Why do people fight over Air Jordan shoes?

Nike Air Jordans have a long history of causing trouble on launch day. In 2011, fights broke out over the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords throughout the country, including a reported gunshot. The same year, police in Seattle used pepper spray to subdue a crowd of around 20 shoppers over-eager for the shoes. Here's a pair of the latest in question. read more

People goes crazy over gamma 11's shoes inside a store, where people were pummeled to the ground. For some Air Jordan shoppers, a new pair of kicks came with a few extra blows last weekend. read more

in 1985, Nike launched Air Jordans, a shoe that would forever change the level of play on the basketball court—and in equal measure create a frenzy among non-players around the world clamoring to soar street-side like Michael Jordan did on the boards. read more

Saturday, the new Air Jordans – the 11 Gamma Blues – dropped. And sure enough, before the doors opened-up, people were lining up to get a pair. “A new shoe was coming, so it was a big line. read more