Jordan gets his own store in Chicago

My passion for Chicago goes back to my days as a young kid. I remember sitting in front of the TV watching MJ go off. There was the flu game, the buzzerbeater in the finals vs. the Jazz and the shrug against the Blazers. Those and many more endeared me to the Bulls. 

MJ's motley crew was fun to watch as well. You had those centers, Longley, Wennington and Cartwright and who could forget Dennis Rodman, aka "The Worm". The Bulls were my team in the 90’s.

I also have a passion for sneakers, and come to think of it, I can probably thank MJ for sparking that love. 

I bring all this up because of my nearly uncontainable excitement for Saturday. 11/24/2015 marks the grand opening of the Jordan store here in Chicago. 

There are reports that people have been lining up since Monday to buy some signature heat and maybe, just maybe, get a glimpse of MJ in person. Word on the street is "His Airness" is not planning on attending but they can always hope. 

So, what's inside? The first floor is dedicated to sales. From shoes to clothing to memorabilia - all Jordan. That’s cool. But what really gets me amped is what lies on the second floor. 

Known as Station 23. A 3,400 sq. ft gym dedicated to helping kids and teens become better ballers. Not with shoes, shorts or dri-fit tanks but through technology. 

This area is for serious hoopers, with rumors saying that taking the court will be "by invite only". I have a pretty sweet 3 point shot. Problem is, I may be a bit past my prime. 

Included at Station 23 is a training lab with the Noah system. Technology that analysis the shooters arc angle and provides feedback if it's too short, too long or just right. 

I’ve seen a lot of these gadgets pop up lately. Many promise improvements passed your wildest dreams. Most fall short because they just track the number of shots made. Digital stat boys. After reading a bit about Noah, it seems legit. It's more than a stat tracker as it uses sensors and technology passed my understanding to analyze the shooters technique. Helping to perfect their form. 

Here lies an opportunity for Station 23. Pair this system with employees who understand the game, who are not high-school drop outs that couldn’t get a job at Footlocker, and this could be a game changer in the hoops world. We could be witness to the lasting legacy MJ has on the youth. Not only outfitting them with the best gear but also bringing in technology and skills training to help young people reach their full basketball potential. 

Other elements of Station 23 include a digital training screen. Now when I first heard about this I thought this is another stupid screen put in the middle of the store enticing people to show of their skills, or lack of, and embarrass themselves in front of shoppers. But from the looks of it, this training area is legit. Kids can learn dribbling and footwork skills from CP3, Westbrook and Melo. This is where teens with talent go to amplify their skills. 

As you might be able to tell, I’m stoked about this store. Could we be seeing a new retail trend emerge where technology truly enhances the shoppers experience with the product passed the window shopping and buying experience. I'm not surprised Nike, er Jordan, is the first to do this. Don't be surprised if you see brands like Apple, AT&T and LEGO follow suit. 

Husband duties will keep me from attending the grand opening but you can bet your balls, basketballs that is, that I will be taking a stroll down State street next week to check out the environment. Succezz, watch out. You have sneaker competition in the Chicago.