What's cooler than being cool? Ice Cold. Over the years, only one shoe can truly fit that description. Everyone has something to say about the Air Jordan XI. It is the single most prolific basketball shoe of the modern era. Yet no one can quite get a handle on just what exactly makes it so special. Some think it is the shiny patent leather. Some say it is the clear crystal soles. A few suggest the clean nylon-mesh and the carbon-fiber shank plates while others noted the sophisticated styling. The truth is, the popularity of the XI can not be attributed to any single element of the shoe. To fully understand the Air Jordan XI, one must look deep inside – straight to one's soul where love for sneakers knows no boundaries.

      Initial design inspiration for the Air Jordan XI was a sock – a shoe that would be custom fitted to maximize comfort. Much of that changed when Michael made his input on the XI. He wanted patent leather to be used – a material that would give a shoe an executive styling wearable both on and off the court. Since MJ had just returned from a 2 year retirement, Nike needed a highly noticeable shoe that can make its own statement that Jordan is back. The patent leather and its high contrasting styling allowed the company to do just that. EVERYONE noticed Michael's new shiny shoes in the 1995 playoffs. NBC reporter Armad Rashad even took the extra step to grab a pair of XI's (with #45 on the back) and explained to the TV audience up close what Jordan was wearing. The XI debuted so hot off the press that day it wouldn't officially be available until the following season – making the anticipation for Air Jordan fans that much higher.

      The release of the original Air Jordan XI white/black/concord was mixed - depending on your location around the world. Contrary to popular belief, the shoes did NOT sell out immediately. Mainstream consumers didn't know what to make of the shiny patent leather. Sales numbers were also greatly tied to the success of the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Once fans around the world saw that Michael was back for real, more and more XI's got sold during the Bull's 72-10 season. It was then that the white/black disappeared off the shelves and consumers had to settle for the white/columbia release the following spring. Chicago couldn't stop winning and stores wouldn't stop selling. The black/red colorway that dropped in the summer shortly after Bull's championship became one of the quickest selling shoes of its time.

      The disappearance of the XI in stores did not diminish the demand. Consumers and collectors alike found that the bottom soles tend to yellow with wear and age. As time went by, the XI only commanded more premium than ever before. Combined with the Ebay phenomenon of 1997-1999, the XI became the flagship of the basketball shoes after-market. Prices of brand new shoes fetched as much as $300-500 on Ebay as even used pairs were able to command more than retail price. These astounding results became an easy supply & demand economic decision for counterfeiters. The XI quickly became the most counterfeited shoe of all times. Even Nike could not bypass the golden opportunity the XI's presented. They re-released the XI as a Retro merely 4 years after its original debut in not one but a whooping 15 colorways (counting the retro of the original XI lows). When colorways such as "hot pink", "white zen" and "citrius" are used, you know they've got the model line covered and then some.

      Still not sure what the big fuss is about? Spin the shoes around and you'll notice the brand new crystal clear soles. The XI's commanding presence starts here. For most sneakerheads, getting them dirty and yellow is a sacrilege act. That helps to explain why you see more people buy these shoes at outrageous prices only to store them unworn. The upper of the shoes are equally condition sensitive. The white mesh on the white colorways is easy to get stained but extremely hard to clean. If we had a penny for every XI that gets thrown to the washing machine (a practice we highly discourage), there wouldn't be need for advertisement on this site.

      It is often said that the XI was the Air Jordan shoe that best represented Michael Jordan the person. If you recalled, Jordan did not win a championship in the shortened season that he first came back. Wearing the XI white/black against Orlando in the playoffs, Jordan was pick-pocketed by Magic's Nick Anderson from behind and caused the Bulls to lose in 6 games. Michael failed – and that's why he succeeded. In the summer immediately following the devastating loss, Jordan built a customized basketball court on the set of the movie Space Jam in order to work himself back into top shape. NBA players from around the league came to compete and workout. The result of such dedication is the '96 Finals' victory image of MJ lying on the ground with the black/red XI's cradling a basketball on Father's Day. Mike returned to his throne at the top of the NBA that day and the XI was his claim to redemption.

      In that respect, the AJ XI transcended the category of basketball shoes much like Jordan himself transcended the sport of basketball. Where else would you see a pair of basketball shoes worn on prom night and fit right in with the formal occasion? The same shoes would then transcend the tuxedos and basketball courts to urban fashions on par with the likes of Timberlands. Simply put, the XI can match with anything on any occasion, regardless of gender, race, time and place. This sense of fashion, elegance, style and urban candor is simply unmatched. Michael took his game from the streets to the hardwood and into the business world. The Air Jordan XI was able to accommodate all of that.

      By today's standards, the XI is not the greatest performance shoe in the world. In fact it is far from it. The lack of heel counter is immediately noticeable on the XI from all modern shoes today. The oversized shoe laces are a pain to keep tied up. They serve more of a design cue purpose than lacing – which is more than frustrating for an Air Jordan basketball shoe. The ankle support is also very weak (despite the high rise, there is no inversion protection). While the carbon fiber shank plate provides stability, it also tends to crack with wear and time. On the cushioning side, only regular air sole unit is used, the Zoom Air technology was still a year away from debuting. Traction over time tends to slip and slide due to the nature of the material used on the clear soles.

      In a sense, the XI was never the true performance machine most have hyped it up to be. Yet it remains one of the most worn shoes on the courts. Perhaps with the XI, the player felt like he could jump higher and soar farther. Perhaps he could cut quicker and slash harder. Perhaps the shoe and the love of the game can inspire one to be greater than what is actually possible. The Air Jordan XI can not be confined by the normal boundaries of a shoe. Rather, the legacy of the XI will be forever be measured by its heart and soul.