I made the comment in the beginning of the last post how I found it quite interesting and apropos to see these comments about a new Kobe Bryant commercial that Nike is promoting.
The reason I mentioned that was because I had recently written an article from the other point of view concerning unfair and undeserved comments that customers make about companies.
The conclusion I drew from it was this: “Your company reputation can never be about how you spin things. It is all about blending what the company really is and how it serves the customer with how people really think about you.”
The point, of course, is that no matter what it is that is said about your company, in the end, what you really are will prevail in the marketplace.
Now compare that with Nike’s comments about using
That is quite a comment if you dwell on the implications for a moment; the criteria for having somebody represent a company is the “elevated level of sports performance.” That’s the measure that Nike uses for its representatives.
“I think they’re seeing a person who’s determined, who’s focused on being one of the best basketball players and is trying to elevate his team to get back to that elite status,” he said. “Despite whatever challenges, mountains and obstacles were in his way, he’s been able to overcome it and continue to battle through it.”
“And everybody has their own crosses to bear. Mine isn’t different from anybody else’s here but we all have our crosses. The point is to pick that cross up and carry it.”
Bryant here takes up the words of Jesus and puts himself in the role of a victim. Maybe he should have included the words before the ones he quotes about taking up the cross concerning “denying oneself.” The words of Jesus concerned those who suffered undeservedly.
To be minimally in an affair with someone isn’t quite what Jesus talked about when he mentioned bearing your cross.
I wonder if the buying public will make Nike pay for this slap in the face?
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