Sonny Vaccaro, the former Nike executive who helped sign Michael Jordan, has revealed the inside story of the deal that transformed the sneaker industry. In an interview, Vaccaro recalled that he initially did not care about Jordan, having not selected him for his all-star game. However, after watching footage of Jordan's game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship, Vaccaro became convinced of his potential.
Vaccaro described how he tracked down Jordan's family home number and spoke to his mother, Deloris. 'We made a relationship over the phone right there,' he said. 'She was an alpha human being.' Deloris insisted on a crucial clause in the contract: that Jordan receive a share of profit from every pair of shoes sold. This clause proved revolutionary, paving the way for athletes to earn substantial endorsement income.
Nike signed Jordan to a five-year, $2.5 million deal in 1984, creating the Air Jordan brand. The gamble paid off spectacularly: Jordan won six NBA championships, became a billionaire, and the Jordan brand generated $5.1 billion for Nike last year. Vaccaro noted that Jordan 'opened up a business world that was not available to anybody else.'
However, Vaccaro was fired by Nike in 1991. He later worked for rival Adidas, signing Kobe Bryant to a major contract. Despite the split, Vaccaro holds no grudges, saying, 'That was the business and I always understood that.' The story is now the subject of the film Air, directed by Ben Affleck, which focuses on the negotiations behind the landmark deal.
