Kobe Bryant Rumors: Retired LA Lakers Star to Trademark 'Black Mamba' Moniker
The intention of filing for a trademark is to use the nickname for business-related purposes like manufacturing and selling products such as athletic apparel.
Kobe Bryant may be done with basketball, but business is as usual for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. His business venture, Kobe Inc. reportedly has filed a trademark for his most popular NBA moniker, "Black Mamba."
Moniker in Business
ESPN reports that Bryant's company filed for the said trademark early this month, based on the record from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The report also said that the intention of filing for a trademark is to use the nickname for business-related purposes like manufacturing and selling products such as athletic apparel.
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Although Nike, which happens to be endorsed by Bryant, has used the nickname in their line of shoes, the company never attempted to trademark it.
History of the 'Black Mamba'
"Black Mamba" isn't actually the first trademark filing for Bryant's company, Kobe Inc., since it also previously filed for other terms including "Banners Hang Forever," "Create Forever," and "HeroVillian" among others.
Unlike most of the nicknames other players are attached to, Bryant actually coined and chose the term himself back in 2003, as per CBS Sports. He attributed it to the "Kill Bill" movies he watched during his trial in Colorado, where he was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year old hotel employee. The charges were eventually dropped and a civil suit settlement was agreed upon off court.
He said that adopting the nickname became his way of dealing with the adversity he was embroiled in at that time. The original black mamba is a type of venomous snake found in Africa, and it was used by a character in the Kill Bill films.
Bryant retired at the end of this season, leaving a Lakers team full of youngsters and uncertainties. But for his part, he left the game in such a manner that every professional basketball player would dream of. As an 18-time All-Star, he owns the NBA record for the most seasons played with a single franchise for an entire career. He is a five-time NBA champion and Most Valuable Player in 2008.
