Nike Wrap-Up From NYC

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Wanted to drop you a few final thoughts from New York following today’s unveiling of Nike’s 2010 Pro Combat uniforms:

1.  There’s no telling what Nike’s promotional budget is.  Dozens of bloggers and media types were flown to New York and put up at the Trump Soho.  Snazzy media packets were provided.  A rooftop lunch followed the event.  Bob Huggins, Michael Irvin and Chris Fowler provided the “big name” presence.  Obviously, Nike threw some serious cash toward promoting the Pro Combat unis which, in turn, they hope promotes the overall sales of Pro Combat gear to individual athletes of all ages.

2.  As I sat on a Manhattan rooftop eating a very nice lunch (billboard above said lunch shown at left), I couldn’t help but wonder what Bob Huggins was thinking.  I’m sure the money Nike puts in his pocket is pretty nice coin, but did he really want to be sitting in 90+ degree heat listening to a guy describe how Nike’s latest shoes were designed?

3.  The media world has changed and it’s not going back.  I’m not sure where it’s going, but it sure as heck ain’t going back.  The days of the mainstream media being the fastest way to spread a message are over.  Of the media Nike brought in, the vast majority were bloggers and internet peeps.  Buzz is no longer created in the mainstream press.  Buzz is created by the independents.  On the web.

4.  But just how independent are we when most in attendance had accepted a trip to New York on Nike’s dime?  This isn’t a real question of journalistic ethics, I don’t believe, because we’re covering football uniforms on sports sites.  We aren’t reporters taking kickbacks from political parties.  I came to give a non-expert’s opinion on new uniforms (final verdicts further down, by the way).  Also, I noticed that most of the bloggers in attendance were wearing the gear and team colors of the schools that their sites cover.  (In case you’re wondering, I wore a black shirt and a CSS visor.)  In the future, it seems that everyone will be able to go and get their news from sources who filter information specifically for the user.  Auburn fans will go get pro-Auburn news.  Kentucky fans will go get pro-Kentucky news.  We already have this in our political coverage, of course.  But to someone who runs a site dedicated to praising (or ripping) all 12 SEC schools equally, it’s a frightening scenario — Will people in the future want objective coverage?  Or will they simply seek out those who will tell them what they want to hear?

5.  Nike provided a fine trip for me.  And I had nothing against Nike coming into this, either, I might add.  I’ve worn their shoes since I was a boy.  Wore a pair to NYC, in fact.  But…

6.  I’m still not wild about this year’s Pro Combat unis.  As an SEC writer, I’m pleased to say that Alabama and Florida received perhaps the best looking new duds unveiled today.  On the other end of the spectrum was Virginia Tech.  The Hokies — by far — got the raw end of the stick with a uniform that features about 10 different shades of colors and an electronic motherboard design in its uniform numerals.  Really.  An electronic motherboard.  It’s awful.  Sorry, Nike.

7.  But thanks for the trip.  And thanks for not turning Alabama and Florida into Oregon. 

Oh, and I hope this coverage of your event is just what you wanted.  After all, you paid for it.