The Nike Air Force 1 is celebrating its 25th birthday. Now, as a special anniversary edition is launched, SBUK's Tayo Odulaja reports on his trip to New York for an exclusive insight into basketball's most hallowed sneaker.

DAY ONE:
Here I am at the airport, getting to the check-in queue...and upon seeing the queue I'm thinking: "it's 6am and I've already been out of my house for an hour. I need my bed".

But, despite the early hour, I was looking forward to going to New York with Nike for what could be a totally awesome opportunity. And believe me, it was.... but I'll get to that!!!

Anway, I get to the business class check-in desk and there isn't a queue. Just walk straight up and check in...it took 2 minutes. That can't be a bad start. Safe!

Things got even better when I actually boarded the plane. I'm used to walking on and watching OTHER people turn left into first and business class, whilst I head straight to the cattle cabin, thinking "one day, I got that!!". Well, today was that day!

I got to my seat and thought "rah..this is a sofa!!" I'm talking leather seats, Boss headphones, personal TV screen, extending arm / leg rests. Basically the chair becomes a bed! And I won't even mention the drink-as-much-as-you-want policy and the exotic menu.

I'm from North London and have always travelled standard, so for those of you to who travel like that on a regular……props!!

Sat next to me was a journalist / stylist called Charlie Morgan who works for Crooked Tongues - a customised retailer specialising in exclusive clothing etc. Check them out on www.crookedtongues.com

Anyway, got to New York and boy, it was cold. Charlie and I managed to get a cab to the hotel (the Tribeca Grand, downtown baby!) and arrived at about 1.

The hotel was nice...and I mean NICE - celebrity kind of nice - with serious decor, roaring fires, swanky bar etc.

My room was fitted with possibly every utility ever needed to mankind (apart from a travel plug, which I had to borrow) and a massive double bed - which was looking promising right about now. But one thing..food! Man, I was starving by this time, so I headed out like a man on a mission.

It was actually so cold when I got out and about, that I found myself buying a couple of jumpers to stay warm in my quest for food. I got flukey and came across this Caribbean restaurant which was good enough for me and trust me, what they say about the American food portions being big...it still stands, as I found myself facing this lump of curry goat, rice and peas - which I could barely see over!! And that was a small portion!!!

After attacking this food for about 45 minutes and being so full that I had to undo the top button on my trousers (don't lie, you have been that full), I decided that I was going to take a walk round en route back to the hotel. On a real, it was a pretty brisk walk due to the cold and tiredness, but N.Y. was busy…..kind of like Oxford Street everywhere, with shops, stalls, street workers and loads of police.

When I got back to the hotel, I papped out for a few hours, but was woken when Nike's Bridget Elliot called to let me know she'd arrived.

I freshened up and went downstairs to meet her and a few other journalists and various professionals who were all in town for the same event. I was then handed a ticket to see the New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Gardens later on that evening.

Brapppp!!!