Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ

The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

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Central Florida's Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, warms up before UCF's NCAA college basketball exhibition game against St. Leo, while wearing Air Jordan shoes and Adidas ankle straps Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Jason Greene)

Enlarge photo

Central Florida's Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, looks up during his team's NCAA college basketball exhibition game against St. Leo on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. A right over the shoes Marcus Jordan will wear at UCF has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Jason Greene)

Enlarge photo

Central Florida's Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, wears Air Jordan shoes and Adidas ankle straps during warmups before UCF's NCAA college basketball exhibition game against St. Leo on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Jason Greene)

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"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's 84-65 win in an exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site. Jordan has said he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment.

"We are disappointed to learn that adidas has chosen to discontinue its relationship with UCF Athletics," the school said in a statement Wednesday night released by spokesman Joe Hornstein. "Once we receive official notice we will be able to further respond."

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November 04, 2009 11:35 PM EST

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