Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

196 | Paul Kemp (Nike’s Big Bet)

Posted on April 13, 2021December 11, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 196 | Paul Kemp (Nike’s Big Bet)

My Summer Lair Chapter #196: Has Nike’s Big Bet Paid Off?

Welcome director Paul Kemp to My Summer Lair to discuss his running documentary Nike’s Big Bet.

In America you can check out Nike’s Big Bet on Peacock; it is 83 minutes.

In Canada the CBC Gem version is 44 minutes so I guess streaming is also “Big Bet.”

Remarkable documentaries are not like sports; there aren’t always clear winners and losers. Here’s Nike’s big bet:

“In 2001 Nike established the Oregon Project as a program to develop elite runners (and put Americans back on top…of course.). Running coach Alberto Salazar was in charge of the program and given free reign to employ his unorthodox tactics to deliver results. In 2019 despite never failing a drug test and his athletes never testing positive, he received a four-year doping ban from all coaching activities and the project immediately collapsed. So…what happened?”

Did Salazar’s “Just Do It” attitude and questionable practices push the limits of human performance and technology too far? And what is fair or even fair play in sports?

Malcolm Gladwell who appears in this documentary said: “It is so typical of the dysfunction of track and field that we will bring down the house on someone operating at the margins. You’re going to bring down the hammer on Alberto Salazar on something that is so complicated that I can’t even follow half the arguments against Alberto Salazar.”

Oh Boy. Shall we get into all this and more with director Paul Kemp who is an actual show runner. You’ll know what I mean as soon as you hit play.

Nike’s Big Bet @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Monday November 8, 2021 at 1:00pm

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…so Just Do It!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:30 for 30, Directors, Documentaries, ESPN, Nike, Nike's Big Bet, Paul Kemp

Post navigation

Previous Post: 195 | Patrick Dell (Shooting War)
Next Post: 197 | Craig Pryce (The Marijuana Conspiracy)

More Related Articles

Cover of "The Soul of an Entrepreneur" by David Sax, featuring a black and white image of a person staring out into the horizon with a red heart in the center. 156 | David Sax (The Soul of an Entrepreneur) My Summer Lair
266 | Erik Bloomquist (Founders Day) My Summer Lair
024 | Andrew Young (Geek Hard) My Summer Lair
233 | Alex Mallari Jr. (The Adam Project & Hello (Again)) My Summer Lair
042 | Joseph Clement (Integral Man) My Summer Lair
Dave Chisholm (Chasin’ the Bird) My Summer Lair 168 168 | Dave Chisholm (Chasin’ the Bird) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: May 12-18, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Do you have Heart Eyes for fresh TV Recommendations without all the Overcompensating puns? The puns are here to stay that’s what makes it #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: May 05-11, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Even with your Poker Face I can tell you’re seeking TV Recommendations for your Safe House. No worries with this week’s #SetTheVCR I got it in The Black Bag.
  • #SetTheVCR: April 28 – May 04, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    April showers bring May TV listings: these TV recommendations cover all Four Seasons. It’s #SetTheVCR where I put the On in Conan.
  • #SetTheVCR: April 21-27, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    TV Recommendations can be Havoc; You need help. Well Babygirl: I got you; it's your TV Companion: #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: April 14-20, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    I hope you're a light Nightsleeper because the NBA Playoffs start this week. Will a new champion be Minted? Only way to know is to #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: April 07-13, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    For this week's TV Recommendations we stare into The Abyss and a Black Mirror stares back. Welcome to #SetTheVCR which is about as comfortable and as cool as Morningside.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 31 – April 06, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Secrets and Serial Killers pepper this week’s TV Recommendations. A combo like that can only mean it’s #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 24-30, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    You'll wanna Bogart these fantastic TV Recommendations: they go from Holland to MobLand. Of course it's not a Complete Unknown, why yes it's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 17-23, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    These TV Recommendations will make you don a Happy Face: from magic of David Blaine to the Madness of March. It's #SetTheVCR here for all of Your Tomorrow TV needs.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 10-16, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From an Electric State to a Beach party these TV Recommendations will make you a Better Man. It maybe Cold outside but #SetTheVCR is warm and just what you are Kraven.
  • #CouchWorthy: 2025 Key Midseason & Premiere Dates – April 2025March 28, 2025
    #SetTheVCR is your weekly TV Guide by Sammy Younan to help you plan a fantastic TV schedule from must-watch TV shows to fun discoveries.
  • #CouchWorthy: 2025 Key Midseason & Premiere Dates – March 2025February 28, 2025
    #SetTheVCR is your weekly TV Guide by Sammy Younan to help you plan a fantastic TV schedule from must-watch TV shows to fun discoveries.
  • Morning Tea: The Rocky III-Peat…February 9, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • #CouchWorthy: 2025 Key Midseason & Premiere Dates – February 2025January 31, 2025
    #SetTheVCR is your weekly TV Guide by Sammy Younan to help you plan a fantastic TV schedule from must-watch TV shows to fun discoveries.
  • #CouchWorthy: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-ManJanuary 28, 2025
    Following Peter Parker on his way to becoming a hero. Or is is "Peter Parker?" The stand alone vs continuity debate.
  • #CouchWorthy: The Countdown to NBA Saturday Primetime on ABCJanuary 22, 2025
    NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC– the marquee, national NBA game of the week kicks off on January 25 with a classic Tripleheader.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme