Nike's Balancing Act

If I asked you what the top sports apparel brand in the world was, what would you say?

You would say Nike, right?

It's no secret that Nike has dominated the market in nearly every sport. Whether it's football and basketball or golf and track, the iconic swoosh can be found on nearly every piece of athletic wear in the world.

For years, Nike has been king when it comes to their share of the running community. Just think about how intertwined they are amongst some of the biggest movers and shakers in the sport.

They have constructed a long-term deal with Team USA that requires all Olympians and World Championship qualifiers to race in Nike branded attire.

Nike founder Phil Knight, a former Oregon distance runner, has used the mass fortune of his company to make the Ducks the best equipped collegiate program in the nation (in all sports).

Nike even created a running shoe that is proven (yes, proven) to make runners 4% faster.

Despite the overwhelming amount of influence that Phil Knight's empire has accumulated over time, I can't help but think that the brand has failed to capitalize on their sponsorship opportunities this offseason.

Don't get me wrong, Nike has certainly made some incredible signings over the past few years, especially in the 800 meters. Former Penn State superstar Isaiah Harris will now join Emmanuel Korir, Donavan Brazier, Clayton Murphy, Craig Engels, and Brandon McBride in Nike's half-mile arsenal. If you include the DMR, five of those six names are national champions.

Even with Harris inking a contract, Nike hasn't exactly made the most out of their summer signings over the past two years. How did Edward Cheserek not sign a contract with the premier running brand in the world? He was the best collegiate distance runner ever on a team that is rich with history and often associated with Nike.

How does someone like him end up signing with Sketchers?

What about Sam Prakel? Just today, the Oregon veteran signed a contract with Adidas after going undefeated in three European summer races over the past two months. With a personal best of 3:55 for the mile and multiple All-American performances, it was perplexing that Nike wouldn't get him a deal.

Ever since his junior year, Justyn Knight seemed destined to sign with Nike. He was a high-profile name with electric performances and a friendly, candid persona that fans gravitated towards. Armed with a near-endless budget, top-tier facilities, and the best coaches in the world, it seems rather odd that Nike couldn't sign Knight.

And sure, while money was definitely a key factor in Knight's decision, Reebok was able to offer the Syracuse star what Nike no longer can: the ability to dictate his own terms.

Has Nike grown too large for it's own good? Has their monopoly on the distance running market scared off potential signees? It's quite possible. We have heard stories like this before after all.

Just think back to legal battles such as Boris Berian vs Nike or Will Leer vs Nike. It's not often that you hear about contract disputes with other running brands.

Of course, Knight isn't the only superstar that got away. Josh Kerr and David Ribich both broke NCAA records in the 1500 meters this past spring, but opted to sign with Brooks.

Michael Saruni, the NCAA record holder and indoor national champion in the 800 meters, was expected to go pro after this season. The idea at least made sense when you consider that his former teammate (Emmanuel Korir) signed a Nike contract after his title-winning year at UTEP. Yet, instead of signing a contract and moving on, Saruni hasn't made any noise. Will he actually stay at UTEP for another year?

It should be fair to consider Nike's perception among the die-hard distance running fans. The Nike Oregon Project training group has been shrouded with rumors of potential doping for years now. Some of the most influential names in the running community such as Steve Magness and Kara Goucher have all stepped forward to speak out against the questionable enhancement methods from the Nike-powered squad. Maybe some of the top collegiates looking to go pro would rather avoid the criticism associated with the brand...

Of course, we haven't even considered that the USC sprint duo of Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin most likely walked away with a pair of large paychecks themselves. We also have to consider the signing of Karissa Schweizer, the Missouri phenom who is now training with Nike's Bowerman Track Club.

Not only that, but there are still a handful of distance stars who have yet to declare an official sponsor. Ben Flanagan, Sean McGorty, Robert Domanic, and Andy Trouard are just a handful of the graduating seniors who can still be signed before the end of the summer. If I'm a Nike rep, I'm looking at the opportunity to sign at least one of these men.

There are a variety of factors that can go into someone getting signed (or not). Obviously, there is only so much money to go around, even for one of the largest corporations in the world. With Harris, the USC duo, and Schweizer now on their payroll, Nike's running department might have limited room to operate when it comes to more signings.

Or maybe their saving some room in their budget.

We haven't even talked about Sydney McLaughlin yet, the hurdling prodigy who remains unsponsored. She recently became a client for William Morris Endeavors, one of the top talent agencies in the nation responsible for representing high-end celebrities.

It's no secret that McLaughlin is in for a massive pay day. If she's looking for the top bidder, Nike may be in that conversation.

If Nike doesn't sign McLaughlin, what happens next? Will there be any notable post-collegiates left to sign? It's certainly an interesting decision to balance if budget restrictions are a concern for that area of Nike.

If we're putting things in perspective, one or two summers with these kind of signings isn't going to hurt Nike's reputation in the running community. It's clear that they are still in the driver seat when it comes to innovation and influence. However, it's the possibility of losing market share that should concern Nike. The rapid growth of other running brands have allowed new running groups to gain traction in the market.

Who had heard of Hoka One One six or seven years ago? Who ever thought that Reebok would go all-in on a professional training group? How did Adidas persuade two of the most exciting high school runners ever (Drew Hunter and Noah Lyles) to forgo their collegiate eligibility?

It's not a question of whether or not Nike can grow. The real question is if they can hold off the exponential rise of their competitors and shake their reputation of unfavorable signings.

But who am I to ask these questions? I'm just a guy behind a computer...