Nike continued to respond to reports that it is
contemplating dropping the swoosh logo on company products
and ads. In a release yesterday, Nike dismissed a N.Y. Post
story which said the swoosh may be "semi-retired." Nike:
"Here's what is happening: In January, Nike began using its
wordmark, 'nike' to sign off its advertising. We're also
using it on our letterhead and business cards and other
corporate representations. The Swoosh logo will continue to
be used on our products and, at the same time, all of our
sport category logos will have the Swoosh in them." Nike
VP/Design Gordon Thompson: "It is the Swoosh that has
brought us to prominence, and it isn't going away" (Nike).
STILL IN THE NEWS: In N.Y., David Gonzalez chronicles
the account of James Keady, who quit his job as assistant
coach for the men's soccer team at St. John's Univ. because
of the school's affiliation with Nike and his disagreement
over the company's labor practices. Keady: "What if at the
end of the day, I say in good conscience that I can't wear
their equipment? I can't be a billboard for Nike. I can't
be a marketing tool for Nike." St. John's Exec VP Robert
Crimmins said that the university is asking "for independent
monitoring of factories" and has told Nike that it wants
"verifiable assurances that workers are being treated
fairly." Crimmins: "If they don't live up to it, we won't
be doing business with them" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/16).
