The athletic shoe industry was examined by Charlie
Pellett of "Bloomberg Business News." Pellett reported that
with "over" 43% of the U.S. sneaker market, "at this time it
is unlikely that any one company will gain enough momentum
to catch Nike." Shelby Cullom Davis' Peter Russ: "They have
a lead that seems sustainable. They continue to redefine
what the market is, and how their product should be viewed
by the consumer. And as long they continue to redefine it
in ways that their competition haven't done, they can
maintain their lead." Pellett: "It's possible adidas is the
only sneaker maker running with the ball ... Some analysts
feel adidas is now poised to grow in the all-important
American market." As teenagers "seem less interested" in
white sneakers, Pellett added that producers of brown shoes,
such as Wolverine World Wide and Timberland "may score a
touchdown in the last quarter of '97. ... If these and other
adverse trends continue, it's unlikely even a slam dunk from
Michael Jordan will save the industry" ("BBN," PBS, 9/22).
