Infiltrate the Federation, Own the Sport

“Yearning for yet more influence, Horst Dassler resolved to build up an unofficial team dedicated to international sports relations. While all of his disciples were taught to make friends, the sports politics squad, patched together in the seventies, went much fur- ther. Their activities were geared entirely toward the infiltration of leading sports organizations.”

“Wherever he was, Horst Dassler seized every opportunity to re- inforce his friendships among sports officials or to seal new ones. While others regarded schmoozing as a tiresome obligation, Horst complied with almost fanatical zeal. This was perfectly in line with one of his adages, “Everything is a matter of relationships.” Indeed he had the right skills to make friends all around the world: he was fluent in five languages, displayed an affable manner, never asked any awkward questions, and was amazingly considerate.”