When Michael Jordan threatened to boycott USOC protocols for Reebok's gimmick against Nike: “If I offended anyone, that’s too bad”
Michael Jordan was a trailblazer both on and off the court. From being the face of Nike to being the first NBA player to reach a billion-dollar net worth, Jordan proved he could do it all. Although the Hall of Famer never saw himself as much of an activist, he put himself out there by taking a pretty big stand against Reebok during the 1992 Olympic games.
Jordan and several other players on the 1992 United States Dream Team were sponsored by Nike. With Jordan's deal being an incredibly lucrative one, he wasn't happy to find out that Reebok paid for the rights to Team USA's podium warmups.
Add onto that the fact that Nike could do little marketing thanks to a Barcelona sock manufacturer owning the rights to "Athena Nike," and MJ was in a rough spot. With his hands tied, Jordan released a statement saying that he felt very strongly about not representing a competitor's brand.
After the U.S. Olympic Committee determined that players had no choice but to wear the warmups, Jordan concocted a way to silently protest. When he and the Dream Team took to the podium to receive their gold medals, Jordan and other Nike athletes draped an American flag over the Reebok logo on their gear.
“Everyone agreed we would not deface the Reebok on the award uniform," Jordan said. "The American flag cannot deface anything. That’s what we stand for. The American dream is standing up for what you believe in. I believed in it, and I stood up for it. If I offended anyone, that’s too bad.”
Above, you can see highlights from the team's stellar performances throughout the 1992 Olympic Games.
Michael Jordan's evolution as an activist
Although Michael Jordan never saw himself as much of an activist, the NBA legend made a pretty big statement and a business decision by protesting against Reebok. Despite that, he made sure to keep himself out of politics. NBA fans may remember in the early years of his career, Jordan was pressured to endorse Harvey Gantt for Senate.
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As Michael Jordan explained in his documentary, "The Last Dance," as much as he admired athletes like Muhammad Ali who were activists, he never saw himself as one. As a result, he turned down the chance to endorse Harvey Gantt, a controversial move that has continued to follow him.
Despite that, in recent years Jordan has begun to do more in the way of activism. When Barack Obama was running for President of the United States, Jordan paid to co-host a fundraiser for the politician.
Not all of his activism is political, however. In recent years, Michael Jordan has begun to show his philanthropic side. In 2020 he donated $2 million to Feeding America. The year after that, he pledged to donate $100 million over 10 years to organizations that work to ensure racial equality and greater access to education.
With his net worth continuing to climb, and his Jordan Brand worth more than ever, it's safe to say his protest at the 1992 Olympics was worth it.
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