Canzano: College football's billion-dollar question
Does your school have a billionaire backer?
The first time I met Jim Bartko, I mistook him for a bootlicker. We were at the football stadium in Starkville, Miss., where the Oregon Ducks were suited up in those “highlighter yellow” jerseys for a game in 2003 at Mississippi State.
Phil Knight had gone into the press box restroom at Davis Wade Stadium. Bartko stood just outside, waiting for Knight to finish his business, and held the door for the Nike co-founder on the way out.
Bartko also held the title of “Senior Associate Athletic Director” at Oregon. He was the primary liaison to Nike, which left him in charge of Phil and Penny Knight.
Three years before that scene in the press box, Knight had withdrawn a $30 million gift to Oregon. He was furious with university administrators who had caved in to a workers’ rights consortium. Bartko’s instructions were to ensure Phil and Penny knew the UO athletic department valued the relationship.
At the season-ending football banquet in 2003, lavish gift baskets were assembled for the spouses of the biggest donors. Penny wasn’t expected that evening. Except, she changed her mind, surprised everyone, and walked through the door alongside Phil.
You can imagine the horror that ripped through the room when organizers saw that. They were suddenly short by one VIP gift basket. Bartko saved the day. He scurried around the room, apologizing, whispering, and trading baskets from table to table, until he secured an acceptable one.
Then, he walked over, greeted Phil, and handed Penny the re-gifted basket.
“Phil and Penny always treated me like family,” Bartko told me once.