Yesterday, Ewing Athletics website went live. The website belongs to Knicks legend Patrick Ewing who created his own sneaker brand in 1989 after ending his contract with Adidas. Here is a rundown from the website of the history of Ewing Athletics:
“In 1989 Patrick began his own shoe company, Ewing Athletics. The first model he wore briefly for the 1989 season was the Rebound, but the first main release from the company was the 33 HI. This shoe would go on to become a huge seller, becoming a street staple in NYC, and eventually becoming a favorite in Europe and Asia as well. The 33 HI remained in production and a top seller for years, and was featured in many album covers and music videos of the era. Patrick wore the shoe during the 1990 season and enjoyed his best season as a pro, averaging 28.6 points a game, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks while shooting 55% from the field.
For the next few years, at the start of every season Patrick would debut the company’s latest game model. In 1991 he wore the Center, and introduced the Concept for the 1992 season. In the summer of 1992 he would wear a special version of the Eclipse in White/Red/Blue with a #6 on the back instead of his customary #33 to commemorate the 1992 Olympic Games which was the first US Mens Team to include professional players.
During this time, the company was rapidly expanding to include all types of footwear, not just the same models that Patrick wore in games. There were other models of team basketball shoes, cross trainers, running shoes and even hiking boots. The apparel line grew as well, from just T-shirts and tank tops to all types of clothing including leather jackets. Ewing Athletics even sponsored some European League basketball teams, making their uniforms for them. For 1993 Patrick wore the Focus which still remains one of the most sought after models. 1994 saw the Domain for the regular season and the Image for the long playoff run to the Finals, and Patrick wore the Image for the 1995 season as well. For 1996.”
I could not be more excited. Patrick Ewing is my favorite athlete of all-time and I will definitely be buying some Ewing Athletic gear when it becomes available. A lot of these sneakers are ugly as sin, but a few of them caught my eye. Especially the 1992 Ewing Eclipse High Dream Team edition.
I’m sure these shoes will sell for a lot more than the $50 they originally sold for but I’m not sure there is a high enough price to keep me from getting a pair. It’s nice that Patrick is getting some recognition lately. The return of his athletic brand seems highly anticipated by many in the sneaker community. 2012 also is the 20th anniversary of the Dream Team, the greatest collection of basketball players ever assembled, where he started at center for the Gold Medal winning group.
Ewing is also a serious candidate for the head coaching vacancy of the Charlotte Bobcats. Patrick interviewed for the job last week and is believed to be one of the front runners for the position. If the Bobcats were to land the top pick and Anthony Davis, Ewing would be the perfect coach to help mold Davis’ pro game.
Coming out of Georgetown Ewing was viewed as being much more raw than Davis is considered right now offensively. Almost immediately Ewing surprised many by showing flashes of what would become the greatest offensive player in Knicks history, namely displaying a 15 foot fall away jump shot that would become his trademark move.
Ewing could help Davis hone his game the same way he helped Yao Ming and Dwight Howard develop their offensive repertoire. It would be great to see the Big Fella roaming the sideline as a head coach after all the years he has put in as an assistant under the Van Gundy brothers. 2012 could end up being a very special year for #33.
