I find it rather amusing that people are shocked to discover bizarre or disturbing behavior amongst highly successful individuals in any field.
Personally, to become a business tycoon or gold medalist or politician, you have to be a sociopath. You have to have an unnatural drive, an unflinching focus on goals and self glory, and the ability to block out everything around you except that which you truly care about. We've seen it millions of times and it ranges from being a garden variety a-hole to torture, rape, and even murder. Most elected leaders are nice people. Most billionaires have screwed over business partners and stolen ideas to make their fortunes. A list Hollywood types use their power to manipulate and literally fark younger people trying to get jobs, coaches and athletes employ doping, hazing, and psychological torture, etc. Very few truly decent people reach the very pinnacle of their field by always doing things the right way.
So, Bowerman played pranks on his athletes that were totally out-of-bounds by today's standards? Not surprising and already known. Nike uses questionable tactics to dominate their industry? Common knowledge. People that get in their way are steamrolled? Yawn.
I don't condone these things but, it is very naive for people to believe that getting to the top and staying there doesn't require unethical behavior along the path. There is a reason why the Bible says "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” and, for the secularly inclined, "Nice guys finish last!".