Nike shares rose 6.5% yesterday, "fueled" by
speculation that billionaire investor Warren Buffett was
buying a stake in the company, according to an AP report in
the K.C. STAR. Nike spokesperson Vada Manager: "It's only a
rumor right now." Nike shares rose $3.87 to $64 on the NYSE
and were as high as $66.50 earlier in the day. A
spokesperson at Buffett's investment company, NE-based
Berkshire Hathaway, would not comment (K.C. STAR, 5/29).
TIGER TO TOKYO: Tiger Woods will go to Japan in
November as part of a Nike promotion, sources told Ron Sirak
of the AP. Woods will do a clinic and public appearances
for Nike from November 7-9 in Tokyo. He would then stay in
Japan to play the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on November
12-15 and go to Hawaii for the Grand Slam of Golf on
November 18-19. Neither Woods' agency, IMG nor Nike would
comment on the report (AP, 5/28).
HITTING THE CAMPUS: Baltimore-based Campus Concepts, a
media company targeting the college market, signed a three-
year agreement with Nike to serve as the official sponsor of
intramural flag football tournaments on 100 college campuses
nationwide. Through the deal, Nike is expected to reach an
estimated two million college students (Campus Concepts).
DRIVE MY CAR: In Richmond, Ben Blake: "There was word
that Nike, considered a plum sponsor, has signed as an
associate sponsor on [NASCAR driver's] Derrike Cope's No. 36
car, but team owner Reid Morton denied that." Other reports
claim Nike will be the primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt's
No. 14 next year (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 5/26).
