14-year-old tried for rape
'09-'10 Miami hockey season photos
COSI on Wheels
Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > October > 28 > Entry
Michael Jordan’s son steps into a dispute
They recruited Marcus Jordan because they hoped he would be following in his famous dad’s footsteps . Now he is and the University of Central Florida wishes he was not.
UCF has a problem stuck to the bottom of it’s basketball sole — maybe its soul, too — and right now the school can’t figure out a way to scrape it off.
As the son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, Marcus is the Golden Knights most famous basketball player.
But as one Chicago sports columnist puts it, the 18-year-old Heir Jordan is about to become Err Jordan.
I like the line — I’m not so sure of the logic.
The problem is over the brand of shoes the kid will wear when UCF tips off its hoops season with an exhibition game next Wednesday, Nov. 4
For decades Michael Jordan’s name has been synonymous with Nike — sometimes to a fault.
UCF has an exclusive $1.9 million contract with Nike rival Adidas that requires all its athletes and coaches to wear adidas footwear and apparel.
When he was being recruited, Marcus brought up the issue — saying he only wanted to wear his dad’s Air Jordan brand Nikes on the court — and he, and some UCF officials, have said he was told that wouldn’t be a problem.
Adidas though — which is in the midst of negotiating a new six-year, $ 3 million contract with UCF — has said no to that proposal. It wants EVERYBODY in Adidas gear.
Marcus though has balked. He said he’ll wear the Adidas apparel, but he plans to wear Nike Air Jordans, just as he was assured he could.
“When I was being recruited, we talked about it,” Marcus told the Orlando Sentinel. “They said they had talked to the Adidas people, and it wasn’t going to be a problem. I think everybody understands how big of a deal it is for my family.
“I have a high level of respect for Adidas, but I’m going to be wearing Jordan shoes. I’m wearing the Adidas uniform, and all my other UCF gear is Adidas, but the shoes are going to be Jordan brand.”
Now supposedly UCF’s new deal with Adidas is in some jeopardy because of the flap. And for the cash-strapped Golden Knights’ athletic department, $3 million is significant. It’s at least 5 percent of the entire athletics budget.
The school is the one that screwed this thing up. It never should have made the arrangement with Marcus. While some have tried to dismiss it as just another over-inflated ploy used on the recruiting trail, the bottom line is that a promise is a promise.
So what are the choices here?
Besides Adidas relenting or Nike — which already has the the state’s three most prominent programs under contract, Miami Florida and Florida State — stepping in and offering a more lucrative deal or UCF releasing Jordan’s son from his scholarship, there is one other possibility.
Marcus could show himself to be a true team player and agree to wear Adidas and end up standing taller than anyone in this mess.
Although I’d like to see that, I’m not sure that will happen — especially not if Marcus truly is following in Dad’s footsteps.
I remember this same kind of flap at the Barcelona Olympics. The gold medal-winning US basketball team was outfitted by Reebok, but Jordan and a few other players were adamant about their Nike contracts.
And so on the medal stand, Jordan draped an American flags over his warm-up jacket. Not a display of patriotism, this was all about profiteering. He wanted to make sure he hid the Reebok logo.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment |
Comments
By ExLadyVol
November 6, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this
@LEE…. as a former Lady Vol for the University of Tennesee…. Athletes are NOT “FORMALLY” paid by these athletic companies… UT track was sponsored my ADIDAS also.. which meant we were to wear ALL ADIDAS… The items are all free… UT provides scholarships to the athletes due to these BIG COMPANIES , so in essence WE ARE BEING PAID BY THE COMPANIES!!!! SO MARCUS… WEAR THEM OR MOVE ON!!!!!
By brat
November 5, 2009 10:32 PM | Link to this
You spoil brat shut up and play or get off the team, shoes is shoes just play the game and shut the f—k up.
By Rudy
October 29, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
I don’t care who’s kid you are and how important you think you are! Wear the Adidas and shut the hell up. You’re team is under contract with Adidas, you aren’t your father, and I’m SOOOOOOO sick of all the athlete’s getting the “Golden Spoon” treatment. Grow up!
By Lee
October 29, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
The contract is whats rediculous. I was always under the impression if you don’t want to wear the free shoes given to you, and if you want to go out and buy another brand you have that right. If your not paying these kids to wear nike or adidas then they can wear whatever shoe they want.
By joe
October 29, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
Jordan Jr. sounds like a problem child to me.
By hank
October 28, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
How exactly is a kid that went to Central Florida overrated. He was a mid major recruit at best and he signed with a low level D-I program.
By MeToo
October 28, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this
I agree Michael has the money or the pull with Nike and should buyout the contract but calling Jr Jordon over rated is a little strong. We can’t expect the Jr to be as good as or better that his dad but you still have to give him a chance.
By Money talks
October 28, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this
Simple answer. Just have Michael buy out the current contract and outside UCF in his brand. 3 mil is chump change to adidas and it keeps Michael’s overrated son happy