Release of new Air Jordan stirs frenzy

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (WSVN) -- The latest Air Jordan hits store shelves Friday morning and it seems die-hard fans will do almost anything to be the first in the door.

The new Air Jordan 11 Concord shoes drop just two days before Christmas.

At about 2 a.m. Friday, customers said police pepper sprayed a crowd of people waiting in the front of the line at the Foot Locker at Pembroke Pines mall. "They're pepper-spraying people, pushing people on the ground, everything," said one customer. "It's crazy up there."

Customers complained that the store's release of the $180 sneaker was unorganized. "This is the first time it's never been organized. The cops always put everybody in order; they usually give out numbers," said another customer. "They pepper-sprayed a little girl."

No arrests have been made.

Pembroke Pines Mall has since sold out of the sneaker.

Long lines began forming at sneaker retailers all across South Florida Thursday night. Several hundred people waited in line outside of Dadeland Mall for the release of the new sneaker. "I've been out here all day, trying to get these shoes," said Theodore Lott.

"That's my Christmas present right here," said Adeeo Ahmad.

Each retailer has only 100 pairs of the new Air Jordan 11 sneakers to hand out, which means some will go home empty handed. One customer said he would cry if he ended up not getting the shoe after waiting for numerous hours.

Lott said that he cannot wait to get his hands on the pricey sneakers. "Feel good. I know on Christmas I'm going to be looking good," said Lott. "I say thank you to my mom and my dad for giving me this money."

Jordan's new sneakers are hitting the market just weeks after local NBA Pro Dwyane Wade released a pair of his own under Jordan's brand. "So when you look at my shoes, it's kind of sleek and smooth," Wade said at the release.

Jordan's Concords are a retro throwback for the retired star's shoe line. The shoe was first released back in 1995. The black and white 2011 edition is only available for a limited time.

"They're not just any other shoe, they're Concords," said Ahmad.

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