It's gotta be da shoes

Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018

So first, and most importantly, Nike is identifying itself with that tag line.  To back down now would repudiate the very idea they are promoting, so the backlash against this new ad campaign is precisely what Nike wants.

Second, I've read (but not independently confirmed) that Nike has huge overseas markets, so a complaint in social media (objects are smaller than they appear) in America is not really the worst thing that could happen to them.

Third, look at the picture, again, of Mr. Kaepernick, and consider who is complaining about what he started, and who is supporting it and even using it as another example of American racism.  Oddly enough, the latter are people who look like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Charles Barkley, and Serena Williams, all of whom have been used by Nike to sell their products.  Which brings up the fourth point:

This is the dumbest move @nike has ever made in the history of its brand. pic.twitter.com/KshvmdGajT

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 3, 2018

Is Clay Travis black, or white?  Three guesses, and the first two don't count.

Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j

— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018

Same question for John Rich.  Same answer, too.  And this part of the blowback is absolutely hilarious.  Having bought Nike's expensive merchandise, the way to protest them is to destroy it?  Me, I'd take it to my local charity/resale store, and buy a competitor's brand, if I was so offended (I'm generally offended by Nike's prices, frankly).

So, who is Nike appealing to?  White country singers who won "The Apprentice" and buy as many Air Jordans as he can?  Sound guys for the country singer who buy Nike socks?  Well, I'm sure Nike appreciates their business, but will Nike really suffer if these guys stop buying?  Or if they keep mutilating the Nike product they've already bought?

Maybe they'll spawn a protest of buying Nike stuff just to tear it up.  Yeah, that'll teach 'em to put a black man in an ad campaign!

First the @NFL forces me to choose between my favorite sport and my country. I chose country. Then @Nike forces me to choose between my favorite shoes and my country. Since when did the American Flag and the National Anthem become offensive? pic.twitter.com/4CVQdTHUH4

— Sean Clancy (@sclancy79) September 3, 2018

 

I'll answer your question if you can answer mine:  when did kneeling become offensive?