(7/12) @twojskicks@cease91 and I sat down on the Shea Stadium seats in the shop and talked about grading. We sat side to side and I tried to explain different shoes and different grading metrics I picked up on. I think the shoe we were using as our example was the Saucony x Solebox Shadow 5000 (swipe)…Jay asked ‘what makes this a 9 and not a 10’ and I showed him the different flaws I found and he concurred. I think we talked a little bit about the tags and the packaging and the holograms and I remember Jay looking at the holograms like he really liked them. He didn’t seem too keen on the packaging, but really liked the fact that things were close. ⁣
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A bit later, @pjeung23 of @heskicks came by and introduced himself and he brought out his phone and interviewed Jay and I in the food court. I was still in shock and kind of reeling and kind of talked out of my ass for a while. The convo was recorded it but I never got a chance to listen to myself on it. Talking to reporters now? I really felt like this was it. We then walked back to the shop, @pjeung23 snapped this pic of us and the partnership that was to come. I was hyped.⁣
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After having spent the day at the shop, we agreed we’d talk with @joaniebean and @cease91 the next day to formulate a plan on exactly how it was gonna work and the contract specifics. We’d take a look at the algorithm and I could show Jay and Cease how to grade a pair. And after that, my cousin and I were to head back up to Oakland. ⁣
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That night, my cousin and I stayed at The M on the outskirts of town. I was feeling particularly festive and decided to go all out in the steakhouse. My cousin and I had a couple of Prime Ribs, a bunch of $15 drinks and made our way over the sports book. My cousin is a bit of a sports junkie and ran down the bets for me – the only one I suggested we take: @warriors over the @laclippers and I knew GS would beat the spread…sure enough we won. I was playing my cards right…⁣