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Adidas Ends Relationship With UCF Over Jordan Wearing Nike

The UCF Knights basketball had an exhibition game against St. Leo Wednesday night and every player but one wore adidas shoes as is required by the school's contract with the shoe and apparel contract.  The exception, as we would expect, was Marcus Jordan, Michael's youngest son.  As a result of permitting Jordan the younger to wear Nike, adidas,  predictably, has chosen to end its relationship with UCF following this school year, a relationship that has been valued at up to $3 million.

adidas spokesperson Andrea Corson, in an email to the Orlando Sentinel had this to say:

"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas. As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

UCF officials seemed to be surprised by the adidas reaction but I can't for the life of me understand why.  Nor can I understand how they would allow a single student, even one with a superstar father, jeopardize a contract that would benefit every team fielded by the school.  Just who exactly is running the asylum over there.  To me, UCF handled this whole matter very amateurishly (if that is a word.)

Full post as published by Sports Biz on November 05, 2009 (boomark / email).