Nike & the Modern Neoliberal University

Edge of Sports

Dave Zirin / The Nation

News, Sports News, Sports, History, Politics

4.8 • 616 Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2018

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week we speak to Joshua Hunt, author of the new book University of Nike. He talks to us about the development of the multinational corporation, its relationship with the University of Oregon, and it’s connection to much of what we say today, including what is taking place at the University of Maryland. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the World Cup, the Olympics and Brazil’s recent elections. We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and Just Sit Down’ awards to Athletes For Impact and the Dallas Cowboys owner, as well as a special Kaepernick Watch and more! Joshua Hunt Twitter: @viajoshhunt https://www.amazon.com/University-Nike-Corporate-American-Education-ebook/dp/B077LVCFQ6 Zirin, Athletes Speak Out Against Hate https://www.thenation.com/article/athletes-speak-out-against-hate/ — http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE) — Music: Eye Examination - Del the Funky Homosapien | Glitches - The Roots & Amel Larrieux | Poor Boys Long Way Home - John Fahey | Dang! - Mac Miller Feat. Anderson Paak | Life - Proof | Slippin’ - Buckshot & 9th Wonder | Go DJ - Lil Wayne | Second Round K.O. - Canibus | After Earth - MF Grimm | The Wire Theme Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Transcript

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0:00.0	For a school like this, in this situation, they get into the Big Ten conference.
0:05.3	They look to up their game.
0:07.0	And they say, what a perfect position we're in.
0:09.3	We can do exactly what Nike did because we have this prominent alumnus who founded this company underarmor that's trying to compete with Nike.
0:18.6	How lucky we are.
0:19.6	But the pressure that comes with that, the pressure that comes with that is tremendous.
0:28.7	Welcome to the Edge of Sports podcast. I'm Dave Ziron. This week we speak to the author of University of Nike, Joshua Hunt, about the apparel and sneaker Leviathan's lucrative and also alarmingly toxic relationship with higher ed, specifically at the University of Oregon. Also, I've got some choice words about Brazil, the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics,
0:56.2	and their new proto-fascist leader, Jayao Bolsonaro.
1:00.3	I also have a just stand up and just sit down awards, Kaepernick Watch, and more.
1:04.1	But first, Joshua Hunt.
1:10.4	Just as a background for our listeners, can you describe the relationship and the history
1:17.1	between the University of Oregon and Nike?
1:20.4	Yeah, it's a long relationship for sure, going back to the fact that Phil Knight did his undergraduate degree there
1:30.4	before going on to Stanford Business School. And in fact, his father also went there. Phil Knight,
1:37.7	former CEO and chairman and co-founder of Nike. And the relationship doesn't really get interesting, though,
1:47.4	until the mid-1990s when the Oregon Ducks have a fluke appearance in the Rose Bowl.
1:56.5	They're sort of not a Rose Bowl-going team at the time,
2:00.6	but they end up in the 1995 Rose Bowl.
2:05.1	And Phil Knight decides maybe he ought to start using his box seats more often at Oxton Stadium.
2:13.9	And around this time, the University of Oregon President Dave Fronmeyer is looking for more outside money, looking for more private money, corporate money, because in 1990, Oregon taxpayers passed this really ruinous legislation called ballot measure 5, which
2:38.3	slashed taxpayer support for public schools and higher education specifically.
2:44.0	So at the same time that the University of Oregon is really hurting for money, Phil Knight is paying more attention to what's going on with
	...

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