The "full-court pressure" employed by new Nets coach John
Calipari in obtaining rights to the slogan "Refuse to Lose" is
examined by Golden & Armstrong in the BOSTON GLOBE. While
Calipari has received preliminary approval for a trademark from
the U.S. Patent Office and has greatly profited from the slogan,
he reportedly was not the first person to conceive of the wording
or its marketing potential. Duke University women's tennis coach
Jody Hyden last year sold Calipari the rights to the slogan for
$3,500 after an alleged threat of legal action. The GLOBE's
Golden & Armstrong also report Calipari has not yet licensed
"Refuse to Lose" because inquiring companies cannot afford his
price tag. Meanwhile, UMass Sports Information Dir Bill
Strickland said school officials have "no problem" with Calipari
profiting from the slogan. Strickland: "I don't think anybody
begrudged him that. John had designed the UMass logo, and never
took any credit or compensation. If he had ever gone and
trademarked that, he would have done very well." The Nets plan
to put the slogan on some merchandising, but UMass officials
expect Calipari will let them continue to use it for free (BOSTON
GLOBE, 7/18).
