Caleb Williams Schools Skip Bayless After Alleging Bears QB Stole ‘Iceman’ Nickname

Caleb Williams applied to trademark the 'Iceman' nickname along with two of his silhouettes a few days ago.

Caleb Williams Schools Skip Bayless After Alleging Bears QB Stole ‘Iceman’ Nickname

Caleb Williams and Skip Bayless (Image via Dave FBR/HoopsNation/X)

In Short
  • Caleb Williams applied for the 'Iceman' trademark, a nickname claimed by NBA legend George Gervin since 1979.
  • Skip Bayless criticized Williams for attempting to trademark a name that is not original to him.
  • Williams responded on social media, asserting he is not trying to steal the nickname unfairly.

Caleb Williams has suddenly become the most prominent name in the football circle after his application for the ‘Iceman’ trademark drew up controversy involving NBA legend George Gervin.

The Chicago Bears star used the ‘feeling cold’ or ‘brrr’ celebration when he threw those clutch passes to his teammates on their way to and during the NFC Divisional round game.

Had the signal caller connected with DJ Moore on the final throw in that game, he could have continued to use those celebrations to reiterate how calm he is in the biggest moments.

However, his highlight reel, which he has used to silence his critics, is enough to justify his demand to be known as the official ‘Iceman’ going forward.

The only problem is that Gervin and his representatives claim the NBA Hall of Famer has been commercially using the moniker since 1979.

Since this will be the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s decision, a longtime analyst believes Caleb Williams is trying to ‘steal’ the nickname. As soon as Skip Bayless wrote this, it caught the USC alum’s attention.

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!
Also words matter Skip Bayless. “Steal”
Enjoy that podcast.

Caleb Williams wrote on X

The signal caller essentially schooled The Arena analyst for using a term that does not imply what he is trying to do. Williams believes he is not trying to take something that is not his wrongfully.

Skip Bayless reiterates how Caleb Williams’ Iceman celebrations are not his original idea

In his original message on X, Skip Bayless mentioned that he will ‘unleash’ when he gets to The Arena, about how wrong Caleb Williams is about trying to make the Iceman nickname his own.

You’ve got to ask him (George Gervin) first before you try to trademark it out from under him… Bears fans say Caleb does the Ice in the Veins. Well, that’s not original either.

Bayless said

The 74-year-old pointed out how a nickname has to be original, where no one else has used it in the past. In that respect, the Bears QB has no chance, as not only has George Gervin been using it for decades, but most of Williams’ celebrations have been used before by other athletes.

Bayless reminded his younger colleagues that a nickname sticks only when someone else refers to the said athlete as such. In that respect, it was Gervin’s teammate who started the trend.

Since it was from a time when the NBA was not even in existence, it helped establish the NBA star as the original Iceman. The only problem is that Gervin did not trademark it before Williams’ counsel did.

Skip Bayless and his colleagues clap back at Caleb Williams

After talking about how George Gervin was the originator of the nickname, and how Caleb Williams‘ celebrations aren’t even his idea, The Arena host Kinsey Wolanski read out the Bears star’s response to Skip Bayless’ first tweet.

Caleb Williams and NBA star Trae Young using the same celebration
Caleb Williams and NBA star Trae Young using the same celebration (Image via DaveB TV/AustinProps/X)

Caleb, you are better than this.

Bayless said

Wolanski went on to reiterate that the veteran journalist has been a longtime admirer of the 24-year-old signal caller and has only wanted the best for him.

But he felt this went too far, as it was clear that Caleb Williams was effectively trying to trademark something that was not his own. After the rest of The Arena’s cast mentioned that most of the celebrations were already implemented by others, they concluded that it is, in fact, stealing.

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