ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported the Univ. of Kentucky "already is trying to stop other people" from using "40-0" marks on products. The school last week "sent a cease-and-desist letter to Louisville lawyer David Son, whose company is selling blue-and-white '40-0' T-shirts on his website, 40and0.com." Son, "not Kentucky, actually filed for the '40-0' trademark in February, claiming he sold his first item with the mark on it" in October '13. That is the "same time he filed for his company, 40-0 LLC, to be incorporated in the state of Kentucky before dissolving" in August '14. Brian McGraw, an attorney representing Son, said that he "has had no conversations with the university, which has demanded that all 40-0 products be pulled from his client's site" (ESPN.com, 4/1).
FOR THREE! In Indianapolis, Dana Hunsinger Benbow reports the NCAA has "purchased 3,000 Thringers," foam creations "of a hand holding up three fingers." The association this weekend will "dole out 750 to each of the four Final Four student sections to wave each time their team swishes a three." Four Butler Univ. students "are the brains behind the Thringer." The student creators were "taking the Real Business Experience class at Butler," which "required the group to create a product and bring it to market." The group "created a company, Freelance Foam, and then manufactured the Thringer." Butler first "bought 250 Thringers to give to the 'dawgpound' student section at basketball games." NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Managing Dir Joan Scott "decided she liked the product, too." The deal to sell 3,000 Thringers to the NCAA "was inked about a month ago" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/2).
T-SHIRT TREK: In Dallas, Sean Lester reported local printing company Pony Xpress Printing Solutions last night sent "between 6,000 and 7,500 Final Four T-shirts to Indianapolis." The shirts are "expected to arrive at noon" today, "just in time for the big weekend." The company is working "through NCAA licensee Wildcat Retrobrands." This year the company is "printing Michigan State-specific shirts and Final Four-specific shirts for the Wisconsin-Kentucky and Michigan State-Duke national semifinals." The company "will have a close eye on Kentucky’s run toward a perfect season," as it is "holding 2,000 Kentucky blue shirts that are ready for printing should the Wildcats win the national championship" (DALLASNEWS.com, 4/1).
