06:38 PM Friday, November 20, 2009
Did Marcus Jordan Do the Right Thing?
Date: Friday, November 06, 2009, 6:15 am
By: Zack Burgess, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com
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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there are several ways to look at this, but the first two that come to mind are these:
1. do bill gate's kids have ipods? do they use software other than that produced by microsoft or one of its' many subsidiaries? do they google?
2. what about the kids on the team whose fathers don't own shoe companies and rely on the scholarships that they've earned (and all that comes with it, including free athletic apparel) to help them get an education?
by
Mister chi
November 14, 2009, 4:10 pm
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His father owns a shoe and apparel company! This is a no brainer! Jordan already is already in the sponsor business. Adidas might have cost themselves more than 3 million. Now MJ can swoop in take over a new contract. Too easy! I'm sure Phil Knight is like a Godfather to this kid. Basically the school has its choice of either company.
by
Kael
November 9, 2009, 10:49 pm
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I believe Adidas acted too quickly in pulling their endorsement and why should one man stop the entire school from getting their products. I don't blame Marcus for wearing his father's shoes...
by
Jeanell33
November 9, 2009, 6:37 pm
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I really feel that Marcs done what each and everyone of us would have done. I would net wear shoes either if my dad was the one that changed the game. I do not think that it was wrong. My dad has his own shoe his opwn business and it is my duty to uphold the image and stay grounded in what y dad has done. Cause when my dad passes on then it is up to me the son the heir t uphold he estate ad let it lve on. So he is not spoilded he is grounded and taught right and he has been raised th right way, if not then h would not hve gone to a small school in fla. to make a name for himself.
by
Skins4life
November 9, 2009, 11:57 am
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M Jordan is rich. He needs to pay for the $3mill his son made UCF loose.
by
Lilkunta
November 9, 2009, 9:48 am
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Central Florida basketball player Marcus Jordan, son of former NBA star Michael Jordan, cost his school $3 million. (AP)
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