Colin Kaepernick has become a household name over the last couple years. The former NFL quarterback earned his infamy when he chose to kneel during the national anthem. It was an act that he claims to have done to protest "systematic racial injustices."
However, if you ask the rest of America, many would tell you how disgusted and appalled they were at his act of disrespect. every color of soldier bled so that we could be free. For him to kneel at the moment we are honoring all those who have fought, will fight, and have died for that flag was completely despicable.
Shortly after his extremely public display of protest, Nike chose to make him the face of their company. An act that prompted many Americans to boycott the company. As if that isn't bad enough, the sports company's commercial featuring Kaepernick has now won an Emmy Award for being an "outstanding commercial."
“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” Kaepernick said in the commercial, “Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough."
Here is the ad:
The “Dream Crazy” commercial, which also referenced star athletes such as Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Shaquem Alphonso Griffin, highlighted people who aspire to go beyond athleticism and be the best in the world at what they do.
A report from Edison Trends said the company’s online sales grew 31 percent the week the campaign launched. The surge was stronger than the 17 percent increase recorded last year during the same period, the report stated.
“There was speculation that the Nike/Kaepernick campaign would lead to a drop in sales but the data does not support that theory,” the company said in a statement.
Hey Nike, why not represent a real hero? Perhaps the officer who rescued several people on 9/11 before losing his own life. The same officer who was photographed tired, helping a woman, while wearing the Nike logo. That's what I call believing in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.
I saw this officer's gloves & thought of the irony of Nike's Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything ad.
This was taken before his 4th trip back into tower #2, he died & left behind a wife & child.THIS man believed in something and sacrificed everything. pic.twitter.com/ji31cfMalx
— Big D (@DDFJ77) September 11, 2019
Despite his part in the popular ad, Kaepernick, who has been under contract with Nike since 2011, was recently at odds with the company. He reportedly took issue with the brand's use of Betsy Ross’ U.S. flag design on its new Air Max 1 USA.
Kaepernick reportedly complained because he felt the use of the Betsy Ross flag was offensive and carried slavery connotations, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
“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," WSJ reported.
All I have to say about that is: 'If you give a mouse a cookie."