Before you have any kind of reaction to these Nike Kobe 8 System Basketball Shoes ($TBA), remember the fact that Kobe’s (rarely used) nickname is the Black Mamba. Now, with that in mind, you can begin to understand the graphic snakeskin print on the shoe’s upper. I must also tell you now that my grandmother truly hates snakes. However, I have yet to gauge her opinion on Nike Engineered Mesh, used here for the first time in a B-ball shoe. This stuff offers maximum breathability at a very light weight, so the chances are she’ll at least be OK with it.