Morning Buzz: The Unique Relationship Between USC/Nike

PHIL.KNIGHT.PLAQUEUSC has always been a Nike school. That is under scrutiny from some fans because of UCLA’s record $280 million deal with Under Armour. Yesterday, I said Phil Knight’s had a chummy relationship with USC. John McKay was on Nike’s board of directors. McKay’s statue outside the McKay Center has him wearing Nikes despite the fact he never did as USC coach. Knight donated money for construction of the McKay Center.

Knight is also close to Charles Cale, who was recently appointed to USC’s Board of Trustees and has been a member of the Nike board of directors. Knight and Cale attended Stanford. Cale endowed USC’s athletic director position in 2011 and it is named after him. He also donated to the McKay Center. Doesn’t all of this add up to a win for Nike?

38 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: The Unique Relationship Between USC/Nike

    • Not so sure it will be a challenge, more like a normal business transaction. When the USC contract comes up I would suspect that they will reap a nice pay day. There has been an escalation of the prices UA & NIKE and even the lesser companies are paying to both athletes and schools.

  1. Congrats on UCLA getting a nice pay day. UA overpaid but they wanted presence in LA. Just like the Bruins UA is the little guy trying to make a splash. This will raise the bar for everybody and USC will get their payday.

    • UCLA sells a ton of apparel, in the USA and internationally. It isn’t just about athletics. I suspect SC will get a large contract the next go ’round with Nike. It’s all good.

  2. Typical buddy/buddy relationship that goes on at USC. Everything is hidden. The SC administration looks more and more like the “Godfather”.

  3. Is that the same source as the one that predicted Myles Jack would go #1 in the NFL draft?

    • It comes from the same source who said Dixon was back.. .they weren’t real specific, if they meant back in jail or on the team, same difference??… .

      #Somanysources

      • Dixon WILL be back – in the future so still a valid statement.

        NFL draft is over and Myles Jack lost $20 million with his tumble.

        • How much did #BabyLB 75th pick Sua lose without injury??

          #$280Million

          • Answer: nothing. Nobody predicted Su’a would be a first round pick, much less the #1 pick. He landed just where everyone expected.

            And please don’t toss out large numbers like $280 million as it makes the Blogger’s head spin – he still saving up to buy a Chalupa Friday night. He’s very much conscious, you know.

          • Another misdiagnosis by the Dr. Rachel Maddow of Inside USC. Su’a was a 5 star and the #12 ranked recruit in the nation and everyone predicted greatness for him at USC.

          • You lonely Bro?

            Moronic reference to a 5 star rating when Su’a was a junior in high school – we’re talking NFL Draft son… the NFL Draft. Nobody predicted he would be a first round NFL draft pick.

            Your mother predicted greatness when you born and look how you turned out – a lonely troll with no life.

          • We were talking the hopes that Su’a would be a standout at USC and go in the first round after his junior year. Unfortunately for him he was a victim of 5 head coaches in 3 years and the resulting soap opera. He gets another chance to start fresh in the NFL.

            Your Daddy vomited in the maternity ward operating room when they held you up. You’ve disappointed the world ever since.

  4. BREAKING NEWS;

    Casey Wasserman landed the Super Bowl for LA, while 2 broke #trogans fight over the “black hole” in Oakland hahaha… .

    Reference #2 on the Top 50

    1. Stan Kroenke

    2. Casey Wasserman

    17. Jeff “Choka Choka” Fisher

    24. Dan Guerrero

    31. Jim Mora

    34. Max Nikias

    44. #5n4Helton.. .lol

    46. Lonzo Ball

    50. Josh Rosen

    #$280million

    • 8 clap time

      clap clap clap clap
      clap clap clap clap

      U
      clap clap clap clap
      Clowns
      clap clap clap clap
      Lost
      clap clap clap clap
      Again

      U Clowns Lost A gain gain gain gain

      You stole Cal’s fight song that’s how historically corrupt and pathetic bel-air tech is –

  5. Jon WilnerVerified account

    ‏@wilnerhotline Jon Wilner Retweeted Brian McGrath

    USC’s Nike deal a fraction of what UCLA will make & Trojans should have by far the larger contract. They screwed up

    But #ClownU doesn’t LMAO… .

    #$280Million

    • Perhaps….but all of your Adidas recruits have to wear UA garbage!
      Just saying….

      #ANDYISWINNING!!!

      • Lol.. .#Salty

        • Five-star Baron Browning, the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2017 class: “That’s all materialistic stuff. The gear doesn’t matter.”

        • Four-star Addison Gumbs, the No. 1 outside linebacker in the West: “It doesn’t matter to me at all what brand a team wears.”

        • Four-star Chaz Ah You, the No. 1 safety in the West: “As far as how I feel about UCLA, it doesn’t change anything. I actually prefer Adidas over Under Armor, but it doesn’t matter to me. I would wear whatever UCLA had.

        • Four-star Jimmy Jaggers, the No. 9 tight end in the 2017 class: “I think it’s pretty cool. I have no plans on picking a school because of the gear I get, but it’s nice to know if I did end up at UCLA I’d be taken care of.”

        • Four-star Deommodore Lenoir, the No. 7 cornerback in 2017: “The switch is great. It wouldn’t matter much in my recruitment. … If you look good and feel good, you’re going to play good.”

        #Justsaying #$280Million

        • They all say it’s not what you wear like good obedient kids….that’s cool….they’ll say anything just to play the game!!! You know that! Baby blue got played and you fell for it!!! Enjoy your UA garbage!!! It still won’t make you a champion in football!!
          Get a new coach! Upgrade!

          #ANDYISWINNING!!!

  6. Mr. Wolf, I think you mean “the relationship between USC and Nike.” The “/” is not punctuation in English but is on your keyboard as a mathematical symbol. Sometimes it is used on forms to mean “select the appropriate one” but I do not think this is how you are using it.

  7. wolfman, if i accurately read between the lines here, and i think i am, you appear to be suggesting that Southern Cal is being “handled” by Knight and are being made to look like, well, RUBES, to the rest of the NCAA.

    and a school in Southern Cal’s position, CAN’T AFFORD TO BE MADE TO LOOK LIKE RUBES, wolfman!!!

    #PutOnSomeShoesPaddyBoy

  8. Don’t you fret, Trojans, uncle Phil will money up for you one way or another. He knows how to give and you know how to take. He knows this deal makes UCLA number one in deals to go along with number one in NCAA Championships. He can’t have that. He’ll make it up to you fellas.

    • Hey how’d you girls golf team do? woulda coulda….brewed it into the ground

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