[Rainman]

Why Marlboro???

Why pick on Marlboro?
They have been in racing longer than you have been alive Hickey, unless you are older than me.

They sponsered Penske IRL, Formula 1, Moto GP, World Rally, etc....
People who have raced for them, Senna, Schumacher, Castroneves, Biaggi, Checa, etc...

They have as much a racing heritage as anybody out there, still left.

 

[Guest]

i full heartedly agree

 

[Guest]

whatever your right im wrong...whats next partick ewing on atvs?
how about george murason on dirt bikes theres an idea...im not argueing anymore i said i get your points what more do you want? i still dont agree can i have an oppinion? isnt that why you post to get feedback and understand each other...im not here to argue

 

[jack]

It's not about whether you're right or wrong, you voiced your opinion, and only a few agreed, it's not the end of the world. I'll guess that most of us here remember Jordan as a pretty spectacular basketball player, whether you were a Bulls fan or not. A racing team is about talent and money. I'll wager some of the biggest names in motorcycling would struggle today to put a team together because it would be difficult for them to pull in sponsors from outside the industry. Ask corporate america who Nicky Hayden is, or Kenny Roberts or Valentino Rossi, or any successful rider in the last 20 years and you'll get a blank stare. Motorcycle racing is in the same grungy pits that NASCAR was in 30+ years ago. Jordan's name is widely recognized outside of basketball and is very easy for a corprorate sponsor to get behind. He's a smart business man. He can bring in good publicity, diverse corporate sponsors and elevate the sport and general public awareness.

So you don't like him, ok, none of us will hold that against you. I'll still take a guy in a car recognizing the name on the tank and thinking "Ducati, they won last week at Laconia and they're up in the points this year ..." rather than "loud, dirtbag bikers, they all should be thrown in jail..." any day.

 

[Hickey]

Why pick on Marlboro?
They have been in racing longer than you have been alive Hickey, unless you are older than me.

They have as much a racing heritage as anybody out there, still left.

I'm not picking on any sponsor. I used Marlboro as an example of a sponsor that does indeed support motorsports. They have every right to. Just as Michael Jordan has every right to sponsor motorsports via his JumpMan company.

Neither company is in the business of making cars or bikes or anything else related to them. Doesn't matter. They are involved in racing via their sponsorship and that gives them the valid right to display their logos on the machines they promote. If we don't object to Marlboro, why should we object to JumpMan?

 

[rob]

I can sum up my opinion on MJ in one sentence: if I had his money, I'd be doing the same thing.

The only thing I can hold against the man is that he can do it and I can't.

 

[VIVID1]

I don’t care either way, he can do whatever he wants, I just don’t understand why he has his basketball number (I think 23) on the back on all the MJ jackets.

 

[MikeM]

I don’t care either way, he can do whatever he wants, I just don’t understand why he has his basketball number (I think 23) on the back on all the MJ jackets.

Branding. He's just trying to get people to think of him - and more importantly his products - whenever they see the number 23. Marketing shorthand. Rolling Rock beer did/does the same thing with their "33" and Heinz promoted the "57" thing as well. IMO, it's a bit of a stretch for Jordan to think the payoff will be worth the investment/ effort, but that's his marketing approach and apparently he's sticking to it.

 

[Guest]

point taken...and i agree beest basketball player of all time...i see what your saying about how he might help the sport...but to me its a beautiful sport and id hate to see it be turned into a nascar sort of sport...i like the exclusive feel of bike racing...and im spent taking about mj esp being a pacers fan lol

 

[sblea]

yeah, MJ in the sport is going to bring big time visibility to AMA... MJ and his team is probably the best marketting AMA is going to get (besides Ducati winning).

He has always loved bikes and his father bought him a dirt bike when he was young (as the story goes). He has always admired motorcycles from afar, but due to his basketball contract, he was not allowed to RIDE!!!

Its a very interesting story on how he got involved in racing- mainly through meeting Montez Stewart in the streets of chicago.... Its too bad they had to let Monetz Stewart go, I was really hoping a guy that has a passion for motorcycle racer and came off the streets be competitive within a few years in superstock with a sponsered team.

Who on this board would'nt want to race for MJ motorsports and take our shot at the pros!!!!

 

[MikeM]

MJ and his team is probably the best marketting AMA is going to get

Perhaps the *only* effective marketing effort the AMA will see for a long time... It is no stretch to say that with his experience and contacts (can you say "NIKE" or "NBA"?) Jordan has far more marketing expertise at his disposal than the AMA. I have no doubt that if Jordan ran a series of his own, he'd be outdrawing the AMA inside of three years.

 

[Bodhi]

I'm just a not a big MJ fan to begin with. He doesn't have much personality - not like Barkley or Bird.

 

[bigbird999]

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.

Right on.

 

[bevel450]

You grew up in Indiana and your standard of round ball excellence is Reggie Miller ????? Young man, clearly you are from somewhere else, as everybody from LA ( where Reggie went to UCLA) to Indiana knows that THE class of that Indiana field is Larry Bird. The world did not begin the day that you ( or I ) was born.

Maybe stick with baseball or something...

Sheesh !

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]

sorry old man larry bird goes way back...obviously i know who he is...but reggie and jordan are more of rivals then bird and jordan...if i was talking about magic...id mention bird...get your genres straight...baseballs not my sports soccer and football are....

o btw to start even more controversy and really piss everyone off since you cant seem to take anything more out of this thread than verbal attacks

BRADY QUINN NOTRE DAME National Champs 06!

 

[Guest]

btw bevel if you noticed the jk and smile face it was a joke? im kiding auround here...im not going to agree how many would laugh at valentino if he joined the pga...it was a question? i asked anyone feel the same? i wasnt asking for your ballless attacks =) thanks

 

[erinpaul]

MJ may not have much personality but he has character. Logo is right in the money and the leathers are 80's ugly.

 

[zooom]

valentino if he joined the pga...

NOW THERE'S AN IDEA!....Hmmm....Tiger Woods partnered with Valentino Rossi VS. Phil Mickelson and Micheal Jordan....HA!

BTW....since you say you are a futball fan...Manchester United Rule!...Oi Oi!

 

[Rainman]

I'm not picking on any sponsor. I used Marlboro as an example of a sponsor that does indeed support motorsports. They have every right to. Just as Michael Jordan has every right to sponsor motorsports via his JumpMan company.

Neither company is in the business of making cars or bikes or anything else related to them. Doesn't matter. They are involved in racing via their sponsorship and that gives them the valid right to display their logos on the machines they promote. If we don't object to Marlboro, why should we object to JumpMan?

I agree with you 100%

 

[Goner]

I just happened to see this thread and this video within a day of eachother:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjIfuzR9XE&mode=related&search=
It's a great video (if the link doesn't work, just do a search on youtube for michael jordan motogp)