The Genius who saved Nike - and made Michael Jordan Iconic
Before Michael Jordan became a global icon, one unlikely figure made the call that changed everything. In this episode, Sonny Vaccaro shares how a gut instinct, a relentless belief in potential, and a risky pitch inside a boardroom at Nike rewrote the rules of sports marketing.
From nearly walking away after Jordan leaned toward Adidas, to the quiet resolve that kept him in the game, Sonny reveals the turning points, personal battles, and behind-the-scenes moments that led to one of the most impactful deals in sports history.
It’s a revealing look at how conviction, timing, and the courage to challenge convention can leave a legacy far bigger than the game.
Legends and Soles: Business, Creativity and Basketball – a Memoir of an Improbable Life by Sonny Vaccaro (with Armen Keteyian) is out now (£22.00, HarperCollins)
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The Room Where It Happened
Step inside the moments that shaped the world’s biggest brands in The Room Where It Happened, a brand-new podcast hosted by Jake Humphrey.
Each episode sees the guest take us back inside a room and a moment that changed the course of their careers. With unprecedented insight on the pivotal decisions, unexpected turns, and behind-the-scenes moments that propelled companies to global recognition - and the lessons learned along the way from the people who were right in the middle of it all.
The Room Where It Happened is your front-row seat to the conversations that shaped history, offering a rare glimpse into the defining moments of top entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- No. of episodes: 7
- Latest episode: 2025-05-13
- Business Technology Entrepreneurship
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