FanHouse Michael Jordan

Take it from the pioneer who started this idea of cozy, contractual relationships between the shoe giants and the NCAA schools: adidas has screwed up this time.

Sonny Vaccaro speaks from experience.

"What a PR nightmare for adidas. This should have been a no-brainer,'' Vaccaro said. "It's nothing but a personal thing against Michael Jordan.''

At issue is the recent decision by adidas to severe its relationship with the University of Central Florida, which has a contract that requires all of its athletes and coaches to wear adidas products.

So you think Air Jordans are expensive? The pair Marcus Jordan put on Wednesday night cost $3 million.

That's what his school's exclusive deal with adidas was worth. Now adidas has canceled the contract, and UCF athletes may have to play in their Crocs.

If we didn't know better -- and we don't -- we'd say it's all a Nike conspiracy.

It wanted adidas to make a stink over Jordan's feet so it can swoosh in on a white horse. But until that plot is exposed, we'll take this rift face value.

That means only one person can truly save the day.

Come on, Marcus. Put on the adidas.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

With the start of the 2009-10 season looming, NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Madison Square Garden is the crown jewel of NBA arenas. It's the oldest building in the league, and has hosted a ton of special moments throughout its history. Many of those moments likely helped shaped the hoop dreams of many of the league's current stars.

Of course, no one had a greater influence on making MSG a special place to play than Michael Jordan (sorry, Knicks fans). Since Jordan, every NBA player has wanted to come to the Garden and put on a show.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, there are 5 days remaining.

It takes five years of retirement for a player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Make it 10 for Dennis Rodman, who always did things differently. He did win five NBA titles.

If you think that Michael Jordan caused a commotion with an unconventional acceptance speech last month when he headlined the Class of 2009, just wait until Rodman shows up in 2010 wearing a dress and lipstick.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 6 days remaining.

As much as we like to get lathered up over today's talented stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, it's sometimes good to step back and put them in perspective.

They still don't hold a candle to Michael Jordan.

If you think they do, come back to us when they reach Double 6's, which is the number that explains Jordan's greatness as well as any statistic ever placed beside his name.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are seven days remaining.

OK, so Quinn Buckner doesn't excite too many. Other than that, this is one of the best basketball lists you'll ever find.

There are just seven men who have won an NBA title, an NCAA crown and an Olympic gold medal. Other than Buckner, they are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, K.C. Jones and Clyde Lovellette.

Other than Buckner, all are Hall of Famers. Jordan, Johnson and Russell are on just about everybody's list when it comes to an all-time NBA starting lineup.

Now, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony and Utah forward Carlos Boozer have a chance to join this super seven. Both have NCAA titles and Olympic golds, and need an NBA championship ring.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Friday, there are 11 days remaining.

The NBA All-Star Game every year is filled with players who never score 2,000 points in a single season.

Karl Malone did it a record 11 consecutive seasons, the most significant statistic he recorded during one of the greatest careers in NBA history.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- He may be the son of the most famous basketball player in history, but Marcus Jordan has done everything he possibly can to blend in smoothly -- to be just one of the guys -- with his new teammates at the University of Central Florida.

Everything except change his shoes.

Jordan, a freshman who will begin practicing Thursday with the UCF Knights, will stick with Nike -- which Michael Jordan made famous -- despite the school's lucrative contract with adidas that requires all intercollegiate athletes and coaches to wear its brand.

SAN FRANCISCO -- So much for the Jordan Effect.

Captain Fred Couples brought in Michael Jordan to instill confidence and camaraderie in the American team for this week's Presidents Cup. But after one day, it's obvious that Texas native Justin Leonard is no Jordan.

MJ never missed the last shot, especially when it was a three-footer. Leonard blew such a layup to inadvertently help salvage the International team's day.

The Americans still lead 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 and will probably still win this thing. But the notion that Jordan's presence will have any bearing either way pretty much went up in smoke on Thursday.

Fear not, San Franciscans. We don't mean cigar smoke.