Nike Countersues Kawhi, Harden Minority Stake In Soccer, Lowry Surgery, Harbaugh Swipes Meyer
BASKETBALL
Kawhi Leonard is in the midst of suing Nike for what he claims is his “Klaw” design. Kawhi said he provided the design to Nike so he owns it. Nike has now countersued stating “In this action, Kawhi Leonard seeks to re-write history by asserting that he created the ‘Claw Design’ logo, but it was not Leonard who created that logo. In his Complaint, Leonard alleges he provided a design to NIKE. That is true. What is false is that the design he provided was the Claw Design. Not once in his Complaint does Leonard display or attach either the design that he provided or the Claw Design. Instead, he conflates the two, making it appear as though those discrete works are one and the same. They are not.” After ending his contract with Nike, Kawhi has signed a shoe deal with New Balance.
Houston Rockets superstar James Harden has a new hobby. He recently purchased a minority stake in Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Houston Dash. He also has a stake in BBVA Stadium where both teams play. He commented, “Houston is my home now, and I saw this as a way to invest in my city and expand my business interests at the same time. Soccer in general, and especially MLS, have exploded in this country throughout my lifetime. I’ve been a fan of the game for several years, and I know that Houston has a massive soccer fanbase, so it was an easy decision for me when this opportunity arose.â€
In other NBA news, Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left thumb. Lowry is planning to spend his off-season participating in USA Basketball training camp and FIBA World Cup later in the summer
FOOTBALL
Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh took a swipe at his former rival, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer. Meyer retired last year after a winning season but one filled with controversy. Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the year due to a domestic violence allegation against one of his assistant coaches, then led his team to a 13-1 season and a Big Ten title. Meyer’s Ohio State also has a 4-0 winning record over Harbaugh. In an interview with The Athletic, Harbaugh said, “Urban Meyer’s had a winning record. A really phenomenal record everywhere he’s been. But also, controversy follows everywhere he’s been.”
