[ad_1]
A Nike advertisement starring Colin Kaepernick aired in the third quarter of the first day of Thursday's NFL season, a match between the reigning Philadelphia Eagles champion and the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers' former quarterback has been a polarizing character since he became the first NFL player to demonstrate racial injustice at the national anthem, and Nike's decision to use it in a major advertising campaign caught the attention of President Trump. other.
[Before NFL opener, Eagles’ Michael Bennett sits on bench near end of national anthem]
The one-and-a-half-minute ad showed a variety of athletes, including LeBron James of the Lakers and tennis star Serena Williams, and ended with the slogan: "It's just crazy to do it. Just do it. Kaepernick, who provided the voiceover for the ad and appeared late, has left the NFL since he became a free agent in March 2017 and filed a lawsuit against the NFL accusing the owners of teams to be complicit in ostracism because of its activism and its central link with the protests that some players have continued to lead.
Nike, meanwhile, is the official and exclusive supplier of NFL clothing, and its agreement with the league is expected to continue until 2028. Following the revelation on Monday that Kaepernick, who would have been under contract with Nike since 2011, would be involved in an advertising campaign, the NFL said in a statement that it "believes in dialogue, understanding and unity" and embraces "the role and responsibility of all people involved in this game to promote meaningful positive change in our communities. "
Trump, who frequently criticized the protests of the NFL players and the way the league was treating them, said Tuesday that Nike's use of Kaepernick was sending "a terrible message". On Wednesday, the president noted that Nike is being completely killed by anger and boycott, "and said he would find the league matches" hard to watch "until all the players showed up.
Kaepernick tweeted Wednesday a two-minute version of the Nike ad. In addition to James and Williams, he introduced Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge and less known athletes, including: Isaiah Bird, a ten-year-old born born fighter without legs; German boxer Zeina Nassar; wheelchair basketball Megan Blunk; The phenomenon of Canadian football Alphonso Davies; Seahawks rookie Shaquem Griffin; and triathlete Charlie Jabaley.
"If people say your dreams are crazy, if they laugh at what you think you can do, well. Stay that way, "said Kaepernick in his voiceover, before appearing on the screen towards the end of the advertisement. "Because unbelievers do not understand, calling a crazy dream is not an insult; it's a compliment. "
"He did a lot for the African-American community and it cost him a lot. It's sad, "said Williams about Kaepernick on Tuesday. "The return of a big company could be a controversial reason for this business, but it is not afraid. I think this has been a very powerful statement for many other companies. "
James, who has openly criticized Trump, shared on social media an image of Kaepernick's campaign and a two-minute announcement. In November, James had invoked Martin Luther King Jr. about the former "blackballed" quarterback, "I congratulated Kap, and for that he sacrificed everything for the good of all, for what he really believed, the greatest respect to him. "
The use of Kaepernick by Nike has led to calls for boycotts by some customers. Others have published on social media images and video footage reflecting their dissatisfaction with the company, including the etching of its products.
The National Association of Police Organizations also called for boycotting Nike for its support for the former Super Bowl participant, who stressed his opposition to police brutality, and the National Fraternal Police Order condemned the campaign. The National Association of Black Police, on the other hand, said in a statement that it "believes that the position of Mr. Kaepernick is in direct harmony with what the police represent – the protection of persons , their human rights, their dignity and their security. and their rights as US citizens, "and other police officers have already rallied to his support.
Several Eagles players have staged protests during the anthem over the last two seasons, and after some members of the team said they would not attend the traditional White House champions, Trump to dismantle the entire organization in June. Philadelphia safety Malcolm Jenkins, who raised his fist during the anthem in the past but did not do it before Thursday's game, said on Wednesday that he wanted players to protest in different ways to "bring out this conversation of the national anthem ".
Redskins cornerback Josh Norman recently criticized Kaepernick for "dodging" the persistent rage over the protests by remaining largely silent. Norman clarified his comments on Thursday, saying he did not want to "demolish what he did," adding Kaepernick, "I want to congratulate him and what he has done so far and all the things he has continued to do.
Read more about The Post:
Nike announces the return of Colin Kaepernick in the NFL, but the money blurs the message
Nike knows that the future looks like Colin Kaepernick
Nike's Colin Kaepernick's decision could be calculated. It's not false.
Nike does not try to be "awake". She's trying to sell shoes.
[ad_2]
Source link
