Amid all the trademark filings by Caleb Williams and NBA legend for the nickname “Iceman,” the famous NFL analyst Skip Bayless ended up siding with the NBA Hall of Famer.

And the quarterback for the Chicago Bears didn’t take it well. He snapped back at Bayless, taking his own stand. He wrote, 

“Idc about where your fandom stands. I was trying give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt, about knowing business and being smart about it. But I guess not. Foolish of me!”

Williams patented the nickname “Iceman” by filing 4 trademark applications with the USPTO. But NBA legend George Gervin, who has spent 14 seasons across the NBA and ABA, had already coined the nickname “the Iceman” for his cool demeanor on the court.

So, soon after, Gervin Interests LLC filed two trademark applications of their own for “Iceman” and “Iceman 44.”

After the whole application-filing issue, Skip Bayless posted on his X and said,

“I’m a Caleb Williams fan. But I was a much bigger Iceman Gervin fan, and I’m offended Caleb and Co. are trying to steal George’s all-time great nickname. I unleash on today’s Arena Gridiron 2:30  E.”

To which Williams replied, adding a photo of the meaning of the word “steal,” and said, “Also, words matter, Skip Bayless. ‘Steal’ Enjoy that podcast.”

And according to ESPN, Gervin wasn’t even mad and, in fact, respects Williams. He was just upset with Williams’ move and was caught off guard. 

“I’ve been the Iceman for 40-something years,” Gervin said. “I never thought anybody would try to trademark it. He kind of knocked me out the box.” 

Latest Updates Regarding The Whole Iceman Fiasco

On the podcast, Skip Bayless said Caleb Williams and his team may not have known about George Gervin’s “Iceman” legacy, adding that a simple request might have settled the matter, given that he knew George Gervin himself. 

He explained how Gervin got the nickname and said, “It's because George was so cool under fire and never changed expressions. Well, so is Caleb, but come up with something new, man. You can do better than this.”

In the ESPN interview, Gervin also mentioned that Williams filed his application first, so the decision could favor him. But despite not filling it first, the public associates him with the nickname, and it might still favor him. 

He added, “The USPTO could easily, easily refuse Caleb Williams' application and George Gervin's application because of Chuck's pending applications waiting there first.”

So let’s see how it unfolds.

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Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta