San Francisco police arrested 19 protesters for
obstructing the entrance of the city's NikeTown during its
grand opening Saturday, according to Anastasia Hendrix in
the S.F. EXAMINER. Members of the San Francisco advocacy
group, Global Exchange, passed out flyers "condemning the
company's 'sweatshop practices,'" but those who waited in
line -- "which wound its way around four blocks at one
point" -- were "blatantly blase" about the issue. Nike
spokesperson Lee Weinstein said the crowds "exceeded our
wildest expectations," and added "we expected some
protesting." A "similar-sized" demonstration occurred at
the opening of a Seattle NikeTown in July, and "smaller
ones" occurred in New York and L.A. (S.F. EXAMINER, 2/23).
FRIED RICE: In New York, Phil Mushnick looks at 49er
Jerry Rice's charge that reporters' questions to him about
Nike's labor practices were "unfair": "[Rice] is typical of
pro athletes who covet millions in endorsement fees, yet
want none of the responsibility for what they endorse" (N.Y.
POST, 2/24). In Toronto, Naomi Klein writes an op-ed on
Nike's labor controversy under the header, "Just Doing It
Lands Nike In Ethical Hot Water" (TORONTO STAR, 2/24).
