Top 10 Things Air Got Factually Right and Wrong

Right

Before Shia LaBeouf turned it into a meme, we all associated “Just Do It” with Nike. However, these words didn’t begin with 80-year-old runner Walt Stack. As Sonny Vaccaro learns in the film, the shoe company’s motivational slogan is surprisingly rooted in an infamous figure: Gary Gilmore. Confessing to the murders of gas station employee Max Jensen and motel manager Bennie Bushnell, Gilmore was sentenced to death in 1977. When given two options, Gilmore chose death by firing squad over a hanging. Gilmore’s last words were, “Let’s do it,” which, according to advertising executive Dan Wieden, inspired him to create the Nike tagline. Vaccaro has a hard time believing this, but Gilmore indeed inadvertently planted the seeds for “Just Do It.”

Wrong

As we’re introduced to Sonny Vaccaro, he places a few bets in Vegas, returning to Oregon slightly richer. Nike co-founder Phil Knight later brings up Vaccaro’s layovers in Vegas. There is some truth to Vaccaro’s gambling, although the film plays around with the timeline. His brother worked as an oddsmaker and bookmaker for The Golden Nugget. Vaccaro himself was a gambler, spending nearly three years betting on basketball, baseball, and so on without a stable job. However, he quit in 1978 upon accepting a gig with Nike, leaving Vegas behind. Vaccaro said in 1988, “I stopped gambling and started leading what I called ‘the straight life.’” Vaccaro also denied using his basketball connections for gambling, although he’d bet his career on Michael Jordan.

Right

Nike would offer Jordan his own shoe line, but the future NBA All-Star had something else on his mind: a shiny new car. This demand is brought up several times throughout the film, although a few notable chapters are left out. Vaccaro reportedly told Jordan at one meeting, “If you sign this contract, you will have as many cars as you wish,” claiming that Jordan replied, “I want a car, now.” When Vaccaro promised him one, Jordan supposedly just smiled. In another story not depicted in the film, either Vaccaro or Rob Strasser rolled two toy cars over to Jordan, ensuring him that he’d get the real deal. As “Air” reveals, Jordan’s car collection grew and the rest is history.

Right

Although they’re forever intertwined now, Nike initially wasn’t Jordan’s first or even second choice. Converse was the leader in basketball shoes, although it became clear upfront that they wouldn’t prioritize Jordan over Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. Adidas is the company that Jordan had his eye on. Not only did he practice while wearing Adidas shoes. Jordan was a fan of the German company’s tracksuits as well. Adidas might’ve been the more significant brand at the time, but they struggled to match Nike’s offer. The company was going through a transitional period following the death of founder Adolf Dassler, who was indeed a member of the Nazi Party and Hitler Youth. Jordan was ultimately persuaded to take the superior deal, converting to Nike.

Right

“Air Jordan,” it’s a name that slides right off the tongue, but who conceived it? While shoe designer Peter Moore is depicted suggesting the name at one point, the film credits David Falk, Jordan’s hotheaded agent, for saying it first. The real Falk has also claimed bragging rights for the name. Falk says that he initially pitched the name “Michael Jordan,” but Nike shot down that idea. Since Nike had developed shoes with Air technology and Jordan soared through the air while playing the game, Falk suggested “Air Jordan” as an alternative. Falk had written down a few other ideas, but “Air Jordan” quickly clicked with Nike. Moore got to work on the shoe and one of the most successful sports brands was born.

Right

The original Air Jordan shoes stood out with red, white, and black colors, matching Jordan’s Bulls uniform. As seen in the film, the shoes proved too colorful for the NBA, which at the time abided by the “51% rule,” requiring footwear on the court to be primarily white. In “Air,” Nike decides to rebel against the system, offering to pay the $5,000 fine per game. However, outside of a few instances like the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest, it’s debated how often Jordan wore the AJ1 sneakers during official games, meaning Nike likely never had to pay a fine. Nevertheless, Nike still played up the shoes as “banned” in their ads. The NBA also loosened restrictions on shoe colors as the 2000s winded down.

Wrong

The film portrays Vaccaro as a risk-taker so determined to land Jordan that he goes over the heads of his bosses and MJ’s agent. Vaccaro arrives at the Jordan household unannounced, pitching directly to Mrs. Jordan. While Vaccaro knew that family was the key to getting Jordan onboard, he didn’t fly solo on this endeavor. The movie claims that Falk was initially reluctant to set up a meeting, forcing Vaccaro to take matters into his own hands. Upon finding out that Vaccaro went straight to the Jordan home, he lashes out at him over the phone. In reality, Falk called Jordan’s parents, telling them that Jordan should hear Nike out. Jordan ultimately agreed to a meeting, but he insisted that his parents accompany him.

Right

Jordan is considered the GOAT now, but few could predict how legendary he’d become in 1984. He was considered too short for his high school varsity team, playing junior varsity instead, and was only the third pick in the NBA draft. While Converse and Adidas wanted to be in business with Jordan, they failed to see his full potential. In “Air,” Vaccaro has an epiphany about Jordan while rewatching footage from an old game. In real life, Vaccaro attended the 1982 college basketball championship where North Carolina defeated Georgetown thanks in part to the one-point lead that Jordan scored with 15 seconds left on the clock. Concluding that this play was orchestrated specifically for the freshman, Vaccaro urged Nike to bet everything on Jordan.

Wrong

Despite being an off-screen figure, Jordan’s presence is felt throughout the film. Vaccaro initially approaches Deloris Jordan, paving the way for Nike to deliver their pitch to the Jordan family. That’s not how it played out in real life, though. Before he even considered talking to his parents, Vaccaro met Michael Jordan himself at a Tony Roma’s restaurant. Vaccaro’s friend George Raveling, portrayed here by Marlon Wayans, helped arrange this first meeting, having coached Jordan during the 1984 Olympics. According to Vaccaro, Jordan had little knowledge of Nike and didn’t express much interest. After this meeting, Vaccaro recognized how much Jordan valued his family. Vaccaro eventually found that if he was going to convince Michael, he needed to win over his mother as well.

Right

The Nike deal wouldn’t have gone through without the approval of Deloris Jordan, which “Air” makes abundantly clear. Although not depicted in the film, Michael Jordan considered skipping the Nike meeting in Oregon, but his mother convinced her son to get on the plane. In the film, Michael doesn’t say much upon arriving at the meeting, letting his parents do most of the talking. This is true according to Vaccaro, who said, “[Deloris] was the one negotiating for her son, for the kind of life Michael was going to live.” While the Air Jordan offer was already unprecedented, Deloris Jordan pushed it a step further, insisting that her son get a percentage of the shoe sales. Nike agreed and Michael thankfully followed his parents’ advice.