MovieChat Forums > The Big One (1998) Discussion > I will never buy a Nike product again.

I will never buy a Nike product again.

posted 14 years ago by Rupert__Pupkin
6 replies | jump to latest

The interview with Phil Knight was sickening.

I love how Knight tried to come across as this super cool, laid back guy that's different from other fat, balding, really un-cool CEOs. But when you get past the facade of the modern haircut and the goatee, and the blue jeans, you see that he's just another pompous, arrogant, and greedy businessman.

His bizarre claims about Americans ("They don't want to make shoes," "They wouldn't work at a shoe factory," etc.) were completely unsubstantiated. And when Moore proves him wrong by going to Flint and finding hundreds of potential employees, Knight began back pedaling, saying, "Unemployed people will say anything." What kind of BS is that?

Knight admits that he's filthy rich and that acquiring future wealth is not his priority, yet he refuses to do anything that will threaten his profit margin. Knight is a truly despicable human being, and my family and I will no longer be purchasing any Nike products (shoes, workout clothes, sports gear, etc.).

[–] warlok1 14 years ago

Knight was forced out of Nike a few years ago. So, you can buy Nike all you want, as Knight was 'downsized' by his own company. :P

[–] Rupert__Pupkin 14 years ago

Well that's certainly good news. Was he forced out or bought out? I guess I'll have to do a little research to figure out if Nike's business practices have changed. Thanks for the update.

[–] devonerd 14 years ago

Even though Knight is despicable I agree with him that unemployed people will say they'll take any job. I've been in a desperate situation where I thought the same thing, then I got that 'any job' and it sucked and I'd abandon it. I think Americans who are used to a certain lifestyle wouldn't put up with what foreign workers would. We live in a country where the lowest economic class of people live much better than in many other countries. Americans wouldn't work hard for low wages, and Nike won't give a reasonable wage for making shoes and apparel.

____
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

[–] Rupert__Pupkin 14 years ago

devonerd,

I think you are right, which is why American businesses need to provide all employees with a livable wage.

[–] Aliyen 9 years ago

I didn't see Knight as despicable, he was just operating as any CEO of a multi-billion dollar company would. I didn't even listen to him when he said 'Americans don't want to make shoes'... If he can outsource jobs to other countries for dirt cheap, does it really even matter to him or Moore or anyone else what Americans really want? Bottom line for any successful business is profit, as long as we live in a capitalistic society that's what the concern will always be. Moore won't be able to change any of that because what happened to Flint, Michigan in the 80s has been happening to a bunch of small towns in the States for over a century since the Industrial Revolution. As terrible as it is that hardworking Americans lose their jobs because of the system, I feel it's even worse of Moore to try exploit businessmen by requiring donations for one city--just because it's the city that he happens to be from--when the concern should be to give jobs to workers in all parts of the country.

[–] AckbartheHutt (1370) 6 years ago

agree