Ashley Verdugo/ Staff Writer
“Just do it” was an admirable slogan that has now lost its value thanks to Nike’s careless choice.
The company recently released a new endorsement deal for the season, but the athlete they picked caused a lot of controversy. Former NFL player, Colin Kaepernick, was the face of the ad with the words “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” written across his face.
The ad is simple, yet bold and powerful. But Nike picked the wrong face.
Kaepernick is widely known for starting the trend of kneeling during the national anthem before the beginning of each game. The gesture was meant to bring awareness of police brutality and racial inequality.
NFL players started to join his protest and it became popular throughout each game. Many complained about the kneeling and Kaepernick was the face of the movement.
After much controversy Kaepernick’s contract was not renewed by any time for the next season. And though he blames it on politics, his poor stats speak for themselves.
Football is the only thing that Kaepernick sacrificed. Is it worthy of praise? Not really.
Kaepernick’s movement was inspirational, he wanted to use his platform to bring awareness to a social issue important to his community. But in the end it degraded into cheap politics.
And Kaepernick himself doesn’t understand what he believes in. He claims to be against police brutality, yet is a big supporter of the late Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro.
Has Kaepernick picked up a history book? Castro killed anyone that disagreed with his communist movement.
People fled the country to find refuge in America. Cubans believed in freedom and sacrificed everything in order to be free.
Since the release of the endorsement, Nike has lost support. People are cutting off their logo from clothing, burning their shoes and boycotting them as a whole.
In a few months, Nike will gain customers again, but what they’ve lost is respect.
Kaepernick isn’t brave or an inspiration. He has no idea where he stands on values because what he believes in and what he’s fighting for are complete opposites.
Kaepernick is no hero and Nike should think long and hard before endorsing a nobody next time.
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Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash
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