Sonny Vaccaro explains how Michael Jordan's shot vs. Georgetown 'changed the world' | NBA | THE HERD

Former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro (the man who discovered Michael Jordan) joins Colin Cowherd to discuss his relationship with legendary UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian on and off the court. He then discusses the film 'Air' and dissects Michael Jordan taking the last shot against Georgetown instead of James Worthy via North Carolina coach Dean Smith's decision and compares a few movie scenes to real life. Vaccaro breaks down how these '18 seconds changed the world.' He then shares about his conversation with Michael Jordan's mother prior to signing him to Nike. Watch as he shares his point of view in the process of signing MJ, along with why Phil Knight was hesitant at first.
#TheHerd #NBA #MichaelJordan
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Sonny Vaccaro explains how Michael Jordan's shot vs. Georgetown 'changed the world' | NBA | THE HERD
• Sonny Vaccaro explains...
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
/ colincowherd

[@TheHerdOnFS1]

Check out the What’s Wright? with Nick Wright podcast: sprtspod.fox/WhatsWright_YT

[@chickhearn4ever779]

What's Wrong with Nick Pinnochio Wrong

[@barryvaccaro9320]

Great interview with my father. Thank you, Colin, for having him on.

[@mako4874]

a legend - u must have heard so many great stories! U should write a book one day lest these tales be lost to time

[@brooklynlace5503]

He might be the single most influential person in the History of Basketball Business.

[@scottsiverman1324]

I met your Dad a few times, when I worked for adidas. Great guy!

[@matthewrichardson8162]

Hey Barry, I’m thinking about naming my son Sonny. What do you think?

[@jimbaker5110]

Can your dad get me a job in the NBA?

[@williamhicks8529]

This story is nothing short of amazing. Salute to this guy for having the foresight to see MJs greatness

[@TheLionaaa]

Everything about MJ is always Amazing.

[@bigtrkdrvr216]

You don't have to like him. You don't have to call him the G.O.A.T.. If you play/love this game, just say "thanks MJ".

[@superdopehiphop]

I’m one of the very rare who saw MJ/LeBron play live 51/53x each (great close seats center court), love them both, have them as Co GOAT and BOTH Mount Rushmore athletes in all of sports period! Anyone who pretends to act like they’re BOTH not ILLMATIC God Tier 👽either wasn’t there and/or is a Stan/hater!

[@akiracastillo]

GREAT COMMENT

[@bigtrkdrvr216]

@SuperDopeHipHop I'm MJ all day er'day. I give Bron his props, I still put Kobe ahead of him, I just wish they played harder defense in this generation of ball.

[@njl9183]

I got so emotional & sobbed after Matt's speech!

[@jonathanblaze1648]

It was really good. This movie was excellent.

[@thebigfreakingcat4292]

Awesome interview with Sonny Vaccaro! The man knew what he wanted and it paid off in the greatest marketing deal in sports history.

[@braviafeed]

Just last month Cowpie was absolutely eviscerating Jordan and now he's forced to listen to Sonny explain exactly how special Jordan was...PRICELESS!

[@jamoa3395]

That’s why I’m watching this just to see cowherd reaction 😂😂

[@derek5499]

Cowturd is a joke with no credibility

[@jackzeldon2883]

Colin is a classic boot licker - he's the kid in class who raises his hand & tells the teacher "you forgot to give us homework" - & at 50+ he's grown into the ultimate cuck

[@SalKhayer]

Old man Vaccaro's stories are so much fun, I kinda wish Colin didn't derail his Vegas story to talk about his segment tbh

[@jarodrochell1310]

It was kinda funny to see him go off on his story like old men do lol it’s always so fascinating tho when they’re good storytellers. Would be interesting to see him on a podcast where he had more freedom to tell his stories

[@tuckert3ig]

"18 seconds changed the world"....... Sonny Vaccaro. Biggest bet for a lifetime poker player made history

[@apt62]

MJ was my childhood. Thank you, Sonny!

[@littlesame]

Mr. Vacaro thanks for having an everlasting vision, can’t wait to watch the film

[@jorgedelgado351]

Is that Hector Salamanca?

[@paparice4444]

Looking for this comment lol

[@yoandermulet3731]

😂😂😂

[@weswerner4145]

Great interview and storytelling. Truth always beats fiction.

[@RETROBRO]

Sonny spoke about Raymond Lewis who was our Stephen Curry in the 1970s. I just watched the Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend documentary film and it was fantastic!

[@HailKingCeezer]

I feel like there wasn't time and for the movie's sake they talked about the UNC shot, but the 84 Olympics is really where the legend started to take off and that was also before the shoe deal and everyone including NBA stars were getting a taste of what was to come. I'm watching the movie hopefully this weekend!

[@mosando]

MJ is not a once in a generation talent, he is a once in many lifetimes talent. He had it all and we all knew it. He was a player that was booed like no other but when he first left the WHOLE NBA world felt as if a family member was on life support and when he came back said member got up and ran. After running he got his props then a few later it was back to talking smack but it just felt a lot more special than before.

[@hgm38]

If you a basketball fan & not just a jordan fan,it’s amazing how Sonny got him to sign.

[@clintondavis36]

This is a legendary interview. I have never been as fired up to watch a movie based on watching an interview before. Colin this is a crowning achievement interview! Awesome job!!!!

[@terrancewilliams1045]

This story never gets old

[@creek3205]

Sonny is still going strong. Awesome stories.

[@sophisticated_savage]

Imagine how different history would be if MJ would’ve signed with anyone but Nike??🤷‍♂️

[@geoff3103]

Saw it a few nights ago. GREAT movie.

[@christiancuevas6086]

Thank you Sonny, Pete, Howard and Phil for my pair of Air Jordan 1.

[@kindofbluenyc]

Great Interview.

[@Truthhurts2022]

The movie is top notch, and maybe one of the better sports movies ever

[@nelsonrivera764]

"18 seconds changed the world" -Sonny Vaccaro

[@yvesmassaad]

Amazing interview, great move getting Sonny to the studio.

[@perroni23]

Greatest segment yet!!!

[@trevormiles4952]

Good interview Colin

[@zerocool7408]

Colin is a really bad interviewer. A good radio and sports commentator but really poor interviewing skills. Interrupts a lot instead of letting Sonny tell most of the story. Certainly talks too much instead of asking open ended questions that engages his guests more

[@neilmartin99]

Hey Sonny. Tell Colin about the time you told Mychel Thompson that his son would never make it to the NBA when he was a senior in high school. Mychel's son is Clay Thompson of the GSW. Oops, guess he got that one wrong. 🤣😂

[@gwensalador4325]

Klay improved drastically comapred to his early days!!! Also he isnt on MJ level as a collective klay is great with great talent...put him alone with the warriors they aint winning or make it to the top seeds

[@p.f.912]

18 seconds of the NCAA film clip showing MJ demanding the ball...changed the world. Well said, Sonny.

[@bigredtlc1828]

Amazing.

[@JCreole]

Colin let him talk…stop cutting him off.

[@tdjakes121]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@sunnyside9273]

I miss Sonny's segment on the Loose Cannons show in LA years ago. Sonny !!

[@mosando]

Cavs shot, the whole play and his movement was just wow.

[@meatusshaft300]

Hope he was very handsomely compassionated for finding the greatest team athlete in American pro sports history, right next to the great Tom Brady, of course. ❤

[@stephenscott8632]

Nope he wasn't. Phil knight is greedy

[@mako4874]

Matt Damon playing vaccaro is a stretch and a half . 😅 If only joe Pesci was young, Michael stahlbarg,Steve Carell, maybe sam Rockwell

[@luckylefty232323]

I couldn’t agree more

[@jackzeldon2883]

Matt Damon playing anyone is a stretch - but that's why they tell you to suspend disbelief when you walk in the theatre

[@Stevesautopartsify]

Magic Johnson says he regrets to this very day when he passed on his deal with Nike!

[@boomboominroom]

They even offered Magic Nike stock which would be valued at about $2b.

[@JRS0404]

Speaks to how much it was before Nike was a real player! Everybody wore Converse back in the day. Every year they would release a new Cons poster, which even included Aguirre in his brief prime. Only other comparable event was when Shaq started wearing Reebok Pumps.

[@josephvandermeer8570]

Growing up in Las Vegas .. Sonny V is respected

[@Perfection212]

The shot! Which one is better?The NC shot in 82 or the 98 shot vs Utah Jazz?

[@JRS0404]

82 - Freshman on a loaded team that answered the call. Started the legacy. And no (slight) hand assist to free him up.

[@SmoothieT33]

Or the shot in 1989 over the Cavs.

[@nitolarioza]

History 👟

[@jyanharris7957]

And here is the crazy thing now it's somewhat illegal to wear all white sneakers on the floor now!! Lol

[@mariettuazon6554]

Love mj

[@Robbiesroadcrew]

If you were paying attention to the 84 Olympics you would have known he was going to be special.

[@robertogagarin8847]

whoa since when can Hector Salamanca talk

[@KenformerlyKen]

So Sonny was betting on Georgetown to beat UNC in 1984 NCAA men basketball final..opps “ wrong bet “ says Van Damme in the movie “ Lion Heart “😆😆😆 had MJ NOT made that winning shot, Sonny, and Nike might have gone with Sam Perkins, James Worthy or Patrick Ewing as their spokesperson. That shot changed many people’s lives..Nike is the obviously the biggest winner while Converse probably the biggest loser. Because Converse was the shoes that sponsor NBA and everyone wanted to wear their shoes including MJ himself. MJ signed 4-year $2.5 million dollars 1984 PLUS loyalty, which would be averaging about $265 million dollars ANNUALLY. MJ's networth about 2 BILLION dollars in 2023😮

[@kendricjonrs8581]

12:17 " ....now when she says she's coming.... " Sonny Vacarro (all inferred intents and purposes were above board anecdotal) 12:18 ' Michael Jordan 's Momma.... ' Colin Cowherd ( all inferred intents and purposes were presumptuous asf)

[@sunnybhatti3726]

Don’t watch this if you haven’t seen the movie yet!!!!

[@leonblack751]

World fell to realize is MJ sucked would these people take credit for that? NO

[@sugared365]

Colin is a terrible interviewer

[@richardbas7574]

Larry Bird the real GOAT.

[@eromanjr43]

how many lebron fans will watch the movie........

[@christopherlee1882]

I'm more of a jordan fan but I think bron is the goat. The movie was amazing

[@mosando]

@@christopherlee1882 Bron is the stat GOAT but not overall

[@joshgullicksrud3444]

Bud light sucks

[@Blacklist324]

18 seconds 6+6+6

[@wilcunningham5787]

Magic an Bird change everything

[@ronniejones8148]

Ant nobody like them dam! Shoes! Smh

[@wilcunningham5787]

@@ronniejones8148 so it's about the shoes

[@ronniejones8148]

@Wil Cunningham yup, if we sticking to the topic

[@realsinceday1632]

bird and magic SAVED the NBA jordan CHANGED the NBA made the game way more global

[@ronniejones8148]

@@realsinceday1632 I can agree with that

[@TheDoltonboy]

This guy can barely speak a coherent sentence.

[@whaddup5417]

Lol

[@geordiehalma7323]

IDGAF about Air Jordans...I also am not particularly concerned with 1982 right now.

[@s0Lstar18]

Then GTFOHWTBS

[@Juntao1989]

Good for you MF

[@stevem2323]

Huh?

[@mikeyuille9025]

Imagine actually thinking a person shooting a basketball in the 80s changed the world. Americans....

[@jerisj.8971]

Yet here you are engaging. "Thanks Mike. "

[@s0Lstar18]

Imagine commenting about it if it didn’t matter lol

[@geoff3103]

except he did change the world.

[@chickhearn4ever779]

He rocked the universe. The most creative athlete ever born to mankind

[@stevem2323]

Actually it did, sport of basketball, and how sporting corporations do business deals.

[@mak23997]

You know MJ is the goat when a movie about him signing a shoe contract was not only made, but is griping, is having oscar talks AND it's one of the most streamed movies. Colin, how can you even dispute MJ is the goat?? Jason probably crying in the corner.