Phil Knight turns 85 in February, and in response to the age-old what-do-you-get-the-man-who-has-everything dilemma, Nike is giving him a basketball tournament. It’s not an original idea; Knight got the same gift five years ago. But, hey, when something is a hit, who among us hasn’t regifted? As these things tend to go, the PK85 is bigger, with an eight-team women’s field added to the 16-team men’s slate.
Knight is tickled with the whole thing, if perhaps a bit too humble about it. He feigns surprise that all of these coaches and teams would come to Portland to celebrate him, which is, of course, absurd. This is not a mandatory call to the mothership, but who really was going to say no? The field is terrific and good for March futures, but let’s be honest. The teams’ and coaches’ allegiance to Knight is stitched on their uniforms, and adhered to their soles, if not their souls. This is an invitation-only event — Nike schools only, that is — and when your school is pocketing millions from the shoe company, are you turning down a chance to fete the founder?
But there is something genuine about Knight’s giddiness about this tournament. He is legitimately looking forward to parking himself in arenas over the Thanksgiving holiday and watching ball. He’s not wrong….
