Nike Renews Sponsorship of Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI)

Nike Renews Sponsorship of Native American Basketball
Invitational (NABI)
KISS FM, Clothing City, Nike Block Party Tips Off Tonight With NABI
participants and Phoenix Suns Personalities 


BEAVERTON, Ore., July 20  /PRNewswire/ -- Although the NBA Finals may have
concluded, basketball fans from across the United States will have another
opportunity for a unique, compelling basketball experience this summer.  Nike
today announced that it was joining the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury and AZ
United Tribes in renewing its sponsorship of the Native American Basketball
Invitational (NABI).  The tournament is scheduled for July 24, 2004 at America
West Arena, Phoenix, AZ. -- home of the NBA and WNBA franchises.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO )

Produced by POD Productions and reflecting the overwhelming popularity of
organized and grassroots basketball on Native lands throughout the United
States, this year's tournament will feature 50 teams of male and female Native
American high school student-athletes.

"NABI will provide the Native American community a great opportunity to
showcase their passion for the sport of basketball," said Sam McCracken, Native
American business manager for Nike.  "Through Nike's support of this tournament
and the talented Native American student/athletes who will be participants, we
hope NABI to be catalysts for both athletic and academic achievement via
basketball."

While at the tournament, participants will attend seminars with a variety of
speakers that focus on the importance of getting a good education.  From last
year's tournament, several of the student/athletes were discovered by
recruiters and offered scholarships to compete at the collegiate level and
further their educational goals.  A portion of proceeds from tournament ticket
sales will be donated to the NABI Foundation to support the athletes through
the NABI College Mentoring Program.

Nike footwear and apparel retailer "Clothing City" will once again be the venue
for a pre-tournament kick off party the afternoon of Tuesday, July 20th
featuring music, basketball and celebrity visits. Clothing City is located at
1600 South 16th Street in Phoenix.  In 2003, a live radio broadcast by 104-7
KISS FM DJ SuperSnake drew listeners and basketball players to the store
location to hone their basketball skills for prizes and to meet Phoenix Suns
greats Connie Hawkins and Mark West.

Support of the tournament is only one pillar within Nike's overall engagement
with Native American nations and peoples. To address concerns about declining
physical activity and the resulting adverse health effects, McCracken directs
Nike's Native American Diabetes Program that interacts with and supports some
60 tribes across the United States.  Earlier this year, Nike signed an
agreement with the Indian Health Service to better promote healthy lifestyles.
Nike also has developed working relationships with the Bureau of Indian Affairs
School Program.

NIKE, Inc. based in Beaverton, Oregon is the world's leading designer, marketer
and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and
accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned
Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes
athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Bauer NIKE Hockey Inc., a leading
designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan(R), which designs,
markets, and distributes fine dress and casual shoes and accessories; and
Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports
and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories.

--http://www.nabihoops.com--/

--http://www.nikeresponsibility.com--/ 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO

http://photoarchive.ap.org/

DATASOURCE: NIKE, Inc.



CONTACT:  Vada Manager or Jill Zanger, both of NIKE, Inc.,

[phone], or ; or GinaMarie Scarpa of Mabry, NABI,

[phone], or , for NIKE, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.nikebiz.com/ 

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