I used to run a Nike news site from 1996-2000 at nikepark.simplenet.com
Check out these two sites for history:
http://www.defynewyork.com/2014/02/05/schools-in-session-internet-sneaker-culture-part-2-nike-park/
http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2013/05/10-defunct-sneaker-websites-we-miss/nikepark
nikepark [at] nikepark.org