In Columbus, Doug Buchanan notes Ohio State "wants to secure rights to the word 'THE' with its latest trademark application." OSU said that it "wanted to secure the trademark for use on apparel, specifically 't-shirts, baseball caps and hats.'" The school has "about 160 registered trademarks in more than 17 countries, including commonly known terms such as Block O and Script Ohio but also former coach names such as Urban Meyer and Woody Hayes" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/14).
HEAD GAMES: In S.F., Michael Rosen notes Cal will give out a bobblehead of former QB Jared Goff at the Nov. 16 game against USC, and it is "horrifying." It marks the latest in an "increasingly long line of bouncy-headed Cal likenesses given away in recent years." Rosen: "The Goff one, though, is objectively just bad." It makes him "look as if he's just sauntered out of a nursing home" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/14).
AUDITION TIME: In Boston, Nick Kelly noted Tom Brady will "wear a new helmet this season, and it's taking time for him to adjust." His last helmet, the Riddell VSR-4, is "now banned" by the NFL and NFLPA. Brady is now "experimenting with a couple different approved models." Brady: "I don't really love the one that I am in, but I don't have much of a choice" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/13).
