adidas/NBA deal

[DarkStar50 679]

but will they make good products? i doubt it. They will be like nike, screwing up bauer, making stuff that are not durable and over-hyped marketing. Think Vapor XX and the disappointment. One90? get ready for round 2.

If they do not make good products, they will not be successful. They will not survive in the industry. However, Adidas has a 40 year history of making good products.

Nike screwing up Bauer? Do you remember what Bauer product looked like 10 years ago when Nike acquired them? There were good products but nothing dynamic as there is today, thanks to Nike innovation thinking outside the box. There would never be a Vapor anything if Nike hadn't driven R D & D to build the Vapor 8 skate in 1998.

Good marketing only drives interest and demand. Performance sells product.

[ChrisGP 0]

Adidas used to make the jerseys for the Newcastle Cobras (now the Mobilx Newcastle Vipers), they had a really nice black one but I can't find a pic, found a white version tho...

But as I said, the black one was nicer!!

Edit...or maybe an Adidas NM helmet??

[jimmy 194]

As others have said, if they make good products, they will thrive. Look at the excitement over Warrior, a company that did not make any hockey equipment, yet people are drooling over it coming. Innovative was really a "fringe" stick line, but see the excitement over the new Warriors. Who knows what takes off and why.

[mew1838 0]

These big companies = made on china, quality = down

[DarkStar50 679]

These big companies = made on china, quality = down

Made In USA = $$$$$$$$$, Quality = ????????, how is your made in USA car doing? Hockey equipment has been made on the other side of the world for over 20 years now. I'll bet most of the gear you wear now is from the other side of the world.

[jokerit1967 0]

These big companies = made on china, quality = down

Made In USA = $$$$$$$$$, Quality = ????????, how is your made in USA car doing? Hockey equipment has been made on the other side of the world for over 20 years now. I'll bet most of the gear you wear now is from the other side of the world.

Good example would be ESP Guitars - Japanese Guitar Company - part of their custom department is in Japan - so from Japan we get the highest level.

Whereas Fender USA Guitars their Japanese line is lower; sent overseas to save $. Whereas proper perception doesn't normally think of outsourcing something to Japan to save money.

the location of manufacture doesn't tell you the whole story. Premium level products can be made anywhere. It just depends on how the manufacturer does it, however the elite level within a companies scheme has a higher tendency to be made in the manufacturer's home country. Also at times something is made in a specific country to attract attention or for the cachet of the location ex. the College Board not really being physically located in Princeton, NJ but using a P.O. box there because Princeton has a more affluent sound than plainsboro.

meh...adidas and hockey just don't go together.

*this is an OP-ED all opinion of course:

Well if we roll the clocks back BEFORE nike invaded white collar sports such as golf and ice hockey.

Nike was big in NBA basketball culture (separate from who is actually sponsoring what, etc.) - that sport is pretty much free to play. you know free urban asphalt with a hoop. No equipment separate from how expensive you think your sneakers need to be. high association with evil music such as rap and hip hop (similar to basketball style over substance - too many hip hop and rap guys don't play their instruments on stage, borrowed samples, anti-police lyrics) (i do know that there is some rap culture interest in adidas but it is a german company and Adi Dasler is probably in his grave getting sick)

I should actually specify that I mean NBA basketball where a bunch of guys don't have to bother to dribble the ball anymore, and avoiding "traveling" is a formality. Flash over substance.. at least in college basketball they need to maintain discipline, and teamwork...and lots of times you don't have to wait until the playoffs for the team to act like they care about the game. Even the thought of the NBA compared to something like ice hockey makes me feel sick.

Adidas is massively dominant in soccer or "football" --- "the world's game" is also free and cheap to play which is part of the reason it is able to thrive in 3rd world/developing nations... but it doesn't have the negative side of urban that basketball does (although as i forgot to mention it can have violence associated with it by fans, etc)... I admit that the 3rd world-ness/accessibility can be considered a strike against soccer, but perceptions here in the U.S. Soccer is also a more white collar activity in the united states. We can think of soccer moms driving an Acura MDX or a BMW X5 dropping their kids off to soccer practice or hockey practice... We can see more truly academic college excelling in Soccer, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, and Golf. (white collar games).

there is also the bonding between soccer and ice hockey with the general idea of a goal, relations to hockey's cousins such as mens field hockey, and the other game the Canadians blow-up to - lacrosse.

Adidas is also a European company which from the Olympics, World Juniors, Canada Cup, etc. and NHL players has a nice bonding with hockey itself.

Unfortunately (well unless you own massive amount of Nike stock and benefited) no matter how hard Nike tries and even the Tiger Woods foundation thankfully ice hockey AND golf is too expensive to ever really compete against basketball for the attentions and hearts of those who really love NBA basketball.

As far as the socio-economic thematics are concerned... psychological/sociological tests do show that despite some people's attempts to deny this... activities and goods are more desirable when someone else cannot have them. highest desirability occurring in higher end luxury goods where part of the benefit is exclusivity. Nike with Tiger (much like Arnold Palmer) attempts to "bring golf" and I assume if they get the right player to market, "Bring hockey to the masses" it's what the part of the Nike swoosh stands for... it's great that they brougt (esp. Tiger) athleticism in...but there are more clowns making inappropriate noises, etc. at a golf tournament now. In comparison, Adidas's involvement in golf through TaylorMade Adidas has been great - they've improved TM's customer service, and retail servicing from where it had been before Adidas came in... I know Tony Soprano had a big Taylor Made staff bag so there's a crime association too... oh well... can't win!

Anyhow...Go Adidas.

[jokerit1967 0]

well i dont know that we'll ever see adidas in hockey, even if its just jerseys.

for one, hockey fans and players are too loyal to brand names, and dont take change as lightly as others. The culture of basketball is all about style and having the newest shoe and newest jersey, regardless of who makes it.

I was pretty much out of the hockey scene for a while, but I don't know if quite agree with "loyalty to brand names".

First, koho, Jofa, Christian, Vic, and some other names are subordinated or are gone. Golf is much more resistant and loyal - most who buy Nike Golf Clubs, and Golf shoes are newer to the game, and are not the traditionalists. Many golf traditionalists snub Nike golf shoes and stick with traditional brands like Foot Joy.

Second, i do agree in that basketball does focus too much on style, but that is their fan base... and Nike is way, way more dominant than Adidas with the basketball fan base. (also see some of the new types of fans Nike has brought golf down with...the increase in pure athleticism is nice....but...) Adidas (and Salomon group) are strong in more white collar activities like Skiing and Soccer.

Third, Easton seems to be massively popular in sticks which still messes me up since I was around when they first started introducing aluminum shafts and I kept thinking why isn't a real hockey company doing this? they make baseball and softball bats. (i do realize since they were already working with aluminum that might have been easier for them). I also remember when their gloves started popping up in the NHL and wondered why somone would stop wearing koho GL5's or a CCM glove to wear something that said Easton... so I assume that Easton has been making quality sticks... so I imagine that if Adidas decided to put their logo on hockey stuff - if the gear was quality..or if they struck gold with the magical ad campaign... that it would sell well.

Fourth, Warrior seems to be doing well with their sticks and to me they are a lacrosse company (i realize they acquired innovative)... They don't seem to be completely snubbed. So maybe Brine is next?

anyhow...just discussing.... we do all have our preferences and some don't mind NBA basketball...

[nicksmission14 0]

Warrior's unique marketing style has been a huge contribution to their success

[jokerit1967 0]

Warrior's unique marketing style has been a huge contribution to their success

which is a testament to whomever makes those decisions for the company direction. cf. to Graf Canada and their Mickey Mouse ways.

[Hede 2]

First time i looked at the RBK 2007 protection line i was thinking of Adidas products of the late 80´s early 90´s. I just did. It´s something to do with the bright green / yellow in around the logo.

[daca 0]

i've been thinking about this for a long time. i would definitely welcome it, and if it's a quality product then i don't see the big deal about them joining the fray.

[T-Dot. 0]

one,

it is inevitable that Adidas will show up on the scene

lets just hope when their underlings ie: CCM/RBK/ and whoever else they own that makes hockey equipment say this is how we make skates and equipment they don't pull a Nike and make their own version

and two,

quality sells and no it doesn't hurt to have a good marketing plan

just ask warrior

not to mention new Adidas stuff will probably be CCM/RBK existing product wit an Adidas

logo on it

[daca 0]

lets just hope when their underlings ie: ccm/reebok/ and whoever else they own that makes hockey equipment say this is how we make skates and equipment they don't pull a nike and make their own version

what's wrong with this? i don't understand.

[T-Dot. 0]

i just happened to buy new nikes when they came out cuz they were cheap and i needed skates that day or i wouldn't have bought them

the product lasted but sucked very bad

especially when bauer gave them the recipe for skates and equipment

why not add on to a good product? instead of making a crappy one

but maybe im being short sighted

maybe nike wanted to learn thru trial and error

who knows such things

[daca 0]

maybe one day Puma will start putting out hockey equipment. that'd be sweet.

[MLSman 22]

I'm telling you, adidas Superstar skates with shell-toe caps and fat laces...I'd rock it.

Man...I am surprised no one with photoshop skills jumped on that invitation.

"My Adidas

skate through locker doors

and roam all over coliseum floors

I skated on stage, at Scottrade

All the people gave an applause that paid

And out of speakers I did speak

I wore my skates but I'm not a skate

My Adidas cuts the sand of a foreign land

with stick in hand I cold took command

my Adidas and me both askin P

we make a good team my Adidas and me

we get around together, rhyme real nice

and we won't be mad when worn in bad ice

My Adidas"

[Viking 1]

it doesn't have the negative side of urban that basketball does...

[iceangel 0]

RBK rocks! Addidas???

[jokerit1967 0]

it doesn't have the negative side of urban that basketball does...

was the stadium in an urban area?!?

[daca 0]

soccer culture can be super violent. south america and europe is rampant with this. this is besides the point, let's see some adidas skates!

[jokerit1967 0]

Warrior's unique marketing style has been a huge contribution to their success

seriously i just found out what kronik meant the other day!

nuts!