Michael Jordan said it on a team bus like a joke. Nike treated it like a suggestion it could ignore.
“Republicans buy sneakers, too.” Four words. The greatest basketball player who ever lived, the man who turned a shoe company into an empire, reminding everyone that customers come in more than one political flavor. OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske put that line back in the window this week because the Swoosh just got kicked out of the S&P 100.
S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the change September 4. Nike leaves before the open on September 21, ending a run that started at the end of 2008. Nearly eighteen years as a blue-chip name. Then the stock fell far enough that the index no longer wanted it in the top hundred.
That is not a branding problem. That is a verdict.
Two Hundred Billion Dollars Walked Away
Near its November 2021 peak, Nike was worth about $281 billion. Shares touched $179.10. This week they closed around $38.10. Market value sits near $56.5 billion. Call it a 79 percent collapse. Call it more than $220 billion gone.
The company is not bankrupt. It will still slap logos on athletes and move product by the warehouse. It remains in the broader S&P 500, a point Nike’s own investor-relations shop felt compelled to memo to executives after the headlines landed. Fine. Membership in the five hundred is not the same as belonging with the hundred. One is a wide net. The other is a club for companies that still look like winners.
Leaving with Nike are Honeywell Aerospace, Simon Property Group, and Colgate-Palmolive. Walking in are Dell Technologies, Palo Alto Networks, Arista Networks, and Sandisk. The index is swapping sneakers and toothpaste for servers and silicon. Markets do that when a consumer giant stops acting like one.
Elliott Hill took over as CEO in October 2024. The stock is down more than 50 percent on his watch. He has said the results are not there yet. Shareholders already knew.
America Bad. China Essential.
In 2018 Nike put Colin Kaepernick at the center of its 30th-anniversary “Just Do It” campaign after he refused to stand for the national anthem. The message was that America oppresses. Billboards said so. Favorability took a hit. Plenty of people kept buying. Plenty of people stopped.
Then came the Fourth of July Air Max with the Betsy Ross flag. Nike pulled it in 2019 because the design might “unintentionally offend.” Offend whom, exactly? Sen. Ted Cruz said the quiet part out loud when the stock later hit a twelve-year low. Kaepernick angered him. Canceling the founding flag told him the marketing plan was America-hate. He bought different shoes. He was not alone.
In 2020 the company rolled out “For Once, Don’t Do It” and wrapped itself in Black Lives Matter. In 2023 it paid Dylan Mulvaney to sell women’s leggings and sports bras. OutKick later reported Nike’s name attached to a proposed study of transgender youth athletes. After the exposure, a Nike executive said the study “was never initialized” and was “not moving forward.” Researcher Joanna Harper said the company pulled out once critics noticed.
That is the domestic sermon. Now look east.
When Chinese consumers bristled at Nike over reports of forced labor in Xinjiang, then-CEO John Donahoe did not lecture Beijing. On an earnings call he said, “We’re a brand of China and for China.” Forty years of investment. Thousands of stores. Commitment intact.
Greater China brought in $8.29 billion when Donahoe said that in 2021. The number now is $5.85 billion. Almost 30 percent gone, including an 11 percent drop in the past year. The communist market Nike refused to scold still shrank. The American customer Nike scolded still has feet.
Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. A company that lectures one country about oppression and genuflects to another should not act shocked when the harvest comes in light.
The Hangover Has a Price Tag
Breitbart called the exit what it looks like after a decade of kneeling, flag-scrubbing, and culture-war product. Politics did not vaporize $200 billion by itself. Weak product cycles, a botched direct-to-consumer bet, frayed wholesale relationships, and Hoka and On eating lunch all belong in the autopsy. China belongs in it too.
But Nike volunteered for the extra wound. It dared half the country to take the Swoosh personally, then pretended the boycott was a rounding error.
Guy Benson put it in language any shareholder can understand. Given the plunging stock, the S&P 100 dump, and stores closing across the country, he wanted to know how much board time went to plus-size mannequins versus the things that actually built the company. He called the moment a very intense woke hangover.
From Kaepernick to Mulvaney, the decade of activism did not make Nike morally serious. It made Nike smaller.
Jordan understood the customer. He also understood the other half of the sentence Nike never wanted to hear. Republicans buy sneakers. They do not have to buy yours.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
