When Air Jordans were introduced, Nike had to pay a fine every time Jordan would wear them at a game!
Air Jordans, basketball shoes produced by Nike and Michael Jordan, first came out in 1985. New versions were then released annually. The first version was released in black and red to match Jordan's Chicago Bulls uniform.
NBA Commissioner David Stern banned them for not having any white on them. Jordan wore them anyway and was fined $5,000 each game. Nike would pay the fine and even used this "outlaw" angle in the shoe's advertising.
The shoes were extremely popular. Demand for them was so high, that there were numerous reported assaults, riots, robberies and even murders over the shoes. One of the most infamous incidents was the of Michael Eugene Thomas, who was choked to death by a classmate.