With the Second pick in the 1984 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Michael Jordan. 

            No other draft pick in sports has been seconded guessed more than that of the Trailblazers selection of Sam Bowie at number 2 over Michael Jordan.  We've all lamented over this seemingly bonehead move, hindsight is always 20/20 of course.  But, let's look at things from a different prospective.  What if the Blazers actually did select Michael Jordan?  How would the Bulls, Trailblazers, NBA and the world be different is they did pick him?

            Scenario 1 - Jordan and the Trailblazers win 6 NBA titles.  This isn't a real stretch.  The Trailblazers were a competitive team even playing against Jordan's Bulls in the NBA finals.  So how would things be different?  Obvious but important statement alert!  Portland is not Chicago.  Gee thanks, we didn't need to be told that, but it is important to the over-all scheme of things.  Name some Trailblazers?  Walton, Drexler...... Pippen, problem is that are these guys really remembered as members of the Portland Trailblazers?  Pippen was and always will be remembered as a Bull.  Drexler comes close to being remembered as a Trailblazer but he won his rings in Houston thus wiping out the average fans recollection of him as a Trailblazer.  Walton is maybe the most recognizable player as a Trailblazer. That is if you conveniently forget that he also won a championship with the Celtics or could even remember him as a player and not a loud-mouth announcer. 

            Playing in the West those days meant almost anonymity unless you were playing for the Lakers.  Sure, there are always exceptions to the rule, but overall it was a sea into which many players would get lost.  Having said that, in all likelihood Jordan and the Trailblazers could have won more than 6 championships.  If not they would have been to more NBA finals playing in a then weaker conference.  But, let's get back Portland is not Chicago.  One of Jordan's lasting memories apart from basketball is his endorsement deals. 

            Back then Nike signed Jordan to an endorsement deal and the rest is history.  Nike has become the most popular brand of shoes and their Jordan line a smashing success.  Even after his playing days customers still shell out $125 + for his line of shoes, classic Jordan's and even new ones each year.  He's spawned his own Brand Jordan line-up which currently includes Carmelo Anthony and Derek Jeter.  The big question is would this have happened if Jordan played for the Trailblazers? 

            Jordan signing with Nike while playing for the Trailblazers most definitely could have happened.  Nike got started in Oregon, seems like a perfect fit right?  At first thought, yes.  But, let's look at this from a marketing prospective.  Portland is not Chicago.  I really can't say that enough.  What would be more appealing to a company looking to further its influence across the nation.  Signing a local NBA player to a deal or choosing a player from one of the top markets in the country.  Nike would have been looking to do just that, Jordan might have been on their list, but they wanted to broaden appeal and escape a regional market in the Pacific Northwest.  Taking this into consideration Jordan most likely would not have been their target for an endorsement deal.  So who would they have targeted for their poster boy? 

            A New York player, how about the nations 4^th largest market, Philadelphia, Charles Barkley entered the draft the same year.  L.A. would be of interest but, being on the west coast would not have expanded Nike's market as much as a large eastern city would.  Barkley does indeed have a deal with Nike, but instead of being second fiddle to Jordan the roles easily could have been reversed. 

Nike opened up further endorsement deals for Jordan.  Would we be saturated with a plethora of sports drinks today if it wasn't for Jordan and Gatorade.  Gatorade wasn't new to the market by a long shot when Jordan signed on as an endorser.  However he brought it to the mainstream.  What catchy song would be singing if Jordan didn't take place with Gatorade, "Like Dominique, if I could be like Dominique...." (or insert other fun names like Chuck, Larry or Ervin).  The world would definitely be a much different place.  (However I believe that people would still buy Haines endorsement deal or no endorsement deal). 

Scenario 2 - Jordan and the Trailblazers flop.  This doesn't seem as unlikely as it sounds.  The Trailblazers were a consistently good team (give or take a few years) over Jordan's time.  However, sometimes it's a matter of right player, in the right place, at the right time.  Maybe Jordan doesn't get to see the playing time he did in Chicago as a rookie.  Endorsement deals wouldn't be coming his way or for any player coming off the bench.  

Maybe Sam Perkins career, or lack of, is a direct result of playing for the Trailblazers.  Jordan could have just been remembered as a great college player and nothing more.  He might have only enjoyed moderate success in the NBA.  Sure we could scoff at that statement knowing what we know now, but it could have happened. 

Although the use of athletes for marketing of products was not a new invention, it seems to have helped spawn a multi media marketing frenzy across sports as we know it.  Athletes and company's seem to go hand in hand these days.  Jordan's success as a spokesman has played an integral role in that.  All I know is this, had the Trailblazers selected Jordan with the 2^nd pick in the draft that year the world as we know it would be a much different place.