Legends and Soles: Business, Creativity and Basketball – A Memoir of an Improbable Life

The brilliant autobiography from the ‘saviour of Nike’ If you’re a sneaker head, you know him as the Savior of Nike. If you’ve watched Air you saw Matt Damon’s portrayal of the man who discovered Michael Jordan and how he revolutionized the payment structure of endorsements for athletes. Legends and Soles tells Sonny’s story – his blind-sided firing by Nike Chairman Phil Knight, the landmark 2021 Supreme Court decision that upended big-time college sports, the countless days and nights of watching athletes compete, and so much more that only Sonny can retell. Written in collaboration with six-time New York Times bestselling author Armen Keteyian, Legends and Soles provides truth to storylines and headlines including: · Vaccaro’s pivotal role in the never-before-told story of the courting and signing of Michael Jordan · How Nike, at the behest of an embittered Knight, went as far as having the Portland FBI investigate Vaccaro who was working for archival Adidas on a RICO charge of corporate espionage · His close relationships with NBA superstars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady and Hall of Fame coaches Jerry Tarkanian of UNLV and John Thompson of Georgetown · The high stakes drama behind the O’Bannon lawsuit that changed the entire landscape in college sports · Filled with in-depth stories and photos illuminating some of Sonny’s most treasured career memories, Legends and Soles is the long-awaited memoir of a giant in the story of American sports. In his latest work, Legends and Soles, Sonny Vaccaro, a key player in the sports and fashion industries, pulls back the curtain on the economics of athlete endorsements. This autobiography is a compelling read for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of top sports brands. For fans of Jeff Pearlman (Showtime), Mark Kriegel (The Good Son), Guy Lawson (The Brotherhoods), John Feinstein (Feherty), and Ian O'Connor (Out of the Darkness). HarperCollins 2025