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Issue Date: February 20, 2005
FLASHBACK '85
My rookie year. By Michael Jordan
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, the b-ball icon recalls his stellar first season.
Hard to believe it's been 20 years since I first set foot on a pro court. Twenty years since I laced up my first pair of black-and-red Air Jordans. I still remember how it felt: the nervous anticipation, my eagerness to prove myself, ready to take on the world.
This contest is now closed
Be one of the 20 USA WEEKEND readers to cop a pair of the limited-edition Air Jordan XX.
Deadline: Feb. 22, 2005.
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It's both startling and humbling to realize how much can happen in 20 years. I've enjoyed a successful playing career. I've won a few championships. I've made my mark on the game I love and touched people all over the world by encouraging them to pursue a life of dedication and excellence.
So much of what's happened, and the path my career has taken, were determined by the events of 1985. It was more than a pivotal year, including Rookie of the Year honors -- it was a watershed moment in my life. In the past two decades, I never took any decision for granted, realizing every decision would impact my future.
In the 1984 NBA Draft, I went to the Chicago Bulls as the third overall pick, behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie. Whether by luck or fate, Chicago was the best possible situation for me as a developing rookie. I had time to work on my game. I wasn't expected to carry the league as kids are today.
One particular memory of my rookie season is a game we had against Milwaukee on March 17. Back then, Chicago was not the team to beat, and it was no surprise we were down by 22 points. Most fans thought the game was over. However, we managed to regain our energy and come back in the fourth quarter. That victory represented a turning point for our team. I always believed "no game is over until it's over," and now the team believed it, too.
In terms of sponsorships, I had no intention of signing with Nike when they invited me to their headquarters in Oregon. In high school and college, my allegiances were to Adidas and Converse. But ultimately I was won over by Nike's innovative ideas about how we could redefine the landscape of sports marketing. At the meeting, they talked about giving me my own shoe.
The introduction of the Air Jordan single-handedly changed the athletic shoe industry. (Before that, most basketball shoes were white.) The first Air Jordan was so revolutionary, it was initially banned from the league. I wore them anyway, amassing fines -- up to $5,000 a game. Nike was more than happy to pay, and undoubtedly the shoes helped me put up some big [per-game] numbers for the year: 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Eventually, my career numbers took on a life of their own, with more records than I can recall, but only two really stand out now: six NBA rings, and 20 Air Jordans. Hard to believe.
"It's gotta be the shoes"
Facts and tidbits about the greatest basketball shoe ever made
By Craigh Barboza
The Air Jordan has consistently been one of the top-selling basketball shoes since its release in 1985. But the Air Jordan XI (1995) was the best-selling edition. Michael Jordan is a size 13. He would wear a brand-new pair of Air Jordans each and every game.
There is a lot of inspiration the creative team looks for when designing the next Air Jordan shoe. First and foremost, it begins with Michael. The designers take into account his performance needs in a basketball shoe, his style, his hobbies, his cars, his taste in clothing, etc.
Many Air Jordans have taken design cues from automobiles. For the new Air Jordan XX, the design inspirations included not just MJ's illustrious life and career, but also his current love of motorcycles.
What some of the symbols on the 2005 Air Jordan represent:
Black Cat: MJ was known as "black cat" to friends and opponents throughout the NBA because of his ferocity on the court.
Toolbox with the word Pops built into it: Pops, as Michael's father was known, was also Mr. Fix-it, who could repair just about anything.
Whistle: In honor of Clifton "Pop" Herring, MJ's high school basketball coach; the letters CPH form the shape of a whistle.
Six fingered Hand: Commemorates MJ's six championship rings.
Home Plate: MJ's minor-league baseball stats with the Birmingham Barons: 3 home runs, 51 RBI's, and 30 stolen bases.
The names of the Air Jordan shoe's head designers are:
Bruce Kilgore (Air Jordan I-II)
Tinker Hatfield (Air Jordan III-XV)
Wilson Smith (Air Jordan XVI-XVII)
Tate Kuerbis (Air Jordan XVIII-XIX)
Tinker Hatfield (Air Jordan XX)
More on designer Tinker Hatfield and the art for XX.
http://www.jordanextreme.com/AJ20/
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