Katlyn Hall

Photo Editor

Kaepernick Isn’t Deserving to be the Face of Nike

In the early 2000s, Justin Timberlake said, “What goes around, comes back around.” I guess people in today’s society just don’t understand how to leave things alone.

Colin Kaepernick was in the spotlight last year when he decided to “peacefully” protest by kneeling during the National Anthem. The press and social media exploded with opinions on if what he did was okay or totally inappropriate.

Everyone expressed their opinions, even the President of the United States. The NFL even had a rule implemented stating that players have to stand during the anthem, or they have to stay in the locker room.

For the past couple of months, everything seemed to have cooled off. Then Nike decided to dig up even more dirt.

Nike decided to use Kaepernick as one of the faces of their ‘Just Do It’ campaign.

As if his face hadn’t already angered so many people, now the Nike symbol is doing the same.

What Kaepernick did was totally disrespectful to those who have served our country, and it seems like Nike is applauding him for it. They’re implying that what he did was so “inspirational” and he should be praised for having the courage to do it.

Some may think the total opposite. They think what he did was great and helped change our society. But it was done and over with, there was no need to bring the situation back up.

Instead of using Kaepernick, they could’ve used other athletes who actually do great things to be the face of Nike.

There are athletes like Usain Bolt who came from a very poor country and essentially helped make a name for Jamaica along with breaking track records.

Michael Phelps swam the waters with a total of 23 gold medals for team USA.

Bethany Hamilton surfed the waves before and after getting her arm bitten off in a shark attack, and she still went on to win a National Championship.

All of these athletes overcame the impossible while Kaepernick kneeled down and did nothing other than disrespect hundreds of people who work hard for this country. These are the people who deserve to be the face of Nike.

Nick Hounshell

Editor-in-Chief

Nike is Only Shining a Light, Not Choosing a Side

Colin Kaepernick. 

To some, he’s a bad person. Disrespecting soldiers, kneeling during the national anthem. 

To others, he’s a hero. Standing – figuratively – for what he believes in, willing to sacrifice all he has worked for.

No matter what you believe, whether you find Kaepernick a hero or a villain, you can’t deny that he sacrificed the future of his career for this cause. 

Before he started taking a knee, Kaepernick was on an NFL roster, he was earning plenty of money, and he was consistently playing. 

Every team has refused to sign him since.

When he was still playing, Kaepernick was by no means an outstanding quarterback. That’s not my point. 

Kaepernick still could be on an NFL roster right now, earning millions of dollars, even as a backup. 

However, he saw a cause that he believed in and he sacrificed millions of dollars in endorsements and contracts just to bring light to an injustice. 

Nike’s ad is simply praising Kaepernick for sacrificing his entire career because he did what he believed was the right thing to do. 

Simply put, I don’t see how anyone can disagree with what Nike is doing. 

Nike is not praising Kaepernick for kneeling. 

Nike is not saying whether police brutality and racism are real or not. 

Nike is only giving Colin Kapernick credit for standing up for what he believed in, even when it means losing his entire career. 

So why are we faulting Nike? Why are people cutting the logos off their socks? Why are people refusing to buy their products? 

Are we seriously going to stop buying someone’s apparel because they praised someone for standing up for what they believe in?

We’re taught at an early age that we’re supposed to fight for our beliefs, stand up to the people who do things we don’t agree with. Why should it be any different now?