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Gatorade x Jordan: Sneaker & Drink Collab

For dedicated sneakerheads and collectors, owning rare pieces of sneaker and branding history is a pursuit like no other. However, securing these scarce items often requires depths of disposable income far beyond the reach of most fans. Yet occasionally, opportunities arise to add genuinely unique artifacts to collections – if collectors are willing to pay the premium. Such is the case with two bottles of Gatorade currently listed on eBay, branded with the unmistakable Jumpman logo of Michael Jordan.

Origins of a Legendary Basketball Brand

The origins of this Gatorade date back to Michael Jordan’s playing days with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. At the peak of his legendary NBA career and during the Bull’s initial championship runs, Jordan cemented himself as not only the greatest basketball player of all time but also a marketing phenom. Leveraging his unprecedented on-court success and flair, Jordan’s iconic #23 became one of the most recognizable branding identities globally. Naturally, this irresistible popularity led to countless sponsorship and endorsement deals across various industries. Chief among these was Jordan’s longstanding partnership with Gatorade, beginning in 1992 and cementing the drink as THE beverage of champions.

A Thirst for Victory Fuelled by Gatorade

During games, fans would routinely witness Jordan guzzling from Gatorade bottles on the sidelines, recharging for the next quarter of defensive stops and patented fadeaway jumpers. Off the court, ubiquitous „Be Like Mike“ commercials portrayed Gatorade as the secret essence driving MJ’s unparalleled talents. This synergistic branding between Jordan and Gatorade proved massively successful for both. While fueling the Bulls‘ dynasty, it positioned Gatorade at the forefront of the sports drink category for decades to come. It also intensified collectors‘ thirst for authentic pieces of this iconic era, like the two bottles currently on eBay.

Bottles of Liquid Gold on eBay

Listed for a cool $20,000 with free shipping to US buyers, these rare bottles come in 1 quart sizes and flavors of lemon-lime and tropical fruit. Both are factory sealed, retaining their original 1992 packaging in pristine condition after three decades. Clearly intended for branding and marketing at the time rather than consumption, these bottles offer an unmatched snapshot into Jordan’s peak as the definitive face of basketball. For dedicated collectors, these artifacts represent the pinnacle items from basketball royalty itself.

Complementing Kicks with Coasts of Cash

While the cost is eye-watering, there is logic to the price. First, these bottles provide a genuine authentic narrative, certified pieces of promotion from MJ’s golden era. Second, scarcity is everything for collectors – how many unopened bottles survived intact for 30 years? Lastly, the notoriety of being one of the privileged few to own such holy grails is priceless bragging rights. Could fans pass on adding these rare bottles to a collection already stocked with coveted Jordans? For those with the means, these Gatorades are the ultimate status symbols and storytellers to go alongside prized sneakers.

Valuable Vignettes from Vintage Victory

Beyond rarity value, these bottles offer a tangible trip back to basketball’s apex. Simply holding an original artifact so intrinsic to the lore transports fans to iconic championship moments only seen before on grainy VHS tapes. By swigging the same drink fueling MJ, collectors gain an experiential edge over those confined to impersonal online highlight reels. Ultimately, authentic relics like these crystallize fandom in a way photos or videos rarely can. They are priceless portals capturing eternal snapshots of victory from basketball’s golden age in liquid form.

Liquid Assets or Price Gouging?

Of course, such exorbitant asking prices will naturally spark debate around profiteering versus market forces. On one hand, reselling memorabilia for thousands in profit seems exploitative of fans‘ passions. However, sellers also incur storage costs securing items for decades until resale becomes viable. Ultimately, like art, market value is subjective and set by what a buyer is willing to pay. With no other bottles known to exist, this is effectively the sole way for dedicated collectors to acquire the rarest Gatorade product ever manufactured. Whether the cost is justified depends on individual collectors‘ economic perspectives and priorities.

An Essence of Excellence for the Select Few

In the end, most fans will admire these bottles from afar rather than owning them. And that’s perfectly understandable given financial constraints. However, for those compelled to add the crown jewels to exhaustive Jordans collections, these bottles represent the penultimate crowning touch. They capture lighting in a bottle the excellence, flair and aura that made MJ larger than life. Though out of financial reach for most, they offer a genuine taste of excellence for the fortunate few ready to spend big. For dedicated collectors, aren’t memories and stories worth far more than any price tag?