Proof that, in the end, Pat Riley always wins: In 1989, when his Showtime Lakers were two-time defending NBA champions, Riley acquired the rights to the term “three-peat” from Bijan Khezri — former president of P.d.P. Paperon De Paperoni, a Delaware corporation.
Riley then successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980 under his corporation, Riles & Co. Now, the Lakers never did win that third straight title, and later the Knicks never could quite beat Michael Jordan’s Bulls. But when the Bulls earned their first three-peat in 1993, Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for use on merchandise commemorating them.
So, yes, score another for Old Man Riles.
In truth, Riley probably would’ve liked for his Lakers — or, later, the LeBron-Wade Heat he assembled — to have pulled off a three-peat, rather than dining off the trademark. Because as we watch the Chiefs try to execute that Sunday, we know one thing: It is one of the exclusive clubs in sports. A look at the 17 teams that have accomplished it:
