The question pops up often enough amongst sneakerheads: What’s your favorite pair of Jordans? The answer is never easy, and sometimes varies between generations. The Jordan XI is usually the default answer. That can be credited to the patent leather.

My answer, usually after taking a few moments to really ponder, always circles back to one specific design:  The Air Jordan III in black. Yes, the “Space Jam” Jordan XI is a very close second, followed immediately by the black and red Jordan XI and black Infrared VI.

People’s choices are always open to debate. In fact, the debate is so intense, SneakersNews.com ran formal March Madness brackets this year, pitting original Air Jordan designs against one another. The final round featured a head-to-head battle between the Air Jordan XI and the Air Jordan III. The “Concord” XI won by an extremely narrow margin, earning 51.11% of the votes.

My vote is counted somewhere inside the other 48.89%.

A little more than a month ago, I waxed poetic about the first time I noticed the white Air Jordan III. I credit that recollection as the source of my passion for the III’s design. My preferential leanings toward darker colors and black shoes make this pair my hands-down favorite.

Sure, the acquisition stemmed a little from ego. To quote myself:

There were no known plans for a 2011 retro of the black cement 3s, and I wanted to hurt sneakerheads’ feelings with a fresh pair. While everyone wore their white 2011 3s, I wanted to be the guy with the black pair. And so, [my girlfriend] came through in the clutch for me: CDP 3s for Christmas 2010.

But a little ego isn’t so bad, is it? Not when it comes to a sneaker and design you truly covet.

It’s the black cement 3s’ versatility that I admire most. It’s a sneaker that, when worn properly, doesn’t have to look like a sneaker. It’s appealing without relying on patent leather to grab attention; it’s eye-catching without the distraction of the foamposite mold. At it’s simplest, the Jordan 3 is a well-designed shoe.

The sneakers work well with your standard neutral colors. There’s a little red on the sneaker in case you feel like contrasting the casual design with something more vivacious. I usually go low-key with the sneakers; for example, I’m wearing them this very moment with a black vintage-wash Lacoste polo shirt and an Angels fitted with red accents.

Then there are the louder options, with t-shirts designed specifically to match the elephant print along the heels and toes.

8and9.com designed one of my favorite t-shirts to match the black cement 3s. The “Real Heads Rock Their Kicks” shirt borrows its cues directly from the sneaker for a perfect pairing. I’m not usually a fan of t-shirts with phrases, because I don’t like being studied when I’m out and about, but encouraging sneakerheads to rock their kicks is a bit of advice I truly admire. (Stop locking your sneakers up in display cases!)

I’m also a fan of Bobby Fresh’s design. He has another design with Jordan hugging the white Jordan 3 as a replacement for the championship trophy. But I couldn’t see myself wearing a sneaker with a t-shirt that features the same sneaker. That’s a little tacky.

Oh, and once again, those are the out-of-stock Fully Laced elephant print laces on the shoes. Room 322, a Canadian streetwear boutique, has some in stock*, but I’m not sure if they’re identical. If you’re stateside, expect the shipping to run you a little more than $16.

*Room 322 is sold out now, too.