Analysts had thought that Nike’s third quarter earnings would come in at 67 cents per share, but when the info was finally doled out Thursday, the company surprised with a 16 percent increase in net income to $662 million. That’s 73 cents per share. Not too shabby.

The sporting brand saw growth across the globe, except for a teensy consumer market called Asia. Apparently, Nike is doing just fine without China and Japan, as stocks hit a 20-month high at $58.69, Bloomberg reports.

"Our team delivered strong results in Q3. We did it with a relentless flow of innovation into our key categories," said Mark Parker, president and CEO of Nike. "Given the diversity of our portfolio, we're able to capture big opportunities that drive sustainable, profitable growth. At the same time we continue to invest in new ways to enhance athletic performance, build strong consumer communities, and improve how we design and manufacture our products. That’s how we increase our potential and drive shareholder value."Continue reading...

Nike’s Air Force 1 just celebrated 30 years, hitting stores way back in 1982 as the first basketball shoe to use its Nike Air technology. It’s been a huge success for the brand, and has become a collector’s item for sneakerheads. Its recent appearance in front of the Supreme Court, normally a place where sneakers don't dare to tread, may only increase its appeal to collectors.

The trouble began back in 2009 when a small shoemaker, Already LLC, which makes Yums sneakers was sued by Nike for infringing on its Air Force 1 trademark with the design of its Soulja Boy shoes.

The Yums brand owner responded countersued before Nike “issued a covenant not to sue, promising not to raise any trademark or unfair competition claims against Already or any affiliated entity based on Already’s existing footwear designs, or any future Already designs,” World Trademark Review reports. “Nike then moved to dismiss its claims with prejudice, and to dismiss Already’s counterclaim without prejudice on the ground that the covenant had extinguished the case or controversy.”Continue reading...

You may have noticed "Jordans" trending on Twitter today. Inclement weather across much of the U.S. did not stop Jordan Brand fans from lining up in the cold to pick up the new $185-$225 Air Jordan 11 Retro "Bred" shoe from Nike, one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2012 for sneaker heads. One mob scene in Alabama saw local police using pepper spray to control the crowd, who were vying for one of 36 bands that would allow them to acquire the iconic kicks at a later date. Nike's stock rose 4% this morning, while its latest quarterly earnings report indicates the company intends to "focus resources on driving growth in the NIKE, Jordan, Converse and Hurley brands" going forward.

In China, it's been a late week whirlwind of pro basketball moves, both on and off the court. Just as news hit that NBA star Tracy McGrady had signed to play for a Chinese team — Yes, in China! — Dwayne Wade officially confirmed the rumors that he had switched sneaker affiliation from Nike to China's Li-Ning brand.

Timed to coincide with the much anticipated two games Wade's team, the Miami Heat, will play against the Los Angeles Clippers in Beijing and Shanghai this week, the Li-Ning announcement was long in the making. In fact, maybe a year in the making. Now, will Wade lead Li-Ning back to glory, and will it drag the reputations of China's brands with it?Continue reading...

Nike's 10th signature shoe with LeBron James doesn't cost more than $300, as some sneakerheads feared, even though it's inspired by diamonds. At $270 for the high-end LeBron X+ motion sensor version of the shoe, it will still be Nike's among most expensive shoes to date, showing that Nike knows how to drive a premium and demand.

Hot on the high heels of her recent Pepsi campaign, Nicki Minaj is starring in her first commercial for the Adidas brand — the release of which took her by surprise, according to her tweets Wednesday evening. Watch the new spot, for Adidas Originals, below.Continue reading...

Remember Air Jordans? Or the Nike shoes in the “Back to the Future” films? Or, well, the bazillions of other Nike designs that have hit store shelves since the company changed its name from Blue Ribbon Sports to Nike back in 1978?

Well, that’s OK, you don’t need to remember anything anymore. Thanks to the beauty of online, you can save those brain cells that were hanging onto every detail and spec of all Nike products and now depend on Nike’s new Shoe Boxxxx game on Facebook.Continue reading...

After enduring months of sliding sales, losses of market share and declining investor confidence at Li-Ning, the CEO of China's most famous athletic brand has resigned. Taking his place: the brand's founder and China's Olympic icon, Li Ning himself.

But does the gymnast turned entrepreneur still have the flexibility to bend his eponymous brand back into shape? And what does this mean for Li-Ning's global expansion aspirations?Continue reading...