Nike Reissue: McEnroe Challenge Court Mid (not Skate version) PICS

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by gavna

I bought a pair of those 3 weeks ago in Italy!!!!! Nike Vintage AC Tennis!!!! Exact same as the original ones from 1974 - 1982 with the Lt Blue swoosh and the retro box.

My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

[Herdsman76]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

For those of us of a certain age, this shoe brings back lots of memories. IMO it still looks superb from any angle. Wished they reissued the grey one too with the signature socks to match.
Did anyone here grab a pair of these when they were released a couple of months ago? How do they fit in terms of sizing? Tight? Long? Any tips helpful cheers.

I loved this shoe in the grey and black with the Checkerboard Nike logo on the tongue. (At least I believe it was just a different color of this shoe) The trainers were cool but this was my favorite Nike...

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by Herdsman76

I loved this shoe in the grey and black with the Checkerboard Nike logo on the tongue. (At least I believe it was just a different color of this shoe) The trainers were cool but this was my favorite Nike...

The shoe you speak of was called the "Mac Attack" and was released later on in his career. Those are very rare these days and haven't been re-released.

[MAXXply]

Borelli, do report back when the shoes arrive and give us your thoughts/mini-review.

Jeez now the Mac Attack was truly dope now that I've had another look on Google. I wonder why Nike's designers settled on grey as Mac's hero colour of the period? (not that it was a bad thing) I wonder if Tinker Hatfield ever had a hand in Nike Tennis prior to Agassi?

[Borrelli]

Nike has given a few subtle hints lately they the Mac Attack may see a retro. They recently released a shoe called the "Manor" if you google it, it looks like the same model as the Mac just without the mesh and checks. Hopefully they go all the way with it.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

I don't ever remember seeing an ad in any USA nor French tennis mags ever for Nike. You also have to remember Nike at the time was a small player and I'm sure didn't have much of an ad budget.......I worked part time at a tennis shop thru HS (mid to late 70s) in Queens, NY and Nike Wimbledon's were very popular and also sold in the big sporting shops like Herman's...etc. Still Puma and adidas were much much bigger.....

Just check out some old tennis clips from 1974 on and you will see tons of tour players toting the Wimbledons.......never saw anyone wear the Bruin shoe as it was BBall and came out after the Wimbledon anyway. That baby blue swoosh was a dead giveaway back then for the Wimbledon model.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

My old tennis mags from the 1970s show plenty of full page ads for adidas and Puma, but no Nike. I never knew they 'marketed' a 'dedicated' tennis shoe as early as then. I always assumed they slung Gerulaitis and McEnroe the light blue Swoosh'ed Bruin Lows as an afterthought. Would be interested to see any ads or promotional efforts for this shoe but I doubt any exists.

Just FYI the ORGINAL Wimbledon shoe was slated to be issued in 1972 but due to production issues had delay's......the first series of shoes were produced in Taiwan and Japan and had the swoosh in Lt Blue, Black or none at all just perforated. most of the USA stock from the 70s was made in Japan.

The Japanese models have a huge life now on the vintage market and folks pay top $$$ for early 70s 1st and 2nd generation Wimbledons. Crazy stuff.

[robbo1970]

I don't think the Nike footwear really got much publicity until McEnroe hit the big-time in about 1980. Prior to that there was the Hallait/Stan Smith but I don't recall late 70's/early 80's tennis wear gaining fashion status until the early 80's in the UK with the football casuals movement.

The basic story stems back to the Liverpool fans going to away matches in the late 70's/early 80's and seeing all these unknown brands like Fila, Tacchini and Diadora. Up until then, you either wore trainers for 'sport' or Adidas Gazelle or Samba. Nike Wimbledon's and Adidas SS were really only popular from about 1981/82. By then though, there were also a number of Adidas shoes coming through, like the Grand Slam, Nastase and Forest Hills, not to mention they also had a shoe called Wimbledon. Unheard of today....could you imagine seeing Adidas Vapour's!!

The Bruin and Adidas Superstar, both bball shoes were only popular from the Back to the Future movie and Run DMC.

But I too don't ever recall seeing ad's for Nike, it was just a case of seeing Mac wearing them and getting the same.

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

Nike has given a few subtle hints lately they the Mac Attack may see a retro. They recently released a shoe called the "Manor" if you google it, it looks like the same model as the Mac just without the mesh and checks. Hopefully they go all the way with it.

<SIGH> Why did you tell me that? Now I might cop those extra dope Hazelnut Brown Manors as well. They're easily found online

Originally Posted by gavna

Just FYI the ORGINAL Wimbledon shoe was slated to be issued in 1972 but due to production issues had delay's......the first series of shoes were produced in Taiwan and Japan and had the swoosh in Lt Blue, Black or none at all just perforated. most of the USA stock from the 70s was made in Japan. The Japanese models have a huge life now on the vintage market and folks pay top $$$ for early 70s 1st and 2nd generation Wimbledons. Crazy stuff.

I think you could be the Keubler of vintage tennis footwear 1968-1990 - I'd buy your book if you wrote one

Originally Posted by robbo1970

I don't think the Nike footwear really got much publicity until McEnroe hit the big-time in about 1980. Prior to that there was the Hallait/Stan Smith but I don't recall late 70's/early 80's tennis wear gaining fashion status until the early 80's in the UK with the football casuals movement.

The basic story stems back to the Liverpool fans going to away matches in the late 70's/early 80's and seeing all these unknown brands like Fila, Tacchini and Diadora. Up until then, you either wore trainers for 'sport' or Adidas Gazelle or Samba. Nike Wimbledon's and Adidas SS were really only popular from about 1981/82. By then though, there were also a number of Adidas shoes coming through, like the Grand Slam, Nastase and Forest Hills, not to mention they also had a shoe called Wimbledon. Unheard of today....could you imagine seeing Adidas Vapour's!! The Bruin and Adidas Superstar, both bball shoes were only popular from the Back to the Future movie and Run DMC. But I too don't ever recall seeing ad's for Nike, it was just a case of seeing Mac wearing them and getting the same.

You and I could be the inaugural members of TT's 'Casuals' Club