So, I was thinking about Pat Riley the other day. You know, you see pictures of him, always looking intense, sharp. Sometimes folks associate that look with, well, maybe a cigar back in the day, that whole powerful vibe. But what really got me thinking wasn’t just the look, it was how sharp the guy actually is, way beyond the court.
Thinking Ahead
I dug into something I remembered hearing about him, and it’s a perfect example of seeing things others don’t. It’s about that word, “three-peat”. We all know it now, teams chasing that third championship in a row.
Here’s the rundown of what I pieced together:
- Back in the late 80s, Riley was coaching the Lakers. They were trying to win their third straight NBA title. Big deal, right?
- Apparently, some folks on the team, maybe Byron Scott was mentioned, were talking about winning three in a row, maybe tossing around phrases.
- But it was Riley, Pat Riley, who saw something bigger. He didn’t just hear a locker room phrase; he saw a brand.
- So, what did he do? He went out and actually got the trademark for “three-peat”. While his team was still trying to achieve it!
The Business Move
Now here’s the kicker. The Lakers? They didn’t even win that third championship in ’89. Got swept by the Pistons. But Riley? He still owned “three-peat”.
And it wasn’t just for fun. Checked it out, and his registrations cover using “three-peat” on all sorts of stuff:
- Hats
- Jackets
- Shirts
- Even things like energy drinks, mugs, posters, backpacks… you name it.
He licensed it out later, like to the NFL. Made bank from it, I bet. It’s just wild to me. While everyone else is focused purely on the game, he’s playing chess, thinking about the business side, the long game. Seeing an opportunity in a simple phrase and locking it down.
That’s a different kind of intensity, right? Not just courtside yelling, but sharp thinking way outside the box. Just something I observed and thought was pretty interesting to share. Shows you gotta look beyond the obvious sometimes.
