Surfer turned down nike as a sponsor

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/mee...227049996.html

JORDY SMITH took a phone call from Tiger Woods. He received an email from Michael Jordan. He was sent the shoe that Ronaldo used to kick a goal in a World Cup final. Nike offered him $5.3 million a year ... but he knocked them all back.

Smith is a 20-year-old South African making his debut on the World Championship Tour on the Gold Coast this week. It's the most anticipated arrival since Kelly Slater rocked up in his Stars and Stripes boardshorts and won his first event in California in 1990.

The former junior world champion's elevation triggered the most ruthless bidding war in the sport's history, with Nike throwing everything (and everyone) they had at him in an effort to enter the professional surfing market for the first time.

He was flown to Nike's US headquarters in a private jet to meet the company's co-founder, Phil Knight. A set of Woods's clubs turned up in the post. They spoke on the phone for 45 minutes, and the message from the greatest golfer on the planet was simple: jump on board the good ship Nike.

"He gave me advice on how he went about it when he was my age, and told me about the company he was with," Smith said. "It was kind of baffling in the beginning. You don't know what to say because he's such a high-profile guy, but you just cruise with it."

Billabong, Rip Curl and Quiksilver are the companies that run pro surfing. They organise the events, throw millions of dollars at the talent, but keep prizemoney remarkably low. Slater won $30,000 for his first title in 1990. The winner at Snapper Rocks this week will get $32,000. There's a growing feeling that the next step for the sport, and the only way to bump up prizemoney, is for corporate giants such as Nike to become involved.

Nike's deal with Smith was going to change the landscape. It seemed like a done deal. No one rejects Woods, Ronaldo and Jordan.

Smith was a marketing dream for the swoosh. His first name is Jordan, his second Michael. Nike planned to run a worldwide advertising campaign with the slogan of "Air Jordy". It was a play on the famous "Air Jordan" that helped make the American basketballer a household name across the planet. It was a perfect fit. When Smith gets air on a wave, he gets big air.

But then he signed with Californian company O'Neill, basically because it was a traditional surfing brand. It was still a seven-figure deal, making him one of the top five highest earners on the tour before he had even entered it. But he had to be content with about $3 million less a year. He'll survive.

He appeared on tour twice last year as a wildcard, knocking off the exalted trio of Mick Fanning, Andy Irons and Joel Parkinson in the US to prove his credentials.

"I don't really get nervous," he said. "Andy is kind of scary out there, but you just go out and surf. I used to surf for the judges and the contest but I got to the stage where I thought, 'Screw this, I'm just going to surf the way I want to.'

"Thankfully, it's all worked out. I just try to surf against myself now. I want to win the world title in my first three years on tour. That's my goal."  Reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore was the biggest casualty yesterday at the season-opening Roxy Pro at her home break at Snapper Rocks, with the 20-year-old narrowly outpointed by Hawaiian teenager Carissa Moore. World No.3 Silvana Lima and seven-time world champion Layne Beachley were also knocked out.

Good, fu*k Nike, they are the microsoft of shoes. ppl dont even realize the quality going down. Just look at a set of old Jordans and the re-releases.

Plus the shoes are made in China for dirt cheap. I know there are a lot of Nike d*ckriders out there though.

Besides its surfing, thats like some NBA player repping Billabong shoes.

all i got 2 say is WOW... who the fu*k rejects 5 mill a year...jesus... i mean what nigga does that in their right mind

Props to dude for trying to make a stand and keep his sport pure but Nike will not lose and the next guy may not have the conviction this dude had. Its kinda like the SB brand, folks tried to keep it out as long as they could but at the end of the day money walks...

yes finally sumone sh*tted on em now imma get my tier0 account all i need is more endorsements turned down excellent (MR.Burns voice )

good for Jordy... He knows how surfing should be and Nike isn't a part of it... Thats a lot of money but I respect his opinion.

Dudes like this you usually don't hear about until 10-20 years later. Very rare for a sports figure to be a true stand up dude.

PTS: 10

PTS THIS MONTH: 10

OVR RK: #1385

RK/MON: #266

I dont know if he made the right decision... Tomorrow aint guaranteed.

i'd take that money...

but surfers would probably hate on him for salting their sport.