Nike, Reebok Freeze Sales of Michael Vick Merchandise (Update3)
By Aaron Kuriloff
July 27 (Bloomberg) -- Nike Inc. and Reebok International Ltd. suspended sales of Michael Vick signature apparel including jerseys and shoes a day after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded not guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiring to run an interstate dog-fighting operation.
Nike, the world's largest maker of athletic shoes, has suspended Vick's contract without pay and will not sell any more products bearing his name at this time, the Beaverton, Oregon- based company said today. It didn't end its relationship with the National Football League player.
Reebok also suspended sales of Vick's jerseys, even though it doesn't have an individual endorsement or sponsorship agreement with Vick, according to a statement from the company. The unit of Adidas AG, the world's second-biggest maker of sporting goods, is the official supplier of apparel and equipment to all 32 NFL teams.
Statements from both companies cited ``disturbing'' allegations against Vick as a reason for the freeze.
``Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent,'' the company said. ``However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship.''
`Too Disturbing'
Reebok said in a statement that ``while we respect the legal process, we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore. Therefore, we have decided to immediately suspend selling Vick NFL product, both at retail and online.''
No Vick products were listed on the companies' Web sites this afternoon. Reebok said it is also honoring retail cancellations of Vick merchandise.
On July 19, Nike suspended the launch of Vick's latest shoe, his fifth, citing concerns about the ``highly disturbing allegations.'' Nike said it would continue to monitor Vick's legal situation.
``We are very pleased that Nike has today signaled it has a zero tolerance policy for athletes who may be involved with staged animal fights and other forms of malicious animal cruelty by indefinitely suspending its relationship with Vick,'' Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the Humane Society, said in a statement.
Vick has worked with Nike since joining the league after the Falcons selected him with the first pick in the 2001 draft. Last year, he became the first NFL quarterback to run for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He had a career-high 20 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Falcons went 7-9.
Video Game
Vick also appeared on the cover of Electronic Arts Inc.'s ``Madden 2004'' edition of the best-selling sports video game in history. His No. 7 jersey has ranked as high as second in the league for sales.
That was before Vick and three other men pleaded not guilty in federal court yesterday to a charge of conspiring to run an interstate dog-fighting operation. A grand jury indicted the men July 17.
According to the indictment, Vick and three other men -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- based ``Bad Newz Kennels'' at a house in Smithfield, Virginia, that Vick purchased in 2001, about two months after he signed a six- year, $62 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus.
Participants established purses as high as $26,000, according to the indictment, while dog owners and spectators made side bets on the fights, which lasted until the death or surrender of the losing dogs. Losing dogs, and those unsuitable for fighting, were sometimes killed by drowning, hanging, beating, gunshot or electrocution, the indictment said.
All four men were allowed to stay out of jail without bond before a trial set for Nov. 26.
NFL Investigation
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on July 23 ordered Vick not to report to the Falcons' training camp. Goodell said the following day that he would appoint an independent lawyer to investigate the charges. The Falcons opened camp yesterday, while Vick was in court.
Vick has had other recent troubles. In November 2006, he made an obscene gesture toward local fans after a 31-13 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. In January 2007, police investigated Vick after finding signs of marijuana in a water bottle he carried at an airport security checkpoint in Miami. No charges were filed.
AirTran Airways, which has a hub in Atlanta, said in May that it wouldn't renew its sponsorship agreement with Vick, who appeared in billboard and radio advertisements. Vick's publicist blamed AirTran after the quarterback failed to arrive to speak before the U.S. Congress the previous month.
Another company listed as a sponsor on Vick's web site, Coca-Cola's Powerade, ended dealings with Vick three years ago when it changed its marketing strategy, spokeswoman Susan Stribling said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Kuriloff in New York at
akuriloff@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: July 27, 2007 21:28 EDT
