Nike Boss Phil Knight Sat Down With Oprah And Had His Oprah Moment

This was mildly interesting to us, seeing as the founder of Nike doesn't do interviews...well, pretty much ever.  But apparently, even the most hardened no-interview-givers of the world can't say no to the "talk show queen".  She said that it took her team "a lot of convincing" to get Knight to join her on the show.  

I grew up dreaming of working for Nike, actually.  When I was 10 years old, I thought the coolest thing in the world was that Nike, one of the best known shoe companies in the world, was from here in Oregon.  Yeah, it's kind of nerdy, but c'mon now, I was 10!  Then when I was 12 or 13, I did a research paper about Nike and all the kick ass benefits that their employees have at their disposal.  Anyway, I've always been pretty interested in the "story" of Nike and how it came to be.  And for the record, working for them still would be pretty freakin nice.  (Mr. Knight, if you're reading this, you can email me anytime you wish!  I can start tomorrow...)

Having said that, I didn't watch or record the interview, so that whole last paragraph is pretty much pointless.  But there are a few things in the article about the interview that I didn't know about Knight and Nike.

**On his relationship with his track coach and business partner Bill Bowerman: "With Winfrey's nudging, Knight acknowledged he might have sought out his former track coach for more than his business know-how or ideas about shoe design.....Maybe I got the company started just so I could stay close to him," Knight said, adding that after his parents, Bowerman was the most influential person in his life."

Jay Cutler Is A Really Sharp Dresser

Not only is he terrible at acting like he's actually injured, he apparently fashions his wardrobe after homeless guys who live at the beach.  Either that or he was stuck at an old folks home, got some paint on the clothes he was wearing, and had nothing else to change into.

Because that is 100% an old lady sweater thingy that he's wearing in that pic.

By the way, it continues to blow our collective minds how Cutler nabbed a hottie like Miss Cavallari.  I guess money can make up for many things, including a really terrible-looking hair cut and an epic double chin (pictured below in all its glory).  Who knew?  I've got the double chin, now I just need the money.

Scenes From The Opening Game In Matthew Knight Arena, Or "Matt Court"



Last night, the Oregon Duck basketball team opened Matthew Knight Arena with a victory over the USC Trojans, 68-62.  It was quite the event, from what I've seen and read.  Chip Kelly sat courtside and Phil Knight addressed the crowd, and was greeted with a well deserved standing ovation.  

This Duck fan sure looks like she had fun...

Being completely honest, when I first saw what the court was going to look like, I thought it was hideous.  My view has changed a little bit though.  I still don't love it, but now, I would classify it as not-so-hideous.  It definitely falls into the category of 'gimmicky', but it's still kind of cool.  It's sort of the basketball team's equivalent to the football team's constantly changing uniforms.  Except that the football team is actually good, so they can get away with gimmicks and the basketball team does not enjoy that same luxury.  

But just look at the football program.  We can see what top-of-the-line facilities can do for a college sports program.  They can only help.  Maybe Oregon's basketball team is headed in a new direction.  Anyway, there are a few more pictures after the jump...

Not A Big Surprise, But Phil Knight Is Pretty Much The King Of Eugene And The University Of Oregon

The front page of SI.com today featured a lengthy story on University of Oregon alumnus Phil Knight and called him the "most powerful booster in America." 

And although most sports fans in the state of Oregon have some idea of how powerful and involved Knight is in Oregon athletics, this is a very interesting read.

You need to read the article when you get a minute, if you haven't seen it already.  It covers pretty much every aspect of Knight's university dominance, and we don't have any exclusive insights of our own, so we'll just give you some of the highlights that stood out to us: