Why does everyone hate Phil Knight, U of O, and Rupp?

The thing about Rupp turning pro doesn't bother me, since he's squared things away with the NCAA. Do you remember the clearinghouse process, and the lengths that any athlete has to go through to be eligible to compete? You don't think that this was magnified for someone in Rupp's position? Multiple sources stated that his family paid back the expenses, support, and winnings before he enrolled at UofO.

I admire Rupp more for doing the pro thing, and then going to get his degree, far more than I do Webb for doing his year-long stint at Michigan, then going pro. He decided to get his degree, and do it at his home-state university.

Your point about Martin Smith is not really relevant to Rupp at all. Smith wasn't doing a good job with the distance program, and multiple articles in the Oregonian and Register-Guard illustrate that. Sure, Nike may have had some sway in deciding who was the coach, but with as much money as Knight and Nike have put into the facilities there, they should be able to have a little say, at least. To say that Rupp's arrival at UofO pushed Smith out the door is unfounded; Smith was out the door anyway, by someone else's power.

As far as Rupp's performances go, he's still really young. You think this was his last Olympics? He's still got lots of time left in his career, and can do plenty more than he has. Is he a dork? Absolutely. But that's not a good enough reason to bash him. There are few athletes of his youth with his talent in America. Does that mean he should get more/less time than he does in the spotlight? No. As someone else pointed out, there is a lot of coverage by regional media, who put a higher than average emphasis on covering track and XC. I think others deserve as much, if not more coverage than Rupp gets, but there isn't anything that he can do about that.

Sweatshop U.

Nike Mafia

Al Sal henchmen

Pretty Boy prima donna

The NCAA/NIKE cult is like a corrupt Chicago in the 1930s.

how many of you could honestly say if someone came to you and said that they could give whatever you want, gear, training facilities, free reign with the ncaa, etc. you would say no?

rupp is doing what any of you would do, so shut the f*** up and stop hating

Like any company, Nike is in business to make money. Track and field fell off in the mid-80s and at the same time, MJ was the biggest star on earth; Nike was cashing in on that just like their stockholders would expect them to do.

"Knight cheated his original partners overseas and hosed many of his first employees by cutting them loose just before they were eligible for their options." - Welcome to the business world and what does this have to do with t&f?

Plain and simple, USATF is responsibile for t&f; Nike is responsibile for earning a profit and what ever else they do with Rupp and UO is their business.

Track Coach. The question was "why do people hate Nike and knight." I answered the question. Many of us old timers know a couple people who were days away from becoming millionaires before Knight screwed them. We also know athletes who were left high and dry by the sudden business change Nike made with MJ. BTW- check stock price history as to how their stock did when Reebok schooled them in both running and the aerobics market - but that's not the point. As a coach, you are saying that cheating and poor ethics are ok. I'm sure you coach that way. I know many high school and college coaches who do so. I detest that philosophy. These are the reasons many people dislike Nike - they don't happen to be amoral like you are.

Hatred for Rupp began in high school. I went to school about 3 hours from Portland and graduated just a year or two after Rupp -- I never met him in high school, but even then he had a reputation for being a cocky little prick. I don't know why, but Rupp seems to have a knack for generating hatred from the masses.

Personally, I really don't care. He's not my favorite runner, but as long as he performs well, I don't really care what he does. I get a kick out of the people who get outraged at his questionable amateur status. Is it really advantageous for him to remain an amateur? He may get perks others don't, but his parents are deeply in debt. Seems like he could get the same benefits and a decent salary if he turned pro. I think we should be outraged he isn't getting paid... what a bunch of cheapskates at Nike.

Some people still resent Mr. Knight for hiring Frank Shorter to kill Pre in order to sell more shoes. I myself have forgiven him (and Frank).

I can give you an honest answer why people hate Phil Knight, U of O, and Rupp. Many people are jealous of the success that U of O is having. And they see all of the help that Phil Knight gives to U of O to be successful. They see Rupp as a talented guy who has everything he needs to be successful. Rupp has spent thousands of hours in an altitude tent. Alberto Salazar is his personal coach, and is very protective of him. The recent incident of Salazar scratching Rupp from a race because the course was too rutty, is a good example of someone going to an extreme. Salazar is a very good coach but he crosses the line sometimes. And the best adjective to explain Salazar is that he can be very weird at times. I believe this over protectice, anal weirdness can backfire on you. If you coddle a person too much they become soft and lose their toughness. Steve Prefontaine would be shaking his head right now at how Rupp is being handled. Salazar means well, Nike means well, Phil Knight means well. But some in the public that this has gone too far and crossed the line. Salazar has straddled that line his entire life and he is good at what he does. But he crossed the line and I hope he can get back to the other side of that line and let Rupp be Rupp. Some things can't be manufactured and controlled. Loosen the leash Alberto. Its for the betterment of Rupp and the entire running community.

why does everyone hate george steinbrenner, the yankees, and derek jeter?

cash cash money money rings rings rings