Page 8 -The Portland Observer-September 19, 1990
1 Portland Observer
THE LOCKER ROOM
WHY WE MUST WIN THE
NIKE BOYCOTT
VANTAGE POINT
By: Ron Daniels
A few weeks ago Operation PUSH
(People United to Serve Humanity) was
forced to call a nationwide boycott of the
Nike Inc., after Nike arrogantly refused
to enter into discussions with PUSH about
Nike’s policy towards African Ameri
cans. Nike is America’s leading athletic
shoe wear corp, with 2.4 billion in retail
sales in 1989. By some estimates Afri
can Americans account for some 30%-
40% of Nike gym show sales. Rev. Ty
rone Crider, Executive Director of PUSH,
ligitimately sought to ask the Nike Corp,
the right question. What do African
Americans get back in return for pur
chasing more than 200 million dollars
worth of Nike gym shoes each year.
As we approach the 21st century,
African Americans can ill afford to spend
their dollars with businesses and corpo
rations which do not respect Black people
enough to provide a fair share of return
back to the African American commu
nity. And fair share does not mean token
ism, symbolism or lucrative contracts
for an elite few stars and luminaries
whose job it is to induce Black people to
buy even more of a particular corpora
tion’s product It’s time out for being
economic chumps. It’s time to play eco
nomic hardball.
While Black people comprise 30-
40% of Nike’s retail sales of gym shoes,
Nike does not have a single African
American on its Board of Directors and
no black Vice-Presidents. Nike does not
deposit monies in Black bands, use Black
advertisingagencies.orBlack law firms.
Nike does not place any of its high pow
ered Michael Jordon, Bo Jackson, Magic
Johnson, or Spike Lee ads with black
owned newspapers or magazines. And
while Nike claims to allocate 75% of its
$ 10 million dollars philanthropic budget
to minority programs, with no Black
Vice Presidents and no Black board
members, there is no one in a key posi
tion within Nike’s structure to shape the
character and quality of Nike’s Corpo
rate gifts and donations.
Nike’s attitude is also a major prob
lem. The top officers of Nike responded
to PUSH with-a how dare you question
us or challenge us attitude. In fact Nike
sought to demean the credibility and
reputation of PUSH by demanding that
PUSH answer a series of insulting ques
tions. Imagine a national civil rights or
ganization with the longstanding record
of PUSH being asked to answer ques
tions like these: Date and state of incor
poration; available biographical infor
mation on PUSH officers and Board of
Directors; agenda and minutes of PUSH
Board of Directors meetings during fis
cal years 1988, 1989, and 1990; list of
corporations and individuals contribut
ing more than $500.00 to PUSH during
PSU takes giant step on field and in stands
hv AARON IENTKESS
fiscal years 1988, 1989, and 1990.
This unbelievable arrogance is like
calling PUSH and the national African
American community a “ boy” . My sense
is that this kind of arrogance and disre
gard for African Americans and the Black
Nation is pervasive in white corporate
America. Fortunately there is one pre
scription which can cure this kind of
disrespectful attitude and polices of neglect
quickly-without black dollars, white cor
porations like Nike can quickly learn to
respect us, respond to our demand that
they reinvest a fair share of the profits
earned from Black consumers back into
the Black community.
As of this writing Nike is already
surfacing affirmative action plans, goals
and timetables which it supposedly has
had on the table for some time. What has
been revealed and/or promised thusfar is
woefully inadequate in light of th de
mands being pressed on behalf of Black
people by PUSH. Nike must sign a writ
ten convenant with PUSH which out
lines how all of the demand on the table
will be met. Until that time, Black people
should intensify the boycott of Nike.
Once a corporate giant like Nike falls
into line it will send a clear message to
the rest of Corporate America that Afri
can Americans want a fair share of return
for our consumer dollars and we intend
to get it!
Portland State has taken yet another step towards
greatness. Just when you thought the Viking football
program had reached a peak they accomplish something
else. 17,798 fans attended the Vikings' annual regular
season clash with Texas A & I. A crowed head coach
Pokey Allen has been dreaming of for a long time. Now
the Vikings have finally arrived.
Don’t think I've forgotten the 19,000 fans at
Civic stadium in 1987 to watch the Vikings do battle
with Mankato state. And don't think 1 forgot the 20, 000
fans cheering on the Vikings in 1988 against Texas A &
I. Those are crowds worth remembering. But they were
also playoff crowds.
Fans simply jumping on the
bandwagon of the only Oregon football program still
playing in late November and early December. Fans with
nothing better to do. The 17,000-plus at Civic Stadium
last Saturday night were true Viking fans who showed up
at Civic stadium while the Beavers and Ducks both played
at home.
The significance of last weekend runs a lot deeper
then the score. The Vikings did win 14-9 over the
Javelinas but there had to be a sense of victory for the
Vikings even before die opening kick-off.
After advancing all the way to the Division 11
national championship in 1987 the Vikings began the
1988 season with expectations of another run at the
national title, and a run at bigger attendance. Head coach
Pokey Allen boldly put up his pay check as a bet that the
Vikings could draw an average of 10,000 fans a game.
The Vikings cleared diat mark but only by a few hundred.
During that 1988 season the Vikings played host
to top ranked Texas A & I in what was sure to be a big
draw. The only problem was that somebody forgot to
tell the Viking fans. Only 6,885 showed up at Civic
Stadium. The Vikings lost on the field, 29-22, as well as
in the stands.
By the time the 1988 playoffs rolled around the
fans came out. The Beavers and Ducks were done with
their seasons making the Vikings the only football
attraction in the state. Consequendy 20,000-plus showed
up for the Texas A & I re-match. The Vikings won 35-
31.
For diose Division I football fans who snicker at
such numbers as 17, 798, let me inform you. Oregon
State only drew 17,272. The same OSU program with 90
scholarships to offer who lost to a Division I AA team in
Montana with only 65 scholarships to offer. The same
Montana who PSU has beaten twice in the last four years.
The same M sntana team who, along with the University
of Idaho, refuse} to play the Vikings in fear of loosing to
a Division II program.
To assume that PSU could actually beat OSU
would be a litde off base. But there's no denying the fact
that Pokey and company are running a better program than
the people down in Corvallis. Would you rather go 0-11
in the Pac-10 (a realistic projection for the Beavers this
year) or be a national contender at the Division II level.
I'm willing to bet that there are more Beavers who would
rattier be Vikings right now than visa-versa.
When comparing the level of play between PSU
and the Beavers one has to look no further than a player
like PSU running back Curtis Delgardo. Delgardo has
proven without a doubt that he has Division I skills. But
not Division I size. Big time schools passed on Delgardo
because of his 5'5" frame. Now most are regretting that
oversight. Delgardo can flat out play and probably has
more talent then most 6T" Division I running backs. A
program like OSLTs could use a Delgrdo.
The Vikings possess a few other players who fit
the same bill as Delgardo. Players long on heart and
short on talent. Players long on talent but short on size.
Players who simply play the game. And have proven that
it's not where you play but how you play. So for you
football fans who are tired of watching the Beavers loose
and don't want to travel to Eugene, look no further than
down town Portland. The Vikings may not be Division I.
But they are winners.
Place your advertisement in the
Portland Observer
Office# (503) 288-0033
Fax# (503) 288-0015
HOME BUYING AND REMODELING MISTAKES NOW'!
A HELPING HAND — It's a long way from Harlem to Central Florida, but
hte Harlem Globetrotters look right at home on New York Street, part of
the backstage tour at the Disney - MGM Studios theme Park. Former NFL
great Lynn Swann gets some basketball tips from members of the team
during taping of an upcoming Globetrotters television special at the park.
Swann is part of the announcing team calling the action of two games
played Saturday, Sept. 8 in front of the Chinese theatre at the Disney -
MGM Studios Theme Park. The program will be broadcast in January on
ABC - TV's "Wide World of Sports." (Copyright THE WALT DISNEY
COMPANY 1990) 1989P7
Protect yourscll against BIG LOSSES and COSTLY REPAIRS
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Have an inspection made betöre purchase o r remodeling.
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;
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PORTLAND. OREGON 97211
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■i.
September 29, 1990
IO
H O U N D S
Wigland
One of the Northwest Largest Wig Displays
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- L IG H T W E IG H T S
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ROSE MARIE
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SALES ASSOCIATE
RES: (503) 289-2471
SALES ASSOCIATE
RES: (503) 281 -8976
Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
PORTLAND ARMOflY • 10,000 N.E. 33rd Drive (South of Marine Drive)
I
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