Kritik und Lob » ended up flipping them. They paid for

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Terrell Suggs is convinced he still has a few more sacks left in him, even though hes 33 years old and coming off a torn left Achilles tendon.Suggs was carted off the field in the 2015 season opener and still hasnt quite fully recovered. He has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list and wont be in uniform Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens hold their first full-team training camp practice.He cant wait to get back, but the man known as T-Sizzle knows it would be foolish to take any chances in July.Im not going to give no timetable, but its not going to be long. Were close to where we want to be, Suggs said Wednesday. Ill be honest with you: The Ravens side of me is like, `Sizz, lets go. Lets play some football. But Ive got to smart with it.Once hes ready to roll, the six-time Pro Bowl linebacker is optimistic of being a key contributor to a perennial playoff contender that stumbled to a 5-11 finish last season.Were going to find out, Suggs said. I love football. I love the locker room. I love my teammates. I love out here being confrontational. I love talking (stuff). Thats just part of being Sizzle. I think once I kind of get back to being him, I think yall questions will be answered.Before his injury, Suggs was one of the most vocal and playful members of the team. He rarely shied from any microphone, and almost always spiced up interviews with jokes or tongue-in-cheek barbs directed toward the upcoming opponent.But he hadnt talked to the media since his injury -- not even once. So his appearance at the teams training complex served as an update over the past 11 months.When that injury happens, its like three months laying on your back, Suggs said. We didnt start too good. It was just a really bad time. I didnt want it to be about me that I was gone. It was kind of like, `Just let the smoke clear and let everything happen.His teammates cant wait to see him -- and hear him -- on the practice field.Its always good to have his personality around the building and what he brings to this whole place, quarterback Joe Flacco said.I think he gives the young guys a lot of direction and they look up to him. Theyve been watching him play for a long time now. Its been fun having him in the training room for the last five weeks and having him around and hearing his voice all throughout the facility.Suggs was the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after getting a career-high 14 sacks, two interceptions and seven forced fumbles. The following year, he tore his right Achilles tendon during the offseason, but played the final eight games of the regular season and helped Baltimore win the Super Bowl.With the exception of last season, Suggs has been a key contributor to a team thats built a reputation for playing tough, physical defense. The 13-year veteran is the Ravens career sack leader with 106 1/2, and his 823 tackles rank second behind Ray Lewis in franchise history.Hes not done yet. Retirement might be the furthest thing on Suggs mind.Its not something I want to visit end of this year, end of next year, he said. Maybe the year after that, we can talk about it. What, will I be 36 then? But Im not worried about that right now.Suggs intends to savor this season and, in the process, prove hes still one of the best in the NFL at chasing down opposing quarterbacks.Youve got to always appreciate this. You never know when its really going to be gone, he said. The simple fact that I had the opportunity to rehab, come back and listen to my naysayers, thats a privilege. Every dark cloud has a silver lining, so I guess thats kind of mine. People say he cant do it again. 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PAUL, Minn. Were counting down the greatest basketball sneakers of all time on ESPN.com, #NBArank-style. But before we reveal our list, a few of our resident sneakerheads weigh in on their favorite kicks of all time.Which shoes make their top five? Which are the most underrated? And which superstars should be next in line for their own signature sneaker? Our expert panel breaks it down.1. What are your top five signature sneakers of all time?Amin Elhassan, ESPN Insider:?I can probably go five-deep on Jordans alone, but for the sake of diversity, Ill limit myself with just two: the 11s and the 4s. I definitely have to throw the Puma Clydes on the list as the first signature shoe from an NBA player. Give me the Grant Hill 2s from FILA, the first signature shoe I ever owned, and add to them the Iverson Questions.Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com:?Jordan 1 and III. Puma Clydes. Reebok Questions. Any sneaker Nike put Charles Barkleys name or initials on.Dave McMenamin, ESPN.com:?1. Air Jordan XI (Concords) 2. Air Jordan XII (Playoffs) 3. Nike Zoom Kobe V 4. Reebok Question 5. Nike Air Zoom Generation.Adam Reisinger, ESPN.com:?In chronological order, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, the Nike Air Force 1, the Air Jordan III, the Air Jordan XI and the Nike Air Foamposite One. You cant go wrong with any of these on your feet even today, which is remarkable considering that the most recent of these was first released almost 20 years ago.Jesse Washington, The Undefeated:?In reverse order of greatness, Im going with: The Reebok Question, not because it was a great-looking or great-feeling shoe, but because Iversons mystique and swag were so powerful, he made it classic. The Puma Clyde, because of its enormous cultural impact as one of the foundational pieces of hip-hop culture. Same for the Adidas Superstar, which was officially Kareems shoe, but really belonged to Run-DMC and catapulted the sneaker industry into a global fashion juggernaut. Runner-up is the Nike Air Foamposite One, because it was so futuristic, stylishly arresting and also great to hoop in. Finally, No. 1 without a doubt is the Air Jordan 1. This shoe -- and this player -- forever changed the game.2. Which all-time kick is the most underrated?Elhassan:?Ive always had a soft spot for the David Robinson-worn (although not necessarily exclusively signature) Air Max Uptempo shoes. I also respect the creativity that went into the design of the Gary Payton Gloves and the Dennis Rodman Worms. Both tied into the unique personalities of the players who endorsed them.Jackson:?Probably the Converse Pro Leather, the shoe Dr. J made iconic. The Converse Weapon came in after that and kind of took over the league. But Julius Erving literally set the stage for what is now considered the signature market with his association and connection to that shoe. The entire market shifted and changed because of that. Its a shame that they didnt just brand the shoe as the Dr. J.?McMenamin:?Nike Air Max Uptempo (1995). Outside of the Concords, its my favorite shoe. Its flawless. The full-length air from heel to toe, the stripped-down black and white initial design (like the Concords) making them work with literally any uniform from the Lakers purple and gold (Derek Fisher wore them for years) to the Timberwolves blue and green (the shoe is most known for Kevin Garnett wearing them as a rookie) to, naturally, the Bulls black and red (Scottie Pippen wore them before his signature line was started by Nike). I dont see it brought up enough.Reisinger:?The Nike Air Zoom Generation, the first signature sneaker for LeBron James (though it didnt carry his name). Because the LeBron line has yet to get the Jordan-style retro treatment, you dont see too many people wearing these -- walking around in actual 13-year-old sneakers can be rough -- but when LeBron broke out a pair for practice at last years Finals, it created some serious buzz among sneakerheads.Washington:?Nike Air Max Uptempo. The remakes are poorly made, but the original had an incredible combination of cushion, comfort and stability. It looked great with the air bubbles all the way around the sole. I was going hard on the NYC playgrounds when they came out; all the Air Maxness was fantastic on concrete. You could even completely remove the laces when rocking it for style, because the elastic bands over the tongue held it on your foot. Id wear Crocs to a Drake concert to get an original pair of these joints again.3. Whats your favorite memory about a pair of kicks in your collection, past or present?Elhassan:?The 10s were the first Jordans I ever wore, and I remember marveling at all the accolades listed on the bottom. Its kind of nuts to think about it now; hes basically added another careers worth of accolades after the fact.Jackson:?Either the Yeezy 2s or the bespoke Air Force 1s. The bespoke 1s because of the experience. I designed the shoe with my sons and Mau and Tan of NikeLab. It took over two hours and is a memory Ill hold on to forever -- very special. And the Yeezy 2s, because I actually got them before Kanye.McMenamin:?There was an annual student versus faculty basketball game at my middle school between the eighth-graders and the teachers. When I was in fifth grade, one of my teachers, Ms. Malinchak, was playing in it. I was into art back then, so I made a poster for the game with a detailed drawing of my Air Jordan 7 Bordeauxs -- the only Js I ever owned as a kid -- with big bubble letters Malinchak Attack!!! above it. She ended up hanging up the poster in her classrooms for years. When the Bordeauxs retrod in 2011, naturally, I had to get them.Reisinger:?The Air Jordan XII will always have a special place in my heart, because it was the first pair of Jordans -- or high-end sneakers in general -- that I actually owned. I was one of those kids who grew up wearing Hakeem Olajuwons Spaldings from Wal-Mart, so the day I spotted those white/red Jordan XIIs on a clearance rack at Sports Authority was a cause for celebration. That particular pair is sadly long gone, and Ive missed out on the past couple of re-releases of that specific colorway, but Ive been lucky enough to add a few other XIIs to my collection over the years.Washington:?I was working at Vibe magazine in 98, and someone for some reason sent me a pair of the first Foamposites before they came out. The shoes were royal blue, and the Nike swoosh was super tiny -- not like the big-swoosh retros. Wearing them around New York City, nobody had a clue what they were. They were such a radical departure from any previous sneaker. I was literally stopping traffic. On the subway one day, a kid asked if I played for the Knicks. (If I played for the Knicks, you think Id be on the subway? I responded.) Then, late one night in my bulletproof Chinese food spot in Brooklyn, a couple of hustlers were admiring my Foams from afar when I overheard one say, Wait, they look like something DTs might wear.dddddddddddd DT meaning detective. At least I didnt get robbed.4. Which NBA player(s) without his own sneaker line has the best kick game?Elhassan:?There is no competition when it comes to this: Phoenixs P.J. Tucker is the premier sneakerhead in the NBA.Jackson:?DeMar DeRozan and J.R. Smith. DeRozan leans heavily on rocking Kobes, but the Kobes he comes with are sick! And Smith? Nike blesses him with stuff that not even LeBron has! Keep in mind, Im keeping this on-court. To go off-court and into which player has the best collection/closet, I cant call it. I dont want to get too depressed looking into their personal collections by comparing theirs to mine.McMenamin:?I guess Nick Young has his own shoe with Adidas now, but when I covered him in L.A., he wore all sorts of stuff. Just something unique every night, and when Kobe was injured, he actually became Nikes model to debut the new Kobes that were coming out. Jared Cunningham, who is playing in China now, had an amazing collection last season when he played for the Cavs. I always notice P.J. Tucker with Phoenix with some sauce on his feet. Currently on the Cavs, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert will catch your attention from time to time.Reisinger:?There are so many players who bring heat every night, but I have to pay some respect here to the Grizzlies Jarell Martin, who broke out the Air Jordan 2s in the preseason and has been frequently seen wearing the Air Jordan X Rio, which is a nice color match for the Grizzlies uniforms. Thats some creative thinking for a player who might not be able to score his own PE, much less a signature sneaker.Washington:?I dont sweat young bucks about their sneakers. Im 47, fam. I have a teenage son. What I look like wearing what they wear? Ima be original and wear something nobody else in the room, gym or stadium has on. My son told me, Thats because nobody else wants those shoes youre wearing. But still.5. Which young NBA player deserves the next signature sneaker?Elhassan:?Im writing this answer at the Staples Center on the heels of Kristaps Porzingis 26-point, 12-rebound, 7-block performance, so Adidas had better rush those Porzingis 1s into production.Jackson:?I already know that Nike is grooming Ben Simmons to replace Kobe in its Elite roster, but even though hes on the Jordan roster and doesnt necessarily have the outgoingness to sell sneaks, Kawhi Leonard deserves his own shoe.McMenamin:?The two names that come to mind are Devin Booker -- the vogue pick as the leagues cant-miss up-and-coming star -- and DAngelo Russell, as much for his ice in my veins swag and overall persona playing on the Lakers stage as for his game, which, if hes lucky, will max out to be an approximation of Mike Conleys. Then of course there is Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose ceiling is seemingly infinite, much like how people felt about a young Amare Stoudemire when he got his signature shoe.Reisinger:?Big men dont usually sell as well as guys who have the ball in their hands all the time (which helps explain why Dwight Howard is now with PEAK rather than Adidas), but Porzingis just signed a big deal with Adidas, hes located in a major media market, and hes already proved to be incredibly popular -- and this season is putting up the numbers to back it up. It only makes sense for him to have a sneaker to call his own rather than sharing the Crazy Explosive with a bunch of other players.Washington:?Based on performance, Karl-Anthony Towns. KATs kicks would need some lion fur trim or something. But can we just give Russell Westbrook his own shoe already? Him wearing Jordans doesnt count, and its a huge waste of potential. Aint nobody really messing with the last decade of flagship Air Jordans, even if theyre worn by the most electrifying player in the world. In terms of actual personal style, Russ is as far from Jordan as L.A. from North Cackalacky. MJ still wears things like four-button blazers over acid-washed jeans. Imagine a shoe that actually reflected Russ fashion sense! It would make Yeezys look like Currys. Im about to wear a FREE RUSS shirt with a Jordan logo to the next OKC game.Bonus question: Best story to get a pair of sneakers?Elhassan:?At the end of every NBA season, players clean out their lockers, keeping the things they want and leaving behind what is trash to them. Steve Nash was the only player in the Suns locker room to wear the same size as me, but unfortunately, so did half the staff, so on clear-out day, everyone would find a reason to have business that kept them around the locker room. It was like watching vultures on a nature show!Jackson:?Going to Nike basketball camp in 1994 in a pair of Adidas. I knew they wouldnt let me walk around the camp in oppositions sneaks, so I knew once I came there to cover the camp theyd have to give me a pair of Nikes to walk around in. Which they did. But I acquired a pair of Air Ups as they kicked me out of camp during lunch. I was told: Dont come back unless you are wearing these shoes!McMenamin:?A few years back, the Air Jordan XII playoffs colorway retrod. A player I knew posted on social media about getting them. I texted him my envy. He replied by asking me what size I wore and setting me up with my guy Ray Ray to pick up some size 12s for me. In Compton. In a strangers driveway. At around 11 p.m. Cash exchange. A little different from a visit to Foot Locker at the mall.Reisinger:?My craziest sneaker-buying story is crazy for how easy it was. Back in 2013, Nike canceled the scheduled December release of the Yeezy 2 Red Octobers and never announced a new on-sale date. Instead, it just randomly dropped them one afternoon in February 2014 with a simple tweet saying they were now available in the online store. I remember seeing the tweet and thinking it was a joke at first, but I clicked, and there they were. The entire buying process took maybe about 60 seconds, and suddenly I was the owner of one of the most sought-after sneakers on the market -- though after I saw what they were going for on the resale market, I ended up flipping them. They paid for every sneaker I bought for the rest of that year.Washington:?Freshman year on the basketball team at Yale, 1986. The team wore some wack Reebok 5600s that have thankfully disappeared into the mists of time. But they were free, and had some status around campus. My man Valentino Carlotti, a junior point guard from NYC, put me up on game: Wear the same pair of sneakers to every practice and game all season, but go see the equipment manager every couple of weeks wearing the dogged pair and say, I need some new shoes! Stash in dorm room, pause, repeat. ' ' '