When most people think of Nike, they tend to think of super athletes who Just Do IT! Folks like Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, LeBron, Federer, Sharapova; maybe a few fallen stars, like Lance Armstrong and Pistorius; those on the rise again, like Tiger; controversial ones like Kaepernick; and now, a lost star, who showed us an 81 point game and 30 points in one quarter (twice) could be real things. The world will miss Kobe.
But when Nike employees picture someone, they still think of a scrappy, 5’9”, 139 lbs mustachioed runner named Steve Prefontaine, otherwise known in running circles as Pre. Prefontaine was the prized pupil of the company’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman, from his coaching days at the University of Oregon. His spirit is the cornerstone of the company.
He competed in every race as a life or death experience, and was fond of saying, “Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it.” His philosophy and style were to run without limits, to test t
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