Q 01/05

Nike takes its name from the Greek goddess of what?

A) Victory

B) Speed

C) Wisdom

D) The hunt

Answer · why

A) Victory

Victory personified, she joined Zeus against the Titans, and Hesiod says he kept her by his side ever after.

Q 02/05

Under what name was Nike founded in 1964?

A) Oregon Track Company

B) Blue Ribbon Sports

C) Cascade Athletics

D) Pacific Footwear

Answer · why

B) Blue Ribbon Sports

Blue Ribbon Sports was a name Phil Knight made up on the spot when a Japanese shoemaker asked which company he represented.

Q 03/05

Nike's two co-founders were Phil Knight and which University of Oregon track coach?

A) Steve Prefontaine

B) Bill Hayward

C) Bill Bowerman

D) Alberto Salazar

Answer · why

C) Bill Bowerman

Bill Bowerman saw himself as a teacher first, and rather than 'coach' he went by a title of his own: 'Professor of Competitive Responses'.

Q 04/05

Before making its own shoes, Nike began by importing running shoes from which Japanese maker?

A) Onitsuka Tiger

B) Mizuno Corp.

C) Yonex Sports

D) Asahi Shoe

Answer · why

A) Onitsuka Tiger

Onitsuka Tiger's maker later became Asics; Knight toured its factory in 1962 and came home with a deal to sell its shoes.

Q 05/05

Roughly how much did Nike's forerunner take in during its first year of selling shoes, 1964?

A) $8,000

B) $80,000

C) $800,000

D) $8 million

Answer · why

A) $8,000

$8,000 was the whole first-year take, earned by Phil Knight selling imported shoes from the back of his car at track meets.