Philip H. Knight was an accounting student and middle-distance runner at the University of Oregon when he was seized with the idea of importing high-tech running shoes from Japan. It was not easy to persuade others that this was a promising business opportunity, but Knight took the idea to his track coach, Bill Bowerman. The two of them shook hands and agreed to start a small import business. At first, Knight sold the shoes out of the trunk of his car at high school track meets. From importing shoes, Knight soon gravitated to the idea of designing and manufacturing them with a...