The Marcus Jordan shoe controversy is making headlines everywhere from KnightNews.com to ESPN, USA Today and even ABCNews.com.
And about 24 hours after Marcus Jordan wore white Nikes on the UCF basketball court during the Knights’ exhibition game against St. Leo, the controversy is showing no signs of letting up.
UCF Athletics released the following new statement to KnightNews.com late Thursday afternoon:
“UCF Athletics learned last evening, through an email from an Associated Press reporter seeking comment that its contract with adidas, as its shoe, apparel and equipment provider, would not continue.
“UCF Athletics was engaged in legal discussions with adidas concerning the partnership and its future.
“UCF Athletics, as of this afternoon, has not heard from adidas regarding its current and future relationship with the Corporation.
“It is UCF Athletics’ intention to fully discuss the matter and to provide information and detail as soon as it receives notice from adidas concerning its contract status.
“Until such time, UCF Athletics is unable to make further comment.”
But as UCF waits for adidas to make whatever threat to end their relationship official, the school is standing by Jordan, as made clear in the second part of the statement regarding NBA legend Michael Jordan’s son:
“During Marcus’ recruitment to UCF we received assurances from adidas that he would be permitted to wear his father’s footwear without ending the adidas—UCF athletics sponsorship.
“The student-athlete relied on those assurances and is in no way responsible for the present circumstances.
“We are proud to have Marcus in our program and on our basketball team. He has handled a very public matter with an impressive level of maturity.”
Local Orlando Sentinel sports columnist Mike Bianchi called on Nike to step up and save the day with a new contract to “rescue UCF from the tyranny of adidas.”
Bianchi defended Jordan from vicious attacks he’s faced in cyberspace, from bloggers and others, for wearing Air Jordans Wednesday night.
One day later, the move by adidas to dump UCF is already starting to cause a backlash among fans.
UCF Alumnus Carnot Evans started the “Boycott of Adidas after they dump UCF over ONE pair of Nikes” faceboook group, which already boasts 118 members one day after Jordan wore the Nikes at the game.
Evans points out on the group: “Jordan’s shoes were non-descript and carried no visible logo – and he was wearing Adidas ankle straps – so the ONLY visible logo was Adidas.”
KnightNews.com was among the first media to report through sources that Jordan was going to stick to his guns and wear Nike while making an effort not to display a Nike logo the day before the game. Our staff will keep working our sources on this major story to bring you the latest developments.
Check back for updates.
