Nike’s legacy rooted at Hayward
Both were big events that
struck the Eugene community.
Both were events that dealt
with two separate people from
the Oregon track and field past
who shared a common link to
each other.
But both events couldn’t have
been more different.
On Dec. 24,1999
renowned University
track coach and co- *
founder of Nike, Bill
Bowerman died at the
age of 88.
On April 23, 2000
Nike CEO and former
Oregon track athlete
Phil Knight officially |
halted all personal
donations to his alma 1
mater as a result of the
University joining the
Worker Rights Consor- .
tium.
The reason both events are be
ing brought up this week is that
Hayward Field is home to the
prestigious 26th annual Pre
fontaine Classic Grand Prix,
which kicks off this Saturday at
11:15 a.m.
One of the reasons it has been
a continued success is that it has
been bolstered greatly over the
years through Nike’s monetary
contributions.
A fact that not too many peo
ple are aware of is»that the Pre
Classic was intended to have a
different name.
In 1975, the event was sched
uled to be called the Bowerman
Classic, in honor of the man
whose remarkable Oregon coach
ing career lasted from 1949-72. It
was a much deserved tribute to
the coach who had won four na
tional titles, led his team to top
10 finishes in the nation 16 dif
ferent times and had coached 24
NCAA individual champions.
But the meet took on a whole
new twist when running sensa
tion Steve Prefontaine’s tragic
death on May 30,1975, led offi
cials to rename the classic in his
name.
Still, there is no denying the
Jeff
Smith
impact Bowerman had on this
particular meet, on Hayward
Field and on the city of Eugene
itself.
“One thing that is true about
the Prefontaine Classic is that it
is a direct link to his legacy,” Pre
fontaine meet director Tom Jor
dan told the Emerald at
the time of Bowerman’s
death. “He was a great in
novator and a great
coach.”
He was indeed both,
but as great as his coach
ing was, his inventions
are perhaps what will
help his legacy live on
forever.
For instance, are you
aware that he created the
rubberized asphalt track?
It’s probably hard to even
consider the sport of
track and field without it
because it is now used through
out the world.
And did you ever wonder who
was one of the trendsetters in the
video slow-motion craze in terms
of analyzing athletes and team
play? Yup, it was Bowerman. He
used the technology to fully exam
ine the technique of his runners.
His most popular invention,
however, is thq one that every
body knows about. Using his
wife’s waffle iron, he mixed to
gether latex, leather and glue.
The result? Only the world’s
most popular running shoes that
would soon be known as Nike
shoes.
His partner in forming the
Nike shoe business was Knight,
who has propelled the multi-bil
lion dollar shoe and apparel
company to global success.
Bowerman’s legacy will be
honored at this year’s Pre Classic.
Before most of the events get un
der way, a special ceremony will
be held.
At 11:32 a.m., a statue of Bow
erman will be unveiled.
At that time, there will also be
an introduction of Bowerman
Team Members, which will be a
gathering of many athletes that
competed under the legendary
coach.
No word yet as to whether one
of those athletes will be Knight,
who met Bowerman in 1957
when he ran on the track team.
It’s kind of ironic that Knight
and Bowerman both are connect
ed with this weekend, because
the athlete who this event is
named after was the one who
helped jump start Nike into what
it is today.
In 1973, Prefontaine became
the first major athlete to wear the
Nike shoe.
The connection with Oregon
athletics and Nike seemed to be a
bond that would never be bro
ken. But alas, it all came crum
bling down when Oregon joined
the WRC, a labor-monitoring or
ganization that is strongly
against Nike.
“At this time, this is not a situ
ation that can be resolved,” said
Knight, in his letter to the Uni
versity in April. “The bonds of
trust, which allowed me to give
at a high level, have been shred
ded.”
When hearing such harsh
words, it makes you want to go
back to Knight’s reaction to Bow
erman’s death. When his words
were not of some Nike CEO, but
of a former athlete who was sad
dened by the loss of his mentor.
' “In 1998, a magazine asked me
to name my personal hero,”
Knight said in a released state
ment at the time. “Without hesi
tation, I named Bill Bowerman.
He was for so many of us a hero,
leader and — most of all —
teacher. My sadness at his pass
ing is beyond words.”
One can only hope that the ex
athlete inside of him will prevail
in the future, and the legacy of
his late coach and first Nike ath
lete will deliver him toward his
beloved alma mater — and help
get Oregon athletics back on the
right track.
Jeff Smith is the associate editor for the
Emerald. His views do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald. He can
be reached at Smittside@aol.com
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