Nike Launches Offensive Sneakers

[Gehrig]

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Outrage-as--Nike-issue-Black-and-Tan-sneaker-line-for-St-Patricks-Day-142180103.html#ixzz1p9uYliOU

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day footwear giant Nike have launched a sneaker called, incredibly, 'The Black and Tan.'

It appears the company was totally unaware of the implications of the name for millions of Irish who connect it to the notorious paramilitary force that terrorized Ireland during the War of Independence.

It would be the American equivalent of calling a sneaker 'the al-Qaeda' said one leading Irish American.

Ciaran Staunton, President of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, stated that the Nike move left him speechless.

“Is there no one at Nike able to google Black and Tan,” he asked disbelievingly.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[KJIM]

Never heard of 'The Black and Tan.'

Are the shoes available in Ireland? I skimmed the story but didn't see it mentioned. If they are for sale there, I can see offense taken. If not, I don't see why it's an issue.

The shoes aren't too bad looking.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

A night of black and tans and Irish car bombs will take their minds off of it.

 

[Gehrig]

For anyone who doesn't know, the Black and Tans were a group of British veterans and mercenaries that absolutely terrorized Ireland during the 1920's. They were pretty much known for randomly killing civilians, often by dragging them out of their houses at night and shooting them in the street, burning and sacking whole towns and villages, even murdering catholic priests.

 

[black dude with pompano]

At the very least, Nike didn't do its research...like check the Wikipedia page for Black and Tan, which I did just out of curiosity.

 

[Azrael]

What are your thoughts on this?

That Nike should buy a "computer" with a Googler attachment so the folks down in marketing or product development can look up "history."

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

Tell the Irish to shut up and stop whining! [/zagoshe]

 

[waterytart]

Get your reservation in now for Nike's newest style: The Jackboot!

 

[Dick Whitman]

Did the Irish name their own beer cocktail after this then? Used to drink those in college when I wanted to feel sophisticated. My friends who are beer snobs would probably scoff at the concoction the way others scoff at the Olive Garden review, but that's neither her nor there.

 

[Boom_70]

Did the Irish name their own beer cocktail after this then? Used to drink those in college when I wanted to feel sophisticated. My friends who are beer snobs would probably scoff at the concoction the way others scoff at the Olive Garden review, but that's neither her nor there.

You're no better that the Nike marketing dept. Have you ever heard of Google ? :)

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

There are a lot of Irish bars that won't serve Black and Tans or Car Bombs.

Unless you're in a South Side bar. You can get anything in a South Side Irish bar. They're a different kind of Irish.

 

[Azrael]

In an Irish setting, it's likely called a "half and half."

 

[Orange Hat Bobcat]

Similar situation about six years ago after Ben & Jerry's released their (delicious) Black & Tan ice cream. From Wikipedia:

The company raised controversy in 2006 after releasing a flavor of ice cream called "Black and Tan." It had named the flavor after the alcoholic drink made by mixing stout with pale ale. However, outrage stemmed from the fact that Black and Tans was also a name given to the irregular force of British ex-servicemen recruited during the Irish War of Independence and renowned for their brutality.

And, if you're interested in the source material from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/apr/19/ireland

 

[joe]

I thought they were talking about the coon hound. Seriously.

If you're going to make a proper half-and-half, you have to use Harp (an Irish beer), not Bass (English beer) along with your Guinness.

 

[Boom_70]

I thought they were talking about the coon hound. Seriously.

If you're going to make a proper half-and-half, you have to use Harp (an Irish beer), not Bass (English beer) along with your Guinness.

Or just have Yuengling do it for you:

 

[93Devil]

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

If you want offensive, check out what Nike's paying for the shoe's labor cost.

 

[The Big Ragu]

That is perfection, right there.

 

[Iron_chet]

Hopefully they hit the Google before releasing their new athletic "brown shirts".

 

[JayFarrar]

Didn't Nike get in trouble a few years ago because the curvy font they found that looked so good as a decoration turned out to be an Arabic script and it spelled out **** or something equally offensive.