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Sports
WNPR News sports coverage brings you a mix of local and statewide news from our reporters as well as national and global news from around the world from NPR.

Colin Kaepernick And Nike

Connecticut Public Radio | By Betsy Kaplan
Published September 5, 2018 at 8:19 AM EDT
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Colin Kaepernick
Afagen / Google Images
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Pat Duggan - Creative Director and Copy Chief at Adams & Knight in Avon.
Chion Wolf / WNPR

Nike is catching a lot of press for selecting former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the face of a new "Just Do It" ad campaign. 

The reaction that followed was as you'd expect in a polarized America - split between Trump supporters angry that football players would kneel during the national anthem and Kaepernick supporters who applaud his courage to kneel against police brutality and racism - even as it may have cost him his job. 

Despite threats of a boycott, sneaker burnings and at least one man cutting the Nike logo off his socks, Nike is betting that Kaepernick could be a powerful voice for social change - especially since an NFL-appointed arbitrator gave new life to Kaepernick's collusion lawsuit against the NFL. 

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Colin McEnroe, Chion Wolf, Jonathan McNicol contributed to this show.
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Betsy Kaplan
Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.
See stories by Betsy Kaplan

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