It hasn’t even been two years since the Air Jordan IX saw a mass release, but it appears that Jordan Brand was just taking a prolonged break. We’ve got some more Air Jordan Retro releases confirmed for Holiday 2012, so if the confirmation of the Air Jordan XI ‘Bred’ was too much to handle, you might not be able to bear this excitement. According to reliable source TheAFoot on  http://niketalk.com/ - NT , what’s expected to arrive this December is the Air Jordan IX ‘Cool Grey’,  http://sneakernews.com/air-jordan-brand-jordan/air-jordan-9/air-jordan-ix-9-retro-2002-medium-grey-white-cool-grey/ - a Retro release that first dropped in 2002  that featured a two-hit combo of nubuck and patent leather on the upper. Along with the Cool Grey’s another classic color will make a return as the Olive colorway will also make a return in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Also confirmed is a Black/Blue colorway for November, and a special Johnny Kilroy edition in Black/Metallic Silver for October 2012. For those unaware of who Johnny Kilroy is: Kilroy was a fictional basketball player – an identity that  http://sneakernews.com/2011/01/06/michael-jordan-through-the-years-air-jordan-ix/ - Michael Jordan assumed during his first retirement from the NBA . This character was the subject of one of the best Air Jordan commercials of all-time, which featured comedian Steve Martin as an investigative reporter that was researching Kilroy, his true identity, and the possibility of Jordan faking his retirement. In any case, Sneaker News will keep you up to date on these upcoming Retro releases, so let us know your thoughts in the comments area below.

October 2012 (tentative release date)

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November 2012 (tentative release month)

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December 2012 (tentative release month)

It took LeBron nine signature shoes to get his first NBA title. By Jordan’s ninth shoe, he was already retired with three Rings under his belt. Not taking anything away from LeBron James, but there’s more to be done if you want to wrestle away the title of G.O.A.T. from Jordan! This October, Jordan Brand will re-tell the fictional story of Johnny Kilroy – a basketball player believed to be Michael Jordan under disguise. For the youngsters who weren’t around when Jordan played (or possibly weren’t alive when Jordan was Johnny Kilroy), you’ll get the opportunity to cop  http://sneakernews.com/2012/04/19/air-jordan-ix-johnny-kilroy-preview/ - the Kilroy IXs this October 6th , kicking off  http://sneakernews.com/2012/03/08/air-jordan-ix-holiday-2012-retros/ - a string of Air Jordan IX Retro releases for the Holiday 2012 season . Are these a must-have for you, or are other AJ9s the better catch? via  http://issforums.com/ - scforums

Air Jordan IX ‘Johnny Kilroy’
Black/Metallic Platinum-Gym Red
302370-012
10/06/12
$160

Prior to the 1993-1994 NBA season, Michael Jordan shocked the world by retiring from basketball to pursue a baseball career in tribute to his late father James. While Jordan's court career had come to an end (temporarily), his highly popular and profitable Nike signature sneaker line continued to move forward with the introduction of the Air Jordan IX. The new model was accompanied by a  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTyun6dd2J8 - humorous ad campaign  that starred MJ's disguised alter ego "Johnny Kilroy," playfully implicating that the hoop legend had faked his retirement and returned under an alias. Kilroy was even immortalized in a  http://solecollector.com/media/u/files/upper-deck-johnny-kilroy-card.jpg - very collectible trading card by Upper Deck . Now, nearly 20 years after Jordan's unexpected retirement, the Jordan Brand will start their latest run of the Air Jordan Retro 9 by releasing what is believed to be a Kilroy-inspired colorway.

The "Johnny Kilroy" Retro 9 features a black and platinum upper, accented by red on the tongue, inner lining, pull-tab and heel. Rumor has it that Kilroy's number "4" may even be embroidered on the heel in place of the usual "23."

Before the  http://solecollector.com/news/release-date-air-jordan-retro-9-black-photo-blue/ - "Photo Blue,"   http://solecollector.com/news/release-date-air-jordan-retro-9-olive-/ - "Olive"  and  http://solecollector.com/news/release-date-air-jordan-retro-9-cool-grey-/ - "Cool Grey"  colorways hit stores, the "Johnny Kilroy" 9 will drop on Saturday, October 6 for $160.

10/06/12 Air Jordan Retro 9
302370-012 Black/Metallic Platinum-Gym Red
$160.00 - Men's
$110.00 - Gradeschool
$70.00 - Preschool
$50.00 - Toddler
$42.00 - Infant

http://solecollector.com/media/u/images/air-jordan-ix-9-retro-johnny-kilroy-black-platinum-red-release-date.jpg">

AIR JORDAN 9 “JOHNNY KILROY”

Jordan Brand keeps the legend of Johnny Kilroy alive with a new look at the  http://www.nicekicks.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-9/"> http://www.nicekicks.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-9/ - Air Jordan 9 . The model features a black and metallic upper that is highlighted with gym red on the liner and branding. Jordan Brand extended the metallic down to the midsole, giving quite a contrast to the black outsole below. Final details include a mix of pebbled leather for the construction, Johnny Kilroy’s number, “4.” on the heel, and “Kilroy Kicks Butt” on the reverse of the tongue. Look for the  http://www.nicekicks.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-9/ - Air Jordan 9  “Johnny Kilroy” to release later this year.

http://www.nicekicks.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-9/ - Air Jordan 9  “Johnny Kilroy”

Air Jordan 9 “Johnny Kilroy”

Air Jordan 9 “Johnny Kilroy”

Air Jordan 9 “Johnny Kilroy”

It’s almost poetic that lost in the mix of Olympic Air Jordans this summer has been one of the OGs that made its debut right after Michael went missing from the Bulls. The http://sneakernews.com/2012/06/05/air-jordan-ix-olive-2012/ -  ’Olive’ Air Jordan 9 Retro  few under the radar in its 2002 return and has been unseen since we learned of the http://sneakernews.com/2012/06/20/air-jordan-ix-olive-release-date/ -  November 17th release  back in June. This earthy spin on the classic Chicago colorway is well-timed with a mid-autumn target that should help casual fans reconnect with an original’s underrated novelty.  Let us know what you’ve got your eye on this fall and have another look after the jump. via Ballahb on  http://niketalk.com/t/501285/air-jordan-9-olive-nov-17#post_16058354 - NT

Despite what may be confirmed for the near future, things can still change; here’s the latest viewing of the upcoming Air Jordan IX Retro in the Black/Photo Blue colorway; if you haven’t pointed it out just yet, check out the outsole, which has been  http://sneakernews.com/2012/06/21/air-jordan-ix-photo-blue-release-date/ - changed to a solid black color from the white seen in earlier photos . What remains in the black midsole and the black/photo blue contrast on the upper, but even with the minor alteration to the outsole, these still exude that  http://sneakernews.com/2012/05/02/air-jordan-ix-penny-hardaway-autographed-game-worn-pe/ - Penny Hardaway PE goodness , don’t they? More images of the Air Jordan IX ‘Photo Blue’ right ahead, so take a look and let us know what you think of the change. Photos:  http://www.pure-sole.com/air-jordan-retro-9-black-photo-blue-302370007_p187.html?cPath=13 - pure-sole

Twenty years after his mysterious appearance, we find ourselves still searching for clues as to “ http://sneakernews.com/2012/07/30/air-jordan-9-johnny-kilroy-available-early-on-ebay/ - Who is Johnny Kilroy? ” A fictional superhero based on and played by Michael Jordan ‘endorsed’ the  http://sneakernews.com/2012/08/06/air-jordan-ix-crawfish/ - Air Jordan IX  while MJ was busy with the Birmingham Barons, Kilroy was depicted in ads and even his own Upper Deck trading card as number ’4′ on the Chicago Bulls (a reference to the four-peat His Airness left hanging?), but has recently been linked to the ‘Crawfish’ theme of another upcoming AJ9. This Kilroy edition sticks with a traditional Chi-town palette, but its bold ‘reversed’ colorblocking makes for one of the most unique Nines to date. Have a closer look at some new images after the jump, let us know where these rank on your list of 2012 Air Jordan 9 Retros and stick with Sneaker News for updates as we approach the  http://sneakernews.com/2012/06/22/air-jordan-ix-johnny-kilroy-release-date/ - October 6th drop . Photos:  http://www.solewings.com/airjordanixjohnnykilroylimited302370012-p-131.html - Sole Wings

We’re certain you caught it already, but the upcoming  http://sneakernews.com/2012/06/21/air-jordan-ix-photo-blue-release-date/ - Air Jordan IX ‘Photo Blue’ release  has unfolded in an unusual manner. When we first saw the shoe, it featured a solid white outsole, but only recently, when full detailed images of the shoe began to surface, the ‘Photo Blue’ was  http://sneakernews.com/2012/08/07/photo-blue-air-jordan-ix/ - suddenly sitting on a solid black base . Was the white version perhaps a kids-only release, or even a completely different sneaker? Turns out both shoes aren’t two distinct sneakers, but are actually intended to be one sole release; a major error at the Jordan Brand factory in China produced the shoe with a black outsole, and the production number of the incorrect black-outsole version – roughly 10,000 pairs – is a pill too big to swallow.

Simply trashing the shoes would be rather wasteful in terms of money spent and potential earnings lost, and it appears that Jordan Brand will move forward with the white-outsole version with the given style-code of 302370-007. Obviously a few questions remain: What will Jordan Brand do with this mass surplus of Air Jordan IXs? Will they be a straight-to-the-outlet release like the Air Jordan 1 ‘Banned’ and suddenly become high in demand for this unique blunder, or will Jordan Brand shelve them and re-release at another point in the future? Most importantly, which version do you, the consumer, like better? We need your opinions so get the discussion going below.

The ratio of upcoming Air Jordan IX colorways designed for Michael himself versus other ‘people’ is starting to look like a scene in Space Jam, as more new styles reveal their stories in advance of holiday release dates. The  http://sneakernews.com/2012/08/14/air-jordan-ix-johnny-kilroy-available-early-on-ebay/ - Air Jordan IX ‘Johnny Kilroy’  hearkens back to the 1993 Steve Martin TV spot in which the Swoosh supposed Mike might be up to his old tricks, under a new disguise. They remind us that His Airness had the talent to become the Ronnie Coleman of the NBA instead of ‘just’ a two-time three-peater, and will be joined by ‘Crawfish’ and ‘Calvin Bailey’ colorups (not to mention the Penny/Magic-esque ‘Photo Blues’) to thicken the plot of MJ’s first retired/baseball season. This one’s coming up first with an  http://sneakernews.com/2012/07/09/johnny-kilroy-air-jordan-ix/ - October 6th drop date  and you can see more images below to tide you over.