25 Unknown Facts About World Sports Giant Nike
Interesting and weird facts about Nike
Nike, which has done very successful works since its inception, has managed to become a major global brand. Nike, which was founded by Phil Knight in 1964, competed with Adidas and Puma. We’ve researched unknown and interesting information about Nike and compiled this content for you.
Here are some interesting facts about Nike, one of the biggest sports brands in the world;
1. Lebron James, who turned down Reebok’s $10 million offer at the age of 18, took everyone by surprise. The main reason for this is that he accepted the $90 million offer that Nike made a year ago.
2. After Nike decided to name a model Aztec, Adidas resisted because Adidas had a line of shoes called “Azteca”. The company threatened to sue. Then Nike changed the name of its new series to Cortez.
For those unfamiliar with Nike’s biggest rival Adidas, click here.
3. Nike, who sponsored long jumper Sergei Bubka, wasn’t so sure he could become champion in the long jump. Sergei Bubka’s success was crucial in introducing Nike to the world. After Nike’s doubts, Sergei Bubka managed to beat his own world record 14 times.
4. Nike became the new sponsor of the famous skateboarder Bam Margera. Bam Margera, who disliked Nike’s skate shoes but felt she should wear them, wore a more comfortable shoe and put the Nike logo on that shoe.
5. Nike, which featured a Kenyan in its ad in the 1890s, translated the person’s words in the ad as “Just Do It.” Nike, who later issued statements; “We thought no one would understand what he said,” he admitted.
6. The Nike shoes worn by Michael Jordan in the NBA were not approved by the NBA. For this reason, Michael Jordan was fined $5,000 every time he appeared in a game.
7. Nike expanded its shoe sales in the US in 2001 to Asia a few years later.
8. When the Nike Swoosh logo was designed in 1971, it cost $35. In 1983, Paul Knight took over the logo and bought it for little money.
9. Nike, St. He published a pair of shoes to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day, calling them “Black and Tans.”
10. Music group Chumbawamba turned down a $1.5 million (for 30 seconds) offer from Nike to use their “Tubthumping” album, which they signed in a FIFA World Cup commercial.
11. Famed producer Casey Neistat was commissioned by Nike to create a commercial themed as “Make It Count”.
12. George Raveling, who wrote the original text of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, is the current Director of International Basketball for Nike.
13. Nike gave running shoes to more than 400 athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games. Yellow and green colors are used to draw attention to the shoes.
14. In 1998, Nike donated a total of 38,000 pairs of shoes to poor and Muslim families.
15. In 1990, about 60,000 Nike shoes were dropped into the ocean from a shipping container.
16. Nike held a raffle for limited edition Mag sneakers.
17. The first video to reach millions of views on YouTube was the Nike commercial starring Ronaldinho.
18. After the success of The Hangover, Nike turned to film producer Zach Galifianakis to appear in their advertisements.
19. Nike produced sneakers with wings called “Mayfly” in 2003.
20. The idea for the movie Space Jam came from a 1993 Nike commercial starring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.
21. The first “Just Do It” campaign was launched in 1988. Walt Stack, the 80-year-old running icon in commercials, started this trend by running on the Golden Gate Bridge.
22. The slogan “Just Do It” was inspired by serial killer Gary Gilmore, who said “Let’s Do It” before being executed in 1977.
23. The name Nike comes from the name Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and was originally pronounced “nayki.”
24. Nike’s first shoe was made in a waffle iron. The corrugated structure of the shoes made in the waffle maker made it comfortable for the athletes on the track.
25. The footballer who promotes Nike the most these days is Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who has everything from his shoes to his clothes, is a Nike brand and he is very happy with this situation.
