Outrage as Nike issue 'Black and Tan' sneaker line for St. Patrick’s Day

Please, this whole thing is soooo stupid. Nike and the vast, vast majority of America are not offending anyone by referring to these shoes as Black and Tan. Only about fifty percent of adults would even realize it refers or could refer to the drink. Get over yourselves. It is an obscure reference and not meant to be taken in any way as the SHOE IS COLORED BLACK AND TAN YOU DOLTS. It is a name based on the colors. You are stretching sooooooo far to look for offense in this and Nike would get my respect if they said - "Please shut up, we make hundreds of varieties of shoes and there are only so many names we could come up with. If you look hard enough, you can find some obscure reference to something horrible in just about every name you come up with." Did you ever think that maybe some of the reason the hatred and stupidity continues in places like Ireland is that people cannot get over themselves and leave the hate behind? Really, drop the stupidity and stop trying to say there was some plot for Nike to offend anyone. What a stupid idea. Like a major corporation like Nike has some grievance over some obscure part of Irish history and the troubles and wants to get their 'revenge' by naming a shoe a certain way???? Yeah, and probably 90 percent of the USA population will never see this shoe, wear it or even know it exists. They make a bunch of different shoes and this is not some major sports shoe or main line item. Please. What a controversy over nothing.

I am outraged at the Republic of Irelands National Anthem. After all its called the soldiers song and a IRA song. So why play a terrorist song at a rugby match and then claim its all fair and ok. Its not when the victims of Northern Irelands troubles are about to match a game of rugby. Its a bit like playing a Nazi song to Jews. Why cant the bigots see that I cannot understand. Of course its not talked about. The protestant community in Northern Ireland are enraged by this ongoing bigotary behaviour. A few may say that the song "Irelands call" is also played. Well that doesnt make it right. First insult the protestant community and then play a second song. It will never be right until the IRA song is no longer used as a National Anthem. Its a bit like playing "The Sash my father wore" at a GAA match. (Of course we would play Irelands calling afterwards just to be fair).

I say wear them proudly! The only place a "Black and Tan" belongs is underfoot! Every time you kick a ball or pound them down by dancing them into the ground, hold that vision of divine retribution finally having its day! Purely symbolic, of course!

Being Irish and having heard all from my grandparents I can imagine that some people are somewhat perturbed by this but, there was no intent to offend and one should treat this as such, an inoffensive, silly, mistake. I actually think it's funny, really; watching all the 'hubbub' about nothing! The 'Tans were beaten and are long gone. But, please don't belittle what happened then (another issue entirely)as it was organised murder, and that is not at all funny. I bet they'll be popular with the Orangeboys ;-)

I actually don't think the shoes look so bad...just sayin'. Anyway, yes Nike should have done a little more market research on this. But it's in poor taste rather than overtly offensive. If they have any PR skill at all they could pull this one out of the fire. Maybe a nice little Irish flag - partnership with Guinness and Smithwicks - free shoes for Irish dudes, etc. etc. BTW, a Black and Tan drink and a Half and Half are different drinks. Good Luck.

Ug.

Personally, I'd be a lot more concerned over all this if the sneakers shot at you after you put them on.

What a disgrace. I have already written to Nike regarding the issue. And for any of you that don't really understand how horrific this is to the Irish people - watch a movie called "The Wind that Shakes the Barley". Several of the scenes played out in that movie were commonplace during the invasion of the Black and Tans in Ireland.

Pebbles - I agree with you - they are kind of ugly. My bet is we'll see these in the outlet shop in Killarney before too long - they probably won't do too well in the main shops - they are kind of ugly... And, can we all just take a chill pill please... They are only shoes.

Getting offended by this item suggests that one has a self-esteem issue.

I remain unoutraged.

Madeleine, Slow down. Allow your brain to engage before you allow your mouth to run! My note was to the effect that we should get our priorities right. Two colour juxtaposed should enrage a nation??? Surely that is the position of extremism.

Disgraceful! Celebrate a group that took an innocent man out to the fields and shoot him since they couldn't find his brother. He was working the farm in Strokestown, Roscommon for his blind uncle and widowed mother. His uncle begged them to take him instead but they didn't listen. If you don't believe this check the plaque honoring Michael in the church in Strokestown!

Oh, and as for those who made a comment about the "Black and Tan" drink. Well, from what I understand that actually originated in Britain. I've never heard a true Irishman order one of those, (and yes I know quite a few). Sure they serve them in alot of the pubs, because that is what the tourist want. Every Irishman I know when ordering a drink similiar to that has the good sense to call it a 'half and half".

Okay, so obviously NIKE doesn't bother doing it's research You can name it a Black and Tan, but if they are seriously doing it to be released for St. Patrick's day, well that's like a slap in the face to the Irish. But I wouldn't worry too much this shoe is flat out ugly probably won't last long.