Page 26 - Florida Sentinel 9-7-18

Sports
Kaepernick Campaign Created $43 Million In Buzz For Nike
Tampa Bay Bucs Vs. New Orleans Saints In Week 1
RYAN FITZPATRICK AND DREW BREES
The campaign is just the first step in Nike’s new part- nership with Colin Kaepernick, an extension of a deal he’s had with the company since he entered the NFL in 2011. The ad fea- tures his face along with the slogan, “Believe in some- thing. Even if it means sacri- ficing everything.” Kaepernick hasn’t been on a roster since 2016, after he started kneeling for the na- tional anthem to protest racism and police brutality in the U.S.
The image immediately drew the ire of those who view Kaepernick -- and others who joined him in protest -- as selfish million- aires who disrespect Amer- ica. Some posted videos of themselves burning Nike shoes and apparel or cutting the swoosh logo off their clothing.
Others praised the ad, in- cluding former CIA Director John Brennan, Iran’s for- mer president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and fellow Nike endorser Serena Williams. One sports gam-
Nike ad featuring Colin Kaepernick.
bling site published betting lines for Nike’s stock price at the end of the month.
President Donald Trump, one of the most outspoken opponents of the players’ protests, told the Daily Caller on Tuesday that the ads send “a terrible mes- sage.”
NFL Reaction
Nike’s renewed partner- ship with Kaepernick might create some tension between the company and the NFL.
Nike has also been the of- ficial uniform and sideline apparel supplier for the NFL since 2012, a partnership re- cently extended through 2028.
The quarterback is cur- rently suing the league, ac- cusing its owners of colluding to keep him out of the league. Last week an ar- bitrator said Kaepernick had enough evidence to take the suit to trial.
“It’s a little surprising that they would take this po- sition as the official supplier to the NFL,” Burch said. “But they’ve never been un- comfortable being contrary.”
The NFL on Tuesday said it is committed to “dialogue, understanding and unity.”
“The social justice issues that Colin and other profes- sional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action,” the league said in a statement.
The New Orleans Saints played the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers to close last year's regu- lar season, and now they host the Bucs to open this year. The Super Bowl hopefuls are try- ing to get their season off on the right foot against a Tampa Bay team trying to find its identity in an utterly stacked NFC South.
The Buccaneers, on the other hand, have an even more impactful player sus- pended. Jameis Winston will miss the first three games for the Buccaneers, so Ryan Fitzpatrick will be at the helm for the Bucs. Targets like Mike Evans and O.J. Howard should make things a bit more manageable for Fitzpatrick against an up- and-down Saints secondary,
and Peyton Barber ran the ball well the last time these two teams met. It's going to be a tough battle for the Bucca- neers, but if they can control the ball, they have a chance against a very talented Saints team. Both of these teams will be without key players. For the Saints, 2017 Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara will have to step up to start the season, as Mark Ingram is out for four games due to a violation of the league's PED policy. In- gram led the team last season with 1,124 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns rushing. What does that mean for Drew Brees and the Saints offense? A ton of swing passes and screens to Kamara to com- pensate for the decided hit to the running game.
Steelers Linemen Rip Le’Veon Bell Over Holdout
Ford Steps Up
Le’Veon Bell is losing the support of many team- mates as he fails to report to camp with the season begin- ning this week.
Center Maurkice Pouncey is particularly upset that Bell is playing games and not making it clear when he will join the team. He said the team is ready to switch their support to backup running back James Conner.
Pouncey says he’d much prefer Bell just say when he’s going to show up, even if it’s Week 10: “Why play hide and seek? Why let your agent say this? Just man up and tell us what you’re going to do.”
Left guard Ramon Fos- ter unloaded on Bell as well, pointing out how much the running back already gets paid compared to the
Police Brutality
Chargers Rookie Arrested
To Support NFL
LE’VEON JAMES
linemen who block for him. Players usually support each others’ causes when it comes to contract matters, but things have changed in Pittsburgh. The guys who have reported to the team have goals in mind and are working towards winning games. Bell is not there to join them for that effort, which is a slap in the face to his teammates. They’re now
letting him know that.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie Derwin James was robbed at gunpoint back in June while leaving a restau- rant with his uncle, and it does not sound like the men who committed the crime covered their tracks very well.
James had his Rolex watch and gold chain taken during the armed robbery, and one of the men responsi- ble tried to pawn the watch at a shop in the San Fernando Valley. Since the piece is worth $60,000, the transac- tion was flagged and police were called.
When police arrived and reviewed surveillance footage, they noticed that the man who tried to pawn the watch walked into the shop wearing the Rolex and the chain James described as having been stolen from him. One of the suspects was iden-
DERWIN JAMES
tified as 28-year-old Kevin Mitchell, and James was able to identify him in a lineup.
Mithcell was arrested, and James told police he be- lieves he was set up by two women who dined with him and his uncle before the inci- dent. James said he thinks they were in contact with the two men who robbed him the entire time, though no other arrests have been made.
Players Protesting
Man Who Robbed
On Monday, the Ford Motor Company, which owns the Detroit Lions, took a stand and pushed back on President Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric against NFL players who protest.
“We respect individuals’ rights to express their views, even if they are not ones we share,” the company said on Monday. “That’s part of what makes America great.” The company made the announce- ment after Trump on Friday urged people to protest the NFL and said owners should fire players who decide to kneel during the national an- them.
Ford has a heavy stake in the NFL with team ownership and last year entered into a three-year agreement making the Ford F-Series the league’s official truck.
Martha Firestone Ford, owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions and a member of the Ford family, fired back at Trump for his divisive com- ments.
Following Careless Move
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