All About Micheal Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes

Michael Jeffrey Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was born in Brookyln, New York on February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. James Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was a mechanic and Deloris Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was a bank teller. Soon after Michael's birth, James and Deloris felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a family, so they moved the family to Wilmington, North Carolina.

As a youngster, Michael immediately became interested in sports. However, it was baseball not basketball that was his first love. He would play catch in the yard with his father, who loved baseball. He soon started to play basketball to try and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized growing up.

At Laney High School, as a sophomore sneakers, he decided to try out for the varsity team but was cut because he was raw and undersized. The following summer, he grew four inches and practiced tirelessly. The hard work paid off as he averaged 25 points per game in his last two years and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior.

Following high school, he earned a basketball scholarship from North Carolina University where he would play under legendary coach Dean Smith. In his first year, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He would help lead the Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA Championship, making the game-winning shot.

After winning the Naismith College Player of the Year sneakers award in 1984, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes decided to leave North Carolina to enter the NBA draft. Although he decided to leave college early, he would later return to the university in 1986 to complete his degree in geography.

In the 1984 NBA draft, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie for the Bulls, he made an immediate impact, averaging an amazing 28.2 points a game, including six games where he scored 40+ points. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and named Rookie of the Year. This would just be the beginning of a career filled with awards and accolades. In the upcoming years, he would go on to win five regular season MVP awards, six NBA championships sneakers, six NBA finals MVP awards, three All-Star game MVP awards, and a defensive player of the year award.

In 1993, tragedy struck Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's seemingly perfect life. On July 23, 1993, his father, James, was murdered off Interstate 95 in North Carolina. Two locals had robbed him, shot him in the chest and threw his body in a swamp.

Three months later on October 6, 1993, following a run of three consecutive NBA championships, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes announced his retirement from basketball sneakers citing that "he no longer had the desire to play." Now "retired" at age 33, it was uncertain what Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes would do next. Would he take a year off out of the public eye to grieve and then come back to the Bulls? Would he go out and look for a white collar job in the field of geography, his college major? Or customized shoes would he take up a completely different hobby like golf?

In early 1994, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes decided to take up a new hobby alright. However, it wasn't golf. It was baseball. Despite not playing baseball since high school some 13 years ago, he signed a minor league contract air force 1s with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He played one unspectacular season for the Double-A Birmingham Barons.

On March 18, 1995, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, a man of few words since his retirement, sent two important words to media sources everywhere: "I'm Back". sneakers He celebrated his return to the NBA by doing what he always did best: beating the New York Knicks. He lit them up for 55 points on March 29th. Although the Bulls would lose in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, it was obvious that Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was still the same superstar player. He would go on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships and etch his place in the history as the "NBA's greatest player of all-time".

On January 13, 1999, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes re-announced his retirement, saying that "he was 99.9 percent sure that he would never play again". Soon after, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes became part owner of the Washington Wizards.

Near the start of the 2001-02 season, there were hints that Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes may try another comeback to the NBA. On September 25, 2001, reto jordans for cheap Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes confirmed those rumors, announcing that he would once again return to the NBA as a member of the Wizards. His two seasons in Washington were mediocre at best. His statistics were solid and he showed some flashes of his old self but he could not lead the Wizards to the playoffs and missed several games due to injury. sneakers He retired for good following the 2002-03 season and was subsequently dismissed as president of the Washington Wizards.

In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together.

Marcus Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes chooses UCF

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Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's youngest son Marcus, who led his high school to a state title last month, on Monday announced his verbal commitment to play at Central Florida next season.

[+] Enlarge

Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireMarcus Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, seen here in January, will join a former high school teammate at UCF.

On the same day it was announced his father had been voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, a 6-foot-3 guard sneakers, announced he had chosen UCF over schools including Toledo, Iowa and Davidson. He led Whitney Young High School of Chicago to the state 4A title last month, leading his team in scoring in the semifinals and the state final.

"Marcus was looking for a place he could play, have an impact and feel comfortable on campus," said his high school coach, Tyrone Slaughter, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The family felt there was no need to continue the recruiting process."

Brian Davis, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's AAU coach, said Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was eager to end the recruiting process before going on spring break, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

"UCF really showed him that they wanted him for more than just his name and he was ready to make a decision as soon as he felt comfortable," Davis said, according to the report. "UCF made him feel comfortable. They wanted Marcus to come in to contribute right away and made him feel like he could make a big impact. They wanted Marcus for Marcus."

Also working in UCF's sneakers favor was the fact that Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's former high school teammate, A.J. Rompza, plays for the Knights. Rompza was named to Conference USA's all-freshman team this season.

"I'm sure A.J. was a factor in the decision," Slaughter said, according to the Tribune. "Marcus had good feelings and respect for A.J., and whatever A.J. said about Central Florida, you can trust him at his word."

His older brother, Jeff Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, plays basketball for the University of Illinois.

Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes’s Childhood

As a kid Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was always just an average basketball player. He would tie up his shoes and play like everyone else. As a teenager, Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes got cut from his varsity basketball team, but that didn’t stop him to being the best that he can be, that’s why Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes’s determination got him to where he is now.

Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes is a determined man. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes knew he had the skills to play and the eventually proved it in the gym.

After moving from Brooklyn New York sneakers, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes moved to Willingham North Carolina where he played three sports. Once he got cut from his team, it gave Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes more motivation. Every morning before school, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes would practice in the gym, working on his skills. The schools varsity coach soon realized that he had potential to be great, and his coach started to train him for Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes’s junior year. Although his coach would beat Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes on “one on one” games, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes had grown 6 inches in the off-season making him a confident player going into next season.

Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes’s favorite number is 6. That’s the number of rings he has from winning the NBA finals. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was an all around athlete, he was great defensively, he was great a shooting the ball, and he was also clutch as anyone. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes would go on to win the MVP four times. He would win NBA finals MVP six times, and would win defensive player of the year once.

Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes proves to any young kid that he can do what ever they set their mind to. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes’s famous quote is, “I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying,” and Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes proves that. With his dedication and willingness to never give up, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes would go on to be the best basketball player to ever live the game.

Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's Restaurant was the brainchild of Joe and Gene Silverberg, owners of the Bigsby & Kruthers clothing store. They obtained the rights to use Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's name in 1990 and spent $6 million developing the restaurant.^[3] Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes himself never had ownership reto jordans for cheap stakes in the restaurant, though he provided input in terms of the decor and the menu.^[7] He said he wanted it to be the "kind of place where I can bring my family and friends to eat".^[8]

The restaurant opened on April 28, 1993. Guests at the grand opening included Illinois governor Jim Edgar, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, actor Mickey Rooney, and comedian Jackie Mason.^[9] During the first few months of operation, the restaurant received up to 1,500 visitors and 7,000 telephone calls each day. Many waited several hours to get a table, since the restaurant did not take dinner reservations.^[4][10] Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's remained a popular tourist attraction throughout the 1990s and became a major gathering spot for Chicago Bulls fans during the team's championship runs.^[11]

The Silverbergs began feuding with Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes in 1996, when Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes reportedly attempted to change the restaurant from a family-oriented business to a more upscale establishment. In 1997, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes opened his own Chicago restaurant, the more formal One Sixtyblue, and stopped appearing at the other except for charity events. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's namesake restaurant continued to draw crowds despite his absence, but after Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's second retirement in January 1999, the Silverbergs announced that they would remodel the site as Sammy Sosa's Restaurant, a family attraction named after the Chicago Cubs baseball player. They planned to reopen Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's Restaurant in a smaller building.^[12]

In October 1999, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes asked a federal judge to terminate his contract with the Silverbergs, explaining that he had not received adequate information about the proposed move. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was also angry that the Silverbergs told the press he was not appearing at their restaurant on a regular basis. He claimed he was never obligated to do so, and that the Silverbergs tarnished his image.^[13] The Silverbergs closed the restaurant for good in December 1999,^[7] and in June 2000 Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes won exclusive rights to use his name for restaurants in Chicago.^[14] Sammy Sosa's Restaurant never materialized, in part because Sosa did not want to "step on Michael's toes".^[15]

Memorabilia from Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's Restraurant was auctioned in mid-June 2000. Twenty six items had once belonged to the Silverbergs' private collection.^[16] The site was a Lalo's Mexican Restaurant until recently.^{[17] [18]}

Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes: Phenomenon

By Mark Vancil, Hoop Magazine, Dec. 1991

FOR SEVEN YEARS, MICHAEL JORDAN BRAND CHEAP SHOES AND DISCOUNTED JORDAN SHOES'S LIFE HAS ROLLED ALONG on cruise control. Already exceeding the speed limit when he entered the NBA in 1984, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes quickly blew past the norms and practices of product endorsement while redefining his position on the floor.

If he has slowed along the way, he has done so only to readjust his speed. And in the wake of Chicago's first NBA title, he's now moving faster, covering more ground and making more money along the way than any player in the history of team sports.

His legend, which has been formed and fashioned by an incredible combination of circumstance, talent and desire, only grew when he powered the Bulls past Los Angeles last June. Off the court, where Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's economic feats are fast dwarfing his game performances, he has taken another historical leap.

In early August, Quaker Oats, which spends only about $30 million annually to advertise Gatorade, signed Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes to a numbing $18 million, 10-year contract. If it was a stunning coup for Quaker Oats, it was also a costly one, as the company had to outbid Coca-Cola, which had featured Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes in commercials for several years.

A championship ring has made Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes hotter than ever.

"He transcends the sport of basketball," said Nike's Melinda Gable. "It's hard to conceive of him being more popular than he already was, but that's what's happened."

"He transcends almost every kind of category you could put him in," said Alan Friedman, editor of Team Marketing Report in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch story. "He is one of the few players who has built respect and admiration worldwide."

But if Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes blinked, no one noticed. With the Gatorade deal done and others on the horizon, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's total compensation is expected to fall between $16 million and $20 million during the 1991-92 season. In other words, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes will come close to doubling the income of the Laker's Magic Johnson, who has played five more years and has won four more titles.

It also clearly makes Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes the highest paid athlete in the history of team sports. Arnold Palmer, the acknowledged endorsement pioneer, figures to have dropped well behind Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. In fact, according to Brian Murphy, publisher of The Sports Marketing Letter, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes and Johnson are the only non-golfers among the top five athletes in annual income. Palmer's second, Jack Nicklaus is ranked third, Johnson fourth and Greg Norman fifth.

"I saw that figure where he had just passed Palmer with $11 million (in annual income)," said ProServe's David Falk, who represents Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. "That's not even close. He has single deals worth more than that!"

But it's what Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes refuses to do that makes the numbers so amazing. For at least three years, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes has routinely refused appearances outside his corporate obligations. And there have been some mind-boggling offers, including one that surprised even the Bulls' front office.

In 1990 a Canadian company wanted Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes for a three-day appearance in Toronto. The first offer amounted to more that $100,000, plus all the amenities. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes refused. And he continued to refuse, even when the company upped the ante to $250,000.

Here's another one: The national airline of Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes (the country) is reported to have offered Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes (the player) $1 million for a one-time appearance with that country's national team to promote tourism. It never happened.

And there have been other offers, monster appearance deals and huge endorsement projects that Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes has ignored.

Moreover, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's $3.25 million salary is nothing close to what he's worth to the Chicago Bulls franchise. One prominent West Coast general manager said Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes is worth the entire salary cap, or $12.5 million. Another put his worth at $6 million to $7 million with the cap. Falk said simply that Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes will never get paid his true market value because the salary cap makes it impossible.

Indeed, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf bought the team for less than $20 million midway through Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's rookie season. Through some shrewd marketing (most of which revolved around Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes), Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's presence both on and off the court and a significant upgrading of the overall talent, the team in now valued at $100 million.

In his rookie season alone, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes revived the Chicago franchise. The Bulls' attendance was just 6,365 a game the year before Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes arrived. In 1984-85, despite another poor record, Chicago went to 11,887. For the last four years, Chicago Stadium has been full virtually every night. Television and radio contracts have skyrocketed and advertising revenues have risen to a level that not even Reinsdorf could have hoped.

"If I wanted to be greedy, I could make a lot more money," said Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. "I'm not a greedy person. But I like to get paid for what I'm worth. I like to make what I deserve. But I never try to overdo it. If I really wanted to make a lot of money and spread myself thin, I could do it. I could make $15,000 or $20,000 an appearance or sign basketballs for $50 a ball.

"If I was greedy, I could do that. Or I could sit here and cry about my contract, make it a big issue. And it would be a valid argument. I don't do that. I have never griped about other people making money. Hot Rod Williams made his money? Good. He was in position to do that.

"(Jon) Koncak made his $2.5 million a year? Good. I mean, you only fall into certain situations once in a lifetime, and he took advantage of it. I can't fault him for that. Anybody in the same situation, even if they couldn't pick up a basketball, would have done the same thing and I wouldn't fault them. No way."

One thing is certain: No one, not even Falk, who has choreographed much of Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's corporate rise, saw the latest crescendo coming. Two years ago, in a Newsweek article on Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's popularity, Falk talked as if the summit had been reached.

"This is not a fad," he said. "This is a crescendo. It's more a process than a thunderbolt."

Actually, it's been a little bit of both.

For Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, the planets starting lining up 10 years ago. He hit The Shot that helped North Carolina to an NCAA title. He went on to become a star on one of the most high-profile teams in college history, playing for one of the game's acknowledged legends in Dean Smith, and doing it all at a school known for its high standards and squeaky-clean image.

But it all came together the minute Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes left North Carolina. If the foundation had been laid in Chapel Hill, the first bricks were positioned in Los Angeles.

The United States had boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games. When the 1984 Games rolled around, they rolled right into the glitter capital of the world. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's game fit the venue. He led the United States in a blistering romp to the gold medal in Los Angeles and then headed for Chicago.

The entire show might have stalled there had it not been for the presence of Hakeem Olajuwon and one of the worst draft decisions in NBA history. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes could have ended up in Houston, but the Rockets, who had the first pick in the draft, decided on Olajuwon. Or he could have landed in Portland, where the Trail Blazers instead took Sam Bowie with the second pick. While Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's ascension might have been possible in either place, it could not have been as smooth or as swift as it has been in Chicago. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes not only landed in Middle America, but he went to a major city starved for success. He also went to a bad team, which demanded and allowed for every weapon in Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's arsenal.

Would he have been able to take over in Houston or Portland? Maybe, but certainly not as quickly and completely as he took over the Bulls. And what about the endorsements? While Nike's Air Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes line would have catapulted Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes into the national consciousness regardless of where he played, the impact could not have been as dynamic as it was in Chicago.

"We expected he'd be able to do some things, perhaps take it to a little different level when he came out of college," said Falk. "Nobody had any idea it would become this big. We didn't think it would. Michael's parents didn't think it would. Dean Smith didn't think it would. Even Michael probably didn't think it would."

"It was the perfect fit for me," said Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. "I'm glad I ended up in Chicago. I was in the right place at the right time."

And Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes made sure it all paid off. With Falk directing and Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes starring, walls crumbled and lines disappeared. If O.J. Simpson and Arthur Ashe crossed the color line in product endorsement, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes obliterated it.

In his first full season under the Nike logo, the Air Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes line produced more than $153 million in revenue. McDonald's quickly got on board and Coca-Cola followed, along with Chicagoland Chevrolet dealers, General Mills (Wheaties), Wilson, Ohio Arts (toy company), Sara Lee (Hanes underwear), the Illinois State Lottery and others. In addition, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes now has personalized bubble gum, watches, formal wear, sleeping bags, greeting cards and calendars.

In 1988, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's signature line of basketballs was estimated to have made $7 million for Wilson. In September of that year, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes signed a new eight-year, $25 million contract. That deal, given the market and Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes's rising stardom, was outdated less than 18 months after he signed.

As for Nike, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes figures to have made close to $10 million last season in total compensation from that deal alone. Sales of Nike's basketball shoe line topped $500 million, and company stock, which Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes started acquiring at $7 a share soared over $100 before splitting recently.

Meanwhile, Steve Levitt of Marketing Evaluation Inc., which assigns a Q rating, or recognition value, to all athletes, had already assigned Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes the highest marks two years ago. According to Levitt, in the public's mind Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes was more "lovable" than Walter Cronkite.

"Nobody else in team sports even comes close," said agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents some of the biggest names in professional football. "They've maximized his income without overexposing him."

It now appears there is no chance of overexposing Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. Even his video deal with CBS/Fox has become the industry standard, the NBA Entertainment-produced videos setting sales records from the start. Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, Wayne Gretzky and Bo Jackson are now featured in an NBC cartoon called "Prostars." Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes hosted Saturday Night Live's season opener this fall, and requests for his time continue to pour in.

If all that's not enough, Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes firmly believes he can make a serious run at the PGA Tour when his basketball playing days are over. But not before he adds another $10 million or $20 million to the coffer with a two-year stop to play basketball in Europe.

According to Falk and others, if Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes becomes good enough at golf to just make a few tournament cuts, the endorsement money could keep flowing forever. Many don't give him much of a chance at big time golf--former NFL star and current Senior Tour member John Brodie chided Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes for even thinking about the Tour. Yet Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes believes it's possible.

"If I put my mind to it, I've always believed I could do anything I want," said Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes. "You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

"After basketball, I want to be a professional golfer. I want to play in the NBA five more years, that will be 12. At that point I think I'll still be able to do things I'm doing now. But then I'll start going down, and I can't play when I start to go down. I'll be done when I'm 33. Then I want to play a couple of years in Europe. And then I want to start my golf challenge.

"I should be 35 then. That's about when Calvin Peete started."

And for Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, that's no time to stop.

This article originally appeared in the December 1991 issue of Hoop. Mark Vancil has covered the Bulls for the Chicago Sun-Times and the NBA for The National.

Nike, Inc. (pronounced /ˈnaɪki/) (NYSE: NKE) is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area. It is the world's leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel^[2] and a major manufacturer of sports equipment with revenue in excess of $18.6 billion USD in its fiscal year 2008 (ending May 31, 2008). As of 2008, it employed more than 30,000 people worldwide. Nike and Precision Castparts are the only Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state of Oregon, according to The Oregonian.

The company was founded on January 25, 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight, and officially became Nike, Inc. in 1978. The company takes its name from Nike (Greek Νίκη pronounced [níːkɛː]), the Greek goddess of victory; it is also based on Egyptian usage of "strength", "victory", nakht^{[citation needed]}. Nike markets its products under its own brand as well as Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, Nike Skateboarding and subsidiaries including Cole Haan, Hurley International, Umbro and Converse. Nike also owned Bauer Hockey (later renamed Nike Bauer) between 1995 and 2008.^[3] In addition to manufacturing sportswear and equipment, the company operates retail stores under the Niketown name. Nike sponsors many high profile athletes and sports teams around the world, with the highly recognized trademarks of "Just do it" and the Swoosh logo.

Origins and history

Nike, originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, was founded by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman in January 1964. The company initially operated as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger, making most sales at track meets out of Knight's automobile.^[4]

The company's profits grew quickly, and in 1966, BRS opened its first retail store, located on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. By 1971, the relationship between BRS and Onitsuka Tiger was nearing an end. BRS prepared to launch its own line of footwear, which would bear the newly designed Swoosh.^[5]

The first shoe to carry this design that was sold to the public was a soccer shoe named "Nike", which was released in the summer of 1971. In February 1972, BRS introduced its first line of Nike shoes, with the name Nike derived from the Greek goddess of victory. In 1978, BRS, Inc. officially renamed itself to Nike, Inc. Beginning with Ilie Nastase, the first professional athlete to sign with BRS/Nike, the sponsorship of athletes became a key marketing tool for the rapidly growing company.

The company's first self-designed product was based on Bowerman's "waffle" design. After the University of Oregon resurfaced the track at Hayward Field, Bowerman began experimenting with different potential outsoles that would grip the new urethane track more effectively. His efforts were rewarded one Sunday morning when he poured liquid urethane into his wife's waffle iron. Bowerman developed and refined the so-called 'waffle' sole which would evolve into the now-iconic Waffle Trainer in 1974.

By 1980, Nike had reached a 50% market share in the United States athletic shoe market, and the company went public in December of that year.^[6] Its growth was due largely to 'word-of-foot' advertising (to quote a Nike print ad from the late 1970s), rather than television ads. Nike's first national television commercials ran in October 1982 during the broadcast of the New York Marathon. The ads were created by Portland-based advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, which had formed several months earlier in April 1982.

Together, Nike and Wieden+Kennedy have created many indelible print and television ads and the agency continues to be Nike's primary today. It was agency co-founder Dan Wieden who coined the now-famous slogan "Just Do It" for a 1988 Nike ad campaign, which was chosen by Advertising Age as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century, and the campaign has been enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution.^[6] San Franciscan Walt Stack was featured in Nike's first "Just Do It" advertisement that debuted on July 1, 1988.^[7]

Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded its product line to include many other sports and regions throughout the world.^[8]

Acquisitions

• As of November 2008, Nike, Inc. owns four key subsidiaries: Cole Haan, Hurley International, Converse Inc. and Umbro.
• Nike's first acquisition was the upscale footwear company Cole Haan in 1988.
• In February 2002, Nike bought surf apparel company Hurley International from founder Bob Hurley.^[9]
• In July 2003, Nike paid US$305 million to acquire Converse Inc., makers of the iconic Chuck Taylor All Stars.^[10]
• On March 3, 2008, Nike acquired sports apparel supplier Umbro, known as the manufacturers of the England national football team's kits, in a deal said to be worth £285 million (about US$600 million).^[11]
• Other subsidiaries previously owned and subsequently sold by Nike include Bauer Hockey and Starter.^[12]

Products

A Nike brand athletic shoe

A pair of Nike Air Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes I shoes

Nike produces a wide range of sports equipment. Their first products were track running shoes. They currently also make shoes, jerseys, shorts, baselayers etc. for a wide range of sports including track & field, baseball, ice hockey, tennis, Association football, lacrosse, basketball and cricket. Nike Air Max is a line of shoes first released by Nike, Inc. in 1987. The most recent additions to their line are the Nike 6.0, Nike NYX, and Nike SB shoes, designed for skateboarding. Nike has recently introduced cricket shoes, called Air Zoom Yorker, designed to be 30% lighter than their competitors'.^[13] In 2008, Nike introduced the Air Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes XX3, a high performance basketball shoe designed with the environment in mind.

Nike sells an assortment of products, including shoes and apparel for sports activities like association football^[14], basketball, running, combat sports, tennis, American football, athletics, golf and cross training for men, women, and children. Nike also sells shoes for outdoor activities such as tennis, golf, skateboarding, association football, baseball, American football, cycling, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, aquatic activities, auto racing and other athletic and recreational uses. Nike is well known and popular in youth culture, chav culture and hip hop culture as they supply urban fashion clothing. Nike recently teamed up with Apple Inc. to produce the Nike+ product which monitors a runner's performance via a radio device in the shoe which links to the iPod nano. While the product generates useful statistics, it has been criticized by researchers who were able to identify users' RFID devices from 60 feet (18 m) away using small, concealable intelligence motes in a wireless sensor network.^[15][16]

In 2004, they launched the SPARQ Training Program/Division.

Some of Nike's newest shoes contain Flywire and Lunarlite Foam. These are materials used to reduce the weight of many types of shoes.^[17]

In the video game Gran Turismo 4 there is a car by Nike called the NikeOne 2022, designed by Phil Frank.

Headquarters

Nike's world headquarters are surrounded by the city of Beaverton, Oregon but are technically within unincorporated Washington County.

This distinction, according to The Oregonian, has been a source of contention between the city of Beaverton and Nike since the company purchased 74 acres (0.3 km²) of nearby Beaverton land that soon fronted the Jared Co-operation. When Nike proposed expanding their headquarters in that direction, Beaverton at first wanted them to build housing near the MAX light rail station and criss-cross the property with two public roads, expectations defined by the zoning already in place when Nike bought the land. Beaverton's request was mostly consistent with Metro's transit-oriented development plans for the region. After a year, which included a threat by Nike to move 5,000 jobs out of the state, Beaverton backed down from the requirement for housing, but the lack of accommodation was something that Nike did not forget.

The annexation standoff soon led Beaverton to attempt a forcible annexation. That led to a lawsuit by Nike, and lobbying by the company that ultimately ended in Oregon Senate Bill 887 of 2005. Under that bill's terms, Beaverton is specifically barred from forcibly annexing the land that Nike and Columbia Sportswear occupy in unincorporated Washington County for 35 years, while Electro Scientific Industries and Tektronix get that same protection for 30 years.^[18]

The world headquarters is situated on approximately 200 acres (0.81 km²) of land. The first phase of construction was completed in 1990, followed by expansions in 1992, 1999, 2001 and 2008. There are 17 buildings, together providing approximately 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m²) of office space. Each building is named for a legendary coach or athlete who has had a long affiliation with Nike, including Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Mia Hamm, Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes, Pete Sampras, Joan Benoit Samuelson, John McEnroe and several others.

Two of the buildings are child development centers, named for Joe Paterno and C. Vivian Stringer, that together provide daily child care for approximately 500 children of Nike employees. A man-made lake, fed by a natural spring, covers 6 acres (24,000 m²) and is adjacent to a protected wetland area that runs through the center of the campus. The dirt from the lake was deposited around the perimeter of the grounds to create a 14-foot (4.3 m) tall, sloping berm that helps create a campus-like feel. Approximately 5,000 employees are based at the world headquarters, with another 2,000-2,500 in additional buildings in office complexes nearby.^[19]

Manufacturing

Nike has contracted with more than 700 shops around the world and has offices located in 45 countries outside the United States.^[20] Most of the factories are located in Asia, including Indonesia, China, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines,and Malaysia.^[21] Nike is hesitant to disclose information about the contract companies it works with. However, due to harsh criticism from some organizations like CorpWatch, Nike has disclosed information about its contract factories in its Corporate Governance Report.

Human rights concerns

Nike has been criticized for contracting with factories in countries such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. Vietnam Labour Watch, an activist group, has documented that factories contracted by Nike have violated minimum wage and overtime laws in Vietnam as late as 1996, although Nike claims that this practice has been halted.^[22] The company has been subject to much critical coverage of the often poor working conditions and exploitation of cheap overseas labor employed in the free trade zones where their goods are typically manufactured. Sources of this criticism include Naomi Klein's book No Logo and Michael Moore's documentaries.

Nike has been criticized about ads which referred to empowering women in the U.S. while engaging in practices in East Asian factories which some felt disempowered women.^[23]

During the 1990s, Nike faced criticism for use of child labor in Cambodia and Pakistan in factories it contracted to manufacture soccer balls. Although Nike took action to curb or at least reduce the practice of child labor, they continue to contract their production to companies that operate in areas where inadequate regulation and monitoring make it hard to ensure that child labor is not being used.^[24]

In 2001 a BBC documentary uncovered occurrences of child labor and poor working conditions in a Cambodian factory used by Nike.^[25] In the documentary, six girls were focused on, all of whom worked seven days a week, often 16 hours a day.

Campaigns have been taken up by many colleges and universities, especially anti-globalisation groups as well as several anti-sweatshop groups such as the United Students Against Sweatshops.^[26] Despite these campaigns, however, Nike's annual revenues have increased from $6.4 billion in 1996 to nearly $17 billion in 2007, according to the company's annual reports.

A July 2008 investigation by Australian Channel 7 News found a large number of cases involving forced labour in one of the biggest Nike apparel factories. The factory located in Malaysia was filmed by an undercover crew who found instances of squalid living conditions and forced labour. Nike have since stated that they will take corrective action to ensure the continued abuse does not occur.^[27]

Following Liu Xiang's withdrawal from the 2008 Olympics, Nike admitted seeking help from "relevant government departments" in the Chinese government to track down and identify an anonymous Internet poster.^[28]

Environmental record

The consistently growing textile industry often negatively impacts the environment. Because Nike is a large participant in this manufacturing, many of their processes negatively contribute to the environment. One way the expanding textile industry affects the environment is by increasing its water deficit, climate change, pollution, and fossil fuel and raw material consumption. In addition to this, today's electronic textile plants spend significant amounts of energy, while also producing a throw-away mindset due to trends founded upon fast fashion and cheap clothing.^[29] Although these combined effects can negatively alter the environment, Nike tries to counteract their influence with different projects. According to a New England-based environmental organisation Clean Air-Cool Planet, Nike ranks among the top 3 companies (out of 56) on a survey conducted about climate-friendly companies.^[30] Nike has also been praised for its Nike Grind programme (which closes the product lifecycle) by groups like Climate Counts.^[31] In addition to this, one campaign that Nike began for Earth Day 2008 was a commercial that featured Steve Nash wearing Nike's Trash Talk Shoe, a shoe that had been constructed in February 2008 from pieces of leather and synthetic leather waste that derived from the factory floor. The Trash Talk Shoe also featured a sole composed of ground-up rubber from a shoe recycling program. Nike claims this is the first performance basketball shoe that has been created from manufacturing waste, but it only produced 5,000 pairs for sale.^[32] Another project Nike has begun is called Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. This program, started in 1993, is Nike's longest-running program that benefits both the environment and the community by collecting old athletic shoes of any type in order to process and recycle them. The material that is created from the recycled shoes is then used to help create sports surfaces, such as basketball courts, running tracks, and playgrounds.^[33]

Marketing strategy

Nike's marketing strategy is an important component of the company's success. Nike is positioned as a premium-brand, selling well-designed and expensive products. Nike lures customers with a marketing strategy centering around a brand image which is attained by distinctive logo and the advertising slogan: "Just do it".^[34] Nike promotes its products by sponsorship agreements with celebrity athletes, professional teams and college athletic teams. However, Nike's marketing mix contains many elements besides promotion. These are summarised below.

Advertising

From 1972 to 1982, Nike relied almost exclusively on print advertising in highly vertical publications including Track and Field News. Most of the early advertising was focused on a new shoe release, essentially outlining the benefits of the running, basketball or tennis shoe. In 1976, the company hired its first outside ad agency, John Brown and Partners, who created what many consider Nike's first 'brand advertising' in 1977. A print ad with the tagline "There is no finish line" featured a lone runner on a rural road and became an instant classic. The success of this simple ad inspired Nike to create a poster version that launched the company's poster business.

In 1982, Nike aired its first national television ads, created by newly formed ad agency Wieden+Kennedy, during the New York Marathon. This would mark the beginning of a remarkably successful partnership between Nike and W+K that remains intact today. The Cannes Advertising Festival has named Nike its 'advertiser of the year' on two separate occasions, the first and only company to receive that honor twice (1994, 2003).^[35]

Nike also has earned the Emmy Award for best commercial twice since the award was first created in the 1990s. The first was for "The Morning After," a satirical look at what a runner might face on the morning of January 1, 2000 if every dire prediction about Y2K came to fruition.^[36] The second Emmy for advertising earned by Nike was for a 2002 spot called "Move," which featured a series of famous and everyday athletes in a stream of athletic pursuits.^[37]

In addition to garnering awards, Nike advertising has generated its fair share of controversy:

Kasky v. Nike

Consumer activist Marc Kasky filed a lawsuit in California in 2002 regarding newspaper advertisements and several letters Nike distributed in response to criticisms of labor conditions in its factories. Kasky claimed that the company made representations that constituted false advertising. Nike responded that the false advertising laws did not cover the company's expression of its views on a public issue, and that these were entitled to First Amendment protection. The local court agreed with Nike's lawyers, but the California Supreme Court overturned this ruling, claiming that the corporation's communications were commercial speech and therefore subject to false advertising laws.

The United States Supreme Court agreed to review the case (Nike v. Kasky) but sent the case back to trial court without issuing a substantive ruling on the constitutional issues. The parties subsequently settled out of court before any finding on the accuracy of Nike's statements, leaving the California Supreme Court's denial of Nike's immunity claim as precedent. The case drew a great deal of attention from groups concerned with civil liberties, as well as anti-sweatshop activists.

Beatles song

Nike was the focus of criticism for its use of the Beatles song "Revolution" in a 1987 commercial, against the wishes of Apple Records, the Beatles' recording company. Nike paid $250,000 to Capitol Records Inc., which held the North American licensing rights to the Beatles' recordings, for the right to use the Beatles' rendition for a year.

Apple sued Nike Inc., Capitol Records Inc., EMI Records Inc. and Wieden+Kennedy advertising agency for $15 million.^[38] Capitol-EMI countered by saying the lawsuit was 'groundless' because Capitol had licensed the use of "Revolution" with the "active support and encouragement of Yoko Ono Lennon, a shareholder and director of Apple."

According to a November 9, 1989 article in the Los Angeles Daily News, "a tangle of lawsuits between the Beatles and their American and British record companies has been settled." One condition of the out-of-court settlement was that terms of the agreement would be kept secret. The settlement was reached among the three parties involved: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr; Yoko Ono; and Apple, EMI and Capitol Records. A spokesman for Yoko Ono noted, "It's such a confusing myriad of issues that even people who have been close to the principals have a difficult time grasping it. Attorneys on both sides of the Atlantic have probably put their children through college on this."

Nike discontinued airing ads featuring "Revolution" in March 1988. Yoko Ono later gave permission to Nike to use John Lennon's "Instant Karma" in another ad.

Minor Threat ad

In late June 2005, Nike received criticism from Ian MacKaye, owner of Dischord Records, guitarist/vocalist for Fugazi & The Evens, and front-man of defunct punk band Minor Threat, for appropriating imagery and text from Minor Threat's 1981 self-titled album's cover art in a flyer promoting Nike Skateboarding's 2005 East Coast demo tour.
On June 27, Nike Skateboarding's website issued an apology to Dischord, Minor Threat, and fans of both and announced that they tried to remove and dispose of all flyers. They state that the people who designed it were skateboarders and Minor Threat fans themselves who created the ad out of respect and appreciation for the band.^[39] The dispute was eventually settled out of court between Nike & Minor Threat. The exact details of the settlement have never been disclosed.

Horror ad

In this ad, a parody of horror films, Olympic runner Suzy Favor-Hamilton is running a bath in a remote wilderness cabin when a chainsaw-wielding masked killer appears. Hamilton is obviously in much better shape than the would-be killer and, thanks to her Nike gear, sprints away. The final shot shows the killer out of breath, limping away and ends with the tagline, "Why Sport?" which is quickly answered with "You'll live longer."

First aired during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics (Friday), the ad titled "Horror" generated roughly 200 complaints (according to NBC) that caused the network to pull the ad by Sunday. ESPN followed suit, but the ad continued to air with little or no controversy on several other networks, including FOX, WB, UPN and Comedy Central.

Protesters argued that the ad made light of violence against women, while others claimed it was just too scary to watch, especially for children who enjoy watching the Olympics. Nike spokespeople retorted it was meant to be humorous, and to satirize the typical horror flick where a helpless woman was destined to be slashed. Hamilton herself stated the ad was inspirational, since it is the woman who defeats the man.

Chinese-themed ad

In 2004, an ad about LeBron James beating cartoon martial arts masters and slaying a Chinese dragon in martial arts offended Chinese authorities, who called the ad blasphemous and insulting to national dignity and the dragon. The ad was later banned in China. In early 2007 the ad was reinstated in China for unknown reasons.^[40]

Pretty

In the run up to the 2006 U.S. Open, Nike began running Pretty, a television advertisement featuring Maria Sharapova. The ad was a popular and critical success, and went on to win several of the industry's top awards, including two Cannes Gold Lions.

Place

Niketown at Oxford Street, London

Nike sells its product to more than 25,000 retailers in the U.S. (including Nike's own outlets and "Niketown" stores) and in approximately 160 countries in the world. The company also has a program called NIKEiD at nikeid.com, which allows customers to customize designs of some styles of Nike shoes and deliver them directly from manufacturer to the consumer. Nike sells its products in international markets through independent distributors, licensees, and subsidiaries.

Sponsorship

Main article: Nike sponsorships

Nike pays top athletes in many different sports to use their products and promote/advertise their technology and design.

Nike's first professional athlete endorser was Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase, and the company's first track endorser was distance running legend Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine was the prized pupil of the company's co-founder Bill Bowerman while he coached at the University of Oregon. Today, the Steve Prefontaine Building is named in his honor at Nike's corporate headquarters.

Besides Prefontaine, Nike has sponsored many other successful track & field athletes over the years such as Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Sebastian Coe. However, it was the signing of basketball player Michael Jordan brand cheap shoes and discounted jordan shoes in 1984, with his subsequent promotion of Nike over the course of his storied career with Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, that proved to be one of the biggest boosts to Nike's publicity and sales.

During the past 20 years especially, Nike has been one of the major clothing/footwear sponsors for leading tennis players. Some of the more successful tennis players currently or formerly sponsored by Nike include: James Blake, Jim Courier, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Martín del Potro, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, Marion Bartoli, Lindsay Davenport, Daniela Hantuchová, Mary Pierce, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams.

Nike is also the official kit sponsor for the Indian cricket team for 5 years, from 2006 till end of 2010. Nike beat Adidas and Puma by bidding highest (US$43 Million total).

Nike also sponsors some of the leading clubs in world football, such as Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Shakhtar, Porto, Steaua, Red Star, Aston Villa, Celtic and PSV Eindhoven. Nike will also sponsor Dundee United from summer 2009.

Nike sponsors several of the world's top golf players, including Tiger Woods, Trevor Immelman and Paul Casey.

Nike also sponsors various minor events including Hoop It Up (high school basketball) and The Golden West Invitational (high school track and field). Nike uses web sites as a promotional tool to cover these events. Nike also has several websites for individual sports, including nikebasketball.com, nikefootball.com, and nikerunning.com.

References

1. ^ 2007 Annual Report, p. 2 (PDF), Nike, Inc., Retrieved on January 7, 2007.
2. ^ Sage, Alexandria (June 26, 2008). "Nike profit up but shares tumble on U.S. concerns". Reuters. http://uk.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUKWNAS924120080626. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
3. ^ "Nike sells Bauer Hockey for $200 Million". The Sports Network. February 21, 2008. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230199&hubname=nhl. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
4. ^ http://www.nikebiz.com/company_overview/history/1950s.html
5. ^ 'Swoosh' by J.B. Strasser and 'Just Do It' by Donald Katz
6. ^ ^{a b} http://www.nikebiz.com/company_overview/history/1980s.html
7. ^ http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2008/07/nikes_just_do_it_slogan_celebr.html
8. ^ Nike Origins
9. ^ http://www.surfline.com/mag/daily_grind/02_22_hurley.cfm
10. ^ Partlow, Joshua (July, 2003). "Nike Drafts An All Star". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A9001-2003Jul17?language=printer. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
11. ^ http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/10/22/daily13.html
12. ^ http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/11/12/daily22.html
13. ^ "Nike launches cricket shoe Air Zoom Yorker". The Hindu Business Line. September 2, 2006. http://www.blonnet.com/2006/09/02/stories/2006090203260500.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
14. ^ http://www.soccerpro.com/Nike-Air-Zoom-Control-II-FS-Indoor-Soccer-Shoes-c439/
15. ^ T. Scott Saponas, Jonathan Lester, Carl Hartung, Tadayoshi Kohno. "Devices That Tell On You: The Nike+iPod Sport Kit". http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/systems/nikeipod/tracker-paper.pdf. 
16. ^ Tom Espiner (2006-12-13). "Nike+iPod raises RFID privacy concerns". CNet. http://www.news.com/NikeiPod-raises-RFID-privacy-concerns/2100-1029_3-6143606.html?part=dl&tag=feed_2574&subj=6143606&tag=news. 
17. ^ "Latest materials improve sportswear performance". ICIS Chemical Business. http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/08/04/9144388/latest-materials-improve-sportswear-performance.html. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
18. ^ http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2006/06/appellate_court_rejects_beaver.html
19. ^ www.nikebiz.com
20. ^ NikeBiz | Investors | Corporate
21. ^ http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/gc/mp/pdf/disclosure_list_2005-06.pdf
22. ^ Nike Labor Practices in Vietnam
23. ^ NMSU:Nike
24. ^ MIT:
25. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/970385.stm
26. ^ Sweatfree Campus Campaign Launch
27. ^ YouTube - Nike Contractor in Malaysia using forced labour
28. ^ [1]
29. ^ Emerging Textiles February 2008. Retrieved: May 4, 2008
30. ^ Reuters report
31. ^ ClimateCounts: Nike
32. ^ BRANDWEEK April 23, 2008. Retrieved: May 4, 2008
33. ^ Wicked Local April 29, 2008. Retrieved: May 4, 2008
34. ^ "Kasky v. Nike: Just the Facts". Reclaim Democracy.org. http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/nike/kasky_nike_justfacts.html. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
35. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4121690-1.html
36. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CEFDA1430F932A0575BC0A9669C8B63
37. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E6D61130F933A1575AC0A9649C8B63&n=Top%2FNews%2FBusiness%2FCompanies%2FNike%20Inc.
38. ^ According to a July 28, 1987 article written by the Associated Press.
39. ^ Nike: Skateboarding
40. ^ Sandoval, Greg (December 7, 2004). "China Bans LeBron James Nike Ad". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41825-2004Dec6.html. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 

• Egan, Timothy. "The swoon of the swoosh". New York Times Magazine; September 13, 1998. 

External links

• Nikebiz.com - Business Site
• Interview With a Major Retailer of Fake Nike Shoes
• Oregon Senate Bill 887, as signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski
• Company profile from Yahoo!
• Company summary, from the New York Stock Exchange website
• The NikeWatch Campaign
• FairLabor.org annual report
• Information on Kasky v. Nike
• Making Nike Sweat - on the Sweatshop issue (circa 2001)
• Boycott Nike Homepage - Most information from circa 2001 - Last updated in 2004