The Nike - ESPN Connection
by Paragon SC on Feb 17, 2011 2:50 PM PST
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PrintI have never heard of commentators or analysts having shoe contracts...
Erin Andrews, who signed an endorsement deal with Reebok last month, is not the only ESPN personality or member of its "College GameDay" team to have a contract with a major shoe company.
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso have deals with Nike that Corso described as a joint arrangement that largely involves speaking engagements for the athletic shoe and apparel company.
After an inquiry to ESPN about the announcers’ Nike contracts, Josh Krulewitz, an ESPN spokesman, said that Fowler, the host of "GameDay," is "ending his minor association" with Nike "to avoid any potential perception issues." Fowler was not made available for an interview.
In defending the announcers, Krulewitz said: "By any objective measure, Chris, Kirk and Lee’s on-air work is unassailable. Their content has not been compromised by this relationship."
As far as that last sentence goes...maybe, then again maybe not.
I am sure that any of the GameDay crew could be available on the lecture circuit for a small fee, they don't need a contract with any manufacturer to earn some honorarium.
One potential problem is that any Nike affiliated school has the potential to receive preferential treatment from ESPN. That includes USC. It would be easy to see how all Nike schools may have a perceived advantage with broadcasters. If USC was receiving preferential treatment from the game day crew, partially due to the Nike alliance, it would be just as wrong as if Oregon received to that same preferential treatment.
Especially since college football comes down to a beauty contest and voting popularity that's easily influenced by respected broadcaster's who could also be voters as well, it's the most critical college sport to remove any perceived biases from.
Its easy to see where some could make some noise about a potential conflict.
Oregon was a team involved in three game-day appearances alone this year (Stanford, USC, OSU), coupled with the fact that they're the ONLY Pac 10 team besides USC to have hosted it more than once...it could be an issue with some that a different dynamic is in play other than the fact that they're the new hot team to watch.
Here is some interesting info...
What you may not know is that the Ducks are the only Pac-10 school besides USC (6 times) to host the show more than once, and after Saturday they will have been on site for GameDay eight times (5 home, 2 road, 1 neutral).
With the help of media services intern extraordinaire Chad Twaro, here are some fun facts surrounding UO’s GameDay games.
Ducks Hosting ESPN College GameDayYear UO Rank Opponent (rank) Score
2009 10 USC (4) W, 47-20
2007 4 Arizona State (6) W, 35-23
2007 11 California (6) L, 24-31
2000 Unranked UCLA (6) W, 29-10
Through the 2007 season GameDay was in Eugene only three times.
Maybe its a coincidence maybe it isn't, I'll let you decide.
USC's overall view from our detractors could be further impacted negatively if ESPN allows these relationships to continue. I could care less about the Zero's but we need to be careful in pointing fingers if we are getting preferential treatment just because we are aligned with the swoosh.
Nike isn't dumb, Nike understands the concept that you don't bite the hand that feeds you. They realize that once the announcers become a part of their 'team', there's an unspoken quid pro quo in play, even if it is subtle.
Think about it. If Nike paid you to wear their clothing and speak before audiences, would you be able to maintain your objectivity and impartiality when it came to other Nike 'team members'?
This pretty common sense stuff. Of course the Mouse is going to suck up to the swoosh...
Anyone else ever wonder why ESPN hardly made a peep about the LaMichael James/Pernell Brown "issue"? There are still a number of unanswered questions with that issue.
It's out there.
Did Nike money quash the press doing the job everyone expects them to do?
You be judge...
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors.
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Gameday has been to USC seven times
That list was made prior to them coming to USC in ‘10. The most damning point was that ESPN didn’t know. How the hell does that happen considering? The fact that Fowler is dropping his endorsement deal over the potential for conflict of interest shouldn’t be overlooked. I doubt there is much here, but again the potential is there. The on air personalities have a large say in where Gameday visits and what stories are run. It goes without saying it is a legit question.
Practice safe sex
Do you KNOW the one you’ve been sleeping with?
It’s always a hoot when THE MEDIA themselves suffer the misfortune of BAD P.R.! In the game of football, that’s called a “fumble”. But when it happens in “real life” to a cable sports channel corporation- it’s considered a “flagrant” foul.
Something savvy- like the sound of cash, or money-making, is going on in and around Beaverton, OR. Something smells fishy- like complimentary shilling, is going on in and around Bristol, CT/Los Angeles, CA. (simultaneously, as in real-time in the here and now)
ESPN is many things, too big for their own britches might be the best descriptive phrase that comes to mind. The power that this cable channel wields in nationwide sports is immense , and their voices indeed “get heard” (from their announcers)- consequently, as a major media player in the world of America’s sports- ESPN should force any/all of their employees/announcers who have existing endorsement contracts with sports apparel companies, to either quit/terminate said contracts or quit their position with ESPN.
Sure I’d like to give the announcers with endorsement contracts the benefit of doubt that they unequivocally DO NOT favor certain teams, schools, individuals endorsed by the same company that they’re endorsing themselves. I have about as much benefit of doubt regarding OJ Simpson’s innocence in BOTH his criminal trials. Well, “nearly” as much.
I call bullshit on any announcer who says they wouldn’t or don’t favor certain teams/players based on who makes their uniforms/equipment/apparel. Opinions of men are most influenced by money, status, sensibility, and intelligence. I don’t know if most ESPN announcers have any intelligence whatsoever, but I do know that most ’em are lacking in the money and sensibility department, and want very much to advance their status.
Like my dad says, “If it walks like a duck, and surely talks like a duck? . . . .? ? ? ? ? . . . .then HUNT IT DOWN AND SHOOT IT!”
Can their asses, or make ’em can their endorsement deals.
BTW: As far as site selections for both USC and Oregon in the tables listed above- I’d say that based on the rankings of both teams, at the time/date of the listed GameDay broadcasts- lends a favorable nod towards “warrant”, rather than "bias on behalf of ESPN’s decision for site location. Otherwise if say, UofO was 19th ranked, playing unranked Michigan in Autzen than. . . .????. . . .that’a be head-scratcher and would look unfavorably upon them.
"Every rock that someone threw at me, I just used as a steppingstone." (Allen Bradford USC Tailback aka: "B-Rad")
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 17, 2011 10:26 PM PST reply actions
Eh, no it won't. Phil Knight owns ESPN and the NCAA
See how they do if Nike pulls their advertising.
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
Agree
I’m not worried at all about USC being a Nike school, as there must be 100 programs that our Nike schools. But, there is only one NIKE UNIVERSITY, and it’s in Eugene.
A Quick Note for the Quitters
No comment from this thread will be deleted. You will have to own them when we get it turned around and beat Southern Cal. You will never ride the bandwagon when we come back. Not on BN. GO BRUINS.
by Nestor on Sep 4, 2010 9:24 PM CDT
Heh, you use the term "UNIVERSITY" very looseley
Oregon is more accurately an “INSTITUTION.”
Prisons are also institutions.
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
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