CFL Eskimos QB David Archer "infuriated" league and
adidas execs "by wearing Nike wristbands" during a game on
Friday night, according to Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL. After some players continued to wear Nike goods
despite the league's three-year, $1.8M deal with adidas, the
CFL dispatched "fashion police" to games last week to ensure
that players and coaches "were not showcasing Nike products,
except for a handful who have been cleared to wear Nike
shoes because of existing personal deals." Although an
injury kept Archer sidelined, TSN's cameras "zoomed in on
him at least 10 times during its telecast, which was
sponsored by adidas." CFL President Jeff Giles said he was
"very, very concerned" about Archer, who "will receive a
strongly worded memo warning him that disciplinary action in
the form of a fine, ejection and/or suspension will be taken
against him should he give Nike exposure again." Giles: "I
don't know if these players are getting paid to wear [Nike
products] or what, but in the long term, the success of this
league depends on our players abiding by our rules." Nike
Marketing Supervisor in charge of Canadian football, Vity
Gomes, "has insisted" that no one at the company has asked
Archer or any other CFL players to wear Nike products during
games (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/3). On Thursday, Argos LB
Mike O'Shea "fanned the flames" by wearing a Nike cap during
a post-game interview on TSN. Although no players wore Nike
goods during the game, Giles said that O'Shea's post-game
incident was "part of the game being played between Nike and
ourselves. ... We'd still like our players to wear adidas or
nothing at all for interviews" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/1).
