Swoopes Nets Nike Shoe Deal

No, she’s not returning to the NBA after two years of minor-league baseball. Cheryl Swoopes will share a different distinction with Michael Jordan very soon, however.

Swoopes, who led Texas Tech to the NCAA title in women’s college basketball in 1993, will become only the second person to have a Nike shoe named after her when “Air Swoopes” is unveiled in November.

Liz Dolan, vice president of marketing for Nike, announced the new shoe at an ABC news conference Wednesday at which the network publicized a series of four specials in April and May entitled “Passion to Play,” women’s sports documentaries.

Dolan said marketing strategy is still being developed for the new shoe, but she said Nike would like to tie it to women’s basketball.

“We’ve made a long-range commitment. We understand the ratings are low, but we’re willing to sponsor women’s basketball because we believe that five years from now, the ratings won’t be low anymore,” Dolan said.