In the 1980’s Nike placed a bet on a rising young superstar named Michael Jordan. It made billions.
In 2023, Nike placed a very different bet — partnering with Dylan Mulvaney.
Today, Nike has lost roughly $224 billion in market value over five years and is being dropped from the S&P 100.
Coincidence? Maybe. But let’s hope the NFL and Major League Baseball are paying attention.
This didn’t have to happen. All Nike had to do was look around and observe. Hollywood and Bud Light were two examples staring them in the face. Yet the brand that heroically celebrated athletic achievement, suddenly insisted on preaching a political agenda. It’s paying a steep price.
Decades ago, Jordan was asked why he wasn’t more of a political activist. His response became legendary:
“Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
Who knew that a 20-something mega-jock would be so clairvoyant?
He understood then and knows it to be true now. Little good comes from mixing sports and politics.
Word of caution to other sports entities, specifically the NFL and Major League Baseball. Beware of wading too deep into woke waters.
MLB celebrates Pride Month by having players wear rainbow-themed uniforms. Earlier this season when three SF Giants players pinned Bible verses to their Pride-themed caps on Pride Night, hysteric cries of “racists!” predictably broke out in unison. Baseball’s leadership would be well-advised to worry less about the mob minority, and instead be in tune with the silent majority. The same ones who stopped buying Nike’s and no longer watch Disney.
With MLB’s players union contract coming up for negotiation later this year, some are predicting a possible lockout and even cancellation of part or all of next season. Add heavy doses of woke nonsense to cancelled games and the combination could be lethal. It took baseball several years to regain its footing after the 1994 season was cancelled over labor disputes – and that was without the woke noise.
Same is true for the NFL. Pride month tributes are now being supplemented with male cheerleaders dressed and dancing femininely on NFL gridirons. It doesn’t take an expert to guess how that will go over with most NFL fans.
It may be cliche, but it’s also true. “Go Woke. Go Broke.” Let’s hope our major sports leagues are taking notes.
