GREETINGS FROM GLENDALE

When you know you’re getting old: I saw a pair of Nikes from the 1970s this past week, the ones with those old, gold rubber cleats, and instantly remembered wearing them for youth sports.

One of the better Super Bowl displays here shows a row of Nikes that follows the evolution of the company’s original football cleat to today’s technological web of Air-this and Max-that.

A new shoe for San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson highlights the exhibit. It looks like something you could wear playing on Sundays or floating around inside the Space Shuttle.

It has a carbon fiber plate in the front for extra cushioning and a type of cleat that has never been used before on any Nike shoe. The company also will release the shoe in a training version, so start saving your $100 bills.

“The funny thing about L.T. is that he really likes (Michael) Jordan products as well,” said Rodney Knox, U.S. director of communications for Nike team sports. “But I’m also sure you’ll see him in his own shoe.”

Yeah. Let’s see him run in those old rubber cleats.