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Name: Seth Phelps
Branch: Navy
Rank: E-6, Intel Specialist First Class
Hometown: Morgantown, KY
Currently stationed in: Fredericksburg, VA
Years in the service: 6
“My name is Seth Phelps, and I am a Petty Officer First Class (E-6) Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy. I have been in for a little over 6 years now, and truly love serving my country. I am currently stationed in Fredericksburg, VA, about an hour south of DC. I am also a die-hard sneaker fan. I first got into sneakers because I was a huge Michael Jordan fan as a kid. I still vividly remember begging my mom to get the new Jordans, also on the first day they came out of course! I still collect and rock primarily Jordans, but I do have some Kobes, Pennys, and Air Force Ones also. My all-time favorite sneaker is the Space Jam Jordan 11 (big surprise) but the Playoff 12s are a close 2nd. I have also included a shot of my “Wall Of Sneakers” as my wife calls it, and my 3 most beloved sneakers in my collection (I didn’t include individual shots of the Space Jams since they are still so common right now from dropping in 2009). The 3 individual shots are of the limited edition Nike Air Zoom Vick III Laser (I’m also the world’s biggest Falcons fan), the Air Jordan 2011 Year of the Rabbit, and the Playoff 12s.”
How long have you been collecting sneakers and how many do you have? I’ve been collecting on and off my whole life, currently have around 30 pairs.
Top five sneakers of all-time:
1. Space Jam Air Jordan 11
2. Playoff Air Jordan 12
3. Air Zoom Vick 3 Laser
4. White/Black Air Jordan 13
5. White/Navy Air Jordan 16
What sneaker started you collecting shoes? White & Red Air Jordan 6 when I was 6 years old. 1st pair of Jordans I ever had, been wearing them ever since.
What is the next shoe you plan to grab? I’m picking up the True Blue 3s next weekend, and after that I am going to find some OG deadstock white & black Air Jordan 13s.
What is your favorite sneaker in your closet? I love both my 2000 & 2009 edition Space Jams, but I’d have to go with my Vick 3 Lasers because I am a die-hard Atlanta Falcons fan and they are so much more hard to find. I’ve only worn them twice, once to a Virginia state-wide Madden tournament back in 2005, and to the Falcons-Saints Monday Night Football game in Atlanta this past December.
If you had to pick one shoe to represent your military branch, what would it be and why? Jordan 12 because they are probably the toughest, most durable, and versatile shoe out of all the Air Jordans.
What is the worst part of trying to collect shoes and serve at the same time? The worst part is being on deployment overseas when new releases are coming out. I was on deployment most of late-2007 and early-2008 when the Jordan Countdown Packs were coming out and there wasn’t really any way to get those online without paying double the box price.
Do/did you ever try to work sneakers into your military-assigned attire? Well we can’t really wear sneakers with our normal uniforms, but anytime we play basketball during command fitness sessions I am always in some Kobe 5s.
What?s the best part of being in the Armed Forces? Waking up every morning and knowing that you are really making a difference when you go to work.
Since you?ve been all around the world, what?s your favorite sneaker store? I really haven’t seen too many really good overseas sneakers stores. I’ve been to alot of good sneaker boutiques in the states, but at the end of the day I have copped more shoes from Foot Locker than anywhere else so I gotta give love to the old favorite.
If you could design a sneaker dedicated to you particular branch, what shoe would you use and how would you create it (colors, materials)? I’d go with a Jordan 11 with navy-blue on the patent leather, white upper like the Concords, an iced sole with gold flakes like the Air Jordan 2011 Year of the Rabbit sole, and gold accents everywhere else. And I’d put a 75 on the back instead of 23 since the Navy was started in 1775.
Do you have any memorable shoe-related stories? Well the one that I always think back of was in November 96, I turned 12 the same day that the Air Jordan 12s released so of course they were all I wanted for my birthday. We were visiting relatives in San Antonio, Tx so me and my Mom woke up early to go and try to find a pair of the new Js. We spent all day going to I think every mall in San Antonio. Every place was either sold out or never even got any. Heartbroken and dejected, we took one last hopeless (or so I thought) shot at this warehouse-style shoe store that I can’t even remember the name of. Amazingly, they had them and they had my size. So now anytime I am struggling to find a pair of hard-to-get sneaks I think back to me and my Mom not giving up on finding those OG 12s for inspiration.
