Tiktukno: summary of today's events in sports, 10.11 (Sport1)
Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the floor soon, but he will no longer be the brand he was.
Immediately after his last statements, Nike announced that it had decided to cancel its sponsorship contract with the Brooklyn center, and this apparently was not only a temporary decision, but a permanent one.
"I highly doubt if this relationship will be renewed," confirmed this evening (Thursday) Phil Knight, one of the two founders of the giant company.
"Keiri crossed the line, it's very simple. He made statements that we couldn't stand behind and that's why the relationship ended. As far as I'm concerned, that's fine."
Irving signed his first contract with Nike in 2011, and starting in 2014 he also got his own line of shoes.
His last sponsorship deal with the company, it was estimated, was about $11 million, at the very least.
After the storm he caused, the coordinator also received a request from Nike, who demanded that he clarify his words or apologize.
When Irving refused, the American clothing giant had no choice.
"He dug into his position," Knight said.
"We look at who we compete with - not only how good they are as athletes, but also what their character is."
LeBron James is also required tonight for the subject.
"I already told you that I don't believe in sharing offensive information," the Lakers star tweeted.
"I still think so, but Kyrie apologized and he should be allowed to return to play. That's my opinion. It's very simple. Help him learn - but he needs to play. What they're asking him to do to return to the floor is a bit excessive in my opinion. He's not the person they portray him to be."
As you may remember, Brooklyn set a number of conditions before approving its star to play again: first, Irving will be required to appear in front of the cameras, publicly apologize for the film he promoted on social media and even condemn the content it presents.
Second, he will be required to donate no less than half a million dollars to organizations that work against hate speech.
After that, he will have to give the group or other parties training on anti-Semitism and environmental sensitivity, and in the next step he will be required to meet with senior officials of the Anti-Defamation League, and with senior officials of the Jewish community in the United States, as well as with the owner Joe Chai.
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