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Why I prefer the other Nike ad no one is talking about
Nike’s mastery of grammar descriptivism is what takes their creative to another level.
A note from the author: I have zero problems or qualms with Colin Kaepernick, or the recent Nike ad I’m piggybacking on to get you to click on this article. I respect him doing his thing, and don’t have any particularly strong feelings, positive or negative, toward his ad campaign. I liked it and think it’s fine.
(The people burning their Nikes in protest and posting it on social media, though? That is objectively hilarious. True, premium comedy.)
The Kaepernick ad in question has gotten a lot of attention from political and marketing circles online for its now infamous tagline:
“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Regardless whether you agree with the implication of the message, there’s no denying it’s loaded with emotion, intention and a very specific point-of-view. It’s slightly, appropriately vague, just enough so that people are able to jump on it and run with it from a number of supporting or opposing angles. Like “IHOB” of yestermonth, it’s the type of marketing move that launches a thousand hot takes.
