George M. Thomas reports:
Portland is abuzz over Li Ning, a Chinese shoe manufacturer that has moved into Nike’s Oregon backyard. The Oregonian reported the company moved to the region to court workers who may have been displaced because of Nike layoffs last year.
It’s a company that should get a higher profile nationally because Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal is one of its high-profile spokesmen. O’Neal went to the company after leaving Reebok.
O’Neal endorses the shoe in only China right now, but said that he plans to work with the company in America.
The Cavs center said that his Li Ning shoes have sold 10 million pairs in China and 8 million here.
