Nike dumps Pacquiao after anti-gay comments

Nike announced Wednesday it has terminated its relationship with boxer Manny Pacquiao following his recent comments saying same-sex marriage "makes us worse than animals."

Pacquiao was quick to apologize for his comments, though he made it clear he remains opposed to gay marriage.

Pacquiao wasn't in the same boat as many Nike athletes, who have shoes and apparel featuring their names and images on the market at any given time.

Instead, ESPN's Darren Rovell says Nike used Pacquiao like a billboard, plastering his ring shorts and shoes with the famous swoosh logo but rarely using his likeness for anything more.

As Rovell notes, Nike has cut ties with Lance Armstrong, Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Oscar Pistorius in the last half-decade.