European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine. By Tim Boivin staff writer the . Masterpiece known As air Jordan has needed some airbrushing this summer to keep the immaculate reputation of basketball a biggest Star a Michael Jordan a from getting tarnished. First came the controversy Over the endorsement of Nike products by the Chicago bulls superstar. Violent gangs in american cities adopted Nike sportswear and other sports companies products As their  the result kids killing kids for their sneakers. In the playoffs Jordan refused to talk to the press for the first time in recent memory after his team fell behind the Detroit pistons in the Eastern conference final. And then his endorsement of Nike brought Jordan out of the frying pan and into the fire last month As the Chicago based operation push claimed the sports company had discriminatory hiring practices. For the superstar who has carefully crafted his image As a clean Cut american hero it has All been very sobering. But Jordan who will be in Munich tuesday for the Nike slam Dunk european finals says he has pulled through it All and is working to help solve the off court controversies that have dogged him worse than the Detroit pistons Quot bad boys Quot defense. A through any business you re going to have conflicts you re going to have problems Quot Jordan said last week in West Germany. Quot i be Learned from my past and my parents that you accept life As it comes and not add any difficulties to it. Quot naturally to be in a positive situation which is How i like to View myself you re going to have some negatives involved As Well. What i try to do is turn a negative into a positive. That a the Way i approach  his life already under a Microscope seems to have the Hubble Telescope focused on it these Days. And the pictures Are a lot sharper than anything the Hubble can provide. Jordan is putting a full court press on the Media his fans and business leaders to help find the solutions before society fouls out of the contest for the soul of americans youth. Quot i done to think anybody realized All this would happen Quot said the Man who hit the game winning shot in the Mcaa title game for North Carolina in 1982. Quot if they did they would have prevented it from the beginning. Quot what it did for us especially with kids getting killed Over shoes is it made us realize that we have to reestablish our values in our communities. Its totally getting out of hand when materialistic things take see Jordan on pages 14 and 15the other Side of seeking solutions for society a amps l. Emmett Lewis or. Air Jordan comes in for a slam Dunk in a recent game against shape All stars. Monday september 3, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13