The University of Central Florida has awarded Marcus Jordan a full scholarship to play basketball at the school. Michael Jordan's youngest son is getting a free college education, a product of athletic merit, not financial need.
That said, Central Florida is making a commitment here, devoting money and resources to Jordan, a freshman, regardless the enormity of his father's bank account.
You would expect the younger Jordan to be grateful, and perhaps on some level he is. If so, he has an odd and somewhat unsettling way of showing it.
Word out of Orlando, via The Associated Press, is that Marcus Jordan is refusing to wear basketball shoes made by adidas, saying he will wear only the Nike Air Jordan brand made famous by his father.
He cites how the shoes hold "special meaning" to his family, what with Michael Jordan's image adorning them.
"No big deal," you say.
Actually, it is to Central Florida, which has a $3 million, six-year contract with adidas requiring its athletes and coaches to use the company's apparel and equipment.
At a time when fewer than 25 percent of major college athletic programs are turning a profit, Central Florida needs the contract. Such deals are commonplace throughout Division I athletics.
Central Florida is trying to negotiate a new contract with adidas, and needs its 6-foot-3 guard out of Chicago Whitney Young to be a team player.
Is it too much to ask?
Not at all, but apparently, it won't happen.
Marcus Jordan has told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper the situation was discussed with adidas when he was recruited and he was advised "it wasn't going to be a problem."
"I think everybody understands how big of a deal it is for my family," he went on to say. "It's a level of importance with the Jordan brand and my family. I have a high level of respect for adidas, but I'm going to be wearing Jordan basketball shoes."
Perhaps you can pass this off as a "blood is thicker than water" thing, a son being loyal to his father. Maybe you look at Central Florida and say, "Let him wear what he wants."
More power to you.
Some of us see a diva aspect to all of this, and wonder why everyone on a team cannot operate under the same rules.
Marcus Jordan has told the Sentinel he'll wear adidas gear and uniforms, but not budge on the shoes.
Thus, Central Florida is left in the awkward position of saying it is working with adidas "in determining how this unique set of circumstances will work for both parties."
In English, that means the university and/or adidas are about to cave, allowing a family of wealth and privilege to get its way. The "Jordan Rules" will have been passed to the next generation, further tying Marcus Jordan to his father's legacy.
Is that really what he wants?
This is an 18-year-old who has been measured against his famous father all his life. He has grown up as "Michael Jordan's son," having to work hard to establish an identity.
Finally, it happened last spring, when Marcus Jordan led Whitney Young to the Class 4A state championship. He appeared ready to stand on his own feet, no matter what shoes were on them.
Central Florida has 15 varsity sports and a lot of bills to pay, even with adidas supplying basketball shoes equipment, apparel, etc.
Losing that could impact athletes, coaches and programs across the board, all for the sake of one player in one sport. It shouldn't matter that his name is Jordan.
But it does.
