Michael Moore's latest documentary, "The Big One,"
which examines the corporate policies of Nike and features
CEO Phil Knight, will be distributed by Miramax Films early
next year, according to William Holstein of U.S. NEWS &
WORLD REPORT. Holstein writes that a "starring role in a
movie by one of the nation's leading corporate critics is
the last thing that Knight needs right now" and "the anti-
Nike movement appears to be broadening." Holstein: "There's
no hard proof that any of the controversies has actually
hurt Nike sales. But all is not well in the marketplace.
... Nike headquarters has turned more than a little
embattled." A new Penny Hardaway shoe "has provoked
complaints that Nike is exploiting inner-city youths," and a
"Give Back Your Sneakers" protest is scheduled for September
27 at NikeTown in New York. In addition, Nike sales were
"flat" this summer, and the company "is not performing as
well as it was last year" (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 9/22).
YOUNG'S REPORT CRITICIZED: In the NEW REPUBLIC, Stephen
Glass examined the report by GoodWorks' Andrew Young in a
review of the company's international code of conduct.
Glass wrote that Nike was GoodWorks's "first big client, its
first chance to send corporate America evidence" that it did
"good work," but "if the Nike report was 'classic Andy
Young,' it was also a classic sham, marred not just by
shoddy methodology but by frequent misrepresentations."
Glass added the report "lists consultants who were never
consulted and includes photos of" union reps who "were not
union officials." Young "deliberately avoided the most
obvious and controversial question -- whether Nike paid its
employees fair wages -- and, when gathering testimony"
relied exclusively on Nike translators. Regarding
contentions that GoodWorks listed consultants who were never
spoken to, GoodWorks spokesperson Logan Ide "insists" the
group was not trying to create a false impression. Ide: "It
surprises me that people will say that. The heading only
says we spoke with them. Sometimes it just may have been
very, very briefly" (NEW REPUBLIC, 9/8).
PHIL CHIMES IN: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick noted Nike's PR
challenges and the launch of the new Jordan subsidiary line:
"Human-rights activists, here and abroad, have long implored
Nike and [Michael] Jordan to show even a modicum of social
responsibility. But Jordan just shrugs" (N.Y. POST, 9/14).
