MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee company says one way to fight back against the image-shaming'terrible city' comments from ESPN - is to "own it."
The branding and graphic design shop, Rev Pop, is now offering a shirt for Milwaukeeans to wear to join in. Written front and center on the t-shirt: "Loyal citizen of Terrible City - Milwaukee, Wisconsin."
The company says on its website that "We’ve got the best damn city in US of A. No one knows yet and let’s keep it that way so we don’t overpopulate."
The shirts are unisex recycled t-shirts, made from 100 percent recycled fabric, Rev Pop says.
And - all profits from the shirt sales will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee.
One shirt costs $35 and they range between five sizes.
The 'terrible city' comment from ESPN's First Take
It appears some of ESPN's First Take personalities are not big fans of taping the show from Milwaukee for the NBA Finals.
Former NFL offensive guard Damien Woodyasked during a recent episode for commentator Stephen A. Smith's views on going to the cities in the finals, saying "do you really want to go to Milwaukee? Is that where you want to be?"
The remaining cities in the playoffs are Milwaukee, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Smith responds with a "hell, no."
Host Molly Qerim Rose then joined in saying, "you know what I just thought about, which is actually kind of funny? The only two times, the one time I didn't go to the Super Bowl was Minnesota, and this is the first year - I'm not sure what our plans are for First Take - but I don't think we're going, Max and I, we'll see."
"And it's going to be terrible cities. I mean, good karma for me on that end," Rose stated.
Fellow host Max Kellerman responded, "terrible cities? Molly didn't mean that."
Smith then interjected: "There is breaking news here. I don't believe either of them are going to win their respective series. But I don't believe I've ever rooted for Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks or the Los Angeles Clippers, more in my life."
Smith continued on Atlanta and LA: "All I know is this: when you get to those locations, it's worth the flight."
It was also Smith who predicted last Monday that the Bucks would defeat the Hawks in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On Wednesday, Rose tried to walk back her comments on the show, saying "I got nothing bad to say about Milwaukee. I got a lot of calls. I hear it is a great city."
