The Bible tells us that the sins of the father will visit the son. And in "Hamlet," Shakespeare thoroughly showed us the problems of a man’s struggle with his past. A father’s actions, his conflicts, his strengths and, unfortunately, his weaknesses will somehow rear their heads. We see it with our presidents, our doctors, our lawyers, and now with the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball – Michael Jordan.

If you haven’t heard by now, an uproar has been caused by Jordan’s son, Marcus, a freshman guard at University of Central Florida. Young Marcus refused to wear the team-mandated Adidas sneaker in favor of the shoe his father made famous, the Nike Air Jordan. The younger Jordan’s actions caused Adidas to sever its sponsorship ties with the school altogether.

That means UCF will be forced to buy its own clothing, shoes and equipment - for all 15 of its sports - at full price.

“The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to Adidas,” said Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “As a result, we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward.”

Many are wondering, how did a university and its head basketball coach allow this to happen? How can one young man cause a university to lose a six-year, multi-million dollar contract?

Sports fans had a lot to say, but no real answers.

“As part of the team, he needs to wear what the school supplies, said Mark Ricks of Laurel, Maryland. “The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. What has he accomplished that deserves all this uproar?”

According to The Orlando Sentinel, UCF's contract with Adidas represents about 1.4 percent of the UCF Athletics Association's projected income this year.

Apparently, the deal with Adidas was reported to be worth $3 million and last up to six years. UCF would have received all its merchandise from Adidas free under their new proposed contract, a change from the current deal that called for UCF to buy some items from Adidas at wholesale prices.

Nike has not expressed interest in taking over the UCF shoe contract, with the company well-represented in the Florida market, thanks to agreements with the University of Florida, Florida State University and Miami University.

"There should be a radical change in amateur athletics in America, because it's a farce," Sonny Vaccaro, who many consider the godfather of basketball and pioneered paying college basketball coaches for exclusive apparel deals and later made similar agreements with universities, told USA Today. "Amateurism lost its virginity a long time ago."

In 1984, Vaccaro convinced Nike to sign a young point guard from North Carolina. Air Jordan was born. And the rest is history.

How did Michael Jordan allow this? Maybe it’s one of those things where a child is looking for his father’s approval, admiration and attention? After all, you never really know the true inner workings of one's family dynamics. What's clear here is that lessons in humility, gratitude and the spirit of teamwork appear to be lacking in Marcus' Jordan playbook.

“I think it's unfortunate that he's been brain-washed and he believes he must align himself with Nike,” said Roger Moore Jr. of London, England. “His father was their corporate puppet based on his contract with them. However, on what principle is HE making this stand? Exactly, what has HE accomplished? He better get a triple-double each game.”

UCF head basketball coach Kirk Speraw defended his embattled young guard's actions in Conference USA's preseason basketball teleconference.

"The thing about Marcus that I really need to make perfectly clear is Marcus is an outstanding young man. .....

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He should be able to wear whatever he wants. Again, like blaxfax stated, Every school or college should be self-sufficiently responsible for its teams' clothing -- not depend on FREE HANDOUTS from business interests capitalizing on college publicity.

by   
MsPurple69
November 9, 2009, 9:28 am
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Marcus Jordan is a spoiled, priviledged, poor sportsman just like his arrogant pappy. I can't stand arrogant jerk offs.

by   
Deelove2001
November 8, 2009, 6:04 pm
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Part 2) Adidas knows this is about marketing their shoes to you the consumer, who will pay the cost of what ever the bargain they give to colleges to wear their brands. I don't think, it is about Marcus Jordan being an "immature elitist" or disruptive or looking for his father's approval. It is about your sons seeing him in those shoes and wanting them. Their pull out was a little hasty.

by   
Slavitom
November 8, 2009, 12:03 pm
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To Spercy. Unlike others that commented on this story it is obvious you are missing one of the key points. The school did not pick the shoe, Addidas picked them (UCF) by way of... "This is what we will do for your school, if you do THIS". Guess what "THIS IS". Like the example 'RIB1015' gave, I work for AMTRAK, but that does not mean when I travel I use AMTRAK and need to get there in a matter of hours... I fly via AIRPLANE. Am I being disloyal to AMTRAK?

by   
Slavitom
November 8, 2009, 12:02 pm
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Part 2: Blame the school for sucking into exploitative advantage for national business deals. Which "stinks" worse? Exploitation or Media mongering. The athlete should not "sell his or her soul" in order to ply his skills for the team. Rib1015 and FittyCyn recognize that Addidas is actually the villain here. Instead of the weight on Marcus, put it on THEM. They could have supported the rest of the team if they desired, since they did it for a decade. I agree with the one who said they looked forward to exploiting Marcus. Their pullout was WRONG.

by   
BlaxFax
November 7, 2009, 7:21 pm
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Many African-American athletes have a deep affinity for a certain type gymshoe. Best comfort level experienced in brands they choose. Little price to pay for a team to allow players rights for mental and physical comfort to render best ease of mind/strategic maneuring skills. May be a psychological thing, but no less real to those operating under its influence. Media need not be disgruntled by the "victim" here. Every school or college should be self-sufficiently responsible for its teams' clothing -- not depend on FREE HANDOUTS from business interests capitalizing on college publicity.

by   
BlaxFax
November 7, 2009, 7:20 pm
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(cont) 1, this may be Marcus' own choice...his father knows about such contracts, he helped start it all. 2, it's similar to SOME Ford employees buying an Oldsmobile - some feel such loyalty and belief in the product, why should they support the competitor (although I know plenty who would for 1 reason or another)

by   
Rlb1015
November 7, 2009, 5:03 pm
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By joining the team, did Jordan relinquish his rights to any sense of individuality? I know that few in this country are not bought in some form or fashion, but since when does any co. have exclusive ownership of this nature. Sports sponsorship needs to have its reigns pulled in and I commend this stance. Shame on Adidas. This is more about capitalism than father-son loyalty.

by   
Rlb1015
November 7, 2009, 5:02 pm
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marcus was being an immature elitiist by refusing to wear the shoes the university chose for the team to wear. maybe he should have attended a school where they wear nikes.

by   
Spercy
November 6, 2009, 2:49 pm
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Marcus should have worn the same shoes as the other players and this shouild have been enforced by his father, Michael. I understand his commitment to his father but I have to wonder...at what cost? This type of attitude doesn't show that he is a team player at all. It's his way or the highway. Definitely not thinking clearly.

by   
Mkrep
November 6, 2009, 2:27 pm
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I'm sure he's a wonderful young man and I wish him well, but all this hoopla and he went 0-3 in field goals and 1-2 in free throws in the game. Get your priorities straight. Shoes really DON'T make the man!!!

by   
Gloriasd
November 6, 2009, 1:05 pm
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Burgess is referencing the bible, and talking Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Adidas severs their ties with the school. All because one kid decides to wear the shoes his dad made famous. Any son would do the same thing.

Sounds like Adidas was just looking for an out and they found one. If they really wanted to sponsor the team they wouldn’t let the actions of one player stop them. Deal with that individual situation or player directly, don’t punish the entire school. Shame on Adidas for not acting more grown up.

by   
FiftyCyn
November 6, 2009, 10:44 am
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PERSPECTIVE: Is it possibility that his actions are just from loving & idolizing his father; the rest of the entire world still do and for the last 25 years. GOD forbid having MJ as your father and idolizing his brand. Isn’t it reasonable a son would dare to feel this way and make such a decision after having MJ for a father? Poor and single family homes pay hundreds of $$$ for the MJ brand and have never touched the man. Rich kids too! Marcus sat on MJ’s famous knees; was lifted in the air as a toddler by MJ as fathers do. Let’s add this to the reality, keeping it real. PEACE!

by   
EgMitch14
November 6, 2009, 10:31 am
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I wish that more people were familiar w the scripture of the sins of the Father visit the son, then maybe we would have more parents stepping up to the plate ealier on. The bible is real. But let us get a complete understanding of what happened before we go off the deep end and start throwing around acusations.

by   
G-eyes
November 6, 2009, 10:24 am
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What the article doesn't state is many schools have shoe contracts but all players for whatever reasons don't have to wear them...ck out South Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest...just to name a few.
Adidas hasn't shared the "whole" story. They wanted to do an ad campaigned featuring Marcus J. and he said, "NO". He felt like they were exploiting him to fuel the fire with Nike. What people don't realize is Adidas is still angry for MJ not signing with them originally.
As a native Floridian, this situation was settled in June but just recently became an uproar....

by   
Wth
November 6, 2009, 9:53 am
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Hotrod I can agree with you to some extent, but when the young man decided to attend college there a contractual agreement was already in place, if it was his intention to circumvent that contracts policy maybe he should have gone to a school where the kind of shoes he wore would not be an issue. Be aware maybe it was an act to force Addias to cancel their contract so the school can seek another. We'll never know. It's about being a part of the team, not being the renegade that undermines the program for self exposure. Something we must all learn and that's what sports is suppose to teach us.

by   
Mmm83
November 6, 2009, 9:29 am
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Haters! You have got to be kidding. This boy is part of a college team. He has yet to accomplish anything. He had to know before he got there what brand of shoes and clothing was worn. Let his daddy pick up the tab for the school since he feels obligated to go with Nike. MJ has the money but has he stepped up? I doubt that he will.

by   
Jaiajewell
November 6, 2009, 9:18 am
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MJ HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO PURCHASE HALF THE SCHOOL OR A COLLEGE PROGRAM. MOST AFRICAN-AMERICANS DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES, SO WHEN ANOTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN HAS MADE THEIR WAY AND DECLINE ALIGNING THEMSELVES TO MAKE WHITE COMPANIES RICH; BESIDES KEEPING THEIR OWN BLESSING INTACT HATERS SPEAKOUT!!!

by   
Hotrod7
November 6, 2009, 9:14 am
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Who do he think is , Just a spoil Brat and he not even that Good! UCF what a sellout Let s just hope he gets u too the NCAA Tournament

by   
Milkkman
November 6, 2009, 9:00 am
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UCF must really need that publicity from MJ..... How else would you lose a multi-million dollar contract for a below average basketball player. The new famous is to do nothing but be blessed to born to a rich and famous parent. Way to go America......We follow Paris Hilton, Marcus Jordon, and that Ritchie brat to name just a few......Empower Yourself

by   
Reality_Check
November 6, 2009, 8:00 am
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From what I read Jordan Jr. told UCF that he was only going to wear Nike Air during the recruitment process. Besides Nike makes a better shoe than Addias... duh

by   
Dopamine
November 6, 2009, 7:44 am
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