Could this Nike/FIFA business torpedo a Michigan deal?

Submitted by Raskolnikov on

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/05/27/meet-the-uns…

 

This worries me somewhat, because we have had some moral objections to Nike in the past that if I recall correctly were even identified as a reason we ended our contract with them (could be mis-remembering that, but I remember a fuss about their labor practices). Depending on how this all plays out, do you think it will have an impact on our apparel deal?

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mGrowOld

May 28th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^

Here's a fun fact.  I actually went to grade school with Madonna or as she was known then, Madonna Ciccone.  She was in Mr Whited class and I was in Miss Martin's class at good, old Webster Elementary on Huron St in lovely Pontiac, Michigan.  We both lived in Indian Village ( I grew up on Ottawa Dr and she lived off Chippewa I think) and my mom was somewhat friends with her mom.

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BlueVball8

May 28th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

Just like 2 years ago there were allegations that Adidas clothing was made in inhumane conditions. There were multiple petitions to get rid of them as a sponsor. I am not saying that this isn't reasonable, but many times companies like this try as they might (at least from a Supply Chain perspective) but it is nearly impossible to control.

As to the bribery allegation, I would be extremely disapointed (Nike pretends to play by the books and combine social good with profitability) and it would be quite a step back from them. From their perspective though it probably makes sense. Soccer is the most universal sport and Adidas basically has a semi-strangle hold on the market in many countries with other players getting in internittently. Nike is definitely playing from behind here so they might have tried to cheat their way ahead.

Can we just take the World Cup and continue it on in a new organization and dissolve FIFA?

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AA2Denver

May 28th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^

This story isn't finished.

Nike is going to be hurt by this and I think in a way it could help Michigan. Adidas has already taken some major teams from Nike, i.e. ManU. Brazil's federation is probably going have to jump ship too and that was a $200 million deal. If the TPP fails it hurst Nike in some ways too. 

It's a stretch but in the end we could get a bigger check. I think the OP isn't as off-base as people on here think. 

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BornSinner

May 28th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^

Not only Man U. Adidas has also taken Juventus' sponsorship from Nike as well. 

Puma also pulled some surprises by taking away Arsenal from Nike and signing BvB. Warrior Sports somehow managed to sign Porto and Liverpool taking away other popular clubs. 

Adidas just runs soccer. I guess it's because they are a Euro company and just make better gear understanding the sport better kinda like Nike does with college football. 

Bayern, Schalke, Leverkusen, ManU, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Marseille, Real Madrid, Ajax, Benfica, CSKA...

That's essentially the most popular teams in every big league in Europe. Not to mention, Adidas is the official equipment sponsor of all the major leagues on a club and international level. 

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markusr2007

May 28th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^

the long list of indictments and arrests coming in over the next 30 to 60 days. This is going to be a blood-bath once these overpaid simpletons start singing.  I'm not sure whether it will destroy FIFA or not, but that Qatar deal is going to be belly interrrrestink.

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Ronnie Kaye

May 28th, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^

The moral objections were from a student group who lobbied the school to end its association with Nike because of sweatshops and a lack of respect for human rights. When we signed with Adidas, that group (correctly) said that Adidas was just as bad as Nike in that regard. You dance with the devil either way.

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Nobody Likes a…

May 28th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^

I doubt it. The government has been pretty tame in it's prosecution of companies basically ever since the Microsoft antitrust case. There is a case for using some of the clauses in the foriegn corrupt practices act to bring them to justice, but I see it as being a slap on the wrist.

 

Moreover I doubt that anyone else is clean in this as well. I doubt it was a friendly handshake and competitive bid alone that won Adidas the Argentine kit sponsorship rights.

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