It’s probably one of the most bizarre and controversial sports stories in recent memory. That’s saying a lot too because USWNT Captain Megan Rapinoe reportedly said that she would not go to the “F—king White House,” if they won the World Cup and the NBA free agency frenzy has been off the charts over the last week.
But leave it to Colin Kaepernick to stir the pot and he did so again recently when he forced Nike to nix their celebratory July 4th sneakers with a Betsy Ross Flag emblazoned onto the shoe because he said it invoked racism given the time period.
However, those Nike Betsy Ross shoes are available after all but you’re going to have to pony up a lot of dough before you can get them.
It’s been almost three years since disgraced former quarterback Colin Kaepernick first kneeled during the National Anthem and while most flew to the defense of his protest because they claimed it was in response to police brutality against minorities; others found his actions to be incredibly offensive because we all have families that put their lives on the line daily so that we can enjoy American freedoms.
Nike is Kaepernick’s biggest endorsement. They made the embattled former San Francisco 49er the face of Nike’s 30th anniversary of the advent of their “Just Do It,” slogan.
Some reports said the gargantuan worldwide apparel brand kept Kaepernick on payroll even after he was out of the league for two years because they had been planning for that moment.
While many boycotted Nike for their decision, Nike sales and its stock continued to rise, much to the surprise of many. Then Nike decided to double down and shotgun an American-themed Kaepernick shoe with a Betsy Ross flag on the heel – the flag with thirteen stars that signifies how many colonies joined forces to defeat the British during the Revolutionary War.
Kaepernick forbid Nike to sell the shoe even after they had already distributed thousands of pairs to apparel stores nationwide just in time for the Fourth of July.
The Wall Street Journal reported, “After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.”
But you may be able to get them even after Kaepernick forced his hand into the controversy.
Newsweek reports, “While the company’s decision sparked a cultural discussion about the significance of the flag and the history of the country, buyers rushed to purchase the shoes, and the price quickly ticked upward. A pair of the ‘Betsy Ross’ sneakers reportedly sold for $2,500 on e-commerce website StockX after Nike announced that it would be pulling the shoe.”
In fact, on Saturday, one pair of the shoes showed 101 bids and the offer was $15,200.
The seller, Isaiah Miller, told Newsweek, “I have never seen so many watchers or views, and it has to be the hottest item on eBay right now. Call it patriotism, the need to have something you have been told you can’t have, or just a desire for shoe or antique collectors (these could be historical one day), they are paying amazing amounts.”
It’s unclear how he got a hold of these shoes.
And much to everyone’s surprise again, Nike’s stock continues to surge again after this second Kaepernick controversy. Nike shares have seen a 2 percent increase since Tuesday, adding nearly $3 BILLION to the shoe giant’s market value.
The total value for the company’s market value now stands at $136.38 billion.
Liberals love Kaepernick so it shouldn’t be that surprising.