• The image of Michael Jordan flying through the air has become one of the most widely recognizable images in all of professional sports
• Air Jordan sneakers are instantly identifiable with the greatest basketball player ever to play the game

Since his rookie year in 1985, Michael Jordan has been a dynamic presence in the NBA due to his play and stature. Fans both young and old have copied everything about Jordan’s moves, mannerisms (see tongue wagging) and footwear. Given that Jordan changed the way the game was played on the court it should come as no surprise that the Air Jordan line of sneakers, and subsequent models like the Air Force Jordan Fusions, revolutionized the athletic shoe industry.

Nike knew a good thing when they saw it and quickly signed Michael Jordan to a five year endorsement deal during his rookie year in the NBA. It was in his rookie year in 1985 that the Air Jordan was introduced to the market. The sneaker, with its bold color scheme of black and red, quickly turned the NBA upside down. Jordan was fined $5,000 every game he wore the new sneakers since their colors violated the NB A’s uniform code policy. But Jordan continued to wear them and they began to catch on like wildfire. Eventually, the NBA relented and the sneakers became a staple in the league. Every year after that, a new version of the sneaker was introduced to the market. Eventually, the signature trade mark of Michael Jordan flying through the air with his arm outstretched came to define the brand and started to appear on the sneaker as well.

After Michael Jordan retired, Nike continued to produce and market the Air Jordan sneaker through The Jordan Brand Company. One of the first lines of sneakers they introduced was called the Air Force Jordan Fusions and it quickly became one of their most popular types. The Air Force Jordan Fusions were first introduced as a combination of previous Air Jordan and Air Force One Models. It seemed that fans loved the “retro” designs of the first few versions of the Air Jordan and were looking all over for available pairs. Nike heard the call of its customers and developed the Air Force Jordan Fusions to combine the best features of previous Air Jordan sneakers with the best features of the Air Force One.
The sneakers have been an instant hit and Nike has produced several versions with the latest being released just this past April.

The introduction of the Air Jordan sneaker revolutionized the athletic shoe industry and ushered in a new era of basketball fashion. Suddenly, basketball sneakers became more than athletic shoes, they became a pop culture icon for many youths. It’s a testament to Michael Jordan’s influence that the demand for his sneakers continued after his retirement. It’s apparent that the next great ambassador of the basketball sneaker may be Lebron James.

As an electronic scoreboards continue to light up.