Monday, September 02, 2002
Taking Umbrage Section
Sports firm says sorry for 'Nazi' training shoes
Sportswear manufacturer Umbro expressed regret when condemned by Jewish advocacy groups for naming a new athletic shoe "Zyklon." Zyklon B was the poison gas that was used to kill prisoners in World War II concentration camps.
"Umbro regrets this oversight by our research department, which has been hobbled by recent budgetary cutbacks. We plan to pull the product from store shelves immediately," said company spokesman Otto von Bruscht. Other Umbro products facing recall are the company's "Big Oven" soccer shorts, the "Kristalnacht" cross-training shoe, and its new line of swastika-emblazoned flags.
