The Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro (NYC) Men's Basketball Shoes celebrates a hoops icon with classic details like the big Nike check and the lightweight cushioning that made the original famous. Since 1982, this once hoops shoe was named the Air Force One after the aircraft that carries the U.S. President. It was the first basketball shoe to house of Nike Air cushioning system, revolutionizing the game for players like Moses Malone, Charles Barkley and Rasheed Wallace while rapidly gaining traction around the world, from the hardwood to the blacktop to the core of hip-hop culture. Today the Air Force 1 stays true to its roots with soft, springy cushioning and a massive midsole, but the Nike Air technology takes a backseat to the shoe s status as an icon.