 Nike
called the Streetball.co.uk lab a couple of
weeks ago.
They wanted to give us a sneak preview of
the hot new products that will be hitting
stores in the near future...and to give us
an insight into the incredible world that
is "Nike Basketball".
And,
Nike being Nike, they didn't mess around.
They wanted to fly us out to their global
HQ in Oregon...and then treat us to an NBA
game in Dallas.
So we sent long-time Streetball.co.uk baller
Gary Maitland on the mission. Here's his diary
of the trip:
29th
November 2005
London,
Heathrow
"Mr.
Maitland, Business Class...fast track,"
those are the words that immediately put a smile
on your face when you’re traveling!
Seat 13D - the leg space was unreal! I had my
own TV, a glass of champagne, and a 2001 Ikon
Classic NCAA game - Arizona vs Maryland. Now
that’s the way to fly.
Portland,
Oregon
Greeted
at Portland International Airport by a gentleman
in a black suit driving a black, tinted out
town car like this is normal procedure.
A short drive later I'm at 5th Avenue Suites
Hotel. Just the name made wish I had traveled
in a tux. And Room 212 was ridiculous! I was
half expecting MTV cribs to come knocking on
my door.
30th
November
I
was picked up from the hotel at 8am. All I was
told was that breakfast would be served to me
at the Nike Campus.
After 20 minutes in the car, we turned left
off the main road into what appeared to be a
vast expanse of nothingness.
But as the mist cleared, it was as if I had
teleported into another realm. Before me lay
an incredible landscape of perfectly pruned
hedges, elegant trees, crystal clear ponds and
amazing water features. This place was ridiculous.
Nike
Head Office, Oregon
We pulled up outside one of the many large white
buildings that were widely spread over the huge
site. This was "The Tiger Woods Center".
Once inside I was taken to a large conference
room - every wall covered with enormous Lebron
James posters. It was like a shrine to Nike's
new number 23.
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