Agassi’s Clothes Call Goes Adidas’ Way

Andre Agassi has ended his long-term association with clothing and shoe manufacturing giant Nike, signing a multiyear deal with Adidas.

The agreement is for three years, according to Agassi’s agent, Perry Rogers. Rogers said Monday that the driving force behind the deal was the willingness of Adidas to also support Agassi’s charitable foundation and other initiatives.

This isn’t just some pastime for Andre,” Rogers said of the foundation. “[The move] puts Andre and Steffi in the same gear. One family and one brand.”

Agassi’s wife, retired tennis great Steffi Graf, wore Adidas all of her playing career, and he joked about the change, saying: “There will be no more fighting in my house over what shoes my kids are going to wear. It has a practical impact on my life.”

The 35-year-old Agassi has been practicing in Los Angeles this last week, wearing Adidas gear, and the sight of him in the new attire was somewhat jarring. Agassi, too, stressed the importance of Adidas’ backing of his foundation.

A Nike statement said the company parted ways with Agassi in January. His deal with Nike had been a reported $120 million over 10 years. Dean Stoyer, of Nike communications, said the impasse “came down to the amount” of money directed toward the foundation. He said that Nike has supported the foundation in the past and would have continued to do so.

Agassi’s association with Nike goes back to the start of his pro playing career. He created a big splash and generated attention by wearing signature Nike denim shorts and famously called a French Open official “a bozo” in 1990 when the official criticized Agassi for wearing fluorescent tennis garb.

Of late, Nike seems to be shifting focus in its tennis approach. Lleyton Hewitt of Australia could not come to agreement with the company on a new deal in recent weeks. Nike’s two biggest stars are the top two players, Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain.