Howard Slusher Fearsome Agent for Athletes and Nike’s Phil Knight Has Died at 85

Howard Slusher Fearsome Agent for Athletes and Nike’s Phil Knight Has Died at 85

Summary : Phil Knight , a co-founder of Nike Inc., met Howard Slusher in 1975 when the lawyer and sports agent was negotiating a shoe-endorsement deal for the basketball player Paul Westphal. After enduring Mr. Slusher’s relentless negotiating tactics, Mr. Knight turned to an aide and said, “I want you to hire that son of a bitch.”

The story, recounted in “Just Do It,” a 1994 book by Donald Katz, was confirmed by a Nike spokeswoman.

Phil Knight , a co-founder of Nike Inc., met Howard Slusher in 1975 when the lawyer and sports agent was negotiating a shoe-endorsement deal for the basketball player Paul Westphal. After enduring Mr. Slusher’s relentless negotiating tactics, Mr. Knight turned to an aide and said, “I want you to hire that son of a bitch.”

The story, recounted in “Just Do It,” a 1994 book by Donald Katz, was confirmed by a Nike spokeswoman.