Michael Jordan's Converse sneakers to sell at auction
NBA legend Michael Jordan forged a massive legacy in basketball through his accomplishments on the court, but his continued prominence in popular culture owes a great deal to his partnership with Nike.
While Jordan obviously played a big role in making his name into the brand it is today, it's hard to imagine him without the Air Jordan, Jordan Brand, and the host of advertisements that helped build his star image. At times it's difficult to separate Jordan and Nike — their histories are that intertwined.
A new auction serves as a reminder that this was not always the case.
In October, Grey Flannel Auctions will put for bid the shoes that Jordan wore during Team USA's gold medal-winning game against Spain in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Except they're Converse, not Nike.
From Darren Rovell for ESPN.com via Slam:
A man who was a ball boy for the 1984 USA men's basketball team at the Olympics is giving up his prize possession: Michael Jordan's sneakers.
The man, who prefers to remain anonymous, consigned the shoes he says Jordan wore in the gold medal-winning game over Spain and then on the medal stand to Grey Flannel Auctions for its auction in mid-October.
The shoes are white Converse, the brand Jordan wore at North Carolina, thanks to a $10,000 a year deal that was given to his coach, Dean Smith, at the time.
Grey Flannel's Michael Russek said the auction house verified the chain of custody of the shoes by confirming that the consignor was indeed a ball boy and being presented with photos of him in the locker room in Los Angeles. He said that Jordan signed the shoes at the time before handing it to the consignor.
Soon after the Olympics, Jordan went with his agent, David Falk, to Nike headquarters and signed a five-year deal with the swoosh worth $7 million over five years, including stock options.
Rovell also notes that these would have been the last shoes Jordan wore in competition as an amateur, although they likely matter more as the last non-swoosh shoes he donned in a game.
It's also somewhat notable that they're not Adidas, Nike's biggest competitor for signing Jordan and the brand he reportedly preferred to wear at the time.
This auction follows Grey Flannel's sale of Jordan's 1997 NBA Finals Game 5 "Flu Game" sneakers, which were consigned by the Utah Jazz ballboy for that game. (I guess it's a good idea to serve in that role for an important contest.) The sale price of $104,765 set a record for game-worn sneakers, and it seems likely that the mark will stand.
The '84 Olympics sneakers are interesting and mark the end of an era in Jordan's career, but the game itself does not carry the same historical significance as the Flu Game. Perhaps the Olympics ballboy will have to settle for a mere five figures. I bet he'll be furious.
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