Nike President Thomas E. Clarke smelled blood. It was 1994, and rival sports-shoe maker Adidas, the leading name in soccer gear, was stumbling, its management ranks turning over and its sales sluggish. Sensing an opportunity, Clarke hopped a flight to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and met with Hank Steinbrecher, executive director of the U. S. Soccer Federation. His mission: to oust Adidas as the U. S. national team's official sponsor.
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