Michael Jordan's Gatorade ad could have had Disney song instead of 'Be Like Mike': Reports

success of Michael Jordan's documentary  Last Dance has brought some of 1990s classic MJ moments back to fray. Likewise, iconic Gatorade 'Be Like Mike' ad has also found his way back into social media with sports drink manufacturer capitalising on success of documentary to recreate 'Be Like Mike' commercial. 2019 NBA draft's . 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum featured in commercial which Gatorade posted on ir social media handles.

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While Michael Jordan dunking his way around for much of commercial, paved way for a classic yet inspiring basketball advertisement, things could have been entirely different had Gatorade moved forward with ir original plan for  Gatorade 'Be Like Mike' ad.

Gatorade 'Be Like Mike' ad: Michael Jordan Disney incident

Just as iconic Michael Jordan's part was in commercial, jingle 'Be Like Mike' was equally iconic for creating a song that remained on lips of all NBA fans since its release in 1991. However, reports suggest, Gatorade actually wanted to use Disney Jungle Book's 'I wanna be like you' as jingle for commercial. Disney reportedly played hardball with  n-creative chief of Gatorade’s advertising firm, Bernie Pitzel. Apparently, Disney demanded as much as $350,000 for song and that too for a limited five-week run. 

Pitzel instead opted to write song 'Be Like Mike' in a short period of time before jingle writers Ira Antelis and Steve Shafer turned it into a song in less than 48 hours and rest is history.  Gatorade 'Be Like Mike' ad remains relevant in 2020s as it was back in 1990s and Michael Jordan's stocks just continued to rise in world of basketball.

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Michael Jordan endorsements over years

 Gatorade 'Be Like Mike' ad is one of many commercials Jordan appeared for sports drink brand. Jordan reportedly signed a 10-year, $13.5 million deal with Gatorade in 1991 and subsequently preceded to work on 'Be Like Mike' campaign. Apart from Gatorade, Michael Jordan's long-standing partnership with Nike is well kwn.

According to Forbes, Jordan made a whopping $130 million from is deal with Nike between May 2019 and May 2020. 57-year-old also has endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Wheaties, Chevrolet, Hanes, Upper Deck and several or brands.

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