Nike doubles down on controversial Just Do It ads - 1st Colin Kaepernick, now they've released one featuring Caster Semenya

My thoughts on the ad is simple. Much like the Kaepernick one, it's really well done as are most Nike ads. The problem I have with it is its pulling on emotions and not good logic. The ad says she was "Born to do it." Well if someone is born a paraplegic, they are born to compete wheelchair category of athletics. However, we don't let them race able-bodied runners because they would win every major marathon in the world. It's an unfair advantage to have wheels in a marathon. The same thing is true in terms of testosterone in women's athletics.

I mean Nike could run the same ad featuring the CT Hser who wa csompeting in indoor track as a man and then winning a state title as a woman outdoors.

In my mind, Semenya is truly intersex so unless there is a third category, hormone treatment is the best option.

"She" sounds more masculine than I do and I'm a male.

Ha ha, you guys are all amateurs - Nike is out-trolling you all! And it's hilarious...

rojo wrote:

Note: Please be respectful. Posts calling Semenya a "he" will be deleted. While I think that someone that is xy chromosonally, has internal testicles and no ovaries should not be allowed to compete in the women's category of professional athletics without treatment, I feel Semenya the person is worthy of respect. If I was born without a male sex organ, I'd be pretty irate if people were calling me a he.

I see similar things to that posted all the time on here. How does everybody know this? Is it assumed? Was that information actually released/confirmed by her?

Seems weird that Nike would go so hard into the culture wars. Long way from MJ saying something like "Republicans buy sneakers, also".

Brilliant. Exploiting divisive individuals in protected classes is a cheap and efficient way to market your products.

Why are they intentionally trying to offend people? Free publicity I guess.

I didn't care about the Kaepernick ad or story at all, I will always buy Nike products because they are good products. But it's offensive that they keep trying to insert politics into their marketing. At the end of the day they sell shoes. Their number 1 goal is to sell shoes.

Just make a good product and stop trying to sell us a narrative about who and what we should believe in.

Brilliant!

Where's that VIPRAM character? Can't wait to read his dummy spitting views on "real women" being put out by society changing quicker than he can handle.

Well done Nike!

rojo wrote:

. The problem I have with it is its pulling on emotions and not good logic. .

I missed the memo about advertising being about logic, good or bad.

rojo wrote:

https://twitter.com/caster800m/status/1039417826518491137

Thoughts?

Note: Please be respectful. Posts calling Semenya a "he" will be deleted. While I think that someone that is xy chromosonally, has internal testicles and no ovaries should not be allowed to compete in the women's category of professional athletics without treatment, I feel Semenya the person is worthy of respect. If I was born without a male sex organ, I'd be pretty irate if people were calling me a he.

Nike does not give a whit as to:

1.) Whether CK kneels or not, or whether anyone else does (now that he's persona non grata in the NFL).

2.) Whether CAS runs in the women's races or not.

They are business opportunists, taking advantage of the free publicity they are getting. Whether the stock prices tanked initially, they know they will rise, and rise faster as a result. They are betting on the probability that their sales and stock prices will increase more, even as they lose some customers. Remember............there is no bad publicity. I do agree with you about CAS, but Nike's actions will not affect any of my product purchasing decisions, as I don't own or buy anything Nike to begin with.

So, in other words, Lebrons visit to Berlin was orchestrated.

In this country they have every right to say what they want, even if I find it to be appalling. That's what free speech is all about and it's our most important freedom.

And I have every right to switch brands.

God bless the USA

83% of Nike stock is held by institutions, i.e., old white guys. These guys don't care about social justice or equality. All they care about are financial projections.

If they think this is a good financial move by Nike, they'll continue to hold the stock. If they think that Nike has jumped the shark and its high PE ratio is no longer justified, they'll sell. When 83% of your stock is held by institutions, it only takes a little selling to affect the 17% of stock that's available for trading.

I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't buy Nike shoes or gear because it's overpriced. I don't care about what a multi-millionaire ex-NFL player does to make a living.

I am interested in watching to see what happens. I can't remember a company taking such a high visibility position on a social issue. Mutual funds tend to dress up their portfolios at the end of each quarter. I'm curious to see if mutual funds lighten up their Nike holdings in the final quarter.

Neither represents me, which would be OK because I buy my shoes based on what I like to run in and not my politics, but I don’t see why Nike is purposely pushing a controversial agenda. I guess there’s the whole “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” notion, but still. Most American athletes respect our flag, and most female athletes don’t compete with the benefit of a set of testes. How about we celebrate those to whom I he majority of other aspiring athletes can look up to?

I don’t relate to what Kaepernick does in pursuit of his pet agenda, and I certainly don’t relate to how awesome it would be to run with all of Semenya’s testosterone. As an American, I wouldn’t want either to represent my country at the Olympics, for example. I wouldn’t want Kaepernick’s antics on the medal podium, or US accomplishments questioned because of Semenya’s unfair advantage. So why would I buy anything from a company that chooses them to represent its values?

Not really gonna help or hurt their business as of now. The message is more clear that Nike is going to be with a liberal stance, which is pretty in line with A) they are in Portland and B) their most popular sponsored athletes are not white

Some brands are positioning as a conservative brand. It’s a combination of their market consumer, location, and brand ethos.

Also, they are two very very different controversies. Don’t bundle them together.

They ARE NOT disrespecting the flag, nor servicemen. They are here highlighting the inherent racism in US society. Stop changing the narrative to suit your republican propaganda.

I'll agree that many conservatives mistakenly think that these losers like Kaep are intentionally disrespecting the military. They are not. They are specifically disrespecting and calling out law enforcement, which is just as bad if not worse.

POY

rojo wrote:

My thoughts on the ad is simple.

My ONLY problem with Nike is their inconsistency. Someone earlier mentioned how slip-lasting was the most important thing on earth, until it became too costly to implement.

Then Free shoes are the most flexible ever, and that's all you need, until the Vaporfly doesn't flex at all, and that's the only thing you need. Then it was low profile racers, then, the Vaporfly again.

They're a bit like GM. They just saturate the market with a million products, so you can find something that works for you. You can't listen to them, though, they're always wrong.

And, Adidas owns them, really.