“They did not tell me it was coming,” Woods said. “When corporate does things that are outside of golf and outside of my realm,…
“They did not tell me it was coming,” Woods said. “When corporate does things that are outside of golf and outside of my realm, that’s what they do.”
Nike’s swoosh logo was omnipresent on hats, polos and spikes for golfers at Aronimink Golf Club.
Tony Finau, the leading candidate to be the final Ryder Cup pick for the U. S. team, said the Nike campaign with Kaepernick “definitely stands out.
“As far as Kaepernick and all that’s concerned, we all have the freedom of speech and he’s using it in a way that’s non-violent which is something you just have to respect as an American,” he said. “They came out with a campaign that they feel is who they are. As an athlete of theirs, it’s not my job to agree or disagree with whatever they do.”
Kaepernick’s deal with Nike for the 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign was the most polarizing issue in sports this week, prompting heated debate on several topics including athletes protesting social injustice and Nike wading into political waters. Some fans responded to Kaepernick’s sponsorship deal by cutting or burning gear with Nike’s signature swoosh logo. Others argued the backlash to the campaign and calls for a Nike boycott showed how the debate has morphed well beyond how athletes try to highlight issues like racial inequality and police shootings of unarmed minorities.
President Donald Trump, a critic of protests during the anthem, tweeted Friday, “What was Nike thinking ?”
Serena Williams, who will play her in ninth U. S. Open final, said last week at the tournament that she was proud of Kaepernick. He was in Flushing Meadows to watch Williams play.
“I think every athlete, every human, and definitely every African-American should be completely grateful and honored (for Kaepernick),” she said.
Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
PGA Championship winner and two-time U. S. Open champ Brooks Koepka said the biggest winner might be the publicity sparked for Nike.
“I mean, let’s put it this way, their name is in the paper and people are talking about it,” he said. “So Nike is doing what they want to do.”
