Gotze upsets Adidas at unveiling

[Paul Marin]

Okay. We disagree. Nothing new. Part of what you're missing is that you keep insisting that this is about being RIGHT or WRONG when the real point is one of DECENCY and DECORUM.

[Gamma]

He should be more like Suarez, a model of DECENCY and DECORUM

[Peter R]

Hey, Suarez is consistent; he limits his "DECENCY and DECORUM" to on the field activity... at least so far..

[USAF]

Would you feel the same if Mario arrived to the presentation & taken pics in front of his Mercedes Benz??? (Audi owns the same % of Bayern as Adidas)

OR

What about Usain Bolt posing with & wearing a shirt with the Nike logo???

[Peter R]

IMO, it boils down to respect that you have for your sponsor(s)... but for all we know my boy just pulled on that T-shirt because he likes it and didn't think about any possible criticism (if there was).

In any of the scenarios that you painted, the athlete and his handlers should be aware of protocol, time and place. While what he did may have been perfectly legal, there probably should be some though put into how you present yourself and more importantly how your sponsor sees you. If he were to do something that ticked off Nike, see how fast they drop him.

Anyway, it reminded of a situation last weekend here in T&T at the club where I coach; Digicel (cell phone company) sponsors our cricket coaching school and Nestlé sponsors our football coaching school. Some coaches do both cricket and football. Last Saturday Nestlé sponsored an event at the club and everyone wore a Nestlé shirt and cap... except one coach had on a Digicel cap. Now, we are just a lowly club (so Im just speaking about the principle) , but one of the coaches pointed it out to him that he probably shouldn't wear the Digi cap at a Nestlé sponsored event. I don't think he transgressed any rule etc. as coaches have no contracts but, he could have potentially embarrassed the club.

[USAF]

I hear what both of you are saying BUT this kid just signed a lucrative endorsement deal with the most powerful sports apparel company in the world, to promote the brand & I bet you that Nike told to wear the shirt......It was the Bayern officials who should have him change the shirt, to protect their business partner. That is why Adidas directed their displeasure at the officials.

Remember when the members of the '92 dream team covered the Reebok logo on their sweats during the medal ceremony......Reebok didn't have a problem with the players, they were angry with USA Basketball (who they had a contractual agreement with to promote the brand), because they didn't get everything cleared with the players & the companies they were contracted to.

NOTE: Nike will drop you ONLY if you stop making them money......PERIOD.

[Gamma]

Biting is another player is a decent act? How about spitting?

[Peter R]

The truth is we don't know if the club (or Adidas) had a problem with him wearing the shirt... for all we know they could have given him the okay. Bottom line is, well... the bottom line (as you point out). $$$ will trump most anything.

BTW, did Nike drop Tiger Woods? I can't remember if they did... and if so is he back on board?

[USAF]

I saw in some European reports that Adidas voiced their displeasure WITH & AT the Bayern officials present and they apologized to Adidas telling them that the oversight will not occur again.

NO!!! Nike didn't drop Tiger. As a matter of fact they publicly stated that they had no reason to drop him (when other companies were), & they would resume their relationship when he returned.

[Gamma]

How do you resume a relationship it it has come to a halt or been suspended?

[USAF]

When the personal crap came out Tiger said he was taking some time off from to deal with the problems & spend time with his family. Nike released a statement that supported Tiger & his decision and he would remain contacted to Nike during his time away, and when he returned.

[Gamma]

Was it suspended or did he have a contract throughout the period? For you it
At be semantics but for me it is a genuine question. Do you know?

[Bricktop]

Nike never dropped him...they just did not feature him in any advertisements until the storm blew over...he just signed a new deal with them too...

[USAF]

I don't doubt that it is a genuine question, I know how you folks in the legal field are about details, but all I remember is Nike stating that they supported him & his decision and he would remain contracted to them. Don't know if it was suspended while he was inactive.

[Peter R]

Gamma, no need to get excited, if you noticed I put "DECENCY and DECORUM" in quotes Sir...