Nike Renews Sponsorship of Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI)
21 July 2004 - 6:41AM
PR Newswire (US)
Nike Renews Sponsorship of Native American Basketball Invitational
(NABI) KISS FM, Clothing City, Nike Block Party Tips Off Tonight
With NABI participants and Phoenix Suns Personalities BEAVERTON,
Ore., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Although the NBA Finals may have
concluded, basketball fans from across the United States will have
another opportunity for a unique, compelling basketball experience
this summer. Nike today announced that it was joining the Phoenix
Suns/Phoenix Mercury and AZ United Tribes in renewing its
sponsorship of the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI).
The tournament is scheduled for July 24, 2004 at America West
Arena, Phoenix, AZ. -- home of the NBA and WNBA franchises. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO ) Produced by
POD Productions and reflecting the overwhelming popularity of
organized and grassroots basketball on Native lands throughout the
United States, this year's tournament will feature 50 teams of male
and female Native American high school student-athletes. "NABI will
provide the Native American community a great opportunity to
showcase their passion for the sport of basketball," said Sam
McCracken, Native American business manager for Nike. "Through
Nike's support of this tournament and the talented Native American
student/athletes who will be participants, we hope NABI to be
catalysts for both athletic and academic achievement via
basketball." While at the tournament, participants will attend
seminars with a variety of speakers that focus on the importance of
getting a good education. From last year's tournament, several of
the student/athletes were discovered by recruiters and offered
scholarships to compete at the collegiate level and further their
educational goals. A portion of proceeds from tournament ticket
sales will be donated to the NABI Foundation to support the
athletes through the NABI College Mentoring Program. Nike footwear
and apparel retailer "Clothing City" will once again be the venue
for a pre-tournament kick off party the afternoon of Tuesday, July
20th featuring music, basketball and celebrity visits. Clothing
City is located at 1600 South 16th Street in Phoenix. In 2003, a
live radio broadcast by 104-7 KISS FM DJ SuperSnake drew listeners
and basketball players to the store location to hone their
basketball skills for prizes and to meet Phoenix Suns greats Connie
Hawkins and Mark West. Support of the tournament is only one pillar
within Nike's overall engagement with Native American nations and
peoples. To address concerns about declining physical activity and
the resulting adverse health effects, McCracken directs Nike's
Native American Diabetes Program that interacts with and supports
some 60 tribes across the United States. Earlier this year, Nike
signed an agreement with the Indian Health Service to better
promote healthy lifestyles. Nike also has developed working
relationships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs School Program.
NIKE, Inc. based in Beaverton, Oregon is the world's leading
designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear,
apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and
fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse
Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear,
apparel and accessories; Bauer NIKE Hockey Inc., a leading designer
and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan(R), which designs,
markets, and distributes fine dress and casual shoes and
accessories; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets
and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel
and accessories. --http://www.nabihoops.com--/
--http://www.nikeresponsibility.com--/
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: NIKE, Inc. CONTACT: Vada
Manager or Jill Zanger, both of NIKE, Inc., +1-503-671-2875, or ;
or GinaMarie Scarpa of Mabry, NABI, +1-602-265-2770, or , for NIKE,
Inc. Web site: http://www.nikebiz.com/
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