After Kaepernick took a knee that started a large controversy in the NFL, Martin took it as a jab at the military. On Facebook, he asked friends and customers to send in photos of active duty military members or veterans. He received over 4,000 pictures and tapes them around his store, floor to ceiling.
Martin had previously cancelled an autograph signing with former Denver Branco wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, after he took a knee during a game in 2016. He recently confessed, “As much as I hate to admit this, perhaps there are more Brandon Marshall and Colin Kaepernick supporters out there than I realized.”
Since the release of this news, the store has been receiving calls calling Martin a racist and bigot. The mall called in extra security guards.
During a phone interview, Martin joked that “being a sports store without Nike is like being a gas station without gas.” He continued to say, “I didn’t give in to big Nike and big dollars. I didn’t give in. I did it my way”.
Martin made the announcement on Facebook on Monday, “PRIME TIME SPORTS is closing. All merchandise 40% OFF”. He still has five years left on his lease at the mall and owes over $60,000 in rent.
Well the man was not about his money..
