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

Calling the police racist is not acceptable. It's outrageous and untrue and totally disrespectful.

Anyone else think this ad has the same vibe as the Lance "what am I on" ad?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIl5RxhLZ5U

I think Nike should bring back Lance Armstrong. That should go over really well on LR. Right?

John Utah wrote:

XX-chromosomed non-genuflector wrote:

1. Racism is inherent in all societies. While it doesn’t make racism in the US acceptable, it certainly makes it not unique.

2. They’re garnering media attention, but really only for themselves. They’re getting applause from people who like to mouth off about injustice instead of actually doing something about it, and getting the rest either riled up or merely bored. What exactly is accomplished?

3. I’m not a republican. I do however support societal mores that promote national cohesiveness. I stand during the anthem. I also volunteer with kids who are at risk for tragic encounters with the police. Does Kaepernick? I don’t know, which is why I ask. Do you?

Calling the police racist is not acceptable. It's outrageous and untrue and totally disrespectful.

I didn’t say it was. I screwed up the quote nesting in my last post.

Back in the olden days, companies like Nike would buy ads on TV and in magazines. From Spike Lee to Bo Knows, these ads would make or break sales for the company. All that was needed for the ad campaign to be successful was enough TV time and magazine space and a smart, catchy or funny ad.

Now, ads in traditional media do not do anything. Fewer and fewer people watch network TV and read print media. Everyone advertisers want to influence is on social media now. But ads on social media do not work because of ad blocker and the fact that people are generally oblivious to banner ads and sponsored posts on social media. So, now the way to get a big advertising push is to go viral on social media. It is all anyone in advertising talks about these days. Nike very adroitly has exploited the tension over the national anthem at the start of the NFL season with its CK ad campaign and is trying to keep it going with a pro LGBT campaign based on Caster Semenya. I have never seen the CK ad campaign anywhere other than in the news and on social media. So, the campaign is a huge success.

The hottest thing in the shoe market right now is "athleisure". Nike is gunning for this market in a big way. This market is predominantly young, single and urban. This market is not looking for shoes that go well with a red Make America GA hat. The market for functional athletic footwear is largely stagnant. The marathon boom is over. Other fitness fads (crossfit, yoga, HIIT, spinning, etc) are not dependent on any specific footwear. Participation in sports like tennis and golf are waning in the US. So, any loss of market share due to political preferences is going to be minimal for Nike.

And if Nike's main market was for orthopedic shoes for men in their 60s, they would have ads with Sean Hannity and Tim Tebow. Nike is purely a profit machine and does not care at all about politics.

What does Nike have against women’s sport?

sounds more masculine than me wrote:

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

Have you had your chromosomes tested?

The politicization of sports, which began in 1936 in Nazi Germany, is a cancer on sports like PED abuse. Nike ads are a seductive abomination much like Lena Riefenstahl's films glorifying Nazi athleticism.

Take a knee! Sieg Heil! Don't ask what it is really about!

I love xx’s wrote:

What does Nike have against women’s sport?

+1

Nike is doing nothing but following the Madonna school of promotion.

Do something you know will stir up controversy, generate plenty of promotion via news outlets and "interest groups" and watch the free advertisement flow.

For anyone young that doesn't remember, google Madonna and her like a prayer video. Worked like a charm.

Updown wrote:

The politicization of sports, which began in 1936 in Nazi Germany, is a cancer on sports like PED abuse. Nike ads are a seductive abomination much like Lena Riefenstahl's films glorifying Nazi athleticism.

Take a knee! Sieg Heil! Don't ask what it is really about!

Yep.

For years people screamed that corporations weren’t people and shouldn’t be allowed to donate money to politicians, but on the other hand these same people want corporations to take political stands by firing employees, refusing to do business with other people, pulling ads, etc. At the same time, others want them to donate to campaigns but stay silent on issues.

Corporations like Nike have contracts with a variety of people and private and public entities. They should remain neutral in these issues as to not imply endorsements from their many partners, such as colleges and individual athletes.

Citizens united - corporations are people. Crazy liberal idea decided by liberals on the Supreme Court.

It's madness isn't it.

You'd have thought a giant company like Nike, armed no doubt with a massive marketing budget would have done a comprehensive analysis and worked out that most people buying their gear are going to be of the younger generation and thus more left leaning on social issues of the day, and therefore behind these causes, and it would therefore be financially rewarding through increased sales to align the corporation with those viewpoints.

But no, the muppets should be pandering to 40 / 50+ old men, who're still wearing the same running vests / worn out shorts they've been wearing for the past 15 years.

Moran's.

The deplorables think that they have buying power. NIKE DOESNT NEED YOUR MONEY. I can't wait until they present an ad bashing the NRA. Nike is a global company that has already figured a way around the deplorable dollar. Very smart business move. Global acceptance is so much bigger than the Trumpsters understand.

MRMRMRMR wrote:

Why are they intentionally trying to offend people?

What part of these ads is offensive?

I enjoyed the add - found it very inspirational. It’ll be too bad if they deem her not worthy of professional athletics, she’s a helluva’ runner.

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.

Well you were born without a brain

CAS is the Court of Arbitration for Sport.