Only Now? The Army's Trying to Pull Rank on Vegas
We should be thankful this isn't a NORAD decision.
Reaction times like this wouldn't bode well in other circumstances.
When last the United States Army peeked above their bunker, they were none too keen on the new Las Vegas NHL franchise's choice of names.
Seems like they still aren't.
No. No, it's not.
Just over a year ago, before the expansion franchise for which Bill Foley paid a $500million entry fee even had a roster, the United States Patent Office 86ed the club's application to use the name Golden Knights.
The club was given time to appeal, which they did, and they made peace with the one college who cared.
Where was the US Army then?
Well, we certainly know where they are now.
Yeah, right.
Not sure what radar those dudes have been watching, but since being granted the trademark:
- The Vegas Golden Knights are smashing records for first-year expansion team success,
- Their merch has been flying outta stores since before Day One, and
- It looks like they've set a timeline they're gonna keep.
Who would argue with being even remotely associated with that sorta feelgood?
Dudes have rolled out the oldest of justifications for their claim.
Something that, incidentally, was one reason why statuatory laws in this world came to be.
It took a dive into the double-digits, but there they were:
Point 12 should give the Pittsburgh Penguins pause.
Could be time to go back to their original jersey colors if the Army ever notices.
Clearly, the Golden Knights name has more to do with Foley than it does Las Vegas and environs, but hell, after ponying up half-a-billion smakaroonies, dude should get some swag outta the whole thing.
Once they got a green light from the US Patent & Trademark Office, what would anyone expect the club to do?
And frankly, whomever he and the league hired to do the designing shot the moon. Awesome stuff.
The question, of course, is why now?
At what point does a party still try to catch a train that long ago left the station?
Maybe the precedent of Jaguar Motor Co vs Jacksonville Jaguars will come up.
That's where the British car manufacturer successfuly won a ruling that forced the Jags to change their logo. But look at what Jax initially tried to pass off as theirs:
The car company had a point.
Does the Army?
Rational minds can tell the difference.
Note, as well, which one has the right to stick a TM next to it.
It seems quite clear that the Vegas Golden Knights aren't nazis, villains, and/or anything else that would besmirch the good name of the Army's paratroopers.
And on that note ...
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The absurdity.