Quick hits
UConn star Paige Bueckers files trademark for nickname ‘Paige Buckets’
HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers has filed a trademark application to protect her nickname, “Paige Buckets,” as the NIL (”name, image and likeness”) era in college athletics kicks into gear.
Bueckers, the reigning national player of the year, submitted the application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 13 for “Paige Buckets,” a nickname playing off her last name that the bucketgetting megastar earned during her sensational debut season with UConn. The application says it is for use on “athletic apparel, namely, shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, hats and caps, athletic uniforms.”
A trademark “typically protects brand names and logos used on goods and services,” according to the USPTO.
The application was filed the day after UConn’s NIL policy went into effect July 12. An attorney from the Wasserman Media Group, an agency that represents high-level athletes including many WNBA players, was listed as the attorney of record. Wasserman has not responded to The Hartford Courant’s request for comment.
Basketball skills aside, Bueckers is nearing one million followers on Instagram and is one of the college athletes experts believe will be able to cash in most off her NIL. Following a wave of state laws (including Connecticut’s) permitting athletes to benefit off their NIL, the NCAA in July allowed college athletes an opportunity to earn their share in the billion-dollar college athletics industry.
The filing suggests Bueckers intends to start a Paige Buckets-branded clothing line. In an interview with The Courant, trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first broke the news on Twitter, said that while the federal registration process for a trademark takes about a year, Bueckers doesn’t need to wait until then to sell any “Paige Buckets” products.
According to Gerben, not only does a trademark registration allow Bueckers to protect herself from others profiting off the unauthorized use of her name or likeness, but down the line she could license it to the likes of Nike or Under Armour, who could help her produce her own clothing. — Alexa Philippou, Hartford Courant
NASCAR is changing one of its policies on wearing masks at races
NASCAR announced Tuesday an update to its COVID-19 event operations protocol at the racetrack. Starting this weekend at Watkins Glen International, face masks will be required indoors at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Indoor and enclosed areas include the media center, restrooms, the infield care center, race control and suites. NASCAR rolled back pandemic restrictions and masking requirements in the competition area at its racetracks over the last few months as COVID-19 cases declined. However, the sanctioning body’s policy reversal of not requiring masks indoors for vaccinated individuals comes on the advice of consulting physicians and recently issued medical guidance.
The latest CDC guidelines recommend that vaccinated individuals wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission to maximize protection from the Delta variant of COVID-19. NASCAR is not requiring that masks be worn outdoors when at NASCAR events, provided individuals refrain from sustained close contact, per the updated protocol.
NASCAR has also altered its plans of hosting a pre-race media bullpen with drivers indoors by moving the availability outdoors and asking visiting media members at the track to avoid close contact with fellow reporters and competitors as much as possible during pre-race, post-race and care center media engagements. — Alex Andrejev, The Charlotte Observer
Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera hits 498th home run in win
DETROIT — The ovations for Detroit Tigers veteran Miguel Cabrera keep getting louder.
The fans at Comerica Park stood and cheered in the second inning when Cabrera smoked a solo home run to right field. The home run marked the 498th of his 19-year career, putting him two away from becoming the 28th player in MLB history with at least 500 home runs.
As Cabrera inched closer to a coveted milestone, the Tigers (52-57) rode the momentum of a memorable swing and electric relief appearances for a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in Tuesday’s series opener.
Detroit is 43-33 since May 8 and 12-6 since the All-Star break.
In the fourth inning, Cabrera singled to left field.
He reached 2,944 career hits, passing Frank Robinson for 35th place on MLB’s all-time hits leaderboard. The 38-year-old is hitting .448 (13 for 29) with four home runs, 10 RBIs, five walks and four strikeouts in his past nine games.
Cabrera, who finished 2 for 4 against the Red Sox, is two home runs away from No. 500 and 56 hits from No. 3,000. Only two players — Sam Crawford (2,961) and Sam Rice (2,987) — stand between Cabrera and one of his prized milestones.
The Tigers took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, as Akil Baddoo doubled to the right-center gap to chase Red Sox starter Garrett Richards. A speedy Derek Hill, who drew a walk, scored from first base for the go-ahead run. — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press