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Michael Jordan's Son Could Cost College $3M
Adidas deal predates player with inherited preference for Nike
By Harry Kimball
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Posted Oct 22, 09 1:11 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Michael Jordan’s son wants to wear the shoes his dad made famous when he plays college basketball this season—but if he does, he could wind up costing the University of Central Florida $3 million. Marcus Jordan insists on wearing Nike Air Jordans, but UCF has a deal with adidas. Athletic department officials “said they had talked to the adidas people,” Jordan, a freshman, tells the Orlando Sentinel.
Adidas and UCF are in the final year of a 6-year deal that calls for the company to supply athletic apparel free or at a discount. A new agreement is in the works that would make all the gear for the school's 15 teams free—all $3 million worth. Nike has no plans to step in, and the school is treading lightly. "We made adidas aware of this unique situation during contract-renewal discussions," UCF said in a statement. Says an adidas rep: “These relationships are based upon agreed deliverables for both parties.”