Well, well, well.
Ten days after Nike announced that Colin Kaepernick would be the face of its “Just Do It” 30th anniversary ad campaign, the sports apparel behemoth’s stock price closed at an all-time high on Thursday at $83.47, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Nike had previously faced a noticeable dip in its stock price in the immediate aftermath of its Kaepernick announcement, dropping nearly 3 percent in the next day of trading at the New York Stock Exchange. That fall has since been made up and more, with the current price slightly besting the company’s previous high of $83.00 from Wednesday and an earlier peak of $82.95 on Aug. 21, 2018.
LeBron James, who signed a lifetime contract with Nike a few years ago, happily greeted the news.
You’ll recall that the septuagenerian tween in the White House had this to say about King James:
Let’s review: Lebron has a lifetime stake in the all-time-high NIke, has opened a visionary elementary school whose alumni are poised to go to class and succeed, rather than join a class action and sue, and neither he, nor his business associates are currently the subject of six separate investigations and lawsuits.
While other shoes are dropping hard on some well-deserving folks in America, there is another shoe that is rising fast, just like the generation it caters to.
Nike’s investment in Kaperknick proves that it is a company that has a deeper respect and understanding about its core market--two-thirds of the company's sneaker customers are younger than 35--and apparently Nike also understands its investors, much better than an out-of-touch, semi-retired golfer, whose only daily exercise is running from the law.
Nike’s online sales spiked 31% after making Kaepernick the face of their future.
The company repositioned itself into relevance.
The buzz created by the bluster coming from the White House and the shoe-burning thought leaders who voluntarily gave Nike their money at some point and then voluntarily burned their purchases afterward, gave NIke $43 million in earned media.
Now we are engaged in a great civil wardrobe.
The battle of the hats is on.
Red Cap vs. Colin Kap.
#MAGA vs Mojo.
The Past v. The Future.
Just remember: What you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening.
versus
Just Do It: Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.
If people say your dreams are crazy...If they laugh at what they think you can do...good....stay that way.
Because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult
It’s a compliment.
Don’t try to be the fastest runner in your school or the fastest runner in the world. Be the fastest ever.
Don’t picture yourself wearing OBJ’s jersey. Picture OBJ wearing yours.
Don’t settle for homecoming queen or linebacker. Do both.
Lose 120 pounds and become an Ironman...after beating a brain tumor.
Don’t believe you have to be like anybody...to be somebody.
If you’re born a refugee. Don’t let it stop you from playing soccer...for the national team...at age 16.
Don’t become the best basketball player on the planet. Be bigger than basketball.
Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.
When they talk about the greatest team in the history of the sport, make sure it’s your team.
If you have only one hand, don’t just watch football...play it at the highest level.
And if you’re a girl from Compton, don’t just become a tennis player. Become the greatest athlete ever. Yeah, that’s more like it.
So don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough.