Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

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  1

  vrsarti

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Nike should start with firing the guy who created the deal that only the elite runners could win the race. Next? Come clean. Tell their side of the story and make an honest, heartfelt, apology to the entire group of runners. Finalize it by declaring an elite runner winner and an overall winner. Then make bigger donation to the charity.
  
  This is an opportunity for Nike to shine. People are fed up with Wall Street and Congress blatant disregard for the every day guy. If Nike fails to address this well they will have the approval rating currently enjoyed by Congress and Wall Street CEOs.
  
  They aren't the only athletic shoe company in town. Perhaps they should remember that.

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  2

  thommyguns

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Nike is in the middle of a PR mess, not an ethical mess. If they had marketed the race as one cosisting of flights and done a better job of screening their 'elite' flight they would now have little to be criticized for, as both runners could be considered winners of their respective 'flights'. Let's face it, even 'elite runners can have bad days, and the rest of us can have a great day and win, but it's not unethical for a company to market itself to attract big name, elite atheletes to bolster their 'charity' event, which in the end was successful and did mor than it was intended to do as a result. I think the current rush to judgement will have a greater deletorious effect on the charities future than on Nike's revenue. What good is that? Have Nike change it's position, declare both women the winners of their respective flights and award them accordingly, for the rest of us, get on with it, there are bigger fish to dry!

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  Michael.Tanksley

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Nike should've declared the teacher the winner from the beginning and sponsor her and create a whole ad campaign around her, marketing fitness to working adults, most of us can never be pro athletes, but we could be the teacher that eventually wins a marathon...

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  4

  ekrazer

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Then Nike should give two awards, one the elite and one the "other" (shlubbs, did you say?)

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  5

  DEisenhauer

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  I agree with the comments made above. There should be two winners announced and deliniate the catergories. I do not think there is a pure ethics issue here, but I do believe there are ethical under tones to be considered. However, I believe the true issue here is public perception. After all sales are king and increased sales is why NIKE was there,in the first place. With the public sensitivity to even percieved ethical issues, going the extra mile and turn this around, to be a positive instead of a negative issue, would be the way to go. How about a "Golden Sneaker" Award?

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  OD educator

  10/24/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Definitly, there should be two awards, for two different categories. Then there should be the overall winner. They could still publicize both individuals.
  
  Didn't they learn anything from the gymnastics fiasco for the gold.

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  7

  psoucheray@...

  10/25/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Not only should O'Connell be declared a winner, but if her effort was motivated by the altruistic goal of raising funds for blood cancer research she should get double credit. Give all credit where credit is due.

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  8

  2908

  10/27/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Nike Did It: Steals Woman Marathoner's Victory

  Hey, I am sick of corporate america's clandestine deals, whatever they are or with whomever they are made. We are "paying" the price in our country, big time, for corporate cunning and deceptive crap,aren't we? It needs to stop.
  
  Nike needs to own their dishonesty and stop trying to now cover it up or re-frame it. Then they need to declare themselves the First Place Winner of Cororate America's Unethical Award!I won't be buying Nikes's anymore. What good is cause related marketing if it doesn't represent a higher standard on every level?