September 5, 2018 The Skanner Page 7 Arts & Entertainment Colin Kaepernick’s Nike Deal Prompts Flurry of Debate Online By Rob Maaddi AP Pro Football Writer n endorsement deal between Nike and Colin Kaeper- nick is prompting a flood of debate online as sports fans react to the apparel giant backing an athlete known main- ly for starting a wave of protests among NFL players of police brutal- ity, racial inequality and other social issues. The deal unveiled by TWITTER VIA AP A pushed back, saying the backlash against Nike showed the polarizing debate has morphed well beyond whether NFL players should be al- lowed to demonstrate for social causes while the national anthem plays in stadiums before games. Country music star John Rich tweeted a pic- ture of one of his crew members holding the tops of a cut pair of Nike socks, with the caption: “Get ready @Nike multi- This image taken from the Twitter account of the former National Football League player Colin Kaepernick shows a Nike advertisement featuring him that was posted Monday, Sept. 3, 2018. Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that was set to expire, but it was renegotiated into a multi-year deal to make him one of the faces of Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign, according to a person familiar with the contract. (Twitter via AP) Nike and the former San Francisco 49ers quar- terback was a trending topic on Twitter and other social networks, with some fans urging a boycott of the company’s clothes and sneakers — even burning cutting out the signature swoosh lo- gos on their gear. Others ply that by the millions.” The tweet garnered about 10,000 retweets and 30,000 likes, plus thousands of critical comments. Rich, part of the duo Big & Rich and a former contestant of President Donald Trump’s real- ity show “The Celebri- 2019 THE SKANNER FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN ty Apprentice,” said he supported the right to protest but Nike lost his support when it en- dorsed Kaepernick. Trump, a frequent critic of protesting NFL players, did not weigh in Tuesday morning even though he has loudly urged the league to sus- pend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem, repeatedly div- ing into what has devel- oped into one of the most contentious debates in the sports world. Kaepernick’s attor- ney Mark Geragos an- nounced the endorse- ment deal on Twitter, calling Kaepernick an “All American Icon.” Kaepernick also posted a Nike ad featuring his face and wrote: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing ev- erything. (Hashtag) Just- DoIt” Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that was set to expire, but it was renegotiated into a multiyear deal to make him one of the faces of Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign, according to a person familiar with the con- tract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonym- ity because Nike hasn’t officially announced the contract. The person said Nike will feature Kaepernick on several platforms, in- cluding billboards, tele- vision commercials and online ads. Nike also will create an apparel line for Kaepernick and con- tribute to his Know Your Rights charity, the per- son said. The deal puts Kaepernick in the top bracket of NFL players Application Deadline: October 31, 2018 For more information and to download The Skanner Foundation scholarship application, go to www.theskanner.com/ foundation/scholarship Scholarships will be awarded at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on January 21, 2019. with Nike. Nike also provides all NFL teams with game- day uniforms and side- line apparel, a partner- ship that was extended in March to run through 2028. Last week, Kaepernick scored a legal victory in his grievance against the NFL and its 32 teams when an arbitrator al- lowed his case to contin- ue to trial. The quarter- back claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice. Kaepernick contends the owners violated their collective bargaining agreement with play- ers by conspiring to keep him off teams. His case hinges on whether owners worked togeth- er rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick. A similar grievance is still pending by former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, a Pro Bowl safety who joined in the pro- tests. On Friday night, Kaepernick and Reid, also now out of the league, were each given huge ovations when they were introduced and shown on the big screen AP PHOTO/TED S. WARREN, FILE Kaepernick had a deal with the apparel company that was set to expire, but it was renegotiated with embattled company’s revived ‘Just Do It’ campaign In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Kaepernick has a new deal with Nike, even though the NFL does not want him. Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, made the announcement on Twitter, calling the former 49ers quarterback an “All American Icon” and crediting attorney Ben Meiselas for getting the deal done. during a match between Serena and Venus Wil- liams at the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, the league and players union still haven’t resolved whether players will be punished this season if they choose to kneel or demonstrate during the national an- them. Owners approved a policy requiring play- ers to stand if they are on the sideline during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” allowing them to stay off the field if they wish. But the league and union put that on hold after the Miami Dolphins faced backlash for clas- sifying the protests as conduct potentially det- rimental to the team — putting players at risk of fines or suspensions.