A big WTF moment. Michael Jordan awarded $8.9M for store's use of his name

[El Supremo]

CHICAGO (AP) — A jury on Friday ordered a defunct grocery store chain to pay Michael Jordan $8.9 million for using his name without permission.

It was a big win for the former Chicago Bulls basketball player, who was smiling after the verdict was announced Friday night.

Jurors had to calculate how much the now-defunct grocery chain Dominick's should pay Jordan for invoking his name in an ad without permission. They sent one note to the judge, saying: "We need a calculator."

In his closing argument, Jordan attorney Frederick Sperling appealed to city pride, saying about Jordan as he sat nearby: "He gave us six (NBA) championships."

The rest at: http://news.yahoo.com/michael-jordan-awarded-8-9m-stores-name-002718055--spt.html

Why wasn't I born taller?

[cantbeserious]

1. Why Does Ball Dribbling Confer This Amount Of Economic Cache - What A Warped Country We Live In

eom

[4lbs]

2. Because of the popularity of the sport both nationwide and worldwide.

Basketball is the #2 sport in the USA based on popularity. It is also the #2 sport worldwide, behind soccer/futbol.

Therefore, great basketball players earn $20+ million annually.

LeBron and several other NBA players get max contracts that pay them $25 million annually or more.

Then they can equal or better that with endorsements.


EDIT:

In the 1992 Summer Olympics, the USA "Dream Team" was the talk of the Olympics in Barcelona. There were posters and murals of them all over Spain. The other sports and athletes weren't followed anywhere nearly as much as the USA NBA players.

That hasn't diminished much over the past 20 years. There are more and more countries that have basketball teams and leagues. There is the Chinese league, African leagues, Italian and European leagues, and Brazilian leagues.

[cantbeserious]

3. Ah Yes - America - The Land Of Popularity Contests - How Shallow Can A Nation Be

eom

[El Supremo]

4. Horeseshit! Pull your head out!

Basketball is way down on the list even world-wise.

1. Soccer / Association Football 3.5 Billion Europe, Africa, Asia, America.
2. Cricket 2.5 Billion Asia, Australia, UK.
3. Field Hockey 2 Billion Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia.
4. Tennis 1 Billion Europe, Asia, America.
5. Volleyball 900 Million Europe, Australia, Asia, America.
6. Table Tennis 850 Million Europe, Africa, Asia, America.
7. Baseball 500 Million America, Japan.
8. Golf 450 Million Europe, Asia, America, Canada.
=9 Basketball 400 Million America.
=9 American Football 400 Million Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Australia.

http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/popular-sport/fans.htm

[PoliticAverse]

7. The Kardashians don't even have balls to dribble and they still are rolling in dough.

We live in a celebrity obsessed culture.

[cantbeserious]

11. Same Problem - Different Venue

eom

[JeffHead]

5. Fuck Dominick's

They closed over 70 stores in order to kill the union. Fuck them straight to hell. They deserve every penny of this settlement if not more. If not for this, than what they have done to hundreds of union workers lives.

[El Supremo]

6. Yes

[KamaAina]

9. Not to mention many of the communities they were in.

I once lived in Chicago. I do not drive. Imagine if I had rented a place right down the street from Dominick's, and then...

[KamaAina]

8. How exactly is a defunct chain supposed to fork out 9 mill?

[mythology]

10. 5'3" Muggsy Bogues managed 15 seasons in the NBA

Hell he even was given credit for a blocked shot against Patrick Ewing who is 7'.

So I don't think you can blame height alone for your lack of an NBA career. I blame mine on knees that make Greg Oden's look good. The hole in my cartilage was significantly larger than Oden's.

[erpowers]

12. Many Men Over 6'

There are many men who are over 6' tall who are not in the NBA. I have even seen men who are 6'8" and 6'10 who never spent a day in the NBA. Indeed height is not the only factor for being in the NBA.

[Auggie]

13. That is an insane penalty IMO

Way too much $.