Real Kick Collector Feature of the month

This month's feature is on my good friend and sneaker collector, @bece3000. I tried something a little bit different this month and had a few of my followers submit questions to ask him. I hope that you all like it, let me know because it may become a permanent part of the process. So without further delay let's get to know @bece3000 a little bit better.

How large is your collection right now (approximately)?
You know, I have kicks scattered all over, I seriously don't know. But I have a steady rotation of probably 30-40 pair I wear on the regular. If I had to guess, I have between 150 and 170ish. But I really have NO idea. *Laughs

What is the ultimate shoe for you?

That's a tough one, but ultimate shoe? I'd say it would have to be the Air Jordan XIs. I'm gonna say the Concords since they were the first to release and I went through hell and high water (frozen water at that) to pick them up back in '96. The Breds are still my grails, but the Space Jams are my favorite.

If you could own a pair of shoes that are a hard to find collectible that wish you had taken care of as a kid. What shoe would that be and why?

There's a couple. The Jordan 7s in the Playoff/Concord colorway (often referred to today as Raptor 7s). My first (real) job growing up was at the local Hardee's restaurant and the uniform required black shoes. Imagine how messed up that gorgeous suede got sliding around that greasy floor. Those, and the aforementioned Concords I drove in a snowstorm to pick up. Had to have them so bad, I talked myself into getting a size 13. My feet stopped growing at a size 12, so I never grew into them. So I hooped outdoors in them and that patent leather and concrete mixed like oil and water. They got beat up!

What determines whether a shoe is a "collector worthy"?

That's based solely on whoever is buying the shoe. "What you eat don't make me sh*t." What determines whether a shoe is collection worthy to me though? Well I only collect or cop Nike signature series, Air Force 1 Lows, a few of the Air Max runners (BWs, 1s, 90s, 95s, 97s, 2010s, etc) and Jordan 1-20s. There might be a far off (very far off) occasion I'd go outside my preference for maybe a Dunk or Retro Nike. Like a Flight '89 or the Frees or Prestos for a summertime beater.

Does celebrity endorsement have an impact as to whether the shoe becomes one of the GOAT?

Like I told Complex this last winter, I grew up witnessing (in my opinion) the greatest generation of athletes EVER. Mike, Griffey, Barry and Bo just to name a few, which all just happened to be endorsed by the Swoosh. So it has its impacts. The only shoe I had to have in my collection, since I really started, that wasn't a Nike were the Reebok Questions. I was a huge fan of, AI, before the tats and braids, while he balled at Georgetown. So I went outside of my box to scoop those. And there was one or two Stan Smith adidas and a Pump Omni I can think of. But that's about it.

With your current collection, do you DS em or do you rock them?

I cop to rock. But I only have two feet, so a lot of them stay in their respective boxes for a while. I can think of 5 pairs I haven't worn yet ... The West (Wht/Black) and Midwest (Wht/Red) colorways of the Jordan 19s, the White/Red Jordan 17s (still in the box and case), pair of White on White Forces and the Busy P 1World Forces from the pack that came out in 08.

What are your top shoe hunting tips?

Relentlessness. Get to your retailers early on release dates. Build a good report with the store associates. Nowadays, we have it so easy. Like @ognikehead85 has said, we have all these sites with release dates and other info. Coming up, we had to make regular visits to stay in the know. Nothing wrong with either tactic.

What upcoming releases are you most looking forward to?

With out question, the Concords coming in December. Even though they're not exactly the same as the originals. Those and the Black Cement 3s.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I guess that I'm just so blessed to have a love for something so simple as a pair, or pairs of shoes. That I've been able to come together with SO many other collectors who share that same love I do. We really are a family. We should really be thankful that we have the opportunity to have materialistic possessions when others are not as fortunate, yet not envy one another and respect and props to different collections we do have. None of us are exactly the same which makes us all individuals, yet we're all bonded by a common desire.

Lastly, I want to thank my parents first and foremost for not giving me grief for blowing my allowance on shoes. Thanks to God for all of the people He's blessed me to be around coming up in the shoe game and all of the sneaker heads/fiends/junkies I've gotten acquainted with over the years. You're all an inspiration to me, and I thank you all for that!