Throwback Thursday - Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang”
 Some of you may know them as the “pumps” or possibly their full name “court victory pumps” but to tennis fans from almost a generation ago, these were frequently referred to as the “Michael Chang’s”.
Just recently tennis fans got to see an incredible final at Wimbledon where Rafael Nadal edged Roger Federer for his first Championship on London grass in a match that lasted nearly 5 hours. While wearing the Pumps 16 years back, Michael Chang edged Stefan Edberg in what was the record setting longest match in the US Open at a gruling 5 hours and 26 minutes. To make the story only perfect, Edberg was the person Chang defeated when he won his first Grand Slam at the French Open at the age of only 17 in 1989. His victory in the French Open was also the first title won by an American since 1955. Today few remember the great tennis start who wore these kicks while sitting in the top shelf of tennis pros, but its style is the epitome of timeless. The Court Victory Pump sat in archives for more than a decade before returning earlier this decade in 2003. There have been a number of great Court Victory Pumps have Reebok has brought out this decade, but it would be hard to top the Alife x Reebok “Ball Outs.” Just think, how different things would be for Reebok had this shoe never made it out? What if Michael Chang never wore this shoe while at the top of his career? We can speculate forever about all different scenarios or just appreciate for how everything has penned out in history. |
Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang”
Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang”
Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang”
Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang”
Reebok Court Victory Pump “Michael Chang” vs. Alife x Reebok “Ball Out”
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ha 1st liking these wish these came out again =/
Comment by gotsole? — July 18, 2008 @ 12:26 am
neon yellows are dope.
Comment by jase — July 18, 2008 @ 1:30 am
i wonder why when i go to the mall and sneaker shops i dont ever see any reebbok’s like these or the omni pumps but back to the ones at hand they fresh for their age but look like they were out in the VA country where i live for a week and a half
Try using some dryer sheets to clean the sole of the shoe jsut dip the sheet in hot water and scrub away
Comment by yung albino — July 18, 2008 @ 5:50 am
Huh, it’s funny that there’s so little comments here. I’ve been a way for the week and was looking forward to checking out this post, but I wonder what can be said for the fact that people don’t have a great deal to say here.
For me the Court Victory is the definitive Reebok kick. The Omnis are of course classic as well, but I like the more aggressive silhouette of the Court Victory and the shorter toebox. They look poised and ready for action. I picked up the Elements pack drop and love them, but you can’t beat this OG colourway. I’d love to see Reebok produce more of both of these Pumps in simpler colourways with less outlandish materials: the patent and other stuff used on recent retroes suck ass…
Comment by Dan Love — July 18, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Dan,
I am with you about the patent on the Pumps. There is only 1 pair that I like with patent, but that is it. The elements are a sleeper pair for sure. There are going to be alot of people who are going to regret that they didnt grab that one.
I luckily just found this OG colorway today DS today in the retro makeup so at least I can wear them
Comment by Nice Kicks — July 18, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Matt You’re an educator when it comes to the kick game.
Reebok for years was my favorite manufactorer. I rocked so many hot reeboks in high school it was like I had and endorsement. I remember Chang and Agassi going head to head in so many ways. That “pump up and air out” campaign was genius. My fave pump will always be the 1st pump. micheal Bivins had on a pair with a New York Mets Uniform starter short set on the inside cover of BBD’s Poison album in 1990. I was a rising 7th grader and I was smitten.
Comment by J.King — July 18, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
J.King,
Thanks for the kind words. It’s all for the love of shoes.
Chang was a beast! It was incredible those years of him in his prime, Agassi, and Sampras.
About the “Pump Up, Air Out” campaign, I don’t think that shoe companies have ever been so bold with their advertising since. That was about as close to saying “buy reebok, not nike” that you could get. The best part of all was getting a retired Bill Walton to do the ads when he was on Team Nike for years while playing in the League.
Comment by Nice Kicks — July 18, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
i had dees
but now there to small
wish dey came out again
Comment by BigHead — July 18, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
i still have a pair of the whites sitin in my closet waiting for a dope shirt to wear wit them…pumps dont work in 1 of the shoes >:0
Comment by FrescoInTheFlesh — July 18, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
dryer sheets to clean shoes…hmmm? has anyone else tried this method? I want to try it, jus need more feedback on it. Please respond…
Comment by jerronimo — July 18, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
yellow ones are cool!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Air Daniel — July 18, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
very nice pair
Comment by greenmaker24 — July 18, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
These are cute.. Are they thinking of bringing them back? Hrmphs, that’ll be cute I guess.
Comment by DayemaYerCRaZy — August 4, 2008 @ 9:31 am