Which product line is cited as a clear example of athletes becoming brands in sports business history?

• A. X Games
• B. Heidi Game
• C. Air Jordan I
• D. Dream Team

Answer: (C)

Athletes becoming brands means a player's name and image drive not just their sport but a whole line of products beyond competition. Air Jordan I is the clearest example because Nike built a signature sneaker line around Michael Jordan, turning his on-court success into enduring consumer demand. The branding around Jordan fused athletic excellence with style, created cultural resonance, and grew into many sequels and apparel, establishing a template where an athlete’s identity sustains a multi-product business far beyond any single game. Other options don’t fit as neatly: X Games is an event series, not a signature product line tied to one athlete; the Heidi Game is a historic broadcast moment; the Dream Team refers to a legendary squad whose fame came from team branding rather than a single athlete’s branded product line.