Team Buys Their Own Nickname

Money talks! This is true all over the world, including South Africa. The national football (soccer) team, there, has been referred to by their nickname, Bafana Bafana for nearly 20 years. This was started by a sportswriter. Loosely translated from Zulu, Bafana Bafana means "our boys." The name gained in popularity with only one problem. Bafana Bafana was a registered trademark owned by Stan Smith of Stanton Woodrush. Fortunately for the team, Stan had "his price." He was paid 5 million Rand ($732,000) for the "name." Now the team can sell tee shirts and stuffed animals with the nickname and make some serious money. Like I said, money talks.

I must admit that I nervously lose sleep, every night, worrying that someone might own the rights to the name, "General Tom."