I am posting this to sports because I think it can remain "sports" and not devolve into P&R.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Taylor_All-Stars
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star basketball shoes have been in the news lately. I have heard some people refer to them as "Chucks".  I don't remember hearing them referred to that way before.  I grew up in urban environments ("asphalt jungles") and lived in the Northeast US all of my life.  Where I come from, the shoes were known as "Cons", not "Chucks".  
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At school, Cons were the preferred shoe for sports and casual wear. Keds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keds
were at a lower tier, but somewhat respectable. Then came the no-name or chain brand or store name sneakers.  
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What were Cons or Chucks known as where you grew up or lived? Other than Keds, were there other competitors in your area?

and next to us in the visiting room was a convict wearing sneakers and, in big letters on the soles, it said "CONS." I assume that was his attempt at irony but who knows?

This West Coast kid knew them as Chuck's, We wore Van's over those.ok