I'd love to hear your Athletics West stories. I was there in the beginning with Harry Johnson, Tony Sandoval, and Jeff Wells, and Rob Strasser was involved on the Nike corporate side, and I lived off their free list for a few years.
The mentality was certainly unusual. After Strasser moved over to take the CMO job at Adidas, Nike people who saw him approaching them on a Portland street would cross to the opposite sidewalk to avoid him.
The place never suffered from a confidence shortage.
I really liked Harry but strongly questioned his approach. I was a classic Lydiard/Bowerman guy, which meant a passionate advocate of Hard/easy--three hard days a week even in the most intense stretches.
I also knew Neil Goldschmidt well, but not well enough as it turned out. His demise startled me.
I spent many days of my teen years in Seaside, including at the Pypo Club, where the song Louie Louie was written. I grew up 20 miles south of there.
I always appreciated visitors but agree about Oregonian's hostility to outsiders. The famous "Don't Californicate Oregon" bumper stickers seem telling. And the Oregon football fans tend to ugliness, although many of those kids are Californians.
A PHogge, I'm trying to recall the AW shot putter. Mac Wilkins threw for AW, but I always think of him as a discus guy first and foremost.
The mentality was certainly unusual. After Strasser moved over to take the CMO job at Adidas, Nike people who saw him approaching them on a Portland street would cross to the opposite sidewalk to avoid him.
The place never suffered from a confidence shortage.
I really liked Harry but strongly questioned his approach. I was a classic Lydiard/Bowerman guy, which meant a passionate advocate of Hard/easy--three hard days a week even in the most intense stretches.
I also knew Neil Goldschmidt well, but not well enough as it turned out. His demise startled me.
(10-23-2018, 04:57 PM)Phogge Wrote: Nike was scared to death of shows like 60 Minutes. They always assumed that you were going to do a hit place. In the end they were just a bunch of little people with big egos who thought they were the best thing since sliced brisket. Last time I was offered a Nike assignment I turned it down. Wasn’t worth the angst. Worst PR people in the sports business, worse than the Yankees and that’s saying something.
That said I spent two weeks on stories about Athletics West in 1979. Ended up with a former shotputter as my soundman for 25 years. Great two weeks. AW way ahead of its time.
Also had a friend with Cali plates who had his tires slashed in Seaside. Sorry Hulk, the state is not fond of visitors.
I spent many days of my teen years in Seaside, including at the Pypo Club, where the song Louie Louie was written. I grew up 20 miles south of there.
I always appreciated visitors but agree about Oregonian's hostility to outsiders. The famous "Don't Californicate Oregon" bumper stickers seem telling. And the Oregon football fans tend to ugliness, although many of those kids are Californians.
A PHogge, I'm trying to recall the AW shot putter. Mac Wilkins threw for AW, but I always think of him as a discus guy first and foremost.