Free Write

Michael Jordan Shoes

When they first arrived on the shoe scene, Air Jordan shoes were hugely popular. In fact, so many people wanted these shoes that there were often riots and fighting over them. People would actually come to blows about who would get the most popular shoe on the planet. No doubt, Michael Jordan never anticipated how popular the shoes would become, but each additional version of Jordan’s signature shoe line is as popular as the last.

Michael Jordan signed a deal with Nike in 1984 to endorse a particular brand of Nike basketball shoes – the Air Jordan. Besides Michael Jordan, other athletes to endorse the brand are Carmelo Anthony and Roy Jones, Jr. You might say Air Jordans were the shoes that built Nike, as they had been struggling prior to Jordan signing the shoe deal. However, if it were not for Jordan’s manager, the deal may have never taken place. Jordan himself actually preferred the shoes made by Adidas and Converse.The initial deal for the Air Jordan I shoes was $2.5 million, plus royalties and other benefits, for five years. As the first shoes (with a winged basketball logo and a price tag of $65) rolled off the manufacturing line and into the stores, it was obvious the pairing was ‘gold.’

While the red and black Air Jordans might be popular, they’re seen more than their share of controversies. As if Michael Jordan wanting to opt out wasn’t enough, the very first Air Jordans are also known as the banned versions. We’ve mentioned above that Jordan was fined for wearing these shoes in NBA games. The reason behind this was that they broke the uniform rules for the whole league. While Nike did pay the fines to retain the advertisement, they went a step further in their campaign. Their main aim became marketing the shoes as a sort of forbidden fruit, hence enhancing their appeal.