July 12, 2006

By PAT DOORIS / KGW-TV (Portland, Ore.)

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A man is suing basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Nike founder Phil Knight for a combined $832 million, claiming he's tired of being mistaken for Mike.

kgw.com

Allen Heckard filed the suit himself, June 29 in Washington County Circuit Court. Heckard said he’s been mistaken as Michael Jordan nearly every day over the past 15 years.

“I'm constantly being accused of looking like Michael, and it makes it very uncomfortable for me,” Heckard said.

Heckard is suing Jordan for defamation and permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering. He’s also suing Knight for defamation and permanent injury for promoting Jordan and making him one of the most recognized men in the world.

Nike and Jordan have yet to comment on the lawsuit.

Nike signed Jordan to an endorsement contract in 1984 and built a major advertising campaign around Jordan and the Air Jordan basketball shoe line.

Jordan, a former guard for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, let the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles and is considered one of the best players of all time. He now runs a Las Vegas basketball training camp and recently acquired a minority interest in the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.

Heckard stands just over 6 feet, and Michael Jordan is 6-6. But Heckard said many people seem to miss that. Lik 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," 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," Heckard said. "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."

Heckard said not everyone thinks he’s a famous basketball player, but he insisted that a lot of people mistake him for Jordan.

"I was at the (Portland Waterfront) Blues Festival, and you could see people, they was pointing at me," he said.