The G.O.A.T
The Greatest Of Ali Tributes… at least in the fashion world.
“I am Muhammad Ali, a free name – Muhammad means ‘worthy of praise’ and Ali means ‘most high’- and I insist people use it when speaking to me and of me”. Worthy of praise, most high are only the tip of the iceberg when referring to Muhammad Ali. Some may think of the words respect, courage, dedication, giving, spirituality, conviction and if you have more adjectives to throw in the mix, chances are you still haven’t got it all covered. We are talking about a man who broke barriers, made sacrifices time after time after time for what he believed, and always said what was on his mind even if his PR agent told him not to. Truly one of a kind, something athletes today only dream about becoming. In my opinion Shaq is the closest personality to Ali today and he doesn’t come within miles of Ali’s greatness.
Is Adidas of the most high? Are they worthy of praise?
I wouldn’t go that far but they sure as hell came close. Adidas new line of Ali’s values track jackets and kicks set the racks at Macy’s on fire this July when the first of six jackets dropped.
Six of the world’s greatest artist were summoned and assigned one of Ali’s values. Leroy Nieman, a long time friend and personal artist of Ali had some words to share about the champ when I spoke to him. “It’s was easy to do this, I’ve known Ali since he was 21. He’s such a great guy. I remember every time he saw a woman with me he would say to her ‘aww come on, you could do better.’ It’s great to honor him like this”. Through his art, Nieman has explored contemporary leisure, all the pastimes and places people enjoy, and particularly the world of sports and the world of entertainment. Nieman has brought art into the lives of more people than most post-war American artists put together and now he gives us another addition to Ali’s legacy. Personally Leroy’s jacket is my favorite. It feels like something I should have on a wall. When I first viewed the line in May at the Adidas Fall ‘07 preview, I was immediately in love with the royal purple and the brush stroke piping. It’s like that jacket was made from 1/4 fly-ness, 1/2greatness and 1/4 longevity. I see this as the one of the hotter items that came out this year; it’s not very trendy so you can wear it years from now.
The second jacket has a completely different feel, designed by Cey Adams, if you are not familiar with the name allow me to expound.
Run DMC, in collaboration with Adidas in ‘86… Cey Adams. Every album design, tour backdrop, artist logo, and flyer from ‘86-’99 released by Def Jam… Cey Adams. Dude’s got history! Eric B, Rakim, LL cool J, Run DMC anybody of that era who was doing their thing, he was on it. After all that history he still is humble enough to say “Man I was real excited to do this. This generation knows of Ali but they don’t know Ali and what he meant to people. So for me, I’m just a regular guy, to honor him I was very excited.” The founder of the Drawing Board (Def Jam’s former in-house design firm) took the graphic art approach in his display of courage. The sea foam green is a great look but more important the message that the jacket expresses. Among other things Ali was known for his untameable mouth and his stance on social and political issues, standing up for what he believed in, and not what he thought was good publicity. Adams captures that in the display of a flyer for the fight of the decade “Ali VS. Courage”.
There are four more on the way I enjoy them all and think that this is best Ali Line done so far. Lord knows many have tried and come up short but I think Adidas has finally figured out the formula for the idolization of Ali.
See the matching Kicks exclusively in our new KICKS issue with MJ on the cover.
36 Responses to “The G.O.A.T”
Aug.23 at 1:21 pm
Melissa Brennan says:
Nice photography by Monique.
Aug.23 at 1:59 pm
Sammy says:
Definitly better than those Fubu Ali brands!
Aug.23 at 2:13 pm
Konate says:
fuWho?
those guys came and went like nothing!
Aug.23 at 2:34 pm
Lew b. Money says:
taking cheap shots at fubu? ALI never took cheap shots…
Aug.23 at 2:37 pm
Lew b. Money says:
at least not in the ring.
Aug.23 at 3:17 pm
mutoni says:
nice. but even more importantly, where can i pick the application to become a ‘SLAM male fashion model’?
Aug.23 at 3:21 pm
slamrules!!!! says:
kobe turned 29 today u should do an article on how back in the day he was just a young cat trying to prove himself
Aug.23 at 3:29 pm
Konate says:
Mutoni, all positions are filled sorry!
Aug.23 at 3:33 pm
Konate says:
lew b.money, that was a cheap shot and that was not Ali like at all.
Aug.23 at 3:41 pm
mutoni says:
guess that’s what happens when i don’t attend those hr workshops.
Aug.23 at 3:48 pm
Remy says:
where can i find a link to view all the new stuff??
Aug.23 at 4:06 pm
Konate says:
Mutoni, whats up man? it’s a slow day!
Aug.23 at 4:07 pm
Konate says:
Remy,
you can go on www.Adidas.com
Aug.23 at 4:10 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
The jackets are proper but I think designing kicks to match each jacket overdoes it… Cats with no style will just get the jacket and matching kicks and make it look corny, kinda like those Jordan 22’s with the pic of Mike on the side. I’m really, really diggin’ that green one though… I hope I can find these in Toronto
Aug.23 at 4:13 pm
Konate says:
hoop Dreamz, i agree man the purple kicks ar kinda fresh to rock but the other’s i would put up on a mantel or keep em on ice for collection purposes
Aug.23 at 4:16 pm
H to the izzo says:
Ali was a very good boxer
Aug.23 at 4:56 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
anyone know how crushed the world was when ali lost to frazier in 71? “superfight” is still the most viewed sporting event in history. people acted like their mothers got shot after ali lost. if joe frazier would have won the thrilla in manilla, ali would not be idolized like he his and frazier would be recognized as the greatest boxer ever. at the end of the 14th round frazier’s(who was legally blind in one eye) other eye was swollen shut. ali was about to quit when the ref announced that joe’s corner made him quit. ali said that was the closest he ever felt to death
Aug.23 at 4:58 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
it makes me sick that philly has a statue of rocky and not joe frazier
Aug.23 at 4:58 pm
jbn74sb says:
Shaq’s personality is closer to Ali’s current state than to that of Ali pre-Parkinson’s .
Aug.23 at 5:47 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
r-e-a-d-a-b-o-OKAAAAAAAAAAY!
Aug.23 at 6:26 pm
Rob Paxon says:
not a sports page, not a magazine
Aug.23 at 6:28 pm
Remy says:
where on the adidas site is it?? I’m feelin a lil slow right now haha
Aug.23 at 7:39 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
your body needs water so drink that $hit!!!
Aug.23 at 8:35 pm
Tariq says:
Ali is forever the man. Compare and contrast:
Ali was friends with Malcolm X. LeBron is friends with Jay-Z. Sigh. At this rate of backwards evolution, in 2045 the top basketball player of his era will be friends with Karl Rove’s offspring.
Aug.23 at 8:36 pm
BETCATS says:
those is hot!!! Damn that is a must cop, but i wont need to rock a jacket down here til winter.
Aug.23 at 9:02 pm
ktokyo says:
nice one Tariq… or Paris Hilton.
Aug.23 at 9:04 pm
BETCATS says:
crank dat soulja boy everyone!!!
Aug.23 at 9:36 pm
BETCATS says:
Chocalate Rain!!!!
Aug.23 at 9:36 pm
BETCATS says:
youtube is a wonderful place
Aug.24 at 12:08 am
Mo Daddy says:
no athlete in the world can hold Ali’s jockstrap. even now.
Aug.24 at 3:21 am
Konate says:
Tarzan, Great argument but i think Ali still would be the greatest because of his personality and his outspoken-ness not to mention his ability to box whether he lost to joe
Aug.24 at 3:23 am
Konate says:
Rob Paxon, what is your point?
Tariq, LMAO i could say it better myself. in fact i wish i did say myself
Aug.24 at 3:23 am
Konate says:
couldn’t*
Aug.24 at 2:31 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
konate, i dont know, you cant really say, but i know things would be different. the ali worship would be similar but not quite as universal
Aug.24 at 2:41 pm
Tariq says:
Konate Primus: thank you, kind sir. Incidentally, allow me to commend you on your exquisite, Autobot-like name.
Aug.24 at 2:41 pm
Tariq says:
ktokyo: I don’t get the Paris Hilton reference. Please elaborate.