* By Jill Wagner* As Colin Kaepernick’s new Nike ad continues to divide the country, one former NFL player says, in the end, sports will help reunite it. Randal "Thrill" Hill played for the Miami Dolphins, the Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals, and the New Orleans Saints long before Kaepernick and other players started kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial inequality. So, is he worried that the Anthem controversy will permanently damage the league? Just the opposite. Hill told Cheddar Big News, "When things go wrong in this country, the NFL and sports usually brings the country back together.” Hill points to the days after the attacks on September 11th. Professional baseball was put on hold for six days. When the season resumed, the Mets played their archrival the Braves for the first major sporting event in New York after the attacks. Mets players wore NYPD and FDNY hats, Mike Piazza hit a home run, and for many people, it felt like things would actually be okay. Then the Yankees made it to the World Series, and President Bush threw out the first pitch. Hill also talked about the Miami riots during the 1980s, and how football helped bring the city together during those troubling times. “The NFL usually brings ー and even Major League Baseball ー bring citizens of the United States together to cheer and have fun and to go out just have a great time watching a good event.” It’s still not clear how history will judge Nike's new “Just Do It” ad, which aired during Thursday night’s NFL season opener. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick voices the commercial, telling the audience to "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." The company’s stock price has dropped since Nike first revealed the new campaign and some critics have burned their sneakers. President Trump weighed in, tweeting, "Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts.” At the same time, many fans and professional athletes are showing their support, with the hashtag #JustDoIt trending on Twitter.

Share:
More In Sports
New York's Tax Rate Poses Potential Challenge to Mobile Sportsbooks
Earlier this week, New York's gaming commission approved nine mobile sports platforms to operate in the market, but each respective sportsbooks' revenue will be taxed at 51%, tied for the steepest rate in the country. Eben Novy-Williams, sports business reporter for Sportico, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell where he breaks down the challenge sportsbooks face to be profitable in the region.
Data Helping the Seattle Seahawks Win Off the Field
One NFL team says it is using data to help it win off the field. The Seattle Seahawks say they want to be a source of inspiration for other organizations that want to reap the rewards of a data-driven culture and aim to show the unlikely role data can play in professional sports operations. Seattle Seahawks Director of Business Strategy and Analytics Paimon Jaberi joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Another Week of College Football Playoff Shakeups
Mark Drumheller, Betting Analyst for the Sharp App, tells viewers who to back in a pair of key college football matchups and shares who to put your Heisman bets in for before it's too late. Sponsored by BetMGM
NFL Mid-Season Awards
Martin Weiss, Extra Points Podcast Network Host and Gambling Personality, provides his betting insight on what to expect for the remainder of the NFL season and doles out some NFL Mid-Season Awards. Sponsored by BetMGM
Betting a Big Week in the AFC
BetMGM host Olivia Harlan Dekker joins Cheddar Bets to break down a week with massive implications for the AFC Playoff picture. Plus: the debut of Olivia's Weekend Portfolio. Sponsored by BetMGM
Load More