Shoe names come from all kinds of places, some named for famous events, some for geographic locations, and some like the Nike Yankee, for people from the traditional footwear producing region of the country, New England. The Yankee was a well designed running shoe which graced the feet of myself, and the collegiate athletes I coached, shortly after graduating from college myself. The shoe was not flashy looking, and let its performance do the talking, kind of like the New England shoemakers. Just as I had gone through 3 or 4 pairs of the Nike Road Runner, the Yankee was my shoe of choice from 1980-84. The nylon upper was familiar to any runner in the 70’s & 80’s, kept a little rain off, wore very well – until the day your toe went through the fabric, then you’d limp them along until a replacement could be procured and the old pair was relegated to painting, mowing the lawn, or other chores.