The possible explanation for players leaving Nike...

[rabidranger]

Originally Posted by magnut

Nike is not stupid. Tennis is shrinking and the profit potential just isnt there anymore. In this economy they are going to market to the upper class as they are the ones who can afford to drop big money on nike gear.

Is it really bad that Nike is pulling back from tennis? I dont think so. I like different brands in the sport. I see Diadora is marketing shoes again. Thats nice. Maybe some new companies will enter the market and some of the older ones will come back.

Nike probably wont push hard into tennis again until a new super crop of American players comes into play ala Agassi, Sampras, Courier etc. Isner and Harrison are not really marketable like those players were.

honestly though I have not been a big fan of Nike in years. I liked there stuff in the mid to late 90s. After that....meh. They used to make pretty classy tennis clothes that looked great and felt great. I wouldnt shell out the money for it but it was nice stuff.

I think the state of American tennis plus the lack of marketable foreign players is a key factor in Nike's decision to cut back. Tennis today is a hodge podge of risers and fallers from the four corners of the globe-very few of which are even remotely recognizable to the average American.

[magnut]

Tennis is just not a big money sport in America. The overwhelming majority of players dont even watch it. Numbers are also down for people entering into the game.

This isnt even worth argueing about fellas. Sports involvment in general is way down in America. Kids just dont have as much interest anymore in sports let alone finding one and actually sticking with it. Its the video game/internet effect.

Nike pulling out from tennis is a good thing for the sport. Anytime big sponsors leave a sport its a good thing. Half the reason this sport (or any sport) has gone downhill has been the effect of companies like Nike.

[XFactorer]

Originally Posted by magnut

Nike pulling out from tennis is a good thing for the sport. Anytime big sponsors leave a sport its a good thing. Half the reason this sport (or any sport) has gone downhill has been the effect of companies like Nike.

Elaborate?

[magnut]

Originally Posted by XFactorer

Elaborate?

Basketball.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by magnut

This isnt even worth argueing about fellas. Sports involvment in general is way down in America...

Nike pulling out from tennis is a good thing for the sport....

It is worth arguing about apparently.

Can you show me one piece of reliable information which shows Nike is retrenching in the business of tennis?

I don't call a couple of basically irrelevant for their marketing purposes players coming to the end of their contract periods and not being resigned evidence of much.

You could even view it another way - maybe tennis is getting more popular and demand for upcoming or players just outside the locked-out top guys has increased so companies are making more plays for them.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by magnut

Nike pulling out from tennis is a good thing for the sport. Anytime big sponsors leave a sport its a good thing. Half the reason this sport (or any sport) has gone downhill has been the effect of companies like Nike.

Huh? How can money leaving a sport be good for the sport?

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by magnut

Nike pulling out from tennis is a good thing for the sport. Anytime big sponsors leave a sport its a good thing. Half the reason this sport (or any sport) has gone downhill has been the effect of companies like Nike.

Can't wait for your 'workers of the world, unite' speech...

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

I don't call a couple of basically irrelevant for their marketing purposes players coming to the end of their contract periods and not being resigned evidence of much.

This. Nike basically took flyers on a few guys after locking up Fed and Nadal. Didn't work out and they're moving on. No reason to make sweeping 'the end is near' (for Nike Tennis) comments. I doubt Nike would be offering up the Custom V9's and 4.3's if they were about to get out of the sport.

[lolminraise]

All my non-tennis friends know only federer, nadal, sharapova, and serena. And guess what they all wear...?