Phelps and Nike?

It's not about greatness, it's about revenue. I have read where the majors Tiger has skipped are off 55-60% in viewership this year. Of course, with zero swim meets on TV, this won't be an issue for Phelps. Phelps is going to take some time off. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that when he gets back in the pool there will be some big meets on tv... Skip

It would seem really odd to me if Phelps won eight gold medals wearing Speedo suits, while the high profile Nike athletes abandoned Nike's products for Speedo suits, but by paying Phelps a lot of money Nike was able to get people to prefer Nike suits over Speedo suits. A strange world indeed. :shakeshead: AND... Nike would have a tough time using a lot of the eight gold medal footage! (unless they wanted to spot their competition some air time!)

Phelps is going to take some time off. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that when he gets back in the pool there will be some big meets on tv... Skip You gotta line up top competition in great shape to make a big meet. Swimming is a weird thing endorsement wise. You are really endorsing products and a winning attitude versus the regular showcasing of them, as with basketball, golf, football, etc. It will be important for him to remain relevant. Staging some silly swim exhibitions might actually do nothing for him. Maybe he can make a come back in 2025 like Sptiz. I agree with Jazzy that Nike is about the attitude. They have to be, their products blow. I wouldn't exactly call Nike not part of the sporting establishment. To me they are THE sporting establishment.

I would be a bit disappointed if Phelps signed with Nike, since he's been a Speedo guy for the last 8 years. Speedo is paying him a million dollars for those 8 swims - which apparently no insurance company was willing to underwrite. The flip side of that is it could bring a lot more attention to swimming. Nike is the most well know brand in sports. I like it's running gear (not shoes) but generally hate their suits. I bought a couple in Portland so we'll see how those hold up. I like loyalty but I think Nike could launch Phelps and swimming into immortality.

It's not about greatness, it's about revenue. I have read where the majors Tiger has skipped are off 55-60% in viewership this year. Of course, with zero swim meets on TV, this won't be an issue for Phelps. Hello, NBC always puts that Duel in the Pool on TV. Sometimes, there are World Cup meets on CNBC. Plus, College Sports TV puts meets on. Don't forget, that ESPN 2 shows the World Championships and some network did have the Pan American or Pacifics on a few years ago. I think that ESPN might step up their World Championship coverage. Plus, there might be a Michael Phelps Invitational televised. Although swimming doesn't get the all weekend coverage that NASCAR gets, I do see a potential of more meets on network TV in the next four years. Come one, Michael Phelps got up to 40 million viewers one night.

Hello, NBC always puts that Duel in the Pool on TV. Sometimes, there are World Cup meets on CNBC. Plus, College Sports TV puts meets on. Don't forget, that ESPN 2 shows the World Championships and some network did have the Pan American or Pacifics on a few years ago. I think that ESPN might step up their World Championship coverage. Plus, there might be a Michael Phelps Invitational televised. Although swimming doesn't get the all weekend coverage that NASCAR gets, I do see a potential of more meets on network TV in the next four years. Come one, Michael Phelps got up to 40 million viewers one night. Dream on, man. You are having an Olympic euphoric moment. This time next year you will be crying about having to DVR a meet opposite male enhancment infomercials on CSTV at 3 am.

I wonder if Phelps mania might lead to a "Swimming Channel" on cable. May not be 24 hours but good meets. domestic, international, even Masters Nats etc. Clinics, classics, reality TV etc.

It would seem really odd to me if Phelps won eight gold medals wearing Speedo suits, while the high profile Nike athletes abandoned Nike's products for Speedo suits, but by paying Phelps a lot of money Nike was able to get people to prefer Nike suits over Speedo suits. A strange world indeed. :shakeshead:

AND... Nike would have a tough time using a lot of the eight gold medal footage! (unless they wanted to spot their competition some air time!) could do one of those pixel distorting blocks that they use on "Cops"

I would like it if Nike got Phelps. Speedo is part of the swimming establishment, which in general understands very little about marketing and creating excitement. Watch some Nike commercials featuring top athletes, and you'll see that the company has made a brand from the universal sporting experience of hard training paying off in competition. Swimming fits right in to that image. www.youtube.com/watch