ASSOCIATED PRESS: All in all, it’s hard to imagine how Woods could have handled the whole affair worse, but don’t look for any exodus from Wood’s stable of corporate backers. Tiger is too good, too dominant, too telegenic and his transgressions, to use his word, are too minor, to scare off the big companies. Not surprisingly, Nike, like his other corporate partners, is offering its unconditional allegiance to Woods, who is arguably the company’s most important athlete. “Nike supports Tiger and his family. Our relationship remains unchanged,” the Beaverton-area company said in a statement. Forbes estimated earlier this year that Woods was the first athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, more than 80 percent of that coming from endorsements with companies such as Nike, Gillette, Gatorade and AT&T. Those are all long-term relationships, Octagon First Call’s David Schwab said, partners not likely to dump him at the first rough patch. In fact, cutting ties with Woods now could actually hurt a company, Schwab said. “Brands look at how impactful a spokesperson can be for their for brand but also what the public outcry or public opinion would be,” he said. “If a brand drops him, there could potentially be negativity toward the brand for doing so.” That’s why brands typically weather the storm.” MORE
RELATED: In China, employees for Nike work twelve hour shifts for several days a week. Their wages are as low as 16¢ an hour, $6.92 a week, and $358.84 a year. There are sixteen people to a dorm room, and many pregnant women are fired. One specific example of this treatment is in the Wellco Factory, Dungguan China. The work-shift is eleven to twelve hours a day, seven days a week. It is obligatory–if the employee do not stay, he/she is fined. On occasion, the employee gets every other Sunday off. Workers are not allowed to talk. MORE
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