MA basketball coach, Dennis Jackson, who "runs a
nonprofit camp for youths" called P.L.A.Y. Inc., has filed a
$1M-plus suit against Nike Inc., accusing the company of
"copying his idea and trying to profit from the program,"
according to Tina Cassidy of the BOSTON GLOBE. Jackson said
Nike "appropriated his program after he sent an outline of
it" to Nike endorser Michael Jordan several years ago asking
for help in getting Nike to fund the organization. But
after contacting Jordan, whom Jackson had once coached, Nike
"allegedly rejected the proposal several times between 1991
and 1993." Jackson's P.L.A.Y. campaign stands for Planned
Learning Achievement for Youth, while Nike's campaign is for
Participate in the Lives of America's Youth. The GLOBE's
Cassidy notes court documents show that "as a result of
Jackson's complaining" against the sports company's use of
P.L.A.Y., Nike "signed an agreement to pay Jackson at least
$40,000 a year from 1995 to 1997, along with providing
product and promotional and fund-raising assistance for the
nonprofit." Jackson "asserts, however, in the suit that
Nike did not follow through with that pact." Nike declined
comment on the case (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/18).
NIKE SHIPS POWER RED: A Nike apparel line around Tiger
Woods called the "Tiger Sunday Package" will hit stores on
May 25, according to Richard Wilner of the N.Y. POST. The
"Sunday Package" includes three red shirts, that Woods'
mother calls his lucky color. Kultilda Woods is a student
of astrology and believes the "most powerful color for her
son, a Capricorn, is red" (N.Y. POST, 4/18).
