Posted on 07/06/2006 7:32:55 PM PDT by Inspectorette
A Northeast Portland man is suing basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Nike founder Phil Knight for a combined $832 million. Allen Heckard filed the suit himself, June 29th in Washington County Court. Heckard says he’s been mistaken as Michael Jordan nearly every day over the past 15 years and he’s tired of it.
“I'm constantly being accused of looking like Michael and it makes it very uncomfortable for me,” said Heckard.
Heckard is suing Jordan for defamation and permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering. He’s suing Knight for defamation and permanent injury for promoting Jordan and making him one of the most recognized men in the world.
Heckard stands just over six feet tall. He is not six foot six like the real Michael Jordan. But Heckard says many people seem to miss that. He does share a bit of resemblance to the real Michael Jordan. Heckard has a shaved head, an earring in his left ear, and is in good shape from working out, and yes, playing basketball.
“Even when I go to the gym I'm being accused of playing ball like him (Jordan), said Heckard."
Most people would consider that a high compliment.
"Yes...don’t get me wrong it’s definitely a positive thing, because Michael, like I say is one of the best ball players that I've known to play the game. But then again, that's Michael and I'm me. So I want to be recognized as me just like Michael's being recognized as Michael."
Dressed in blue Air Jordan tennis shoes, Heckard might seem to be actually trying to look like Jordan but Heckard doesn’t see it that way.
"They're very comfortable shoes to play ball in,” said Heckard. “I play a lot of basketball and any other shoes I try to play in tend to hurt the bottom of my feet."
“I got a right to buy Nike or Adidas or what ever, so I chose the Nike because its a good shoe for me to play ball in,” he said.
Heckard agreed that not everyone thinks he’s a famous basketball player, but insisted a lot of people do mistake him for Jordan.
"I figure if I'm out in public and around a lot of people at least three or four times out of a crowd ...and like I was at the Blues Festival and you could see people they was pointing at me," he said.
Some might wonder how he decided to sue Knight and Jordan for $416-million each. "Well, you figure with my age and you multiply that times seven and ah, then I turn around and ah I figure that's what it all boils down to."
The question remains – is the occasional confusion with an admired celebrity worth $800 million.
“Well,” said Heckard, “You never can put a value on a person's life. You know you're taking my lifestyle away from me. So you know...we'll let the ball bounce like Michael does...where it’s supposed to fall."
I hope if this gets to court, the judge will charge him ,AND whoever his scumbag lawyer is , with contempt of court, and fine them both.
He filed the suit himself, the article states.
Reading is fundamental.
If there were more of that, there would be fewer of these asinine law suits.
Thank God Joradan doesn't drive a red car.
Yeah, I think he's got a real case here. </sarc >
IMO, this guy should lose his house and everything he owns for even thinking of taking this travesty into a courtroom.
I'm serious. Frivolous lawsuits should be rewarded with painful financial penalties.
Can you imagine the countersuit?
lol....in his dreams.
BTW - I don't have anything against honest lawyers: my son-in-law is an excellent attorney, serving in the USMC.
Thank you for posting the side-by-side pictures. (I'm HTML-challenged ;-)
Oh, a shakedown suit...Has he been listening to Jesse Jackson too much?
I suspect Jordan's lawyers will eat him for lunch. As an appetitzer.
I think he looks more like Eric Dickerson of Rams and Colts fame...
As if it hadn't been obvious before this quote definitely shows that this is just some joker looking to have his 15 minutes of fame & fun and that he doesn't even take the lawsuit seriously.
Michael has more hair.
It'll be interesting to see if this thing takes off, or if it just quickly fades away. The guy is obviously an attention-seeker, enjoying his five minutes of local fame.
I look like Keith Richards and I'm tired of people asking me to climb up a coconut tree.
Not the train/red car, eh?
Michael is also a lot richer, hence the reason for this guy hoping to cash in on Michael, and on Phil Knight's deep pockets.
LOL - well if you do, just don't fall out!
Looks like my mailman.
"Get out of my way, all of you! This is no place for loafers. Join me or die. Can you do any less? For lucky best wash, use Mr. Sparkle"
LOL !! That just proves that there are a whole lot of morons in Portland. I wonder how any think he's Shaqille O'Neal.
boxers?...or, briefs?.....and they gotta be Hanes!
But nooooo!!! He has to be another in the long line of morons making a mockery of the legal system with a frivolous lawsuit he has absolutely no chance of winning.
Why doesn't he just find a small dead animal and stick in a bowl of chili!
All Jordan has to do is tell a judge: "He resembles me. He's going around, acting like an a$$hole and folks think of me when they see his mug. It's detrimental to my image and my good name. It's probably costing me money. I've done an analysis. Past and present damages, as well as future ill will towards my likeness, requiring a lot of work to repair, we've determined a sum of $832,000,000 will begin to burnish my tarnished name."
Yep! There's your answer, Fishbulb!
Oooh - that's good!!
Love your tagline
If this isn't thrown out as a frivolous lawsuit, then the term has no meaning any more.
Not on FR. LOL
People mistake me for Kurt Russel all the time.
I'M gonna be rich!!!
Maybe he gambles like Mike and needs to money to pay off gambling debts.
Seeking fifteen minutes. Nothing more
Funny thing is, they gave it to him...
OMG. The resemblence is uncanny.
Yesterday was a slow news day in Portland...
Maybe if he would wear a different shirt than jordan, it would be different.
And a cowboy hat.
I pity the poor sucka who's always confused with Flava Flav.
I don't think you'd be that desperate.
LOL, damn funny. You can tell I spend to much time reading FR.
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