Sleeping out for sneakers demonstrates true shoe love

You've heard women love their shoes, but more than a dozen men in Las Vegas can challenge the depth of that love.

At 11 a.m. last Friday, customers began claiming their spots in line outside the doors of Undefeated, a premium sneaker boutique across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel. It's now 12 hours later and the store's front porch is an RV short of a camp site. Some have started dozing off in their folding lawn chairs. One sips from a tall can of beer. Another taps away at his laptop keyboard to pass the time.

All 15 of them await the same prize. Saturday's noon launch of Kanye West's sneaker collaboration with Nike Sportswear: the Nike Air Yeezy.
The entire state of Nevada boasts only 15 pairs. Undefeated has all 15. While the shoes ring up for $238, the going rate on eBay is $850 and expected to keep climbing.
This marks more than a sneaker debut for the young men who withstand the lower than average April temps and already have witnessed security guards break up a drunken brawl from which a baggie of cocaine was left behind (and later reclaimed). For them, it's a way of life. Or, as 29-year-old Ron Dixon from West Palm Beach, Fla., puts it, a "problem."

As luck would have it, the store manager has an announcement to make. "We have one more pair," Renaud shouts. Before Resendez can feel the joy of that statement, he's hit with this one: "It's a size 13."
For 10 seconds all eyes glue to the kid from Bakersfield. He glances at Dad, who's gripping a wad of cash, and finally shakes his now low-hanging head "no." Resendez wanted to rock the Air Yeezys, not to hawk the Air Yeezys.
But his loss marks another wishful thinker's gain. The last sale goes through and the doors open to the public. A few of the fortunate 15 linger outside, giving each other fist pounds and props for their successful hunt and kill.