13 years after the original release of the Air Jordan 3, the Jordan 3 Retro Black Cement returned once again in 2001. Originally designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 3 is one of the most popular Air Jordan signature shoes. Although the white version is remembered for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, the "Black Cement" Jordan 3 was worn by Michael Jordan for the 1988 NBA All Star Game. The design has become one of the most classic basketball shoes and is incredibly popular in almost any colorway both on and off the court. In 2001, there were no such things as a sneaker blog, so the message forums like InStyleShoes and NikeTalk helped keep those with sneaker addictions stay informed as to when shoes like the Black Cement Jordan 3 became available. Even so, without social media like it is today, releases were easy to obtain within the first month or so in most locations. The Black Cement 3 remains one of the most popular models thanks to the black leather upper, "Elephant Print" accents and iconic Jumpman logo on the tongue. The 2001 version of the Air Jordan 3 "Black Cement" featured the always popular "Nike Air" on the heel and came with a collectible "retro card" celebrating the Air Jordan legacy.
