Michael Jordan Fined For Shoes

Michael Jordan shoes are making their mark, 25 years after its debut
"Are the shoes? They must be the shoes. Are you sure they are not shoes? Obviously, must be the shoes!"

Sure were not the shoes. He was the man who was wearing. With all the high concepts, modern technology and Corinthian leather was used in the shoe size 13 for the time when the rubber will meet with the wood, one is left with the feeling that a pair of old shoes models Chuck Taylors would have been enough for Michael Jordan. In terms of, you know, to get six NBA championships, 10 scoring titles as, 14 elections to the All-Star Game, two Olympic gold medals, the highest scoring average in NBA history (30.12) , five MVP awards and an unprecedented popularity and success worldwide.

Still, he had a good help. While Scottie Pippen was known as the most reliable teammate of Jordan during his best years on the court, the Air Jordan line of sneakers became the main trail beyond.

25 years ago, the first edition of what later would become a billion dollar Nike brand made its debut at the feet of rated rookie Chicago Bulls. During the All-Star 1984-85, the exclusive Jordan shoes went from being a simple commercial sales record to become a sporting event and possibly alter the midseason classic in the league and possibly NBA history .

The Air Jordan created a buzz about something (sports shoes) almost never caused a stir. The rumor was thoroughly mixed with the noise that Jordan was doing on the court with its many points scored, your skills, your style. The fans just trying to see what Michael and the Bulls finally able to. But the shoes were there, right in the spotlight (wherever that Jordan levitating).

He sat next to the track, working on a game the Bucks for the largest newspaper in Milwaukee, when Jordan threw those shoes in a bag before boarding the bus for a trip of 90 miles to the north of Chicago for the I-94.

Here are some of my first impressions of that time on those simple shoes, as published appeared the day after the meeting:

Contrary to what everyone thinks Michael Jordan is not the most amazing, most colorful, most amazingly, the most striking or the most dazzling in the NBA. His shoes themselves are ... The only thing that exceeds adjectives those shoes are the colors in them. Red, white and black all over.

Jordan and Nike shoes revealed during a match played in November in Philadelphia. The NBA was not too pleased about it and punished the Bulls and Jordan with a $ 5,000 fine for every game that she wear her shoes. Nike was more than happy to sign those checks - could not have better publicity this scandal! - Though the league, which made the shoes and the superstar in question later claimed that they had reached an agreement before the penalties were imposed.

Well, let's talk more about it. It turns out that some NBA veterans resented Jordan and his flashy sneakers when he used them during the All-Star 1985. The rookie made his Nike wearing a warm jacket and some gold chains, instead of the traditional dress of the All-Star game or the uniform of Chicago who had used that Saturday during the slam dunk competition, it's like the new boy had wanted to hold on its huge promotional potential in a time when he should have been a little more humble.

This became the legendary and notorious plan "excluded" to Jordan, allegedly orchestrated (and largely disproved) by Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson. The point guards of the teams in the East and West, respectively, went hand in hand to keep the ball away from Jordan for long periods of the match.

Reality?, FICTION? What really mattered was that Jordan - who finished with seven points and nine attempts to ring - believed in that rumor.

So in addition to the 140-129 West victory - even Jordan itself would have left the game with a marker closed, having received over the ball - a huge pressure prevailed over the shoulders of Michael and although it took some time, finally beat the Detroit assembly led by Thomas and started the winning streak of Chicago where, in his first final in 1991, hammered Johnson's Lakers. Nor forget the Olympics in 1992, when Jordan allegedly had voted against the election of Thomas for the team's original Dream Team.

Reality?, FICTION? Anyone who remembers Jordan's speech for entry into the Hall of Fame last fall certainly can believe in those disputes.

However, not all major NBA stars were bored of the Jordan-mania. Sidney Moncrief, the great Milwaukee shooting guard, told me a few days after having first seen the Air Jordan: "With a player of that stature, so he should create some excitement inserting something different. I like. I think it's good for the sport. And it is certainly good for the company that makes shoes. "

Do you believe that? The Jordan brand and Nike established that allows the manufacture and sale from the "campus" in Beaverton, Oregon, take risks and try to surprise without worrying that Quéeee ¿lagente say? ' Something happened in the latest edition of the shoes, the Air Jordan 2010: "(The designers) took literally the interpretation that had the ability to see what was going on in their rivals and creaon to play basketball sneakers that showed a exclsivo transparent and thermo plastic window.''

Right. And consumers, knowing this, hiceron line to spend $ 170, the recommended price.

However, those men who make the shoes are not always so smart. If they were, would not have taken so long to come out with a pair of shoes that took advantage of one of the most obvious features of Jordan. Only until the Air Jordan XV in 2000 - long after Michael will retire for the second time - made the tongue of the shoe stand out.