Nike Responds To Graduation Madness Campaign
Nike Responds To Graduation Madness Campaign
Eleven of the men’s college basketball teams that have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen fail to meet the NCAA’s minimum academic standards. Eight of those teams are sponsored by Nike, who will profit as players sport their logo on national television.
Through our Graduation Madness campaign, ThinkProgress readers have sent thousands of emails to Nike demanding they take action to help ensure more college basketball players graduate. Thanks to your efforts, Nike has responded. Here’s an excerpt:
Thank you for correspondence regarding teams participating in NCAA’s basketball tournament failing to meet minimum academic standards…
[W]e are also aware of the diligent efforts made by all the NCAA-governed institutions to raise the graduation rate among student-athletes at their schools. We believe that school administrators and team coaches have made this issue a priority within their ranks, and are actively implementing programs that address this concern. Nike fully supports those efforts and the long-term goals of the NCAA. (Full response here)
Translation: everything is going fine and we don’t plan on doing anything. It’s easy to understand why Nike is satisfied with the status quo. This morning, the company announced it raked in $325.8 million in profit last quarter, up 19% from a year ago. Meanwhile, basketball players who don’t graduate from college can expect to earn just $27,915 a year.
If you haven’t already done so, act now and tell Nike to get off the academic sidelines. (If you’ve already acted, tell a friend.)
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Your awareness program is excellent and should be continued diligently so as to ensure that this issue gains the attention that it deserves. The exploitation of college athletics by corporations, namely football and basketball, is deplorable.
But the shame of this exploitation does not rest solely with the corporations. You buy their products and, therefore, are complicit in this crime against humanity. Who among you have Nike shoes or apparel for yourself or your children? Who among you buy Gatorade, or Doritos, or Budweiser?
So, I applaud this effort but I question your dedication to it. The overwhelming majority of corporations understand only one language and you either speak to them in those terms or your message is wasted. If you do not already know what that language is, then you are not qualified to engage in this discussion.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, whether it is that of a student athlete or a consumer.
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:07 pmWhile I laud your efforts,until the colleges see a drop in funding from alums and donors who demand higher graduation rates,you’re barking up the wrong tree. You haven’t seen the meetings where serious donors to the athletic dept. demand performance,i.e. wins,national championships,etc. That kind of pressure is what drives the athletic director and the administration to overlook recruiting violations,academic performance etc. The kids are often willing pawns in the effort,which one doesn’t think he’s going to make it?
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:10 pmGood luck,but Nike’s response is a the usual platitude and they’re going to keep on marketing in this way until the colleges stop accepting the academic performance along with the money. Not a chance of that happening.
I love this site but I still think this is not a weighty issue.
How much would those athletes have made without the college scholarship in the first place? How much was that college scholarship worth – how much is it worth if the kid had to finance his college through loans? Is their plight worse off than minor league baseball players who skip college but get paid?
Is Nike really the bad guy here? You keep referencing their profits. How much would they have profited if they had not branded the schools? Probably a very similar number (assuming no other companies branded them either). Nike does a lot of good things: recycling shoes into playground surfaces, giving occasional free shoes to athletes whose feet and talent grew faster than their parents’ could afford, and I am sure many other things. Are they really the Haliburton of the Hardwood?
These athletes get a chance at an education (how much of an education is up to them). They get an amazing experience and a shot at the major leagues.
If Nike used its market force to give a carrot/stick to schools, what should the schools do? Should they compel athletes to stay in college? How, by having kids retroactively forfeit their scholarships if they leave? What is it that you want the schools to do that they are not doing?
Could things be better? Sure. Is this a travesty of justice? I think not.
This sounds like a catchy phrase and a half idea.
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:13 pmNike kids or Bush saying 9.8 billion a month till 2009…
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:23 pmwhat bothers me is the CHILDREN making thoes shoes and other stuff for nothing. Slave labor .
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:24 pmUntil drastic measures, like suspending alumni gifts due to bad GPA averages on the sports teams happens, I think it is just a market issue. Ridicule the Alumni and the faculty. Has any one out there ever heard of some one’s resume being turned down because their University academically coddled athletes? It’s the same problem the world is having with the the Islamic Madrassas. The dream is bigger than the details and the benefactors gain more support.
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:31 pmBOOM!
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:39 pmIf they’re going to make “only” $28,000 a year without a college degree, that’s not bad at all. There are probably a number of current college grads who don’t make that much. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Is the point their earning power, or the fact that they’re not being held to academic standards? Or something else?
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:48 pmThe first comment is headed in the right direction. Nike is not the villain here. Schools that allow students to play when they do not meet academic standards are those ultimately culpable. These schools have the ability to deny the player the right to play if they do not perform academically. You talk about all the money Nike will earn… let’s talk about how much these schools earn from their national exposure. Why do you think they are not requiring that these athletes meet the academic requirements?
It’s a blue chip world, my friends. Point the finger where the blame lies. The schools are allowing this. They have the power with the stroke of a pen to change it. They don’t want to change it. The administrators are just as addicted to Nike’s money as the players are.
March 22nd, 2006 at 1:51 pmUnfortunately, Nike’s only responsibility is to its shareholders. Social responsibilty has obviously never been their focus.
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:17 pmThinkProgress readers have sent thousands of emails to Nike demanding they take action to help ensure more college basketball players graduate. Thanks to your efforts, Nike has responded. Here’s an excerpt:
“Dear Progressives,
Thank you for your emails detailing your perception of our corporate responsibility. Our only question is this; how many $150 dollar shoes do you buy? Our marketing department has assured us that basically you people are latte drinking sandal wearers and as such have squat for impact on our bottom line.
We owe it to our customers to keep prices in line with the current market for high performance shoes, we owe it to our employees to keep salaries up and we owe it to our stockholders to be efficient and wise stewards of our corporate monies. We simple can not be moved or shaken down by ratbastardcommie race hustlers. Jessie Jackson tried this same scam on us last year and if he failed to get his hands on our money you can certainly depend on us to ignore you as well.
Sincerely,
I-RIGHT-I, VP Public Relations”
Well, I never! It will be a long time before I purchase another pair of $200 sneakers from those people! Sheesh!
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:17 pmBut …Noone is looking at the NCAA Womens Basketball or Track Sports which has a much higher rate of College Grads who go onto Higher Education while going Turning Pro.
Women NCAA isn’t given the Equal Standing and That’s a damn Shame as Their Babketball Skills are much better than the Males.
Have you notice how little Attention Is Paid to Women Sports ?
Lady Vols all have 3.8 and 4.0 go onto Grad School but teh males hope to catch that golden ring of NBA and a Nike Contract….
Women who are signed for Commericals by Nike,Addias,Rebok,Fila are paid far below what a male is paid .
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:21 pmwhat bothers me is the CHILDREN making thoes shoes and other stuff for nothing. Slave labor .
Comment by wisedup
Perhaps you’d rather have them go hungry. Reality is no place for liberals.
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:23 pmBut …Noone is looking at the NCAA Womens Basketball or Track Sports which has a much higher rate of College Grads who go onto Higher Education while going Turning Pro.
Comment by THOT’S
That’s right no one is watching. I wouldn’t watch women’s sports if they paid me.
Women NCAA isn’t given the Equal Standing and That’s a damn Shame as Their Babketball Skills are much better than the Males.
You’re nuts too.
Have you notice how little Attention Is Paid to Women Sports ?
Women play sports?
Lady Vols all have 3.8 and 4.0 go onto Grad School but teh males hope to catch that golden ring of NBA and a Nike Contract….
Basket weaving isn’t that difficult of a class to ace.
Women who are signed for Commericals by Nike,Addias,Rebok,Fila are paid far below what a male is paid .
Yes, but female porno stars are paid much more than males and the males have to do all the work. (so I’m told)
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:28 pm“Perhaps you’d rather have them go hungry. Reality is no place for liberals. Comment by I-RIGHT-I”
Actually I’d rather them be in SCHOOL – reality is no place for Reichwing Fascists. You guys can justify exploitation, murder, torture, abuse and hate like it’s good joojoo. You’re a FOOL!
March 22nd, 2006 at 3:37 pmActually I’d rather them be in SCHOOL – reality is no place for Reichwing Fascists. You guys can justify exploitation, murder, torture, abuse and hate like it’s good joojoo. You’re a FOOL!
Comment by Ryan Neat
They’re not smart enough to be in school in the first place. That’s why I advocate players with nothing less than a B average and firing for faculty who try and skirt the rules by passing idiots. A bonus would be that teams would be forced to play white kids. It would be great to watch a college game and know for sure the guard or one of his dogs won’t jack you on the way home from the game.
(Terry the Turd: There’s one for you collection!)
March 22nd, 2006 at 4:12 pmOh, and Ryan…reality sucks baby, not unlike yourself.
“Oh, and Ryan…reality sucks baby, not unlike yourself. Comment by I-RIGHT-I ”
The closet has made you an ugly hateful wierdo – get a life you retarded nazi. And as for being ’stupid’, you’re not a good judge ‘baby’, considering you have to be one of the STUPIDEST trolls to ever post.
March 22nd, 2006 at 4:54 pmOh, ouch…that hurt.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:01 pm“Oh, ouch…that hurt. Comment by I-RIGHT-I”
Doubful, psychopaths don’t feel normal emotions – it’s why nothing that anyone in your life says ‘hurts’ your feelings – because you’re insane.
You’re just a sick twisted little fool who needs to be locked in a padded room.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:28 pmI often wonder if folks like Michael Jordan think about things like this, as they make multimillions on endorsement deals with Nike. Does MJ care if those players get an education? Does MJ care about where and how those products are being made? If it is slave child labor? He was on Oprah not too long ago, and from his responses, I suspect he doesn’t.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:36 pmThe need for, and the responsibility of, graduation is the sole responsibility of the student. If the student doesn’t care enough to graduate, why should Nike?
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:39 pmAwrang,
It’s called ‘exploitation’, look it up sometime. And yes people can make their own choices, but when the deck is stacked against people – and they are ‘coerced’ in making bad choices, those that exploit them are guilty.
These are young men and women who are pressured to perform in their sport at the expense of their education. That’s unjust, unfair, exploititive and just plain WRONG. And as one of the beneficiaries of that exploitation, Nike needs to care, just like it needs to care about the child labor it uses abroad. It’s just irresponsible.
I’m sure you believe that the child laborers, or rape victims have free choices as well, and therefore those that exploit or rape them aren’t responsible don’t you?
MORON.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:45 pmIt’s an awful lot of money to an awful lot of people, that results not only from this…
National Collegiate Athletics Association’s Division I Mens Basketball Tournament
(whew, that’s the full name of the thing, as best I know; and it’s a heck of a darned thing to say, without forgetting by the time you finish, what it was you began to say)
And it’s not just the NCAA Basketball Tournament (short form), it’s the Conference Tournaments also; they’re also comprehended under the name of “March Madness”, they’re also big moneymakers.
And when you get right down to it, not only are each and every Regular Season game at the the Schools with big basketball programs also moneymakers, all the Regular Season football games at those same schools, also big moneymakers; and the Bowl Games! You ever see what the ‘payouts’ are to the participating Schools are in those games? And the ‘payout’ in those games (which are always in the millions of dollars, and top out well in excess of $10 million I believe), those ‘payouts’ are just a drop in the bucket, they don’t reflect the extraordinary amounts of money generated by the advertisers and sponsors and broadcasters and travel packages and hotels and T-Shirts…
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS IN T-SHIRT SALES?
OK, I’m giggling now I guess, but it’s only a side effect of a condition known as “March Madness”.
You’re right, it’s a problem: Guys who might otherwise represent the worst qualities of the University Student (not taking classes, or not passing the classes you take; those are at least the qualities I mean), they take the Court, or the Field, and they are cheered and become heroes of some kind, to thousands of paying customers, and to millions of rapt (television) onlookers…
…and Nike, and Adidas, and ReeBok, and Wilson, and Spaulding, etc., all ride them to the Bank; the Schools and the Sponsors and the Advertsiers and the Broadcasters and the T-Shirt selling guys…
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS IN T-SHIRT SALES?
And the guys who play ball, they maybe attend classes, but maybe don’t; and maybe graduate, but maybe don’t (most likely don’t, in the case of the Division I Basketball Player); and these guys, to top it all off, they receive something called an “Athletic Scholarship”; which is to say, they get a ‘free ride’ from the Schools, they don’t pay Tuition.
What a waste; so many Students who are truly Students, who work hard to pass their classes, to graduate; and maybe they can pay their tution, but maybe they can’t; and maybe they graduate, but maybe they don’t…
…and those other ones getting a ‘free ride’; what a waste.
Except at the Ivy leaugue Schools, where they don’t give out “Athletic Scholarships”.
(Hey, I got a money-making idea! You take all of the most ridiculous things said and lies told by the President (well, not all of them, just the 100 or so most ridiculous and false), and you then take all the most foolish and stupid facial expressions that cameras have recorded the President making (again, limit yourself to no more than a 100 or so), and you match the ridiculous things said and the lies told up with the stupid and foolish pictures of the President’s face, and do so in a way that you find illicits maximum amusement…
and then you put that funny stuff on T-Shirts, in time for the big summer sales season; and considering the American People’s mood right now about the President, and the American People’s appetite for T-Shirts, you know what’ll happen? You know how much money you could make?
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS IN T-SHIRT SALES?)
March 22nd, 2006 at 6:04 pmYou seem to be conflating two issues, which muddies your message. What exactly are you upset about?
1. College atheletes being taken advantage of by being a huge source of revenue for corporations while unable to receive any kind of personal compensation at all.
or
2. College atheletes failing to maintain academic standards and leaving college without a degree.
If it’s the former, I totally agree. The NCAA and its sponsors make huge amounts of money off these atheletes and turn around and levy severe penalties on the same atheletes and their schools if they deign to make any of this money themselves.
If it’s the latter, eh, doesn’t seem like a big issue to me. Many of these atheletes in the Sweet 16 have a good shot at a professional career, and forcing them to get a degree in some dumbed-down cirriculum doesn’t seem like it will actually help them much, if at all.
March 22nd, 2006 at 8:35 pmlook
March 23rd, 2006 at 2:15 am螺旋æ¿å¼æ¢çƒå™¨
These are young men and women who are pressured to perform in their sport at the expense of their education. That’s unjust, unfair, exploititive and just plain WRONG.
Comment by Ryan Neat
You’re an idiot. They wouldn’t be in school at all if it were not for the sports scholarship. Why don’t you just say that kids on academic scholarships shouldn’t be pressured to keep up their grades? Isn’t that unjust, unfair, exploitative and just plain WRONG? Dumbass.
And as one of the beneficiaries of that exploitation, Nike needs to care, just like it needs to care about the child labor it uses abroad. It’s just irresponsible.
Nike’s job is to sell shoes not to care about the grades of kids that just happen to wear them. Just like a Left Wing Fucktard to place blame and responsibility on everyone else but the individual who is ultimately responsible for their own future.
I’m sure you believe that the child laborers, or rape victims have free choices as well, and therefore those that exploit or rape them aren’t responsible don’t you?
WTF? No wonder Judd keeps deleting your posts. There really is nothing left of your brain is there? What is it all those AIDS cocktails?
MORON.
You’ve sunk below moron so often the word coming out of your mouth is meaningless.
March 23rd, 2006 at 8:54 am[...] This, from Think Progress: Eleven of the men’s college basketball teams that have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen fail to meet the NCAA’s minimum academic standards. Eight of those teams are sponsored by Nike, who will profit as players sport their logo on national television. [...]
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:23 amNike is not to blame. Its the NCAA. Nike is a private business entity who makes its deals with the Universities and the coaches speciafically. The NCAA forbids “student atheletes from earning income while participating in college. Having played travel team sports,I’m here tell you shoe companies will compensate student athletes when they can. It is the anti-trust institution called the NCAA that exploits these students,Nike just gives them shoes to play ball in.
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:46 amNike is not to blame. Its the NCAA. Nike is a private business entity who makes its deals with the Universities and the coaches speciafically. The NCAA forbids “student atheletes from earning income while participating in college. Having played travel team sports,I’m here tell you shoe companies will compensate student athletes when they can. It is the anti-trust institution called the NCAA that exploits these students,Nike just gives them shoes to play ball in.
Comment by Fletch
Who else can you blame? Let’s blame the TV viewers and sponsors too. It’s their fault kids don’t make their grades and drop out.
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