[Guest]

Is anyone else completely disgusted and annoyed with Mj jumping over to superbike racing? i saw the leathers when i was watching daytona...i was like atleast make a new label...how does his insignia relate to motorcycles...im sorry i respect him as the best basketball player of all time...seems like a great guy...but it really errks me that hes into bikes...it doesnt seem genuine...anyone else feel this too?

 

[Nigel]

I don't know anything about him being genuine but his logo is dead-on. I knew he was into racing and when I saw the leathers I knew instantly who they raced for without having to be told. That's the point of a logo to begin with. I prefer WSBK anyway, but I MUCH more prefer MotoGP. I'm pretty nonplussed by AMA Superbike. YMMV.

 

[Synergy]

I'm not a fan of the MJ race team, but his logo is well known, most anyone in the modern world could recognize the "jump man". His logo is product recognition and free advertising. Being MJ and having a race team could have a positive effect on youth that are "squids". MJ's influence and presense can help to educate about safer riding while using the right riding gear. Track days to show kids that speed is safer on the track... etc..etc.. I dont follow his team or know anything about it. He does have the ability to make a positive impact on the young riding commmunity, if he chooses that path. Time will tell.

 

[cheech]

negative, i think it's good exposure for the sport in it's entirety.. at least more people would be aware of bikes on the street. something is better than nothing. why you think with all the chopper shows and stars wanting the latest bikes is making motorcycling so popular anyways? it's a sport and everyone has the right to enjoy it. mj has $$$ and is a big fan. saw him at laguna last year at motogp along with a bunch of other stars while walking pitlane. we need a popular professional figure to endorse this sport. my 2 cents of course.

 

[Synergy]

Also maybe with his team will add more television expose to the motorcycle races and I know its a pipe dream, but just maybe take back the NASCAR tv channel...I mean speedtv.

 

[Chuckracer]

I think it's great, and can only lead to good things for our favorite sport, no matter if it's AMA, WSBK, or whatever. Increased exposure is a positive thing. I just hope he sticks with it for a few years.

 

[gitarman]

+1 to Synergy and Cheech.
MJ's new line of gear with Joe Rocket might get guys that don't normally wear gear to start wearing it, even if it is just because they are cool.

And when it comes to drawing interest to racing, it is working. When I was in the pits at Daytona, MJ's booth had crowds rivaling Duhamel's and the Duc's. Not bad for a team in its 3rd year.

Finally, I think his interest in racing is genuine. I remember reading an article (can't remember where) it stated that after going to see a race he fell in love with the speed and how its a such a one-on-one sport. I think he's here to stay and I'm all for it.

 

[Guest]

hmm i see your points...i guess i was just bothered by these do it all atheletes haha i know i ve seen some posts on here that say the same... but i do think you all have valuable points here...but im sorry i will never like seeing a basketball icon on the back oof someones leathers...i do get your points...his brand label is almost as famous as the nike swoosh but i udnno just bothers me...id rather see someone come up from the ranks thats not famous from previous activites and make the sport more popular...


maybe i dont like it cus i wnat my track days to stay small jk

 

[sblea]

I thinks MJ involvement in AMA is going to be good thing. Its obvious he only gets involved in things he truly loves... AMA is in a state of chaos. AMA has to many internal politics. An outsider like MJ can only have a positive impact. I truly think he can sell the AMA superbike probably better than the AMA organization. AMA needs somebody to shake things up....

 

[Hickey]

He owns a racing team. He seems genuinely interested and enthusiastic about motorcycles. I think Jordan will have a positive influence on the sport and increase public awareness.

His logo is his. He can use it on anything he chooses to endorse. It is no more silly to have the JumpMan logo on a race bike than to have Marlboro sponsor a race team.

 

[mals900ss]

If he does half the job and brings half the exposure Paul Newman has, it will be a good thing. After all what could be worse than a big name movie star wanting to get involved in Motor Sport.

Mal

 

[eljeffe]

Is anyone else completely disgusted and annoyed with Mj jumping over to superbike racing? i saw the leathers when i was watching daytona...i was like atleast make a new label...how does his insignia relate to motorcycles...im sorry i respect him as the best basketball player of all time...seems like a great guy...but it really errks me that hes into bikes...it doesnt seem genuine...anyone else feel this too?

Geez, man! It's not like he's racing himself. It's a race TEAM. Get a grip.

 

[nathanTX]

Is anyone else completely disgusted and annoyed with Mj jumping over to superbike racing? i saw the leathers when i was watching daytona...i was like atleast make a new label...how does his insignia relate to motorcycles...im sorry i respect him as the best basketball player of all time...seems like a great guy...but it really errks me that hes into bikes...it doesnt seem genuine...anyone else feel this too?

I couldn't disagree with you more. His interest is 100% genuine. The man rides a Ducati for pete's sake. Well, at least he was riding a Duc. His team's deal with Suzuki might restrict brands now for all I know... He has publicly said numerous times that he is hooked on motorcycle racing. He has attended numerous MotoGP events and is personally quite involved with his AMA team's efforts. He even plugged his moto-addiction on the friggin' Oprah show! You can't buy that kind of publicity gold. That kind of outside-the-motorcycle-industry involvement is EXACTLY what the AMA needs. And he's put together a fairly competitive satelite/privateer effort on top of it. Certainly no small feat, especially for a team so new. And that's (arguably) more than just money at work. Look at the lack of the Foggy Petronas Team's competitiveness in WSBK despite their big budget and high profile industry insider names. I say cheers to MJ for proving why he is such a winner in everything he does. No better class act out there, IMO. And Mike, if you're reading this, I'd ride with you any time!

 

[zooom]

Geez, man! It's not like he's racing himself. It's a race TEAM.

I bet you if he was younger he'd be racing!...or at least trying!

I think with the time he has invested as well as the money..it is pretty well known that this is not a fly by night press stunt or some flash in the pan fleeting interest....he has put some energy into learning how to ride and understands the feedback that he gets from his team because he has taken an on hands approach to the whole deal...I am very impressed with how he has handled the whole spotlight in this endevour...though I was a bit disturbed when I saw the video of him riding the Ducati GP bike a couple years ago and how he was riding it....it was like it was a little 50cc mini pit bike under him and it looked like he was doing some sort of ceremonial parade lapping...but in the same vid...I loved the priceless look on his face after a turned a lap or few with Rossi behind the wheel in a BMW car!....either way....I do hope that he more pubicly reaches out to the youth interest in the sport and in motorcycling in general and gets them to smarten up some and raise a few eyebrows of attention for our benefit for those not involved in motorcycling in general...good publicity leads to good awareness and can have nothing but a positive effect down the road for all!

 

[Guest]

i see all your points...and all i have to say...is i grew up in indiana and love reggie miller jk

haha no for real tho im 20 and Mj did not get me into racing at all, i understand noone agrees but i was surprised noone saw my point...so many people i ride all of which are young and all but two are racers( NO STUNTERS..EW) are annoyed with Mj

Personally seeing what valentino does, mladin, guys like that impresses me more...just my two cents

 

[Guest]

gimme a lil slack here guys ...i did start the hott ducati women thread!

 

[zooom]

haha no for real tho im 20 and Mj did not get me into racing at all, i understand noone agrees but i was surprised noone saw my point...

so what was your point?

Is anyone else completely disgusted and annoyed with Mj jumping over to superbike racing? i saw the leathers when i was watching daytona...i was like atleast make a new label...how does his insignia relate to motorcycles...im sorry i respect him as the best basketball player of all time...seems like a great guy...but it really errks me that hes into bikes...it doesnt seem genuine...anyone else feel this too?

as I see it...you don't like a basketball logo associated into motorcycle racing but that is his trademark....do you expect any sponsor to change their logo for using into another realm?....

he didn't just jump into it....he doesn't just jump into anything he does...look at Micheal's track record for any endeavour he has taken akin to...he is methodical and well thought into anything he seemingly gets himself into...very deliberate...he is a smart businessman because he is not just some dumb jock...he has a good head on his shoulders and has done well because of it!

yeah...the leathers look kinda tacky in a way...like something that Versace' or Yves Saint Laurant would do in a way...but there was a story behind that pattern that is on his leathers...I believe and I am not sure on this...that it is from some childrens benefit that he let them draw or design.

does it urk you that Jay Leno is into bikes?...or Tom Cruise?...or Ewan MacGregor?....or Neil Peart?...or Lyle Lovett?....or any other celebrity from another realm can share the same passion as you with the ideals of motorcycling?....MJ has had this passion for along time...it wasn't a spontanious thing....so how does it seem ingenuous or fake?

 

[Guest]

crap i wrote a really long reply and it got deleted


as i said and continue to say i get your points...but when ur at the NY bike show and u see mjs stand next to all the local stunter crews from newark and other stunting stands...it shows u its about making money..marketing to a different crowd...i agree any publicity is prolly good for ama at this point...but i dunno lotta my buddies said the same( all of which are races as i said before excluding two) just an oppinion dont hate! haha

 

[zooom]

crap i wrote a really long reply and it got deleted


as i said and continue to say i get your points...but when ur at the NY bike show and u see mjs stand next to all the local stunter crews from newark and other stunting stands...it shows u its about making money..marketing to a different crowd...i agree any publicity is prolly good for ama at this point...but i dunno lotta my buddies said the same( all of which are races as i said before excluding two) just an oppinion dont hate! haha

tell me who doesn't have a business endevour that isn't about making money?....

and as far as his booth being anywhere at any show...the people that control placement is the convention center folks or whomever hosts the show mostly...has very little to do with associating with this group or that...or who his booth is next to or not.

 

[Hickey]

If he is courting stunters, all the better. Perhaps some young kids will choose to take their skills in a new direction. I'd much rather have them get involved in amature racing than in stunting on the freeways.