJ game-worn shoes because there are only a handfull that hit the open market. I guess it all depends on the provenance, if you ask me. The last one sold at Grey Flannel not signed with Scottie Pippen Foundation LOA went for around 10K, but that was when MJ got inducted to the Hall of Fame, so that might have something to do with the price sky rocketing.

[jmwill82]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Thanks so much for your help! Do you have any idea what something like these can go for?

[SWPY]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

I cannot vouch for the autograph or game-use, but base on the code found of the tag, the pair is certainly custom made for MJ. These pair are NOT the retail version. See the thread that I started below not too long ago. I own the same version but different colorway that I just cosigned to Grey Flannel for their upcoming Basketball Hall of Fame Auction. Hope this helps!

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=33303&highlight=jordan+shoes

[jmwill82]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Thank you so much for taking the time to offer your opinion. I have submitted the imaged to rareair and hope to hear back from them shortly. As soon as I hear anything I will update.

Does anyone have any knowledge on the tagging?

[STLHAMMER32]

Re: Michael Jordan Game Used Shoes..HELP

Rareair would be a great resource, a lot of the tips I have learned when looking at MJ's auto's have come from him. I guarantee you he will give you the same answer I am giving you. The auto is just no good.

There are a few factors I think that should be considered before saying for a a fact it is not authentic..... The pen being used on a soft shoe surface with padding and indentations and also the fact that this appears to be an in-person style signature and not the UDA style that most are accustomed to seeing.

The 'M' looks correct to me with the bottom loop just hitting the indentation. The flow after that is consistent with MJ and the 'J' is the continuous loop that you often see with MJ in person sigs.

It's impossible to know with 100% certainty if you can't see it signed yourself but everything appears legit in my opinion.