One of MICHAEL JORDAN's most famous quotes long defined how many athletes approached political issues. "REPUBLICANS buy sneakers, too," he once said to avoid endorsing a black DEMOCRAT in the 1990 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE race. It set the tone for a generation. But that's no longer the case. Even NIKE, which sells those sneakers, is no longer apolitical. Its new ad is titled "Equality" and even if it's not meant to be a political statement, it will be interpreted that way and the company likely knows that. Any speech that could be seen as anti-TRUMP is taken that way even if it's not meant to be. The ad highlights a demographic of stars who have felt slighted or insulted by the president. As athletes get more outspoken, is it wrong to assume the companies they endorse will too? Nike must please its customers and the stars who endorse its shoes. UNDER ARMOUR CEO KEVIN PLANK ignored at least one constituency last week and it got him in trouble. Last week, WARRIORS coach STEVE KERR said modern NBA players speak out more than his generation because of a "call to duty." Sports and politics has always mixed. You can explore that in our new REDEF SportsSet: "Should Athletes Stick to Sports?" But if Kerr is right, how will their shoe and apparel companies respond since their customers are not all Democrats or Republicans? Under Armour or Nike, which example will other companies follow?... The PATRIOTS already have a copyright for their sixth SUPER BOWL win... FINLANDIA U. finally won... What power looks like, in one tweet... What the hell happened here?... I thought trading cards only came with bubble gum.