Quarterback Tom Brady attempted to clear the air on Thursday regarding the controversy over his trademark application for the “Tom Terrific” moniker.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady peeved the New York Mets – and a number of New Yorkers in general – when news broke recently that he had filed to trademark the nickname “Tom Terrific.”
Brady has been called “Tom Terrific” for decades now, but the problem is Mets legend Tom Seaver had the nickname first. While Seaver never attempted to trademark the name for licensing or promotional purposes, Brady’s attempt to do so ignited a firestorm of controversy – particularly since Seaver recently withdrew from public life as he reportedly battles dementia.
On Thursday, Brady spoke to reporters after the second day of New England’s mandatory minicamp, and among other topics discussed, he decided to address the Mets/Tom Seaver situation head-on.
“It’s unfortunate,” Brady told members of the media when asked for a reaction to the criticism he’s faced. “I was actually trying to do something because I didn’t like the nickname and I wanted to make sure no one used it, because some people wanted to use it. I was trying to keep people from using it, and then it got spun around to something different than what it is. Good lesson learned, and I’ll try to do things a little different in the future.”
Such an answer would probably sound like a downright lie coming from just about any other professional athlete. After all, these are individuals accustomed to the limelight, who realize how important it is to market themselves and cash in on their brief careers in every way they can before injuries or Father Time force them to retire and become relatively obsolete.
Brady, however, is not like most other professional athletes. Not only is he at a point in his career where he needs to capitalize on his marketability – his place is forever assured on that front because of his various accomplishments – but he also is married to a supermodel who reportedly makes even more money than he does. Beyond all that, Brady has long shied away from basking in praise or accolades – in fact, according to TB12 himself, he’d rather not get complimented at all.
"“I didn’t want people associating me with (“Tom Terrific”)… I don’t like the nickname. I don’t like when people give me many nice compliments – certainly that. It wasn’t something I was trying to do out of any disrespect or ill manner or anything like that.”"
When or if Brady plans to actually withdraw his application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is unknown. Hopefully, though, this explanation helps mollify some of the more agitated N.Y.C. dwellers who were reportedly burning Brady jerseys in protest of the whole situation.