Nike Still Can't Do It!

Nike - the world's leading sports brand - still CAN'T do it!

Fire Tiger Woods, that is.

Nike, EA Sports and the PGA Tour remain the lone sponsors for the embattled and sullied Woods.  However, Nike Chairman and Co-founder Phil Knight's abject arrogance astounds me.

When the sordid Tiger-gate story first broke in late November, Sports Business Journal quoted Knight's carelessly casual comment concerning Woods' X-rated, extra-marital escapades.

Phil foolishly flapped, "When Tiger's career is over, you'll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it now."

Wow! What a hypo-critical swaggering of swoosh swirling from Nike's swanky Board Room! Mr. Knight, in case you didn’t catch Friday’s world wide, one man press conference, the media is still making a big deal out of Tiger’s indiscretions….. now 90 days later! Whoa, Phil, did you sleep late on Friday?

For all his supposed moxie, corporate clout and sports world innovation, Phil Knight is taking the coward's way out, proffering the company's support for the world's most celebrated athlete and serial adulterer . . . and hoping we'll continue to buy the millions of dollars of Tiger-gear still remaining in Nike's inventory.

Knight's irresponsible, insensitive and absurdly chauvinistic comment all but negates his company's corporate mission to foster social responsibility.

Nike's decision is anything but socially responsible. To the contrary, by sticking with the foolishly philandering Woods, the sneaker giant makes a mockery of the social virtues of family, faithfulness and forthrightness.

What socially responsible message is Nike (and for that matter, EA Sports and the PGA Tour) sending to youth around the world? Hey Tiger Woods fans, keep over-paying for over-priced foot ware and apparel donned by our over-sexed golfing legend who overtly lied to fans, police, the Press and (sadly) his wife and young family.  

Let's call a swoosh a swoosh.

Because in this case, where so much money has been financed to fabricate a phony family friendly, seemingly socially responsible façade, Nike - the world's leading sports brand - still CAN'T do it!

Fire Tiger Woods, that is!

We can all forgive Tiger as his contrite confession is matched by reformed behavior, but let's never defend the arrogance of a corporate titan who summarizes serial adultery as a "minor blip".

Instead, make Nike a minor blip in your future sports apparel purchasing.

Buy Adidas, Champion or Reebok instead.

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE - thee American made voice on sports!