You're a clown if you think the 216, 330 or any other Central or North Eastern Ohio area wasn't an influence. Influenced Music, Professional Sports, do you know where the first man on the moon was from? OHIO! Hell even the MOB wanted to hold down Ohio.
I grew up in Youngstown Ohio and am 39 years old, which means I was around for all the OGs that you Retro junkies jump on. JB had just begun to even show up in the stores...first pair of J's I bought, in a store, were the 5s. But the Bron Fan from the 330 is correct, that area does its own thing. When I grew up we rocked Fila, BKs (do you even know what that stands for) old school Run DMCs adidas Brougham the OG year of the snake Nike Air Python (first pimp nikes IMO)...nike trainers...everything was street...not fashion, and kids in this demographic were the original targets for big marketing.
AF1s or flat bottom shoes are at that time and still to this day are more "limp-wristed" shoes and you had to live in Cali to wear those because only pretty boys wore them. Most of Ohio is Hood...and is known more for a rugged style.
And if you're so sure no one is looking at Ohio for anything why are you in a Lebron (Product of Ohio) thread discussing his shoes??? I respect everyone's sneaker game and choice, but you start talking on cities and what we represent you cross lines...when was the last time you rolled through cleveland heights? To this day I'm pretty confident if you showed up in your pretty white "Hare Jordans" you'd get stomped by the guy wearing the matching du-rag.