Letting the "Air" out of the NBA

Jordan essentially re-invented sports marketing. He currently earns over $40 million a year endorsing such companies as Nike, Sara Lee, MCI, Gatorade, Upper Deck, Rayovac and Oakley sunglasses. On January 12, when the public caught wind of Jordan's pending retirement, Nike stock slipped 4 percent. Though Nike may be hurt by Jordan's lack of court time, it shouldn't feel too much of an impact in the long run. With all this free time on his hands, he may become even more involved in the company in a different capacity. If Arnold Palmer can continue to sell motor oil into his seventies, there's no reason Jordan can't keep plugging phone service and sun glasses into his forties.

Accomplishments