May 18, 2011 (New York) Guess what, Nike?  Females wear your signature sneaker line (Air Jordans), and they play basketball.  So what took you so long to realize that it may be a good look to have attractive, intelligent, well-behaved, highly regarded females endorsing your brand?

The Jordan brand has been around for over a quarter century, and they finally have seen fit to have a woman endorser.  They certainly pass the I.Q. Test (Idiot Quotient), and this article could have been placed in that section of our site. 

In a company-issued statement, Jordan exclaimed that he is, "thrilled to welcome Moore to the commercial team."  Air Genius continued by saying, ''her hunger and determination to make an impact off the court makes her a valuable addition.''

Females have been buying Jordan sneakers and apparel since its inception.  Nike has to be tracking their sales.  The Jordan brand researchers didn't realize that a significant part of their consumer base was female?  Do you know how many Baby Jordan sneakers are sold annually?  Do you think they are bought solely by men?

What is most disturbing from Air Arrogance is implied in the aforementioned excerpt from the statement.  It comes down to: Your Airness finally has found a Female who is Worthy of Endorsing our Brand.

There was a commercial back in the day for a certain cigarette brand whose commercial lyric was, "You've come a long way baby, to get where you got to today.  You've got your own cigarette now baby, you've come a long, long way."  It was supposed to be part of the women's liberation movement.  A brilliant ad.  Hidden message: Hey ladies, you can kill yourselves too--and we have the cigarette to do it that was made specially for you!  There is a similarity in the thinking of Nike/Jordan and the cigaretter manufacturer.

This signing of former college basketball standout Maya Moore shows just how Moronic/Moore-onic those in decision-making capacities are when it comes to certain issues.  Cynthia Cooper was dubbed the "Female Jordan" for her tenacity, clutchness, and poise.  She won four WNBA Championships and was the MVP each time.  If you're Nike/Jordan and there is a player in a newly created league (the WNBA) who is called the "Female Jordan" because she has the stats and rings to boot and you don't sign her, something is wrong.  Something is terribly wrong.

So ladies, you may "have come a long way" but you have so much further to go.

Congrats to Maya Moore.  But I have no confidence that the "suits" will seize the opportunity before them.  And if the shoe and apparel design as well as the marketing campaign are flawed, they will conclude that having a woman endorser was a mistake.  And that's just plain MORONIC!

WHAT'S UP DOC?

DOC RIVERS MAKES CELTICS SHOW HIM THE MONEY

May 16, 2011 (New York) At $7 million a year for five years guaranteed, I guess I'd come back too.  That was the Celtics' offer to Doc Rivers that he couldn't refuse.  Yes, Doc's a devoted father and husband.  Yes, he probably needs a break.  Yes, but...  He's earning more in his coaching days than in his playing days.  Most professional athletes earn less after their playing days are over.  Doc is in that select category of athlete who earns more in his/her post-playing days.

He is second only to Phil Jackson who is on sabbatical.  And since Phil is on a temporary leave--as of this moment, Doc's number one.  Greg Papovich of the Spurs has four championships (he just needs "one for the thumb"), but Doc is hotter right now.  The only coach that could steal his thunder is Coach K--and he isn't/ain't leaving Duke.  That's just the way it is in sports.  Flavor of the moment. It's good to be the Flavor..., especially when it pays.

Now, the juicy part of this story is the business side.  Doc had massive leverage.  Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge made one of the most assinine deals in the history of sports.  He traded Kendrick Perkins.  Now some argue that Perkins is no Wilt Chamberlain.  Silly arguement, and I'm being diplomatic.  Perkins was the heart and glue of the team.  It didn't matter if he was going to test free agency--the Celtics were built to win this season.  Adding both O'Neals (Shaq & Jermaine) is not exactly long-range planning.  Kevin Garnett is depreciating like a new car off the lot, and both Allen and Pierce have plenty of mileage.  The Celtics were more family than basketball team, and Doc was "dear ol' dad."

The Celtics vibe was very different from the Miami Heat's.  It seems the Big 3 in Miami are a clique in their own right.  They seem to congratulate each other first--all the time.  That might have been the case initially when Garnett and Allen joined the team, but they seemed to have integrated into the team rather nicely.   You just can't manufacture synergy.

But back to the juicy business side of things.  Doc didn't want to coach an aging team that had less of a chance to win a title.  The bar has now been raised for the Celtics so it's "Ring or Bust."  Miami is only going to get better, the Sixers are hungry and well coached, and the Bulls are going to be a definite problem for years to come.  Realistic expectations for the next season is the Celtics advancing only to the second round.

Since this year was the Celtics' last best chance to win another title and they fell short of that mark by a long shot, Ainge becomes a convenient fall guy.  However, by signing Doc for such a huge sum, Doc will be the first one blamed (Off with his head!) if the Celtics become a perennial fifth or sixth seed that wins just one round in the playoffs.

Fans equate pay with performance, not talent or competence.  So, if the Celtics don't win, the focal point will be Doc, not Danny.

Maybe Danny's not so dumb afterall.  He showed Doc the money and probably saved his own job.