Ben Affleck’s latest film “Air” had an all-star cast, including Matt Damon and Jennifer Todd, but one basketball legend was left out of the picture. Michael Jordan, who had a significant role in the storyline of the original script, was ultimately cut from the movie. However, Jordan only had one request for Affleck in regards to his exclusion from the film. In this article, we’ll explore what happened and reveal Jordan’s surprising demand.
The legacy of Michael Jordan transcends basketball and has permeated pop culture for decades. His influence can be seen in fashion, music, and advertising – particularly in the realm of sports marketing. Jordan’s partnership with Nike was a game changer for both brands and helped elevate them to iconic status. The new film Air: Courting A Legend explores this relationship and the impact it had on the world, but interestingly, it is a rare depiction of Michael Jordan without the man himself, but rather explores him through the lens of those who worked with him.
The film was directed by Ben Affleck, who also plays Nike co-founder Philip H. Knight, and charts Nike’s meteoric rise from a small struggling business targeting only runners, to a worldwide brand that even basketball rookies, like Jordan, became fully invested in. In the film, Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon, a man who knows the grassroots dominion of basketball, unearths a superstar. Jordan was just a rookie with the college of North Carolina, who wanted to stick with Adidas but was convinced by his mother, played by Davis as per his request, to make the change to Nike. The result was life-changing, not just for Jordan but for Nike as well, whose sale of Air Jordans saw sales rocket and make them a household brand.
However, Michael Jordan himself is never seen on screen and the focus is on the impact he had, rather than the man himself. Affleck stated: “I thought the minute I turn the camera on somebody and ask the audience to believe that person was Michael Jordan, the whole movie falls part… If it’s about anything, it’s about what Michael Jordan meant to the sporting world, the world at large, and who he was and how it transformed sports and sports marketing and how athletes were compensated and treated, how he was supported in that process.”
The film is not an officially produced Michael Jordan biopic, and Jordan was not paid nor did he authorize it. However, Jordan did have one request for Affleck – he wanted Viola Davis to portray his mother. Davis is a critically acclaimed actress who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony – making her one of only a handful to have achieved EGOT status. Affleck initially had doubts about being able to cast her, but managed to persuade her to join the project. It was important to Affleck that he honored Jordan’s wishes, stating that “Michael was not paid, his rights aren’t being authorised. That would be a different movie, the Michael Jordan story, and that’s not what he wanted to do either. I wanted to make sure and tell him that what is meaningful to you is not overlooked.”
The Jordan/Nike partnership has been iconic, but it was not always the goal for the sportswear brand. In the early 80s Nike was struggling, and Knight saw basketball as a way to help boost sales. The NBA was an up-and-coming league, with teams like the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers solidifying themselves as dynasties. Knight sought out young, upcoming athletes with star potential, such as Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing with no complaints. The game-changer, however, was Michael Jordan. From his Chicago Bulls debut, he was a revelation, merging basketball court talent with athleticism, creative branding, and shoe design.
Air: Courting A Legend explores the enduring legacy of Michael Jordan through the unlikely alliance with Nike. It is a tale of two brands that were deeply impacted by their association with one another. The film honors Jordan’s enormous impact on both the sporting world and the marketing world. By prioritizing what was meaningful to Jordan, such as casting Viola Davis as his mother, Affleck paid tribute to the man rather than just the sports icon. The film serves as a reminder of how alliances can be transformative, and how an athlete’s influence can go beyond just the arena.
In conclusion, it is unfortunate that Michael Jordan’s role as a pivotal figure in the Air movie was not properly highlighted. However, it is heartening to know that Jordan was gracious enough to only request one thing from Ben Affleck after being left out of the film. His professionalism and sportsmanship continue to be an inspiration to many. Hopefully, the production team will learn from this incident and ensure that all key players in a story are given their rightful place in the spotlight. Until then, we can all look up to Michael Jordan as a shining example of how to handle disappointment with class and dignity.
