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RIO DE JANEIRO -- While the mens basketball teams first order of business is to win the gold medal at the Rio Games there will be some other basketball business taking place on the court.Shoe business, and it can get personal.Michael Jordan is the shining example of how on-court moments can take on another life through sneakers in this global multi-billion dollar industry. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and other members of the United States Olympic mens basketball team could have a similar opportunity in Rio. In an ideal world for players and shoe companies there will be a memorable golden moment that goes viral -- leading to an `it must be the shoes phenomenon.Nike is the official apparel provider for the team, but Jordan Brand, Adidas and other companies know the Olympics provide a unique chance to build a legacy around their product. And while it wasnt obvious in a Nike promotional photo of the team, Harrison Barnes and Kyle Lowry are sponsored by Adidas; Klay Thompson by ANTA -- and all are allowed to wear their non-Nike footwear during the games.The one thing thats a little bit different between a lot of the Olympic models versus a new signature shoe for an athlete like Kevin Durant or LeBron James, is a lot of the Olympic stuff ties back into the history thats happened previously, said Brandon Edler, Finish Line content manager and creative strategist. Nostalgia is still one of the best forms of marketing and retro stuff continues to be a very strong product point for a lot of these brands. Its a fine balance between that and anything thats new thats being unveiled around the Olympics.Theres a good opportunity for somebody like Carmelo Anthony to go out there and drop 44 in an Olympic game and that being an iconic moment. Something like Vince Carter dunking over a 7-foot guy in the Nike Shox. That made Nike Shox one of the biggest shoes after that happened.Carter had fans around the world on their feet with his dunk over 7-foot-2 Frenchman Frederic Weis in the 2000 Olympics.Many sneaker enthusiasts associate the Jordan 3 with Jordan winning the 1988 dunk contest. The red and black Jordan 12 was nicknamed the Flu Games after Jordan scored 38 points in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals despite an illness. Michael Johnsons gold shoes are still talked about from when he broke the 200 and 400 meter world records at the 1996 Olympics.Much of this years Nike Olympic products have been planned for 24 months, according to Nike Basketball color lead Eugene Rogers.Durants latest signature shoe, the KD 9, first released in late June in a grey colorway, but the red, white and blue version is what Durant has worn during the Olympic exhibition games.We kind of knew Kevin Durant would be the guy who would almost be the leader, said Nike Basketball senior design director Leo Chang, who worked on the KD 9, Kyrie 2 and Hyperdunk 2016. It was kind of his time to shine and we wanted that moment to be great for him.Durant certainly isnt the only player rocking new kicks. Anthony and Jimmy Butler debuted the Jordan 31 in the team picture two weeks ago. Paul George has been wearing the Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit. Kyrie Lowry is wearing Adidas summer release of the Crazylight 2016.I think everybodys going to be watching us, so for the brand its very important, Butler said, with me and (Carmelo) being here and both wearing the shoe, I think everyone gets to see what it looks like, how it performs and hopefully it makes us play to the top of our game.Each company benefits from a global audience that dwarfs the NBA Finals, Super Bowl or World Series, but each also hopes for an iconic moment that builds a storyline that lasts decades.You always kind of have to anticipate a moment of greatness like that, Chang said. That means the best execution of the product out on the floor at that time so when that moment is remembered, people remember the product as well.The marketing opportunities have gone beyond what the athletes wear at the Olympics. Sneaker companies have re-released several models from the past with Olympic-inspired colors or other attachments.Edler said the hype and patriotism surrounding the Olympics always drives consumers to the stores and people in the United States are drawn to red, white and blue colorways.Companies arent just putting out special editions to coincide with the Olympics, but also giving planned product an Olympic theme. James, Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry have had red, white and blue versions of their signature line this summer -- and none are playing in Rio.Nike has been releasing the Nike Air Prestos during the last year, so thats going to be a shoe thats Olympified, said Corey Bullough, owner of Fice Gallery and Boutique in Salt Lake City. Same thing with the (Nike Air More) Uptempo, thats a shoe they decided to bring back six months ago. ... They tend to stick to their formula for the year.This year players and shoe companies are hoping the formula includes a memorable golden moment at the Rio Games. Mark Pysyk Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Mike Hoffman Panthers Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/mark-pysyk-hockey-jersey/ . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Jonathan Huberdeau Jersey .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Keith Yandle Panthers Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2.This is a great bar room trivia question that is sure to puzzle a few people before they clue in. Name three Hall of Famers who managed in Toronto. If youre talking Blue Jays, the answer is none, at least not until next year. But well get to that later. The answer is three. All three managed the old Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League. Going in reverse order, the late Dick Williams led the Leafs to two Governors Cup titles before being promoted to the parent Boston Red Sox for the 1967 season. He led the Bo-Sox to that "Miracle Pennant", before they lost to St. Louis in the World Series. Williams went on to win two World Series in Oakland before losing one in San Diego. Of all his managerial stints in the Majors, his longest was in Montreal where he lasted five years and compiled a record of 727-380. Dick Williams was named to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2008. The Manager who preceded Williams as skipper was George "Sparky"Anderson, who was a fan favourite with the Leafs as well. "Sparky" went on to have a sterling 26-year career in the Majors with the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers, winning World Series titles with both clubs. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. You have to go way back to come up with the third name and he is unquestionably, the greatest player ever to manage in Toronto. Napolean Lajoie, though born in the States, had Canadian roots as his parent hailed from Quebec. He was the best second baseman of his era, and along with Ty Cobb the most fearsome hitter. He left the Majors after the 1916 season with the second most hits all-time and a career .338 batting average. Lajoie was so revered during his time in Cleveland the teams nick-name was actually changed from the Broncos to the "Naps", before later becoming the Indians after he left the team. In 1917, Lajoie became player-manager of the Maple Leafs. Not only did the team win the International League pennant (the first Lajoie had won in his career), he also won the league batting title with a .380 average. He moved on to other challenges after that 1917 campaign. This brings us back to two former Blue Jays managers, who will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014, the next time post 1972 vintage managers can be elected. Bobby Cox who led the Blue Jays to their first Division title in 1985, but built the bulk of his Hall of Fame legacy in Atlanta is a ccinch to get in.dddddddddddd He may have only won one World Series title in 1995 with Atlanta, but he is a four-time manager of the year, the only one to win the award in consecutive years and has the fourth highest wins amongst managers all-time. Cox who turned 72 this week, also holds the record for most ejections at 158, plus three more in the post-season. Cito Gaston is also up for consideration. Yes his won-loss record of 894-837 in two separate stints with the Jays pales in comparison to Cox and other great managers. But Cito did guide the Blue Jays to four division titles, two American League Championships and back-to-back World Series victories in 1992 and 93. He was also the first African American Manager to win a "Fall Classic". Cito originally came to the Blue Jays to work on Bobby Cox staff as the hitting coach. It would be incredible to see them elected to the hallowed Hall in the same year. Im not sure it will happen because of the huge shadow cast by Cox, but I hope one day, the 69 year old Gaston will get his due recognition. Speaking of the Hall of Fame, the career of Giants right hander Matt Cain is going to bear watching over the next few years. Though he has assumed the mantle of ace of the Giants staff, and has two World Series rings to his credit, Cains record is only 88-80. He has a strong era of 3.35. Hes 4-2 in the post season with an even better earned run average of 2.10. As good as he is and vital as he is to the Giants staff, he hasnt had a run yet of truly dominant seasons. At 28 he should be just entering his prime. Another reason I mention Cain is because his childhood pitching instructor was none other than former Blue Jays right hander Mauro "Goose" Gozzo, who had a ranch not too far from the Cain home in suburban Memphis Tennessee. Gozzo, perhaps inspired by what he saw in the 11 year old Cain, quit his job at a waste management firm and became a full-time pitching instructor. Gozzo only pitched in Toronto for one season. Ironically, it was Cito Gastons first year at the helm, 1989. He went 4-1 and helped the Jays to their second division title and first under Gaston. After that Gozzo drifted from the Twins to Cleveland and finally the Mets before leaving the game following the 1994 season that was ultimately shortened and wiped out by the strike. His career record was only 7-7, yet "Goose" Gozzo helped Matt Cain become the pitcher he is today. ' ' '