When Derrick Rose went down with an injury this past Friday, it was terrible news not just for Bulls fans, but Adidas as well. The German shoe giant put plenty of cash behind Rose, making him the face of the brand’s basketball line. This latest setback to Rose is just another major blow to Adidas’ hopes to keep pace with Nike in the basketball sneakers battle. Many of the stars they signed have had their careers ended or derailed by abrupt injuries (like Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, and to a lesser extent, Chauncey Billups). Their other big time star, Dwight Howard, ruined his own reputation with a two year long will-I-stay-or-will-I-go circus. Even the next big NBA star, Andrew Wiggins, is reportedly ready to shun the stripes in favor of Nike.
But that’s all ok, because they just signed Kanye away from Nike!
Adidas apparently managed to steal Yeezus by giving him enough means to support his family (something Nike apparently didn’t do). Really — that’s what West said in an interview with New York radio station Hot 97. Here’s exactly what Ye said:
“I said, ‘Well I need royalties.’ It’s not even like I have a joint venture. At least give me some royalties. Michael Jordan has 5 percent and that business is $2 billion. He makes a $100 million dollars a year off of 5 percent royalties. Nike told me, ‘We can’t give you royalties because you’re not a professional athlete.’ I told them, ‘I go to the Garden and play one-on-no one. I’m a performance athlete.’
