LeBron James is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and is often compared to Michael Jordan. The LA Lakers player is known for his business acumen, including turning a million into $50 million from his 2012 investment in the Blaze Pizza franchise.
LeBron James is worth about $1 billion dollars, according to Forbes. It would not be surprising to spend $1.5 million dollars for a domain name, if needed, and that’s the case with ShutUpAndDribble.com.
Why would LeBron James pay $1.5 million dollars for a silly-sounding 4 word .com domain, you may ask: simple, he’s already applied for the registration of the matching mark, SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE.
Shut up and dribble – Photo by Philbert Pembani via Pexels.
The application was filed with an intent to use clause, for the following products and services:
- Downloadable virtual goods, namely, computer programs featuring footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, sports bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use online and in online virtual worlds; Downloadable podcasts in the field of sports, athletes, celebrities, music, fashion, games, and pop culture; Motion picture films about sports, athletes, celebrities, music, fashion, games, and pop culture
- Clothing, namely, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and jackets
- Retail store services featuring virtual goods, namely, footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear sports bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use online; on-line retail store services featuring virtual merchandise, namely, footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, sports bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories.
- Entertainment services, namely, providing non-downloadable videos, podcasts, films and social media posts in the field of sports, athletes, celebrities, music, fashion, games, and pop culture; Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line, non-downloadable virtual footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, sports bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use in virtual environments
Who said “Shut up and dribble” and why is LeBron James claiming this phrase as his trademark?
In 2018, journalist Laura Ingraham sought to rebuke then Cleveland Cavaliers’ player LeBron James for criticizing then president Donald Trump; she went on to quote:
“It’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball. Keep the political comments to yourselves. … Shut up and dribble.”
It’s quite smart that LeBron James seized the opportunity to turn that demeaning statement around and build a merchandise line on it, but will he spend $1.5 million to acquire the domain ShutUpAndDribble.com via Afternic?
Registered on the day the interview statement was made in 2018, the domain name is listed on Afternic; it recently went into WHOIS privacy, indicating perhaps that its registrant is aware of LeBron James’ recent moves to register the mark. Several other domain extensions were registered around the same time as well.
If the domain sells for the asking price it’d be the most expensive four word .com ever! 🙂
