Phil Knight - Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?

I have it on good authority that someone occasionally reads this trashy blog. That makes my day when I know that I am sowing, daily sowing, countless seeds of good and . . . . . . . . . . . . well, maybe just sowing.

So, today I'm on a "kick Phil Knight" tirade, so for all you Nike wearers, you may want to read another blog.

Just a tad of an introductory announcement: The recession has ended for Nike and its top executives. CEO Mark Parker has already been paid over 13 million dollars in 2010. Using a so-called Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, 'Phil' has managed to gift his stock growth potential to his children without paying any estate or gift taxes.

Now, down at the University of Phil Knight in Eugene, they probably think that's pretty cool. What else can they think? Phil Knight has proven that he can practically shut his alma mater down by simply withdrawing his egotistic largesse.

Since he hasn't given me any money lately and he hasn't built my house, nor fed or clothed my children, I do have an opinion that I'm not afraid to share. Phil doesn't own me - just the UofO.

Phil Knight will forever be remembered as the founder of Nike. That's it. He could have been so much more. Nike has made $2.5 billion in 2010 and this is just August. What more could he have done to make the world a better place? What legacy will Phil leave to his children besides the gazillion shares of Nike stock worth billions of dollars?

Well, you know that I'm just an old granny. I haven't purchased Phil's stuff for nearly 25 years. I don't know much, but I do know that the world is topsy-turvy right now, and Phil's the topsy part.

So Phil, here's hoping that your kids can spare a dime. The world could use a few.