So what’s wrong with Marcus Jordan, the son of NBA great Michael Jordan wearing Air Jordan’s when he plays basketball for the University of Central Florida?

Nothing except that Central Florida’s basketball team has a contract with Adidas.

Jordan said he will not play in Adidas shoes and the University told him he could. But when Adidas told the school they will not amend their contract to allow Jordan to wear Jordan’s the school faces losing $3million for breech of contract.

Jordan said that Nike has blessed his family through the years and he wants to stay loyal. He also was told by those recruiting him to Central Florida that he could wear the shoes.

So should young Jordan just put on the Adidas or is a promise a promise?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who almost started singing the Doxology when I seen for the first time the Serena Williams cover of the new ESPN Magazine.

Williams is one of several high profile African-American athletes including NFL player Adrian Peterson, NBA’s Dwight Howard and U.S Olympian Michelle Carter who participated in the “Body Issue” of ESPN Magazine. All models are naked with private parts concealed for obvious reasons.

Of course some are questioning the decision of some of the athletes posing in the magazine. But others applaud a mainsteam magazine applauding the beauty of black women.

Child Abuse on the Rise in Jamaica Child abuse reports skyrocketed last year in Jamaica, according to a report from the country’s Office of Children’s Registry. The report, which was released Saturday, revealed that the office got 3,784 reports of child abuse in 2008, reports CNN. The office only received 425 reports in 2007, signaling a large jump in the small Caribbean island of about 2.8 million people. An official from the OCR office said the rise could have something to do with Jamaicans becoming “increasingly mindful of their legal responsibility to report such incidents,” and are hoping to stop the upsurge of violence against children in the nation. Between January and November of last year, 73children were murdered in the country. The severe consequences of not reporting abuse could also have something to do with the higher number of reported cases, he said. “If someone has information of suspected child abuse and fails to make a report to the Registry, that person can be charged a maximum fee of $500,000 or-and six months imprisonment,” the official said. 
Fifteen Nigerian Athletes Killed in Crash A vehicle crash in Nigeria is responsible for the death of 15 football players, reports the BBC. The accident happened in Plateau state as the group was on its way to play a game in Abuja. The country’s roads are some of the most dangerous in the world and thousands of people die each year in accidents on the road, reports the BBC. Mohamed Sanusi, the Nigeria Football Federation head, said 11 players died on the accident scene and four others died in the hospital. Two players survived their injuries, but are “on the danger list,” he said. “It is really another very sad day for Nigerian football,” said Sanusi. A crash in the area not too long ago killed female athletes.

Academy schools pro players on grooming, etiquette. Saggy jeans? No problem. Dog-fighting? No problem. A Michigan-based school for grooming athletes is expanding its efforts to better prepare sports professionals for life in the public eye. Correcting some of the most glaring misbehaviors and common bad habits of today’s top-earning stars is the main goal for Char Goolsby, president of the Academy of Protocol Intelligence. “As in any other industry, professional development courses are offered to create an optimum work environment,” Goolsby says. “Investing in the total athlete is a benefit to any team and its brand. All too often, the team brand and the reputation of the league are hurt by a breech of protocol.” Certified by the Washington D.C. School of Protocol, Goolsby has conducted trainings and programs for foundations and individuals connected with the NFL and NBA. Among the Academy’s patented programs is the Etiquette for Athletes Camp – and a number of fast-running, high-jumping millionaires might do well to sign up.

New York expects point guard at training camp. Putting to rest a Newsday report and various others from South Florida media outlets, the Knicks president says Stephon Marbury is staying put. In response to news coverage this week that suggested the NBA point guard was likely to be waived soon, Donnie Walsh says Marbury’s “coming to training camp.” Word had it that the player, who recovered from recent ankle surgery, would probably be offered a settlement on the last year of his $21.9 million contract and then maybe sign with another team. “I haven’t approached him about a buyout,” Walsh adds. Marbury played in only 24 games last season due to his ankle injury.

Men’s relay team members are stripped of 2000 gold.

The International Olympic Committee has snatched back more gold medals from U.S. runners. Following the revocation of runner and convicted felon Marion Jones’ prizes and the medals of her 2000 Olympics relay teammates earlier this year, four men who competed in the 1,600-meter relay have lost their awards. World-record-holder Michael Johnson, twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison, who ran in the final, and Antonio Pettigrew lost their golds after Pettigrew admitted using performance-enhancing drugs at the time. Jerome Young and Angelo Taylor, who ran in the preliminaries, also lost their golds. Johnson, who collected five golds during his sprinting career, had already said he’d give back his 1,600-meter prize because he felt “cheated, betrayed and let down” by Pettigrew. Pettigrew gave back his medal in June after admitting that he used drugs, including human growth hormone, from 1997 to 2003. Former top women’s sprinter Jones admitted to using steroids earlier this year, causing three gold and two bronze medals to be taken back from American athletes.

The president gives Olympics team members his blessing
President George W. Bush urged 12 athletes representing the U.S. at the forthcoming Beijing Olympics to “compete swifter, higher and stronger” and to be “ambassadors of liberty.” The president’s send-off Monday comes before the game’s opening ceremonies next month. He later hosted current and former Olympians, including track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, for a dinner at the White House. “I can’t wait to salute our athletes, and I can’t wait to share in the joy of your triumphs,” he told the 12 competitors from various sports.