Nike

NBA legend Michael Jordan and his Nike Jordan Brand announced the latest round of grants through its Black Community Commitment on Friday.

The commitment, which was launched last July and aims to "directly impact the fight against systemic racism," includes a $100 million pledge over a decade.

Here are the latest grant recipients:

• National Museum of African American History and Culture ($3 million over three years)

• Morehouse College ($1 million over two years)

• Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting ($1 million over two years)

The announcement noted the latest round of donations is focused on creating a "more complete understanding of how structural racism has impacted American history."

"Education is crucial for understanding the Black experience today," Jordan said. "We want to help people understand the truth of our past, and help tell the stories that will shape our future."

Film director Spike Lee, a famed New York Knicks fan and graduate of Morehouse College, said the Jordan Brand grant will help "tell our story."

"These grants will be well-spent," Lee said. "There's going to be a rich legacy of storytellers who will be supported by these programs. Many people are influenced to think a certain way about Black folks based on what they see on television and in Hollywood. We've got to tell our story."

That meshes with the Black Community Commitment's goal of helping organizations that "shape the narrative of the Black experience in media and popular culture."

Jordan, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls during a 15-year playing career that ended in 2003, currently serves as owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.

Word emerged Monday, March 29, that Nike was suing MSCHF Product Studio Inc. for trademark infringement after the American art collective created and sold Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes," which are modified Nike Air Max 97 sneakers.

𖤐♥ pic.twitter.com/BbLZduWRkH

— ☆ ‧dreamboy··‧̩̥˟͙冬˟͙‧̩̥l (@LilNasX) March 31, 2021

On Thursday, Nike and MSCHF reportedly reached a settlement agreement whereas MSCHF will issue a voluntary recall of the shoes and buy them back for their original retail prices to take them out of circulation, per TMZ Sports.

Nike already won in court on Wednesday, April 2, when a U.S. District Court in New York granted a temporary restraining order preventing MSCHF from selling the shoes.

Nike's complaint read as follows in part, per Chauncey Alcorn of CNN Business:

"MSCHF and its unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF's products and Nike. In the short time since the announcement of the Satan Shoes, Nike has suffered significant harm to its goodwill, including among consumers who believe that Nike is endorsing satanism."

Lil Nas X was not named in the lawsuit.

Per TMZ Sports, the shoes had "an inverted cross, bronze pentagram and a drop of human blood." According to Doha Madani and Diana Dasrath of NBC News, a total of 666 pairs were sold for $1,018 each.

Nike announced Wednesday that it has suspended its endorsement deal with Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson amid allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct against multiple massage therapists.

The company told CNBC's Jabari Young: "We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation."

Watson is currently facing civil lawsuits filed by 22 different women. Watson and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, have denied the allegations.

On Tuesday, two of the women who filed lawsuits against Watson spoke publicly for the first time at a press conference.

According to ESPN's Sarah Barshop, Ashley Solis was the first woman to file a lawsuit on March 16, and she shared her story Tuesday:

"I got into massage therapy to heal people. To heal their minds and bodies. To bring peace to their souls. Deshaun Watson has robbed me of that. He took that away from me, he tainted a profession in which I take enormous pride. ... I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety and depression. I'm in counseling as a result of Deshaun Watson's actions. I hope he knows how much pain he's inflicted on me emotionally and physically. And I hope he knows how much pain he's inflicted on these other survivors.

"People say that I'm doing this just for money. That is false. I come forward now so that Deshaun Watson does not assault another woman."

The other woman who filed suit against Watson and released a statement Tuesday was Lauren Baxley, who wrote a letter to Watson that was read by her attorney.

In part, the letter said: "Every boundary from professional and therapeutic to sexual and degrading you crossed or attempted to cross."

Watson signed with Nike in 2017 shortly before he was selected by the Texans with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Clemson.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in January that Watson requested a trade from the Texans, due partly to his unhappiness over the team not consulting with him before hiring former New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio as general manager.

The Texans have yet to honor his request, but it remains unclear if he will ever play for the team again, and his future is clouded even further by the serious allegations against him.

Michael Jordan is listed at No. 1,931 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people in 2021, coming in with a net worth of $1.6 billion.

The majority of his net worth comes from his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets and his stake in the Jordan Brand, his world-renowned apparel brand he started with Nike.

The Hornets currently have a valuation of $1.5 billion after Jordan sold a minority stake in 2019. 

Forbes had Jordan's net worth listed at $2.1 billion last year. It is unclear what led to the $500 million drop.

While Jordan's wealth has expanded beyond anyone's wildest dreams from when he began his career, he ranks in the lower half of majority NBA governors. Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer is the richest in the sport, with a valuation of $68.7 billion that ranks him 14th in the world. 

Joseph Tsai of the Brooklyn Nets ranks second with a net worth of $11.6 billion to place No. 189.

Nike is going back to Michael Jordan's college days at North Carolina for His Airness' latest retro sneaker release. 

The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "University Blue" sneakers will drop Sunday at select locations around the world. 

Here are additional release details, via Sneaker News:

• Price: $170
• Where to buy (North America locations): Finish Line, JD Sports US, Nike SNKRS US, YCMC, Foot Locker, Footaction, Eastbay
• Time: 10 a.m. ET. 

Per HighSnobiety, the shoes will be available in men's, grade school, preschool and toddler sizing.

The Air Jordan 1 was originally developed by Nike in 1984 when Jordan was a rookie with the Chicago Bulls. It was originally banned by the NBA because it featured a heavy red-and-black colorway, which violated the league's rules that shoes had to be at least 51 percent white or black with "a minimal team color accent."

ESPN's Nick DePaula last May named the Air Jordan 1 as the second-best sneaker in NBA history, behind the Air Jordan 11. 

Nike has frequently used Tar Heel blue as part of the design for Jordan sneakers, both new and retro style. The legend of Jordan was born during his three years at North Carolina, starting with the game-winning shot in the 1982 national title game against Georgetown as a freshman. 

After several previews, Nike's innovative GO FlyEase shoe will release Feb. 15 to select Nike members before a wide release.

The shoe was designed to not require hands to take on or off and was inspired by Matthew Walzer, a teen with cerebral palsy. Walzer wrote Nike in 2012 after becoming worried about needing others to tie his shoes after leaving his home for college, leading to designer Tobie Hatfield to send him a special pair of kicks before Nike underwent a three-year testing period.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon later pitched his own similar idea to Nike in 2019, which helped culminate the structure behind the shoes. 

Nike GO FlyEase Information

• Release Date: February 15
• Price: $120
• Where to Buy: SNKRS

"Sophisticated, accessible solutions, like those in Nike GO FlyEase, are emblematic of the "better is temporary" mentality that drives Nike FlyEase technology," Nike's press release read. "Since its debut, the technologies have been employed in numerous footwear styles across basketball, running and sportswear. Each successive design balances the rigor of FlyEase criteria with unwavering performance standards."

The hands-free nature of the shoe will make it easy to slip on and could be particularly helpful to those with disabilities that prevent them from tying their shoes.

The sleek design gives Nike perhaps the most stylish shoe in the no-tie game, along with a multipurpose use. 

The Hiroshi Fujiwara-designed Jordan 3s are headed to the SNKRS app—or, if you're anticipating a giant L from the app, a raffle near you—this week.

Nike will release its Jordan 3 x Fragment collaboration Thursday, which Fujiwara debuted earlier this year. Here is how the Nike website describes the black-and-white take on the classic silhouette:

"Along with two other footwear pieces and an apparel collection, this AJ3 rounds out the Fragment x Jordan collaboration by applying Fujiwara's attention to detail to one of the most beloved Jordan silhouettes. The black and white 'orca' color scheme plays on his earlier Nike work, while a fully spelled-out SKU on the midsole draws a connection between the art and business of streetwear. A stamped Fragment logo appears above the midsole and again underneath a translucent Jordan logo on the heel to make a tasteful, but subtle imprint."

Jordan 3 x Fragment Release Information

Date: Thursday, Sept. 17

Time: 10 a.m. ET

Where: SNKRS App/Nike.com

Raffles: 

A Ma Maniere

Social Status

Bodega

Titolo

Xhibition

Extra Butter

The Darkside Initiative

Bait

     

The famed Japanese designer first worked with Jordan Brand on an Air Jordan 1 collaboration in 2014, shoes that fetch anywhere from $2,500 to $5,500 on the secondary market. 

The Jordan 3 originally released in 1988 and has seen several notable retro releases, but the Fragment colorway will be on the shortlist of some of the most anticipated. 

In other words: You're going to need to be fast and very, very lucky to score a pair of their latest collab. 

Resentment. Ownership. Identity.

All emotions and ideals tennis great Andre Agassi experienced that made him who he is today. Agassi spoke to B/R Kicks about how taking ownership of his life during his playing days took the form of a style that evolved over the course of a career that saw him win eight Grand Slam titles.

"Tennis was never a choice for me," Agassi said. "It was always something I had to do. And then at some point, it became the only thing I could do. And I think there was a lot of resentment in that, but there were a lot of rewards in it, too. So there was a lot of contradiction and conflict and I felt like what I wore was something that I could kind of choose and take ownership of, and I chose to kind of go down that anti-establishment road, because of that resentment."

In 1990, Nike harnessed that spirit and created the Challenge Court collection, a line of sneakers and apparel built around the bold splashes of bright colors that marked Agassi on the court. The Challenge Court logo itself was inspired by an accidental ink blot, a disruptive symbol befitting Agassi as he challenged the status quo of tennis and pop culture.

Fast-forward 30 years, and Nike is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Challenge Court by reprising the core aspects of the catalog with Agassi's help. The 2020 Challenge Court collection releases August 24.

"Going through this process all over again has been a lot of fun, handpicking some of the stuff that we crafted together, a long time ago," Agassi said. "I suppose if you wait long enough in life, everything has come back again, even, you know, even a mullet maybe one day."

Agassi reflected on his relationship with Nike and how the two became partners in 1988.

"It's paying tribute to, you know, an unbelievable company meeting a young kid who didn't know any better, as it related to my own identity and we both were willing to search it out together. To explore it and communicate it." He described the intersection between Nike and himself as a "perfect storm."

Agassi explained he's just as much a part of the process as he was 30 years ago while admitting the collaboration's ability to stand the test of time surprised him. "It's pretty fun sitting on this side, looking back on it."

Did Agassi know the "Hot Lava" colorway of his Air Tech Challenge II signature shoe would become as iconic as it is today? "No, I didn't," Agassi said with a laugh. "I really didn't know."

Agassi is modest about his accomplishments and, even in hindsight, does not waver on the notion that with every decision and move he made on and off the court, he was true to himself.

"I don't know if I made any decisions that had a sustainable thought process to it, you know, back in the day," Agassi said. "But it was always kind of authentic. You know, I mean, same thing with me on a tennis court. It's like OK, maybe it was a good day, maybe it wasn't, but it was going to be a real day. That's for sure."

Of the many sneakers and colorways Agassi had with Nike, two remain special to him. "The black one that I wore at the U.S. Open in '94 with a black sock. There was something about that, that always, you know, always pulls me back.

"But the Hot Lava with the move of the shoe looked like it was going 100 miles an hour. I always responded to that and that kind of broke the mold. You know, it's like your children. They have their strengths and their weaknesses and you kind of love them the same."

Despite all his accolades, Agassi's greatest accomplishment is how he humanized the sport of tennis and normalized the way athletes express themselves today.

The 2020 Challenge Court collection celebrates that legacy.

A pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 High sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during a 1985 exhibition game in Italy sold for a record-setting $615,000 in a Christie's auction Thursday.

CNN's Rory Sullivan reported nine MJ collectibles sold for a combined $931,875 at the conclusion of a two-week bidding period, with the shoes making up a majority of that total.

"It is the top price achieved for sneakers at auction," a Christie's spokesperson said.

There’s a new record for a Michael Jordan game-used pair — $615,000. @ChristiesInc has sold a signed Air Jordan I pair worn by MJ in 1985 in Italy, where he shattered a backboard. The sole has a glass shard still in it. Beats $540K pair sold by @Sothebys earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/Cv0mXcwaha

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 14, 2020

The item attracted added attention because the left shoe contains a shard of glass from when Jordan shattered the backboard with a dunk during the game, per Sullivan.

Jordan memorabilia prices have skyrocketed since ESPN aired the 10-part documentary The Last Dance in April and May, which helped provide a new generation with a closer look at arguably the greatest basketball player in history.

The previous record for a pair of sneakers was $560,000, a mark set in May for another pair of game-worn, autographed MJ shoes sported during his rookie season in the NBA.

Jordan, who was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, won six NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals during his playing career. His extensive list of accolades also includes five MVP trophies and 14 All-Star Game appearances.

The 57-year-old New York City native owns the Charlotte Hornets.

Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand announced its first partnerships for the $100 million pledge to fight systemic racism in the United States on Wednesday.

Jordan Brand will donate $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM) and $500,000 to Black Voters Matter.

The announcement included a statement from that Jordan that read:

"I’m all in with Jordan Brand, the Jordan family and our partners, who share a commitment to address the historical inequality that continues to plague Black communities in the U.S. There is a long history of oppression against Black Americans that holds us back from full participation in American society. We understand that one of the main ways we can change systemic racism is at the polls. We know it will take time for us to create the change we want to see, but we are working quickly to take action for the Black community’s voice to be heard."

Black Voters Matter works to increase ballot access, restore voting rights to people who were previously incarcerated and increase voter awareness in the Black community. 

The FICPFM works with people who were previously incarcerated to help restore their voting rights, get them re-acclimated into society and work within the community to reduce stigma against former felons.

Founded by Thurgood Marshall, the LDF "employs litigation, advocacy and public education to advance its mission to achieve racial justice, equality and an inclusive society."

Jordan and the Jordan Brand are set to donate $100 million to social justice causes over the next 10 years.