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Nike puts $$ into AAU coaches hands thru sponsorships, free shoes, etc...
but they obviously want & expect something in return..
Here's yet another interesting story where nobody admits or says a thing but you can sure read between the lines..
"There figure to be plenty of competitive games this week as AAU basketball
season heats up in Southern Nevada. But the fiercest battles might happen
behind the scenes, between attorneys and shoe company executives fighting
over which tournaments can showcase certain teams and players.
Officials for the Las Vegas Fab 48, scheduled to begin Wednesday at Bishop
Gorman High, have hired counsel that is considering legal action against Nike
for allegedly interfering with the tournament.
In a letter obtained by the Review-Journal, attorney Bryan Freedman claims
to Nike general counsel Hilary Krane that several teams featuring elite college
basketball prospects have been threatened with the loss of future Nike
sponsorship if they play in the Fab 48. The letter, dated July 12, claims that
Nike demanded some teams breach their written contracts with the Fab 48.
"Fab 48 is not affiliated with any shoe or apparel company, so participation in
the Fab 48 by Nike-sponsored teams does not violate the terms of Nike's
grassroots basketball sponsorship arrangements," the letter reads.
"Nonetheless, Nike's representatives have been acting in a manner that can
only be construed as an unlawful attempt to destroy our client's business."
The issue is contentious because fans and media flock to tournaments
featuring elite recruits. Losing marquee players and teams can mean less
revenue.
(Jabari) Parker was originally scheduled to play in the Fab 48, but Mac Irvin
Fire coach Mike Irvin confirmed Monday that his team instead will play in the
Las Vegas Classic. The Las Vegas Classic is organized by Bigfoot Hoops, run
by longtime Nike grassroots coach Hal Pastner.
"We just changed it," Irvin said of Mac Irvin Fire's tournament affiliation.
Freedman's letter claims that Nike has essentially used bullying tactics to
steer elite teams away from the Fab 48.
"If we start subpoenaing bank records and documents, we may find out there
are monetary incentives," Freedman added.
Asked why Nike might interfere with a tournament that has no shoe company
sponsor, Freedman said: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Gorman coach Grant Rice, an organizer of the Fab 48, said he was "surprised
and baffled" some Nike-sponsored teams had backed out of the Fab 48.
The Fab 48 began in July 2010 ..... the Reebok Summer Championships, which
were suspended in February 2010 when Reebok yanked its sponsorship amid
the sagging economy.
The other marquee local event is the adidas Super 64, which will be without
some star power at Rancho this week after the adidas-sponsored Florida
Rams and three other teams were recently banned by the NCAA because of
ties to a professional agent."
but they obviously want & expect something in return..
Here's yet another interesting story where nobody admits or says a thing but you can sure read between the lines..
"There figure to be plenty of competitive games this week as AAU basketball
season heats up in Southern Nevada. But the fiercest battles might happen
behind the scenes, between attorneys and shoe company executives fighting
over which tournaments can showcase certain teams and players.
Officials for the Las Vegas Fab 48, scheduled to begin Wednesday at Bishop
Gorman High, have hired counsel that is considering legal action against Nike
for allegedly interfering with the tournament.
In a letter obtained by the Review-Journal, attorney Bryan Freedman claims
to Nike general counsel Hilary Krane that several teams featuring elite college
basketball prospects have been threatened with the loss of future Nike
sponsorship if they play in the Fab 48. The letter, dated July 12, claims that
Nike demanded some teams breach their written contracts with the Fab 48.
"Fab 48 is not affiliated with any shoe or apparel company, so participation in
the Fab 48 by Nike-sponsored teams does not violate the terms of Nike's
grassroots basketball sponsorship arrangements," the letter reads.
"Nonetheless, Nike's representatives have been acting in a manner that can
only be construed as an unlawful attempt to destroy our client's business."
The issue is contentious because fans and media flock to tournaments
featuring elite recruits. Losing marquee players and teams can mean less
revenue.
(Jabari) Parker was originally scheduled to play in the Fab 48, but Mac Irvin
Fire coach Mike Irvin confirmed Monday that his team instead will play in the
Las Vegas Classic. The Las Vegas Classic is organized by Bigfoot Hoops, run
by longtime Nike grassroots coach Hal Pastner.
"We just changed it," Irvin said of Mac Irvin Fire's tournament affiliation.
Freedman's letter claims that Nike has essentially used bullying tactics to
steer elite teams away from the Fab 48.
"If we start subpoenaing bank records and documents, we may find out there
are monetary incentives," Freedman added.
Asked why Nike might interfere with a tournament that has no shoe company
sponsor, Freedman said: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Gorman coach Grant Rice, an organizer of the Fab 48, said he was "surprised
and baffled" some Nike-sponsored teams had backed out of the Fab 48.
The Fab 48 began in July 2010 ..... the Reebok Summer Championships, which
were suspended in February 2010 when Reebok yanked its sponsorship amid
the sagging economy.
The other marquee local event is the adidas Super 64, which will be without
some star power at Rancho this week after the adidas-sponsored Florida
Rams and three other teams were recently banned by the NCAA because of
ties to a professional agent."
