Nike And Reebok Freeze Sales Of Michael Vick’s Merchandise
Today Nike has announced that the company is suspending Michael Vick’s contract without pay and not sell any more products bearing his name at this time. They have not ended their relationship with Vick as of yet. Nike has left the possibility of resuming its business relationship with Vick if he’s acquitted on dog fighting charges.
Reebok also suspended sales of Vick’s jerseys, even though the company doesn’t have an individual endorsement or sponsorship agreement with Vick, according to a statement from the company. The unit of Adidas AG, the world’s second-biggest maker of sporting goods, is the official supplier of apparel and equipment to all 32 NFL teams.
Statements from both companies cited “disturbing” allegations against Vick as a reason for the freeze.
From Bloomberg.com:
“Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent,” the company said. “However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship.”
Reebok said in a statement that “while we respect the legal process, we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore. Therefore, we have decided to immediately suspend selling Vick NFL product, both at retail and online.”
No Vick products were listed on the companies’ Web sites this afternoon. Reebok said it is also honoring retail cancellations of Vick merchandise.
(Thanks menusux)
July 27th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Hallelujah.
I don’t know whether such endorsement contracts have “morals” clauses in them or not, but they sure ought to!
July 27th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Thank you Nike and Reebok and all others [you know who you are], for doing the right thing.
Check out:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ml?cnn=yes
Note the number of emails that made a damned impressive statement. The consumer speaks….the companies listen.
July 27th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
10000000 STARS FOR NIKE & REEBOK!!!!
The FB team should cancel his contract!!!!!!!
July 27th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
In the last hour, articles have been showing up online reporting that one of Vick’s co-defendants, Tony Taylor, has scheduled a plea agreement hearing for 9 AM Monday. He apparently doesn’t want to wait for a trial…
That could be considered “Bad Newz†for Ookie the Dogfighter.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Hearing scheduled for 9AM Monday [eastern time].
July 27th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Anonymous says:
July 27th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
i think they’re working on it. that’s why the *steps* are happening. i think the owner’s original reaction to suspend for 4 games was a knee jerk anger reaction. the league is setting the ground work, which the team can follow. think Moss ;)
July 27th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
I saw somewhere (online) that Michael Vick’s legal team has hired some uber PR firm known for scandal control. They’re Sitrick and Company:
http://www.sitrick.com/
July 27th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Speaking of needing PR management, I posted elsewhere about a Dogster blog from a woman who writes she was given the finger by Vick as he was driven away from the federal courthouse in Richmond:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/36…..day/342645
July 28th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Thank you to Reebok and Nike for being strong enough to do the right thing, Thank you again to all the people that have the integrity and conscience to take the right stand!!!
July 28th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Thank you Nike and Reebok. Here’s an idea for a replacement shirt: Save a pitbull - neuter Michael Vick.
July 28th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
And do please neuter him without anesthesia.
I would like to attend the event!!!!!
July 30th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Yes, save a pit bull, neuter Vick.
Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:39 am
[…] company’s announcement came a day after Nike suspended its contract with Vick and Reebok stopped sales of Vick’s jersey. Another trading card company, Donruss, has decided to pull Vick’s card from all of their new […]
July 15th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Let’s keep on this- that sick bastard would still be torturing beautiful dogs had he not been caught. Despite our better evolved instincts & hopes, we need to accept that–short of, say, surgery– some people are NOT rehabilitatable( prob not a legit word)and if given a chance, will do their favorite crimes exactly as they see fit.