Nike apologies for offensive St. Patrick’s Day “Black and Tan” sneakers

Nike is a giant in the world of sports products and I doubt they are not aware of the things that might get your "Irish Up"; and I suspect the most significant factor in this promotion is the marketing demographic that is rapidly developing in the "New Ireland's" population.

Talk about a bunch of nonsense. I used to drink Black & Tans (I'd mix Guinness with Grolsch) till I went on the Storehouse Tour at the Guinness Brewery and had a real one. And I'm sure that's all Nike meant by it. Jebus, don't people have better things to worry about or get offended over?

Now if you could just get Chris Matthews to apologize for calling Al Smith, Bob Wagner and David I Walsh corrupt politicians in his Kennedy celebration, all would be right with the world. The Matthews family, by the way are longtime Republicans. Their idea of corruption is Social Security.

So d that I must immediately fall to the floor, beat my breast and ask forgiveness? It happened, it was in the past, get over it!

Shalom, The Black & Tans were the greatest anti-terrorist force the British had before the SAS. Ireland was given to the English by Pope Adrian & William of Orange was fighting on the Papacy's side at the Battle of the Boyne. The IRISH, Papist & Prod are as thick as the Rock of Gibraltar! Give it up! Rejoin the United Kingdom & obey the Papacy! How's that for a Great Irish Joke! Come here, there's more! The THICK PADDIES fought the British for 800 years to get them out of Ireland, but then the FOOLS joined Europe & there's about 100 different nationalities running wild all over Ireland, ripping the system off! Its a CRACKER!

The Black 'n' Tans were remobilised working-class British ex-servicement from WWI recruited as a form of British state terrorism to avenge 1916 - NOT a formal regiment of the BA! The Auxiliaries (or 'Auxies') were likewise remobilised British officer class WWI vets who were appalled at the excesses of their lower-class inferiors. The RIC were a locally recruited police force of RC middle-class collaboraters. The B&T's reprised IRA (not Catholic) hostilities. IRA flying columns deliberately ambushed BnT's close to hostile towns to provoke them a backlash. See English-British film director, Ken Loache's "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" for an accurate depiction of the times.

I'll never "get over" any thing the brits did. They murdered my Great Aunt and burned her cottage to the ground. I hate them brits and always will. I feel darn GOOD about it too.

As a drink I enjoy a Black&Tan. As I take it in, I bless the Irish and as I let it go; I bless the queen and all things British. Nike has just given us another way to express our feelings; and one can always find mud or a "cow pie" somewhere.

there is also a drink called black & tan

Occassio - Maith thu! (good on you) - your statement is quite close to one I made to a co-worker, little white pointy caps for the tongue of the shoe with kkk...... Sadly the lack of depth any of us go to at times to understand history and or each other is appalling. And marketing is just that, but in this day of 'multiculturalism and global' marketing the laziness of some marketers is beyond me.

Fab looking sneakers! Are we are over the top on this PC-wise? And this comment comes from someone whose grandmother's family was burned out of their home by the Black & Tans in Belfast. While we don't forget, we have to move on as well!

Think the sneakers look great..with all the publicity they'll end up a best seller for Nike !! On a more serious note we have a lot more to be worried about here at the moment !!

Thank goodness we've got over the latest insult. we'll be getting over the famine next if we're not careful.

DaileyPlanet.You are right.People are thin-skinned.Not Americans though.They are thick-skinned until you piss on their flag and say you want to kill them.Then they bomb you with freedom that kills you.

I remember a while ago that Nike put some symbols on the back of a new shoe design and the Muslims were in an uproar and found the design offensive. The show was removed. Go figure.