Marcus Jordan costs UCF their deal with Adidas

Last month, news leaked that Central Florida freshman Marcus Jordan, who is Michael's son, was refusing to wear Adidas shoes during the season. According to Marcus, he wanted to wear Jordan brand shoes because it was important to his family.

Today, the news broke that Adidas would not be renewing their contract with UCF.

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

Personally, I think Marcus should be more concerned with his decision to go with the rec-specs/headband combo than the shoes he will wear.
(photo credit: basketfever)

Now, a lot of people are going to blame the younger Jordan for this. While I agree that Marcus is being a bit irrational - I mean, it was his father that made these shoes famous, not him - I think the UCF coaching staff are the ones to blame here. They knew going in how much wearing Jordan's meant to Marcus. The coaches even told him it wouldn't be an issue:

When I was being recruited, we talked about it. 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.

Well, apparently the coaches didn't talk to the Adidas people.

And that is what cost them this deal.

Promises they couldn't keep.

Not Marcus Jordan wanting to wear Jordan's.
Continue reading...

Marcus Jordan embroiled in shoe controversy

Marcus Jordan is Michael Jordan's son.

Marcus Jordan goes to Central Florida.

Central Florida is an Adidas school.

Marcus Jordan wants to wear Jordan brand shoes.

Hmm, it seems we have a problem here. You see, the ability to wear Jordans while playing in college was a requirement for Marcus, and Central Florida promised him he would be able to while they recruited him. From the Chicago Tribune:

When I was being recruited, we talked about it. 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.

Apparently the university never ran it past Adidas officials, however, and it could end up costing UCF a lot of money.

Why?

Because the school's deal with Adidas is up in 2010, and they are currently in the midst of negotiations for a new deal that could be worth up to $3 million. Adidas would provide free equipment and apparel for all 15 of UCF' sports teams, a value equivalent to 5% of UCF's athletics budget.

That's a lot of money in this economy.

If UCF loses their sponsorship with Adidas, what are the chances of the elder Jordan funding the athletics program with his own brand?

Continue reading...

Marcus Jordan to UCF

Marcus Jordan, the younger son of that guy that used to play for the Bulls, has decided on where he will be attending college. After being offered a scholarship by schools like Miami, Iowa, Butler, and Stanford, Jordan has committed to Central Florida.

(photo credit: MLive.com)

It is an interesting decision. For starters, he had a chance to play at a bigger school. But I'm guessing the decision to go to a school like UCF is a desire for playing time - his brother Jeffrey didn't earn a scholly at Illinois until his sophomore season, and still sees very limited minutes as a defensive stopper. Continue reading...