I'm fortunate to have friends and associates like Phillip Barnett and Howard Bryant who really care about tennis, because outside of lusting over Serena Williams watching Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, there isn't much that draws me to the country club's favorite lawn game. With Wimbledon now in full swing, Barnett and Bryant have filled my timeline with tweets about insane shots and crazy narratives, while I on occasion flip the channel to keep up with the latest. Then I saw a sneaker tweet referring to "Wimbledon," and I was all in.
Nike's decision to leverage its popular Nike Court Air Trainer 1 Mid with various tennis themes has been a huge hit for me. During the French Open, Swoosh laid out a gorgeous "Beauty in Brick" collection in brick red and earthy tones; too bad I was broke at the time and had to let them pass.
Now, the Air Trainer gets the "Wimbledon" treatment with a plush green and gray that reflects the grass and trimmings that accent London's biggest tennis event. Per Nike:
Tennis’ summer of slams is on the move from the clay of Paris to the grass of London. NikeLab and fragment design are celebrating this changeover with a second collection of championship-inspired footwear. Available in two colorways, the NikeCourt Air Trainer 1 Mid x fragment honors the pristine lawn courts of England with a striking green and white palette.
I haven't decided if I have the nerve to score an all-green shoe, and since this will be a very limited release the chances of me actually coping will be slim to none. However, a big tip of the cap to the design of these sneakers, as the Air Trainer collection is one of my favorites to wear on a daily basis. #GoGreen
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”
