article link Teams Sport Adidas, Thanks to McGrady By Roy Fuoco The Ledger When the Mulberry Panthers hit field tonight in their Kickoff Classic against Bartow, they'll sport brand new Adidas football cleats, courtesy of NBA star and Auburndale High standout Tracy McGrady. "You talk about a blessing for us," Mulberry coach Ken Grantham said. "Tracy McGrady, out of the goodness of his heart, gave them to us. I just want to thank him publicly." If it sounds strange that a former Auburndale basketball star gave 46 pairs of cleats worth about $3,500 to Mulberry's football program, it really isn't. McGrady also gave 30 to 35 pairs of cleats to Winter Haven's football team, plus 15 pairs of coaches' shoes. Through an endorsement deal with Adidas, McGrady always has sports gear to give away, said Odie Maldanado, a friend of McGrady's who played soccer at Auburndale in the mid-1990s. "We just decided to give some help to other programs in the community," Maldanado said. Grantham is a 1990 graduate of Auburndale and coached youth football in Auburndale when McGrady was playing football. He also began coaching as an assistant under Joe Parrish at AHS when McGrady still attended the school. McGrady left Auburndale after his junior year in 1996. Maldanado, who said he talks to McGrady two or three times a week, is also friends with Grantham. Winter Haven defensive coach Randy Pritchard is friends with Maldanado and McGrady. McGrady has given gifts to the Auburndale football team for about 10 years, ever since his rookie season, Maldanado said. He's also helped out the basketball, soccer and baseball teams and the cheerleaders. "Who would think that McGrady would give something to the soccer team?" Maldanado said. Mulberry plays at home against Bartow at 7:30 tonight, one of 12 preseason games being played by Polk teams. [ Roy Fuoco can be reached at roy.fuoco@theledger.com or 863-802-7549. ]
Nice article. I always know Tracy is a great person. He will help you if you need it or even if you don't need it. Very nice gesture
let's not think that tracy paid for the equipment out of his own pocket. he just called addidas and had them send the stuff over.
and every athlete does that? tracy is not the only one w/ lifetime deals. but yes, there are other great athletes like tracy who gives back -- vince carter, lebron james... it does not matter if he pays for them or not. it's the gesture.
i will be impressed when an athlete gives to charity without the need to use a pseudo foundation more for the tax breaks than to actually give to charity.
Everyone knows Lebron's 90 million dollar contract with Nike does anyone know what T-macs contract is?
obviously not that much. his initial contract is $12 mil for 6 yrs, then it was upped to a lifetime deal that is undisclosed. i think around $5-6 mil per yr during his playing days (just my guess). adidas is not nike now.
I would guess more then 5-6 mil. T-mac basically has his own clothing line with adidas and shoe line with them, other guys where shoes from his line aswell.
He was recruited and received a scholarship to attend that school in S. Carolina for his senior year.
next yr tmac won't have his own unique signature shoe. only arenas from adidas will. he will wear a TEAM shoe w/ his name on it that's all.
