Sports store that boycotted Nike gear after Kaepernick endorsement goes out of business

A Colorado Prime Time Sports store has announced it’s going out of business after 20 years, according to KOAA.

“I just can’t keep the doors open anymore,” owner Stephen Martin told KOAA.

Last fall, Martin chose to get rid all Nike merchandise in his store after the company endorsed Colin Kaepernick for an ad campaign.

“Being a sports store without Nike is kind of like being a milk store without milk or a gas station without gas. How do you do it? They have a monopoly on jerseys,” Martin said.

From KOAA:

Martin says he’s the only full service, licensed fan shop between Castle Rock and the New Mexico border. Despite having all 32 NFL team’s apparel in his store, he doesn’t have any current players’ jerseys–because of his decision to drop all Nike apparel.

He also cancelled an autograph session with Brandon Marshall at his store back in 2016, to protest Marshall’s decision to kneel during the anthem.

“As much as I hate to admit this, perhaps there are more Brandon Marshall and Colin Kaepernick supporters out there than I realized,” he added.

Martin doesn’t have any regrets, saying that he stuck to his principles and “didn’t give in to big Nike and big dollars.”

“I didn’t give in. I did it my way,” he declared.

“That part of the military respect that’s in me just cannot be sacrificed or compromised, as I believe Brandon Marshall and Colin Kaepernick both did,” he continued. “I don’t like losing a business over it, but I’d rather be able to live with myself.”

Martin is currently helping his employees find other jobs.

Watch KOAA’s report on the story below:

Featured image via screen grab

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.