Charlie's Sneaker FAQ and Glossary - J

This FAQ and Glossary defines a number of terms used in regards to athletic shoes, Charlie, or sneakers.

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Jacks: 1970's slang in Baltimore for Converse Jack Purcell sneakers. Also see "Blue Tips."

JDI

Sometimes used abbreviation for "Just Do It", a Nike credo frequently mentioned in their advertising.

Jeepers

Store brand sneakers marketed by Sears, Roebuck, and Company to Baby Boomers. Derisively known as "Cheaper Jeepers." Replaced by "The Winner."

Jills

The equivalent of jocks (meaning #1) for women athletes. Formally known as a "athletic pelvic protector" but sometimes called a "jill strap" even though there's no straps to the ones I've seen on the Internet.

Jim Shoe

A sneaker made by Airwalk, best known for three unusual versions (basketball, golf, and tennis):

The basketball version is a high-top in orange leather that looks like that used on a basketball.
The golf version has a toe dimpled like a golf ball.
The tennis version (pictured) is a low-top in yellow tennis ball felt.

Airwalk also made several other colors with the same basic design, but they're not as obviously matched to a sport as these versions. Wear them to work for kicks.

Jocks

1. Special underclothing that Baby Boomer Boys were required to wear to gym class. Somebody was really cheap designing them, because they left out the tail end. Being caught without wearing one could result in a track meet. Now optional in many Physical Education programs. Also see "Jills."

2. Athletes. Traditionally, men athletes, but women athletes use the term to describe themselves.

3. ANTONYM: Software weenie (in most cases).

Jocktag

The label on a jock, which is on the outside front of the waistband. By extension, a similar label on the outside front of an athletic shirt.

Joggers

Really slow runners; a sneaker for really slow runners.

Johnson, Michael: Track star and wearer of custom-made gold Nike athletic shoes during the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Jordan: 1. See Michael Jordan.
2. The young son of Sheryl Swoopes.

JORDAN Brand: A line of sneakers made by Nike that feature the JUMPMAN logo instead of the usual Swoosh.

Jordan, Deloris: The mother of Michael Jordan. In an ESPN interview, she admitted she occasionally had to "pop" Michael... probably after yelling "Michael Jeffrey Jordan, cut that out!" I (Charlie) just hope she never slippered "His Airness" with an Air Jordan.

Jordan, Michael: Basketball player and Nike endorser. His shoe models occupy a significant dollar value of the market. His shoe models also are the target of the great majority of reported sneakerjacking incidents.

JUMPS: Slang for cheap generic sneakers, in the area around Paterson, NJ: short for "Just Understand Mama's Poor"

JUMPMAN: The logo seen on Air Jordan athletic shoes since the third Air Jordan style came out, inspired by the jumping profile of Michael Jordan.

Just Do It: An exhortation frequently mentioned in Nike advertising. As in the sense, "Don't care what others think, YOU Just Do It." Puma has a very similar slogan, "Macht's mit Qualität" in German ("Do It With Quality" in English).

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Last Updated: 22 August 2017

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READERS PLEASE NOTE: Names of athletic shoe manufacturers, shoe styles, and technologies may be trademarked by the manufacturers. Charlie's Sneaker Pages uses these names solely to describe the shoes with the same familiar nomenclature used by the manufacturer and recognized by the reader.