Nike High School Football Event Raises Ethical Questions

Xavier Univ. Center For Business Ethics & Social Responsibility Dir Paul Fiorelli believes that Nike’s annual High School Football Summit (HSFS) in June “presents possible conflicts of interests that schools must be aware of,” according to Dustin Dow of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. The HSFS is “an all-expenses-paid trip to Nike [HQs] for two dozen coaches from high-profile high schools across the country whose teams wear Nike uniforms.” The trip’s value is estimated at $2,000 and includes “shirts and sunglasses; upscale hotel accommodations; breakfast, lunch and dinner; a banquet; new product demonstrations; elaborate entertainment; charter bus transportation; and a $100 gift card.”  Northwest Local School District (OH) Superintendent Rick Glatfelter said that participation in the event by Colerain High School’s coaches was “within Northwest’s ethical guidelines ... because the summit was not used by Nike in the process of wooing Colerain away from" adidas. But St. Xavier (OH) football coach Steve Specht attended the HSFS, and St. Xavier principal Dave Mueller said, “We’re going to have to be more alert to raising questions such as, 'What took place there? Did you feel it was appropriate? Did the sharing as a coach and educator benefit outweigh the marketing benefit to the company’s interest?'” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/9).