Letters

Nike’s Cougars: The Last Word
Edward Caffyn’s letter to Adweek [Aug. 3] questioned the integrity of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Nike for featuring a fictitious girls’ basketball team in the campaign that won gold in the APG-U.S. Account Planning Awards.
Would we have liked to feature a “real” team? Sure. But if we had, all of the girls on that team would have been automatically ineligible under NCAA rules to play college basketball. And you have to figure that many of the players on a state-championship contending team would like to go on to play college ball.
Is it “duping” to make teenage girls feel good about themselves and the supportive benefits of team play? Likewise, is it dishonest to protect the interests of real athletes, ensuring they can continue to play the game they love?
I don’t think so.
Jon Steel
Vice chairman, director of planning
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco

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