Vince Carter unveiled a "revolutionary" new Nike shoe,
called the Nike Shox, at the U.S. Olympic basketball team's
first game in Sydney Sunday against China, according to
Craig Daniels of the TORONTO SUN, who reported that Nike and
Carter "put the final touches" on an endorsement deal worth
about $30M (see THE DAILY, 8/30). Nike Worldwide PR Manager
for Basketball Eric Oberman: "It's confirmed. It's a done
deal. As far as the timing goes, with the Olympics, we
couldn't ask for anything better." The Shox product has
been "in development for some 16 years, but was put on the
backburner" when Nike unveiled its Air and Air Jordan lines
(TORONTO SUN, 9/16). Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jason Kidd, Tim
Hardaway, Allan Houston and Antonio McDyess also wore the
Nike Shox Sunday against China. The shoe will hit U.S.
stores November 15 (Nike). Puma N.A. reached a deal with
Carter resolving the issues stemming from an arbitration
decision last month that awarded Puma $13.5M and prevented
Carter from endorsing a competitor's footwear or apparel for
three years. Puma will receive an unspecified sum in
exchange for termination of the deal (Puma). Carter "had to
pay additional money, believed to be" $3M, to have Puma
waive the three-year injunction (AP, 9/17).
GOT A HOLDS ON YOU: USA TODAY's Oscar Dixon reports
that U.S. women's basketball team F Chamique Holdsclaw
"plans to debut the Nikeshox BB4Mique -- the first signature
basketball shoe Nike has launched in more than three years,
men or women" -- in Sydney. The debut is "on hold," as
Holdsclaw missed the team's first two games with a foot
injury and "likely will miss three more." The shoe features
Holdsclaw's own logo, which is an "'H' surrounded by claws"
and hits stores November 15 for $150 (USA TODAY, 9/18).
