2011年12月22日星期四
Nike Air Max 1 – White – Gorge Green – Light Green
Once the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2012, except a nice refresher of Nike Sportswear Air Max releases for the opening season of the year. Sneaker News has already kept you on pace with a ton of upcoming January 2012 Air Max 1 and Air Max 90 releases, but let’s throw this new White/Gorge Green colorway into the mix; it features white sport mesh on the tongue with a Gorge Green mudguard and a light green upper for a nice University of Oregon themed colorway. Currently available at Euro retailer Chmielna 20, these Air Max 1s will likely spread out to other Euro shops soon.
2011年12月21日星期三
Nike Air Max 2012 – White x Pink x Blue
After getting our first look at the upcoming Nike Air Max 2012 just a few weeks ago, we now get to feast our eyes upon another new colorway. This time around, Nike went for a sort of 3-D effect utilizing white, pink, and blue.
The low top runner is based in white with both pink and blue layers covering he base. Black accents are used on the inner liner, Nike Swoosh, and midsole lining. The shoe is finished off with an ultra comfy blue 360 degree Air Max unit. Check out the photos after the jump.
The low top runner is based in white with both pink and blue layers covering he base. Black accents are used on the inner liner, Nike Swoosh, and midsole lining. The shoe is finished off with an ultra comfy blue 360 degree Air Max unit. Check out the photos after the jump.
2011年12月20日星期二
Nike Air Max Diamond Turf – Black/Varsity Red-White
The old signature shoes of recently inducted NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders continue to drop in new colorways, including this fresh Nike Air Max Diamond Turf currently available at Eastbay. Possibly inspired by Deion's time as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers or Cincinnati Reds, the retro Nike training shoes feature a predominantly black nubuck and synthetic upper, accented by Varsity Red on the cross-strap Swoosh logo and inner lining. White and black handle the midsole, while a solid black rubber outsole caps off the look below.
Pick up the newest colorway of this 90s classic at Eastbay today.
Pick up the newest colorway of this 90s classic at Eastbay today.
2011年12月19日星期一
How I Became King Of The Swapsies
April was when it all began.
The cold spell broke and moods began to brighten as the school defrosted in the fresh spring sunshine. On the first Sunday of that month the red topped newspapers gave away Panini Italia 90 sticker albums with a starter pack of stickers and newsagents erected cardboard Panini display stands on their shop counters. And so it was that football stickers entered my life.
STICK WITH PANINI was their slogan when the brothers Panini began selling collectable football stickers in the early Sixties. Before long Umberto and Giuseppe had a lucrative business and were lightening parental pockets beyond their native Italy and across half of Europe. The business model is evil genius in its simplicity. Give away the shiny sticker album then punt out the stickers needed to fill it in sealed packets, masking the identity of the five players within. Each sticker numbered so as to be stuck into the corresponding gap in the album. In 2009 they sold over a billion packs of stickers across one hundred countries, and it wasn't even a World Cup year.
The Panini craze was in full swing within two days and any third year boy who didn't have an album on Monday made damned sure they were in the game by Tuesday, tooled up and ready to trade.
Twenty four teams competed in Italia 90 and most got a double page spread, seventeen players per nation, plus squad shot and team badge. The team badges were set against a reflective silver foil background and called foileys. Foileys were highly prized. Most countries got a two page spread, but the minor teams had to suffer the indignation of being crammed onto a single page. In these cases, stickers were laid horizontally as each hosted two players. These minnows were Cameroon, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, S. Korea and Egypt. Shame really.
There was also an opening section which included a stadia guide and a series of poses by Ciao, the worst mascot in World Cup history, a block man with a football for a head. Poor show by comparison to Pique the wide smiled, giant moustache and sombrero sporting Mexican from four years previous.
These totaled another thirty seven blank spaces. A total of four hundred and forty eight sticker-less holes to fill. The math′s is complex, but at twenty pence per packet of six stickers and accounting for the ever decreasing percentage strike rate, I calculated that to complete that album was going to cost me a shed load of money.
As any user of substance regular or otherwise will tell you, as a habit grows you must learn how to feed it above and beyond your own meager means. At first, one only buys occasionally, just for fun. Then one finds oneself indulging all the time, spending all available cash and still requiring further supplies. So what to do then? One must borrow, one must steal, or one must trade.
Swapsies were my first, and to date, most successful stab at dealing. Certain stickers had a higher frequency of occurrence than others. You could hardly give away a David Beasant (England) he was that common. And even though Yong Hwan Chung><Jong Soo Chung (South Korea) popped up in almost every other pack, the Chungs were worth at least three Daves.
The cold spell broke and moods began to brighten as the school defrosted in the fresh spring sunshine. On the first Sunday of that month the red topped newspapers gave away Panini Italia 90 sticker albums with a starter pack of stickers and newsagents erected cardboard Panini display stands on their shop counters. And so it was that football stickers entered my life.
STICK WITH PANINI was their slogan when the brothers Panini began selling collectable football stickers in the early Sixties. Before long Umberto and Giuseppe had a lucrative business and were lightening parental pockets beyond their native Italy and across half of Europe. The business model is evil genius in its simplicity. Give away the shiny sticker album then punt out the stickers needed to fill it in sealed packets, masking the identity of the five players within. Each sticker numbered so as to be stuck into the corresponding gap in the album. In 2009 they sold over a billion packs of stickers across one hundred countries, and it wasn't even a World Cup year.
The Panini craze was in full swing within two days and any third year boy who didn't have an album on Monday made damned sure they were in the game by Tuesday, tooled up and ready to trade.
Twenty four teams competed in Italia 90 and most got a double page spread, seventeen players per nation, plus squad shot and team badge. The team badges were set against a reflective silver foil background and called foileys. Foileys were highly prized. Most countries got a two page spread, but the minor teams had to suffer the indignation of being crammed onto a single page. In these cases, stickers were laid horizontally as each hosted two players. These minnows were Cameroon, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, S. Korea and Egypt. Shame really.
There was also an opening section which included a stadia guide and a series of poses by Ciao, the worst mascot in World Cup history, a block man with a football for a head. Poor show by comparison to Pique the wide smiled, giant moustache and sombrero sporting Mexican from four years previous.
These totaled another thirty seven blank spaces. A total of four hundred and forty eight sticker-less holes to fill. The math′s is complex, but at twenty pence per packet of six stickers and accounting for the ever decreasing percentage strike rate, I calculated that to complete that album was going to cost me a shed load of money.
As any user of substance regular or otherwise will tell you, as a habit grows you must learn how to feed it above and beyond your own meager means. At first, one only buys occasionally, just for fun. Then one finds oneself indulging all the time, spending all available cash and still requiring further supplies. So what to do then? One must borrow, one must steal, or one must trade.
Swapsies were my first, and to date, most successful stab at dealing. Certain stickers had a higher frequency of occurrence than others. You could hardly give away a David Beasant (England) he was that common. And even though Yong Hwan Chung><Jong Soo Chung (South Korea) popped up in almost every other pack, the Chungs were worth at least three Daves.
2011年12月18日星期日
Nike Air Max 90 – White/Obsidian Grey
Colorblocking at its finest. The Nike Air Max 90 is set to drop in a familiar colorway with the name that doesn't really give a complete description of the colors. The white/obsidian grey AM90′s feature the traditional materials but also havestrong hits of volt that really make the shoe stand out. Strange that it's left out of the color code but nonetheless, an overall good sneaker. These are available in stores now.
2011年12月15日星期四
MAX100 x Afew x Nike Air Max 1 - "1-of-1" Pack
Funded via Kickstarter earlier this year, the MAX100 book is a reality, and author Matt Stevens continues to celebrate his big achievement. The Air Max 1 fanatic recently linked up European retailer Afew to create a special "1-of-1" pack, which consists of a NIKEiD make-up of his all-time favorite sneaker, a limited edition t-shirt and custom packaging.
The shoe features a unique MAX100 tongue, as well as custom insoles adorned with artwork from the actual book. That same art can be found along the interior of the shoe box and a graphic on the front of the t-shirt, which is available to a limited run of 50 now at Afew. Read on for a close look at the complete package.
The shoe features a unique MAX100 tongue, as well as custom insoles adorned with artwork from the actual book. That same art can be found along the interior of the shoe box and a graphic on the front of the t-shirt, which is available to a limited run of 50 now at Afew. Read on for a close look at the complete package.
2011年12月14日星期三
Nike Air Max 2012 Neon/Red colorway will stop traffic
The Nike Air Max series is one of the most popular lines in Nike's training/running brand and come in an almost limitless amount of colorways. Most are clean and often paired with grey or black for a classy look, but there are those times when Nike's designers go nuts. And for our first look at the Air Max 2012, we get one of the most obscenely colored kicks I have seen in a long time. If you need people to know that you like to run, this is perfet for that morning or evening jog and freaking out everybody in sight.
Much like every other shoe in the Nike family coming 2012, the Air Max 2012 will feature a Hyperfuse base for very light and easy ride. And of course, the Air Max unit is there and is a subdued red. Then again, anything is subdued in comparison to what is happening up top.
No release date has been given for this specific colorway, but we definitely be featuring more variants as 2012 progresses.
Much like every other shoe in the Nike family coming 2012, the Air Max 2012 will feature a Hyperfuse base for very light and easy ride. And of course, the Air Max unit is there and is a subdued red. Then again, anything is subdued in comparison to what is happening up top.
No release date has been given for this specific colorway, but we definitely be featuring more variants as 2012 progresses.
2011年12月13日星期二
Nike Air Max 90 VT – Midnight Fog
A new colorway of the Nike Air Max 90 Vac Tech has arrived. The Midnight Fog colorway consists of a wool-like material on the upper with a partial speckled midsole with matching laces. The contrast of the laces and midsole really make the sneaker pop from the wool-like upper. These are available in stores now.
2011年12月11日星期日
Kicks: Nike Air Max 90 “Red Canvas”
Nike's Air Max 90 Red canvas features a bright upper with white on the swoosh, laceplate and midsole for the ultimate contrast. This is a great Christmas style for the holidays. Check out more pics after the jump…
2011年12月8日星期四
Nike Air Max 90 | January 2012 Preview
Dressing the Air Max 90 in suede, leather and mesh, Nike Sportswear has three colorways of the kicks coming in January. The color choices feature foundations set in grey, black and white with accent options including orange, volt and blue. Look for the three to land at shops in January that include End.
2011年12月7日星期三
Nike Vac Tech “Anthracite” Lineup
The release of Nike's latest seamless Vac Tech technology gave a blend of the past and future to Nike models. The latest Nike VT lineup will be in a “Anthracite” colorway. The lineup will include iconic models of the Air Force 1 Hi, Nike Dunk High, and the Air Max 90.
This Nike VT lineup will consist of a premium Anthracite-colored suede upper, and the Max Orange accents from the outsole adds the needed contrast. In addition to the premium suede, all three models will also have an all-leather sock liner. Look for the Nike Vac Tech “Anthracite” lineup to release this month at select Nike Sportswear retailers.
This Nike VT lineup will consist of a premium Anthracite-colored suede upper, and the Max Orange accents from the outsole adds the needed contrast. In addition to the premium suede, all three models will also have an all-leather sock liner. Look for the Nike Vac Tech “Anthracite” lineup to release this month at select Nike Sportswear retailers.
2011年12月6日星期二
American Airlines charts a course through bankruptcy
Last week's Chapter 11 filing by American Airlines (AA) and American Eagle (AE) parent AMR marks the end of the post-deregulation period as well as possibly signalling the beginning of the end of US legacy consolidation as many believe the shedding of American's baggage will position it for the US industry's final merger with the only other independent legacy, US Airways (LCC).
Across the board the feeling is this is the best thing for both AMR and the US industry because it means more capacity cuts. Delta and United are expected to be the principal beneficiaries. JP Morgan expects a 10% capacity cut from American, which translates to a USD1.4 billion, or 1-3% revenue jump for United, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue in 2012. US Airways was already slated to benefit from the capacity cuts of competitors this quarter.
Even so, many are wondering whether this comes a little too late for the company to ultimately regain its former position as the US' top airline. Reading between the lines of churlish analyst comments during earning calls, one could make the case they were contemplating what liquidation would do for the rest of the industry.
Boyd Group International CEO, Mike Boyd, rejects the notion that American is not strong enough to emerge from bankruptcy largely because shedding its pension obligations, coupled with debt reduction, made it profitable even with the gas-guzzling jets. Mr Boyd cited liquidity and stated bankruptcy will make it much more cost effective and globally competitive.
He notes United and Delta have more debt than American, although several analysts disagree, placing American's debt at close to USD30 billion.
Bankruptcy is sad for many reasons but in American's case it is sadder still since one can only speculate as to where it would be now had it chosen this course in the post-9/11 period much like its peers. While it tried to cut costs, its competitors put their bankruptcies behind them, merged and created powerful networks that have become a huge competitive mountain American has to climb.
Stubbornly insisting on gaining USD1.6 billion in labour concessions in 2003 to avoid bankruptcy, paying out huge management bonuses a few years later which lost all the bon homie of the 2003 deal, and trying to power through the USD800 million cost disadvantage only postponed the inevitable, proves the old adage that 'nice guys finish last'.
Its cornerstone strategy has proved a failure and its deal with JetBlue is underperforming. In addition, its trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific joint businesses (JBs) are also underperforming.
Across the board the feeling is this is the best thing for both AMR and the US industry because it means more capacity cuts. Delta and United are expected to be the principal beneficiaries. JP Morgan expects a 10% capacity cut from American, which translates to a USD1.4 billion, or 1-3% revenue jump for United, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue in 2012. US Airways was already slated to benefit from the capacity cuts of competitors this quarter.
Even so, many are wondering whether this comes a little too late for the company to ultimately regain its former position as the US' top airline. Reading between the lines of churlish analyst comments during earning calls, one could make the case they were contemplating what liquidation would do for the rest of the industry.
Boyd Group International CEO, Mike Boyd, rejects the notion that American is not strong enough to emerge from bankruptcy largely because shedding its pension obligations, coupled with debt reduction, made it profitable even with the gas-guzzling jets. Mr Boyd cited liquidity and stated bankruptcy will make it much more cost effective and globally competitive.
He notes United and Delta have more debt than American, although several analysts disagree, placing American's debt at close to USD30 billion.
Bankruptcy is sad for many reasons but in American's case it is sadder still since one can only speculate as to where it would be now had it chosen this course in the post-9/11 period much like its peers. While it tried to cut costs, its competitors put their bankruptcies behind them, merged and created powerful networks that have become a huge competitive mountain American has to climb.
Stubbornly insisting on gaining USD1.6 billion in labour concessions in 2003 to avoid bankruptcy, paying out huge management bonuses a few years later which lost all the bon homie of the 2003 deal, and trying to power through the USD800 million cost disadvantage only postponed the inevitable, proves the old adage that 'nice guys finish last'.
Its cornerstone strategy has proved a failure and its deal with JetBlue is underperforming. In addition, its trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific joint businesses (JBs) are also underperforming.
2011年12月5日星期一
Give Thanks For This New Nike Air Max 95 Black/Blue Crystal Colorway Today
Today is Thanksgiving. It's a day that gives you the opportunity to give thanks for everything that you have. Friends? Family? Food? Shelter? Clothing? Good company? Yup, you've got all of that covered. But, what about the new Nike Air Max 95 Black/Blue Crystal sneakers? Are you planning to give thanks for them, too?
If not, you definitely should. For starters, there's nothing particularly new about the Air Max 95 design in 2011. So Nike very easily could have left well enough alone and left the Air Max 95s in the colorways that already exist. We'd be just fine with that. But they've stepped outside of their comfort zone here by releasing a solid black-on-black colorway with hints of blue crystal mixed in that make these a must-have for any Air Max 95 head. Secondly, they're created using suede and mesh to make the black really pop. The blue crystal does, too, thanks to its' minimal placement on the sneaker. And, lastly, these are already starting to show up out there at different Nike retailers. That means they shouldn't be too exclusive. If you know where to look, we're confident you can nab a pair.
So, what are you waiting for? Pass the mashed potatoes. Grab a turkey leg. Cut yourself a piece of cornbread. And then bow your head for a few seconds and thank the sneaker gods for giving the world another Air Max 95 colorway to run around in. We promise we'll be doing the same.
If not, you definitely should. For starters, there's nothing particularly new about the Air Max 95 design in 2011. So Nike very easily could have left well enough alone and left the Air Max 95s in the colorways that already exist. We'd be just fine with that. But they've stepped outside of their comfort zone here by releasing a solid black-on-black colorway with hints of blue crystal mixed in that make these a must-have for any Air Max 95 head. Secondly, they're created using suede and mesh to make the black really pop. The blue crystal does, too, thanks to its' minimal placement on the sneaker. And, lastly, these are already starting to show up out there at different Nike retailers. That means they shouldn't be too exclusive. If you know where to look, we're confident you can nab a pair.
So, what are you waiting for? Pass the mashed potatoes. Grab a turkey leg. Cut yourself a piece of cornbread. And then bow your head for a few seconds and thank the sneaker gods for giving the world another Air Max 95 colorway to run around in. We promise we'll be doing the same.
2011年12月4日星期日
'At least I don't own a house that I don't own'
Jarlath Regan - Comedian/Alternative Christmas card creator
Are you a saver or a spender?
I have tried to convince myself this year to be a saver. But in my heart I know what I really am – the worst kind of impulse-buying /fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants /got-to-have-it/ think-about-the-consequences-later spender known to man.
Do you shop around for better value?
No. It feels like money passes through my hands like sand. Any time I go somewhere to get a bargain, like a $5 table in IKEA I wind up stuffing the trolley full of a load of other junk and get stung at the counter for a hundred. I'm starting to hate shops because they know me too well. They know how to push my buttons.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?
I couldn't describe what I buy as extravagant. Most of the junk I buy is under $100. That said, I am cursed with the need to collect sneakers I couldn't afford as a teenager – Nike Air Jordans. I have bought two of the same pairs in the hope I could sell one in 20 years as a collector's item and put my son through college. I know this will never happen.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Last year I sold my old Ford Mondeo, and through a combination of sheer luck and good timing I wound up buying the car of my dreams for $5,000. I still shake my head when I sit on its heated seats on a chilly morning.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?
Only to get fireworks for my inner child and Calgel teething solution for my actual child.
Do you haggle over prices?
I do but it gets you nowhere in this country. For all my attempts the only place where I received a positive reaction is the Park Hotel, Kenmare. My wife and I needed a break away a year ago and only had a certain amount to spend. When I haggled with the manager on the phone he was incredibly decent and threw in some extras. It made what would have been a lovely stay absolutely superb.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
That's like asking an Eskimo if the weather has affected the way he lives. I've had to change just like everyone else. Now we have our baby I've had to accept a lot of my income will be spent on milk that may well be vomited in my face. Which could be a metaphor for the property market on some level.
Do you invest in shares?
Nope. When everyone was telling me to invest in a home I kept telling them that until I had a enough cash to walk in and buy a place outright then I wouldn't be taking the plunge. At least I don't own a house that I dont own.
Cash or card?
Always cash. Am I the only one who gets a sickly weird anxiety when using a Laser card and they ask you: “Do you want cash back?”
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
I just spent $146 on groceries and it felt like shite value, but what can you do?
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
I'm still in the process of accumulating the bin-liner of cash to buy my house outright. The way things are going I might only need a canvas bag full of fivers.
Have you ever lost money?
Every year I went to the Edinburgh Festival up until 2010. I lost $5,000-$8,000 on the whole project. Not through bad ticket sales. It just cost a fortune.
Are you a gambler, and if so have you ever had a big win?
I come from a family that went horse racing every Saturday. In 1992 I won more than ￡150 on a collection of bets on Derby Day at the Curragh. It's not the most I've ever won but when you're 11 and that happens on the first day of your summer holidays, you consider dropping out of school to live the high life.
Is money important to you?
Up until I had my son Mikey it felt like it was the most important thing. Not now.
How much money do you have on you now?
$3.54.
Are you a saver or a spender?
I have tried to convince myself this year to be a saver. But in my heart I know what I really am – the worst kind of impulse-buying /fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants /got-to-have-it/ think-about-the-consequences-later spender known to man.
Do you shop around for better value?
No. It feels like money passes through my hands like sand. Any time I go somewhere to get a bargain, like a $5 table in IKEA I wind up stuffing the trolley full of a load of other junk and get stung at the counter for a hundred. I'm starting to hate shops because they know me too well. They know how to push my buttons.
What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how much did it cost?
I couldn't describe what I buy as extravagant. Most of the junk I buy is under $100. That said, I am cursed with the need to collect sneakers I couldn't afford as a teenager – Nike Air Jordans. I have bought two of the same pairs in the hope I could sell one in 20 years as a collector's item and put my son through college. I know this will never happen.
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
Last year I sold my old Ford Mondeo, and through a combination of sheer luck and good timing I wound up buying the car of my dreams for $5,000. I still shake my head when I sit on its heated seats on a chilly morning.
Have you ever crossed the Border to shop?
Only to get fireworks for my inner child and Calgel teething solution for my actual child.
Do you haggle over prices?
I do but it gets you nowhere in this country. For all my attempts the only place where I received a positive reaction is the Park Hotel, Kenmare. My wife and I needed a break away a year ago and only had a certain amount to spend. When I haggled with the manager on the phone he was incredibly decent and threw in some extras. It made what would have been a lovely stay absolutely superb.
Has the recession changed your spending habits?
That's like asking an Eskimo if the weather has affected the way he lives. I've had to change just like everyone else. Now we have our baby I've had to accept a lot of my income will be spent on milk that may well be vomited in my face. Which could be a metaphor for the property market on some level.
Do you invest in shares?
Nope. When everyone was telling me to invest in a home I kept telling them that until I had a enough cash to walk in and buy a place outright then I wouldn't be taking the plunge. At least I don't own a house that I dont own.
Cash or card?
Always cash. Am I the only one who gets a sickly weird anxiety when using a Laser card and they ask you: “Do you want cash back?”
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
I just spent $146 on groceries and it felt like shite value, but what can you do?
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
I'm still in the process of accumulating the bin-liner of cash to buy my house outright. The way things are going I might only need a canvas bag full of fivers.
Have you ever lost money?
Every year I went to the Edinburgh Festival up until 2010. I lost $5,000-$8,000 on the whole project. Not through bad ticket sales. It just cost a fortune.
Are you a gambler, and if so have you ever had a big win?
I come from a family that went horse racing every Saturday. In 1992 I won more than ￡150 on a collection of bets on Derby Day at the Curragh. It's not the most I've ever won but when you're 11 and that happens on the first day of your summer holidays, you consider dropping out of school to live the high life.
Is money important to you?
Up until I had my son Mikey it felt like it was the most important thing. Not now.
How much money do you have on you now?
$3.54.
2011年12月1日星期四
Devin Hester is truly something special
Devin Hester tried to explain it, he really did.
This was five years ago, a week after the Chicago Bears rookie had tied an 87-year-old NFL record with an exhilarating 108-yard return of a missed field goal for a touchdown against the Giants.
He shrugged in his seat. He squirmed a little.
"That's just my mentality," Hester said finally. "Whenever I get my hands on the ball … I think big."
Like so many artists, Hester has difficulty articulating just what it is that makes him so great. Like Picasso, Jordan and Baryshnikov, he prefers to express himself through his work. If you have a few minutes to kill, fire up some of his scintillating runs on YouTube -- seriously, these are not diminishing returns.
Hester returned six kicks for touchdowns in 2006 -- three punts, two kickoffs and that missed field goal -- an NFL record. And then he tied it with six more in 2007. He came into the league as a 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback from the University of Miami, but today the Bears regularly deploy him as a wide receiver. He's still returning kicks, though, and in 2011 he's already brought back three.
The word "special" has become a devalued currency in sports, but Hester is worthy of the title. He is probably the most special special-teams player in the history of the National Football League.
The mounting numbers are indisputable:
. Only Hester's mentor, the ethereal Deion Sanders, has more returns for touchdowns -- one more, at 19 -- but nine of them came via interception returns, an opportunity Hester no longer has. Hester actually has 19, but the NFL's accounting system doesn't recognize the breathtaking 92-yard kickoff return against the Colts that opened Super Bowl XLI; Sanders does not have a postseason return.
. Hester is already the league's all-time official leader in kick returns, with 17 -- 12 on punts and five on kickoffs. Brian Mitchell is a distant second with 13.
. The sobering thing? Hester, 29, has achieved all of this in 87 games. Mitchell and Sanders played 223 games and 188 games, respectively.
This was five years ago, a week after the Chicago Bears rookie had tied an 87-year-old NFL record with an exhilarating 108-yard return of a missed field goal for a touchdown against the Giants.
He shrugged in his seat. He squirmed a little.
"That's just my mentality," Hester said finally. "Whenever I get my hands on the ball … I think big."
Like so many artists, Hester has difficulty articulating just what it is that makes him so great. Like Picasso, Jordan and Baryshnikov, he prefers to express himself through his work. If you have a few minutes to kill, fire up some of his scintillating runs on YouTube -- seriously, these are not diminishing returns.
Hester returned six kicks for touchdowns in 2006 -- three punts, two kickoffs and that missed field goal -- an NFL record. And then he tied it with six more in 2007. He came into the league as a 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback from the University of Miami, but today the Bears regularly deploy him as a wide receiver. He's still returning kicks, though, and in 2011 he's already brought back three.
The word "special" has become a devalued currency in sports, but Hester is worthy of the title. He is probably the most special special-teams player in the history of the National Football League.
The mounting numbers are indisputable:
. Only Hester's mentor, the ethereal Deion Sanders, has more returns for touchdowns -- one more, at 19 -- but nine of them came via interception returns, an opportunity Hester no longer has. Hester actually has 19, but the NFL's accounting system doesn't recognize the breathtaking 92-yard kickoff return against the Colts that opened Super Bowl XLI; Sanders does not have a postseason return.
. Hester is already the league's all-time official leader in kick returns, with 17 -- 12 on punts and five on kickoffs. Brian Mitchell is a distant second with 13.
. The sobering thing? Hester, 29, has achieved all of this in 87 games. Mitchell and Sanders played 223 games and 188 games, respectively.
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