<<These guys [NIKE] are smart enough to know that the worst thing they could do would be to attempt to influence a hearing panel such as the one that will have to deal with the Lassiter situation. >>
Certainly corporations try to influence 'governance' all the time. How many millions or billions are spent on lobbying the federal government? How many times to corporations make deals with cities for tax abatements, etc? Now that being said, I certainly don't think that whether Seneca Lassiter is seen wearing the swoosh in future races because of suspension is going to affect Nike's bottom line to even a microscopic blip. But I don't think that any of us are naive enough to believe that Nike would try to use its influence if the effect on the bottom line were large enough. If Michael Jordan or Tiger were having a major suspension / punishment hearing, do you really think that Phil Knight or someone with some major juice wouldn't be on the phone to David Stern or the commish of the PGA? No disrespect to Lassiter, but we're talking about the parallel of Brad Faxon or Rick Fox..... RC
