Nike, the sportswear company, has apologised after issuing a St Patrick's Day-themed training shoe which raised memories of a British paramilitary unit notorious for terrorising Irish Roman Catholics in the 1920s.
The $US90 limited edition "black and tan" sneakers were put on sale in the United States in time for this weekend's St Patrick's Day celebrations, a popular and often alcohol-filled holiday for millions of Irish Americans.
Officially named the SB Dunk Low, Nike said that it had nicknamed the "beer-themed" shoe the Black and Tan because its colours were reminiscent of a pint of Guinness mixed with Harp pale ale. Irish Americans protested that the name evoked memories of the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, known as the Black and Tans for their makeshift uniforms, which carried out a brutal oppression of Roman Catholics between 1920 and 1921.
One critic said that naming the trainer Black and Tan was so "insensitive" it was comparable to calling it al-Qaeda.
Advertisements for the trainer read: "'Tis the season for Irish beer and why not celebrate with Nike. The Black and Tan sneaker takes inspiration for the fine balancing act of a Stout [Guinness] on top a pale ale [Harp] in a pint glass."Retail displays in stores throughout the country describe the shoes as "Black and Tans". A spokesman for Nike said: "This month Nike is scheduled to release a version of the Nike SB Dunk Low that has been unofficially named by some using a phrase that can be viewed as inappropriate and insensitive. We apologise. No offence was intended."
The Black and Tans were First World War veterans recruited by the Royal Irish Constabulary as temporary constables and deployed in Ireland to help suppress the IRA uprising which led to the formation of the Irish Republic.
They became infamous for their brutal treatment of civilians including women and children, burning and sacking towns and villages in revenge for IRA assassinations.
The Daily Telegraph, London
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/s ... z1p3VvFYI4
History not Nike's strong point.
History not Nike's strong point.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Fucking idiots. Were their marketing people completely asleep at the switch? One of the first rules of naming new products is research to make sure that the proposed name doesn't have any negative associations. In the age of Google this should have been a no brainer to catch and avoid.
They might as well have produced a red shoe and called it Bloody Sunday.
They might as well have produced a red shoe and called it Bloody Sunday.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
And since when has Harp lager been a Pale Ale?
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
I thought Harp larger was the result of drinking Pale Ale.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
always been Bass to my knowledge
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
In the UK it's generally made with the house Bitter.
Bass Pale Ale is the piss that the UK exports to those countries that know fuck all about beer.
Bass Pale Ale is the piss that the UK exports to those countries that know fuck all about beer.
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Lord Jim wrote:I happen to like Harp...
That is so wrong Jim!
Now go and sit in a corner in your own wrongness and be wrong.
Harp...... Bleaughhh dirty stuff
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Let me get this straight: Someone is fired up about the "nickname" of a shoe?
Somebody needs to get a job.
Somebody needs to get a job.
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Tell me that when your kid comes home wearing a pair of Osama bin Ladens.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
I suppose now you are going to say my brand new Hitlers are going a goosestep too far?
Bah!
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Should've called them "Bog Trotters".
yrs,
rubato
yrs,
rubato
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
"Paddy Pumps"
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
They might as well have issued orange sneakers. 
eta: Isn't it true that real Irish folks don't dilute their Guinness?
eta: Isn't it true that real Irish folks don't dilute their Guinness?
Last edited by BoSoxGal on Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Professional Paddies will drink 'half and half'. Half chilled and half unchilled Guinness. It ends up at the temperature it should be served at.bigskygal wrote:They might as well have issued orange sneakers.
eta: Isn't it true that real Irish folks don't dilute their Guinness?
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
That's something I'd like to try!
But far from a black & tan.
Me, I prefer all black. I sometimes order b&t, only because lots of folks have never seen one and get a kick out of the floating Guinness.
But far from a black & tan.
Me, I prefer all black. I sometimes order b&t, only because lots of folks have never seen one and get a kick out of the floating Guinness.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
Bottoms Up!
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: History not Nike's strong point.
I prefer Guiness, (as I prefer all beers ) chilled. Well chilled.Professional Paddies will drink 'half and half'. Half chilled and half unchilled Guinness. It ends up at the temperature it should be served at.
You can drink your piss warm beer to wash down your over cooked steak..
