Michael Jordan
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NBA legend Michael Jordan has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR in federal court in North Carolina.
On Wednesday (Oct. 2), NBA Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan and his 23XI Racing Team joined Front Row Motorsports in filing a federal anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR and its chairman, Jim France. The suit was filed in the Western District of North Carolina, where Charlotte is located. Jordan is also a part owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. “The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies,” the teams said in the filing. “And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.”
The main point of contention lies in the charter system which NASCAR implemented in 2016 which included revenue sharing and 36 guaranteed entries in the league’s Cup Series. Teams complained that they were presented with a last-minute offer 48 hours before the playoffs began. “Faced with a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and no competing opportunity for premier stock car racing in the United States, most of the teams concluded that they had to sign,” the lawsuit states. “One team described its signing as ‘coerced,’ and another said it was ‘under duress.’ 23XI Racing Team and Front Row Motorsports declined to sign the deal.
The lawsuit also disclosed a lack of transparency from France, complaining that NASCAR prevented teams from competing in other stock car races and forced them to buy parts only from NASCAR-approved suppliers. “No other major professional sport in North America is run by a single family that enriches themselves through these kinds of unchecked monopolistic practices,” the lawsuit said.
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track,” Jordan said in a statement. “I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.” Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins claimed that he hasn’t made a profit since joining NASCAR in 2005, despite his driver Michael McDowell winning the Daytona 500 in 2021. “We need a more competitive and fair system where teams, drivers, and sponsors can be rewarded for our collective investment by building long-term enterprise value, just like every other successful professional sports league,” he said to ESPN.
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First released in 1996, the Nike Air Jordan 12 is a classic pair of sneakers — especially since they’re the shoes Michael Jordan wore when the Chicago Bulls won their fourth championship after MJ returned to the NBA (for the first time). And now, Nike has re-released the sneakers for a new generation.
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Available for $200 on Nike.com, the Nike Air Jordan 12 Retro “black and wolf grey” sneakers are lightweight and made for playing basketball on a hardwood or blacktop court with their pronounced textured lines and classic silhouette.
The new sneakers drop on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
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The uppers are made from a blend of high-quality leathers for toughness and form, while it has a strip of textured elephant print leather running around their toe caps. The top two lace loops even have clasps for security, support and style with a bit of flair.
Additionally, the sneakers feature a “Jumpman” logo on each tongue, as well as at the top of each heel with Jordan’s name in the middle and his No. 23 at the bottom.
Nike
Nike Air Jordan 12 ‘Retro Black and Wolf Grey’
The design and silhouette are classic, while the style of the sneakers are very mid-’90s basketball — one of MJ’s most iconic shoes and eras returning to the NBA (for the first time). These Nike sneakers come in a black, white and wolf grey colorway.
If you want more from Nike, the sports and fashion apparel company also dropped new Air Jordan 3 Retro “Cement Grey,” Air Jordan 11 Retro Low “Diffused Blue” and Air Jordan 6 Retro “Reverse Oreo” sneakers.
Priced at $200, the Nike Air Jordan 12 Retro “black and wolf grey” sneakers come in men’s and women’s sizes and are available at nike.com starting on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. The shoes also come in sizes for big kids, little kids and babies/toddlers starting at $75.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Originally released in 1988, the Nike Air Jordan 3 is an iconic pair of sneakers, as they’re the ones Michael Jordan wore during his first MVP season as a shooting guard with the Chicago Bulls. And now, the sports apparel company has re-released them for a new generation of fans.
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Available for $200 on the Nike website, the Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro “cement grey” sneakers are lightweight and made for casual use, or for playing basketball on a hardwood or blacktop court, thanks to the shoes’ pronounced lines and classic silhouette. The sneakers drop on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
The sneaker uppers are made from a blend of high-quality leathers for durability and shape, and even have strips of textured elephant print leather running around their toe caps, the heels and on their lace loops for style and a bit of flair.
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Nike
Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro “Cement Grey”
In addition, the sneakers also feature a fire red Jumpman logo on each tongue and a black logo on each heel with the “Air” moniker underneath. The design and silhouette are classic, while the style of the sneakers are very late ’80s basketball — one of MJ’s most iconic shoes and eras. These Nike sneakers come in a summit white, cement grey, black and fire red colorway.
If you want more from Nike, the sports and fashion apparel company also dropped new Air Jordan 11 Retro Low “Diffused Blue,” as well as Air Jordan 6 Retro “Reverse Oreo” sneakers.
Priced at $200, the Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro “Cement Grey” sneakers come in men’s and women’s sizes and are available at nike.com starting on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. The shoes also come in Big Kids’, Little Kids’ and Baby/Toddlers’ sizes starting at $75.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Throughout the year, Nike has been re-releasing a number of new Air Jordan sneakers in the lead up the the brand’s 40th anniversary in 2025. If you ever wanted to pick up a new pair of Jordans, now is the best time to shop — especially since drops come in new styles and colorways.
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Retailing for $190 at nike.com, the lightweight Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro Low “diffused blue” sneakers — which were originally released in high tops in 1995 — are designed for playing basketball and for everyday casual use, thanks to their strong lines and iconic silhouette.
The uppers of the sneakers are made from a blend of genuine and synthetic leather for shape and durability, while they even have a strip of premium diffused blue leather running around their toe caps to round out the style of the shoes.
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Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro Low “Diffused Blue”
Additionally, they also feature the iconic “Jumpman” logo on the back of each heel with a “hidden” No. 23 placed just above the logos. The design and silhouette are iconic, while the style of the sneakers are very late ’90s basketball — one of Michael Jordan‘s most poplar shoes. Plus, these sneakers come in a white, diffused blue, football grey and midnight navy colorway.
Meanwhile, if you want more from Nike, the sports and fashion apparel company also dropped new Air Jordan 6 Retro “Reverse Oreo” sneakers, as well as new Team USA Air Max men’s sneakers for the Summer Olympics, a pair of new men’s slides and a new mini-crossbody for smartphones.
The Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro Low “Diffused Blue” sneakers are come in men’s and women’s sizes for $190 at nike.com.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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Source: Focus On Sport / Getty
Some more classic Retro Air Jordan from yesterday-decade are set to release as it’s being reported that the OG “Metallic” colorway to the Air Jordan 5 is going to return in 2025.
According to Sneakernews Nike will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan 5 “Metallic” Breds by retroing the original colorway that made it’s debut in the 90’s and had everyone in love with the reflective tongue. Though the sneakers did release back in 2016 in its original glory, sneakerheads have no problem with plans of another release almost a decade later. Well, resellers holding onto the 2016 pairs might, but who cares.
Per Sneakernews:
First debuting in 1990 at the All-Star Game, the Air Jordan 5 “Black/Metallic” is regarded as one of the greatest OG Jordans in history. Noted for its black nubuck upper, oversized reflective tongue, and translucent rubber netting on the upper, this all-time classic last hit retail in 2016 with a $220 MSRP. That heightened pricing was a reflection of the Jumpman’s Remastered execution of Retro footwear — a true-to-original approach in regards to shape and material.
According to @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, Jordan Brand is planning to bring back this OG classic; full specifications are unknown, but these are expected in 2025.
These are definitely double or triple-up worthy.
Will you be copping the Air Jordan 5 “Metallic” in 2025? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Sotheby’s / Sotheby’s
Retro Jordan sneakers may be struggling to move out on the secondary market these days, but actual game-worn Jordan sneakers are still fetching some pretty big bucks on the auction block.
Nice Kicks is reporting that a collection of game-worn Air Jordan sneakers that his Airness wore during his historic championship run the the 1990s fetched quite a pretty penny. The “Dynasty Collection,” which featured six different pairs of Air Jordan sneakers (VI, VII, VIII, XI, XII and XIV) that Michael Jordan wore when he clinched his six NBA Championships sold for a staggering $8 million in a global auction that was held by Sotheby’s. Keep in mind, these were single sneakers; they weren’t even paired up, but they were game-worn and autographed by the greatest of all time.
Nice Kicks reports:
This remarkable accomplishment positions the Dynasty Collection as the second most valuable Michael Jordan memorabilia ever auctioned, trailing only behind Jordan’s iconic 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey from the renowned ‘Last Dance’ season. The jersey fetched an astonishing $10.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in September 2022, still holding the world record for any game-worn sports memorabilia. Additionally, Sotheby’s retains the record for the highest-selling pair of sneakers, with Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s from ‘The Last Dance’ season, which netted $2.2 million in April 2023.
“Today’s record-breaking price is a testament to the GOAT. The Dynasty Collection undeniably ranks among the most significant compilations of sports memorabilia in history. Serving as both a reminder of Michael Jordan’s lasting impact on the world and a tangible expression of his recognized legendary status, its significance is further validated by this monumental result.”
Naturally, the buyer’s identity is being withheld as Sotheby’s doesn’t want to put a target on anyone at this point. But whoever dumped $8 million to own a piece of sports history must have pockets as deep as Jay-Z because dayumn!
Check out pics of the “Dynasty Collection” below, and let us know if you’d drop $8 million on these if you had it like that in the comments section.
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Source: Tasos Katopodis / Getty / Magic Johnson
The Billionaires Boys Club for Black notable athletes just got its fourth member, and it’s none other than Magic Johnson.
According to the financial bible, Forbes, Magic Johnson is now a billionaire. The NBA champion and Pro Basketball Hall-of-Famer reached the wealth milestone thanks to a combination of all of his lucrative investments in “professional sports teams, movie theaters, Starbucks cafes, and a health insurance provider,” according to the website.
Johnson becoming a billionaire makes him only the fourth professional athlete to do so, joining his buddy Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods.
Forbes reports Johnson’s minority stake in the Washington Commanders after billionaire Josh Harris’ $6.05 billion purchase of the team in May, stakes in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, and the MLS’ LAFC, plus other major investments pushed his net worth to $1.2 billion.
While Johnson’s investments in sports franchises, Starbucks, and Loews get all of the attention, Forbes points to his investment in Iowa-based life insurance company EquiTrust as the one that makes up the most significant portion of his net worth.
Per Forbes:
Forbes now estimates his net worth to be $1.2 billion—the result of his stakes in those teams, and major investments in a slate of industries, including a 60% stake in Iowa-based life insurance company EquiTrust he purchased in 2015.
EquiTrust makes up the largest portion of Johnson’s personal net worth—since the purchase, the Iowa-based company’s assets have skyrocketed from $16 billion to $26 billion, with annual revenues of roughly $2.6 billion.
Magic Johnson Could Have Been A “Trillionaire” Already
While Johnson has nothing to be upset about regarding his net worth, he could have already been a trillionaire if he had made one investment back in his playing days, and that’s taking Nike’s offer of stock options instead of the cash with Converse.
According to the numbers, Johnson missed out on $5.2 billion.
Still, being worth $1.2 billion is nothing to sneeze at. Congrats to the Magic man on the accomplishment.
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Photo: Tasos Katopodis / Getty
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
NBA fans can debate all day about whether or not Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But when it comes to Jordan’s success during and after his career on the court, any debate about who’s the GOAT might be silenced now that he has become the first professional athlete to rank among America’s 400 wealthiest people, according to Forbes.
That’s right, Jordan is now a member of the Forbes 400 after a baller move he made last month, when he sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, which was reportedly valued at $3 billion.
From Forbes:
Even if he had sold at Forbes’ most recent valuation, an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022, it would have been a coup for the 60-year-old Hall of Famer. Instead, the 27th most valuable franchise in the NBA traded hands for the second-highest sale price in league history and nearly 17 times its value when Jordan became principal owner in 2010.
That places him in rare air. With an estimated net worth of $3 billion, Jordan has arrived on The Forbes 400, marking the first time a professional athlete has ranked among America’s wealthiest individuals.
“Michael’s one of the few people that have had success three times,” says Ted Leonsis, the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals owner, who has partnered with Jordan on multiple investments and sports ownership in the past. “A lot of entrepreneurs, they make it once. They have a big win, take their winnings, retire and [we] never hear from them again, or they try something a second time and it doesn’t work. He’s had three mega successes,” referring to Jordan’s impact as a player, an owner, as well as the growth of the Air Jordan brand at Nike.
Listen, as rich as a pro athlete can become, they don’t typically reach billionaire status. In fact, Forbes noted that besides Jordan, LeBron James and Tiger Woods are the only ones who have achieved that particular milestone. (We might have to talk a little about how the only three pro athletes who have become billionaires are Black and Black-adjacent, but that’s another post for another day.)
So how exactly did Jordan do it and do it like no other? Well, besides the Hornets sale and the fact that he made $94 million running up and down the b-ball court for 15 NBA seasons, Jordan happened to be a human goldmine when it comes to branding and merchandising. More from Forbes:
When the first Air Jordan sneaker was released during the tail end of his rookie season in 1985, Nike reportedly expected to sell $3 million worth of merchandise. Two months later, the brand had $70 million in sales and $100 million by the end of the year, according to a 2023 study from Temple University. Jordan had signed on for five years initially, earning $500,000 annually plus royalties. In its latest annual report, Nike reported $6.6 billion in annual wholesale revenue for the Jordan Brand, up 28.6% from the year prior.
Nike wasn’t the only company trying to capitalize on Jordan’s talent and charisma. “He was a brand before people discussed human beings being brands,” says Marc Ganis, president of the consulting firm Sportscorp. “It wasn’t Michael Jordan promoting Gatorade, it was Gatorade saying, ‘Drink Gatorade to be more like Michael.’”
Yeah, there’s a reason kids spent pretty much all of the ’90s singing, “I wanna be like Mike.”
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Source: Romain Maurice / Getty / Larsa Pippen / Marcus Jordan
Wedding bells are not Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen’s future… yet.
Last week, the couple had social media buzzing after TMZ Sports caught them coming out of a restaurant. Jordan told the paparazzi they were “looking for a location” and had started the wedding process.
Now, it looks like that was nothing but the ultimate pump fake, with the couple throwing cold water on speculation they were close to tying the knot.
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On a recent episode of their podcast, Separation Anxiety, Pippen said the ring she is sporting is a “promise ring” and not an engagement ring. Jordan added he was responding to the paparazzi in a “cheeky way.”
Per Page Six:
“We’re not engaged,” Pippen, 49, said. “But you did give me a promise ring.”
“I definitely gave you a promise ring,” Jordan, 32, replied, adding that marriage has been a topic of discussion for the couple but not a “priority.”
“The only thing we’ve come up with is that we want a destination wedding,” the reality TV star added.
The explanation comes after Pippen was first spotted with a diamond band on her left ring finger while leaving a West Hollywood restaurant with her beau last week.
Addressing the recent headlines, Jordan said, “Paparazzi got us leaving the restaurant and asked us if there were wedding plans in the works, and so, I think I responded in a cheeky way.”
Marcus Jordan’s Parents & Larsa Pippen’s Reacted To The Engagement Rumors
Despite the couple denying the wedding rumors, their families and friends both reacted to the news. “I had a hundred calls and text messages of people congratulating us,” Pippen said.
Jordan revealed he got multiple messages from his father, Michael Jordan, and his mother, Juanita Vanoy, who sent him “a bunch of eye emojis.”
What we would give to know exactly what Michael Jordan said to his son.
When asked if he approves of the couple, he flat out told reporters, “No!” he did not approve of the Trophy Room owner dating his former teammate, now enemy, Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife.
Speaking on the Basketball Hall of Famer’s comments, Larsa Pippen said “she was embarrassed,” noting his comments could result from his fractured friendship with his former teammate.
“I feel like for them, it probably is weird, Pippen began. “It probably is weird for your dad. I can’t be mad. I understand,” she added during a July episode of the couple’s podcast. “[But] oh my God, I was traumatized. I was like, ‘What are we going to do?”
What a messy situation this is.
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Photo: Romain Maurice / Getty
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Source: Thaddaeus McAdams / Getty / Marcus Jordan
The tradition of a Jordan needing a Pippen to get a ring continues, only this time it’s Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus, putting a ring on his former teammate, Scottie Pippen’s, ex-wife’s finger.
Much to the chagrin of his royal airness Michael Jordan, his son, Marcus Jordan, 32, is dead serious about marrying former teammate, now enemy, Scottie Pippen’s former flame, Larsa Pippen, 48. The Trophy Room owner revealed the couple is looking to tie the knot to TMZ Sports.
Per TMZ Sports:
Somebody check on Michael Jordan — it sounds like his arch nemesis’ ex-wife is close to being his daughter-in-law … ’cause Marcus just revealed a wedding date with Larsa Pippen is “in the works.”
The happy couple hit up Jones in West Hollywood for dinner on Wednesday … and as they were leaving the restaurant, the GOAT’s son was asked if wedding bells were in his future.
“We’re looking for a location,” Heir Jordan said with a big smile on his face.
When the cameras followed up about whether they had a date set, Marcus explained the two have kickstarted the planning process.
Marcus and Larsa Pippen’s marriage revelations come after Michael Jordan said he is not on board with his son smashing his former teammate’s ex-wife.
When asked if he approved his son dating Larsa Pippen, he flat-out told the paparazzi, “No!”
X Users Think Marcus Jordan Is Making A Big Mistake
MJ is not the only person who disapproves of this marriage. X users also have been slam-dunking the couple following the news coming out.”She was gone get that Jordan money by hook or by crook. Jordan gotta talk to his son tho, marrying a woman that old is insane & then you add in how she did Scottie, his dumb ass think she won’t do the same to him,” one X user wrote.
“She’s a real weirdo. And Jesus I hate siding with men. And it’s not the age so much as watching him grow up. Yuck,” another X user added.
Welp, we wonder what Scottie Pippen is thinking right now.
You can peep more reactions to Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen gearing up to jump over the broom in the gallery below.
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Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams / Getty
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