Nike is the biggest sports apparel brand in the world but if Nike continues on its current trajectory then that might change soon enough.
It was Michael Jordan that really made Nike into the brand it is today because he was the undisputed greatest basketball player in the world throughout the 1990’s and they were fortunate to land him. And then Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, Roger Federer, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook carried on the torch.
But controversial former quarterback and self-proclaimed social justice activist, Colin Kaepernick, is also endorsed by Nike and the company’s newest shoe featuring the ex-49er will celebrate a disgraceful anniversary.
You might remember in September 2018 when the global apparel brand released its 30th anniversary commercial advertisement of the “Just Do It” slogan featuring disgraced quarterback Colin Kaepernick saying, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
As it turned out, Nike had retained the quarterback since 2011 despite not having played in two years (to that point) and surprisingly the company’s stock soared instead of sinking considering many boycotted the company in the wake of promoting the controversial figure.
But a lot has changed over the past year.
Firstly, Kaepernick’s friend and supporter, rapper and music mogul Jay-Z, went into business with the NFL through his company, RocNation, to promote “social justice issues.” Kaepernick allegedly viewed this as a slap in the face.
Following that news, where many in sports media viewed Jay-Z as a turncoat, Kaepernick was sanctioned a workout by the NFL to showcase his talents for all 32 teams, which they were invited to in Atlanta, Georgia on a Saturday in early November.
Only 7 teams sent scouts to view Kaepernick – the Kansas City Chiefs sent an intern – but no team called, and it looks like the league is finally done with the embattled former quarterback.
Do you see a pattern? Even liberals are growing tired of this charade. Just move on because there’s no way he’ll play in the NFL ever again. It’s over.
But Nike is still riding the Kaepernick train as hard as they can but at this point it might just finally backfire.
This time, Nike is preparing another polarizing Kaepernick shoe release, a Nike Air Force 1 low sneaker, that commemorates the date he first kneeled for the National Anthem to protest against this great country.
The shoe’s design was noted as, “This special edition Nike Air Force 1 comes dressed in a Black and White color scheme. It features a Black leather upper, a gradient-faded Swoosh on the sides completed with several personal details. A hangtag with Kaep’s number 7 atop a white midsole and icy translucent outsole with the date Colin first took a knee in protest ‘8/14/16’ on the right shoe finishes the design.”
The shoe’s release will be December 28th and it has a retail cost of $110.
Granted, Nike executives must be thinking that it worked before so why wouldn’t it work again? What they’re not taking into account is that even diehard NFL fans have grown weary on this subject.
Nike might think this is a surefire bet but it may come back to bite them in the butt if they keep trying to force Kaepernick apparel into the market at a rapid rate like this.
They also just released a Kaepernick “Icon” jersey last year, which sold for $150 apiece and they even had to scrap their Betsy Ross flag shoes because he was furious the flag was designed when slavery was still going on.
This Kaepernick experiment has officially run its course.