Did Adidas Nazi This?

Context Is King, Content His Bling

The soccer universe is having a herzinfarkt over sportswear über-monstrum Adidas’ new uniform for the German national men’s team with the number 44 resembling the logo of the infamous Schutzstaffel (SS) of Nazi Germany. The symbol is banned in Germany and is a disturbing, if inadvertant, reminder of the hate and violence now inflicted on us by those who believe people can be any color they want — as long as they’re white.

Most Medium readers only know who the Nazis were from History Channel marathons and Trump fan sites. But the crimes Hitler’s psychominions committed on the planet 90 years ago still resonate, especially as America’s fascisti prepares to anoint its own 21st century Der Fauxrer.

As a video and graphic artist who ran his own marketing firm for 20 years, I’m again reminded of the power of symbols and images. And how irresponsible and gullible humans are.

As a soccer player and fan, I now better understand the impact of the athletes as moving billboards, and the responsibilities of team executives as brand managers. And again, how irresponsible and gullible humans are. Adidas says they had no idea of the resemblance and there’s no evidence they‘re secretly courting the radical-right wing of football fandom. Nonetheless, opponents will use this to remind us of…