--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon…" description: "\"It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let people see that athletes were OK, and black athletes were OK. Defying a previous wisdom - not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/david-stern-18048_america_it-was-the-michael-jordan-nike-phenomeno_1587077.jpg" --- # It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let… ![“It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let people see that athletes were OK, and black athletes were OK. Defying a previous wisdom - not only that black athletes wouldn't sell in white America, but that the NBA as a predominantly black sport could not sell in white America.” quote by David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/david-stern-18048_america_it-was-the-michael-jordan-nike-phenomeno_1587077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/david-stern-18048_america_it-was-the-michael-jordan-nike-phenomeno_1587077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/david-stern-18048_america_it-was-the-michael-jordan-nike-phenomeno_1587077.jpg) > “It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let people see that athletes were OK, and black athletes were OK. Defying a previous wisdom - not only that black athletes wouldn't sell in white America, but that the NBA as a predominantly black sport could not sell in white America.” [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes, especially Black athletes, proved marketability across racial lines, challenging stereotypes about consumer acceptance. **In simple terms:** Black athletes showed broad market appeal. Key Takeaway Recognize and promote diversity in sports marketing. Themes diversity marketing race sports culture Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational cultural When to use this quote - sports sponsorship - advertising campaigns - team branding - community outreach Key Concepts consumer behavior racial stereotypes brand equity Questions to Reflect On - How can brands further break racial stereotypes? - What role do fans play in shifting perceptions? A Different Perspective Some audiences still resist change despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-nba-4092758/) [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Athletes Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes-wouldn-5701826/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-athletes-305286/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Defying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defying/) [Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Nba Predominantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-predominantly-6006924/) [Nike Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nike-phenomenon-6006923/) [Ok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ok/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Previous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/previous/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I was so afraid that the athletes wouldn't talk to me because I'm a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/i-was-so-afraid-that-the-athletes-wouldn-t-talk-to-me-because-i-m-a/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [I'm coming to America for NBA because that's my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/i-m-coming-to-america-for-nba-because-that-s-my-dream/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [America is the NBA of culture. So to have Asian people in the biggest entertainment market in the world, in Hollywood, is cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/america-is-the-nba-of-culture-so-to-have-asian-people-in-the-biggest/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [Money has changed today's black athletes. Those who have the ability as African men to bring a change in a community that so desperately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/money-has-changed-today-s-black-athletes-those-who-have-the-ability/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [When a country doesn't respect Black lives, maybe it doesn't deserve to be entertained by Black athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/when-a-country-doesn-t-respect-black-lives-maybe-it-doesn-t-deserve/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [Black athletes are always under more scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/black-athletes-are-always-under-more-scrutiny/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) > [The actual act of sitting out doesn't directly fight systemic racism. But it does highlight the reality that without black athletes, the NBA wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-bradley/the-actual-act-of-sitting-out-doesn-t-directly-fight-systemic-racism/) [Avery Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-bradley/) > [I'm very proud of the fact that we dispelled the myth about black athletes not being able to survive in Green Bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-holmgren/i-m-very-proud-of-the-fact-that-we-dispelled-the-myth-about-black/) [Mike Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-holmgren/) > [Many of the greatest black athletes of all time played baseball for no money and no recognition. I'm just sorry many major league fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/many-of-the-greatest-black-athletes-of-all-time-played-baseball-for/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [ I still think that there's some kind of psychological investment in black athletes carrying the flag for "us" at times. So, sports \[remains a\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-elliott-clarke/i-still-think-that-there-s-some-kind-of-psychological-investment-in/) [George Elliott Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-elliott-clarke/) > [O.J. Simpson was primarily interested in O.J. His rise to fame in the late '60s coincided with the period where black athletes were more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-edelman/o-j-simpson-was-primarily-interested-in-o-j-his-rise-to-fame-in-the/) [Ezra Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-edelman/) > [There is no shame in black athletes not wanting to be role models, but there should be shame when they don't behave like one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/there-is-no-shame-in-black-athletes-not-wanting-to-be-role-models-but/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [In Africa, kids don't look at black athletes and say, 'They're different from us.' They look at them and say, 'That can be me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/in-africa-kids-don-t-look-at-black-athletes-and-say-they-re-different/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Although study after study shows black men are more likely to be victims of crime, rarely do they receive victim treatment. When black athletes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/although-study-after-study-shows-black-men-are-more-likely-to-be/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [I'm an athlete and I'm black, and a lot of black athletes go broke. I do not want to become a statistic, so maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-m-an-athlete-and-i-m-black-and-a-lot-of-black-athletes-go-broke-i/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) ## More by David Stern > [Everyone said that the NBA could not possibly make it because it had too many black players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/everyone-said-that-the-nba-could-not-possibly-make-it-because-it-had/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [We need a system where all of our teams have the opportunity to compete and to make a few dollars. That's not a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/we-need-a-system-where-all-of-our-teams-have-the-opportunity-to/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [With every day that goes by, there will be further reductions on what's left of the season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/with-every-day-that-goes-by-there-will-be-further-reductions-on-what/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [It's not the NBA Finals, it's not even a regular-season game. It's the All-Star game, it's a celebration. A celebration of talent, speed, grace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/it-s-not-the-nba-finals-it-s-not-even-a-regular-season-game-it-s-the/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-believe-that-everyone-should-participate-in-democracy-and-enjoy/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I grew up in an age where women's tennis did not have similar prizes to men, and they played in complete obscurity, really, compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-grew-up-in-an-age-where-women-s-tennis-did-not-have-similar-prizes/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I would say the referees have the toughest game to call. I would say that there's a lot of officiating done by announcers, local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-would-say-the-referees-have-the-toughest-game-to-call-i-would-say/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [We have a broad array of teams. And if somebody asked me whether a team is a good buy, my response is, 'You'd better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/we-have-a-broad-array-of-teams-and-if-somebody-asked-me-whether-a/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I'm aware that the World Cup is probably the greatest spectacle in the world of sport, and that's despite the referees that have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-m-aware-that-the-world-cup-is-probably-the-greatest-spectacle-in/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Since the NBA purchased the New Orleans Hornets, final responsibility for significant management decisions lies with the Commissioner's Office in consultation with team chairman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/since-the-nba-purchased-the-new-orleans-hornets-final-responsibility/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [All I can say is you don't know what's going to be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. So I take no joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/all-i-can-say-is-you-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-be-on-the-front-page/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I think it's... I don't want to become a social crusader on this issue, but I think sports, male sports, has traditionally not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-think-it-s-i-don-t-want-to-become-a-social-crusader-on-this-issue/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [We have a broad array of teams. And if somebody asked me whether a team is a good buy, my response is, Youd better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/we-have-a-broad-array-of-teams-and-if-somebody-asked-me-whether-a-2/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [I actually don't hope for a legacy. I think that it impedes your ability to make the hard decisions if you sit around saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/i-actually-don-t-hope-for-a-legacy-i-think-that-it-impedes-your/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Our officials want nothing more than to be at the top of their professional game and make the correct call. That's what they do;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/our-officials-want-nothing-more-than-to-be-at-the-top-of-their/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) [Explore all 35 David Stern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was the Michael Jordan/Nike phenomenon that really let people see that athletes were OK, and black athletes were OK. 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