cuban

Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks lost in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. Despite the team he owns no longer being in the playoffs, Cuban could still make money off a Golden State Warriors victory.

Not only that, but Cuban could also make money if the San Jose Sharks also took home the Stanley Cup.

Marc Stein and Darren Rovell of ESPN report Mark Cuban owns the trademark “City of Champions.” As a result, if the Warriors and Sharks both win and the Bay Area wants to claim itself the “City of Champions,” well Cuban could make a little money.

“If the Mavs don’t win, at least there is always a chance for a win in there somewhere for me,” Cuban told ESPN.com.

This marks the ninth time in NBA and NHL history both finals have featured a team from the same market, but none of the previous eight have produced champions from the same market.

However, the one tricky situation here is the Warriors play their games in Oakland and the Sharks play in San Jose. So if the two teams win and the Bay Area (comprised of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Silicon Valley, and tons of other cities) claims itself the “City of Champions,” would that be like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Los Angeles Lakers claiming LA the “City of Champions?” The Angels have LA in their name, but don’t play in the same city as the Lakers.

The more realistic situation here would be if the San Francisco Giants won because they are much closer to Oracle Arena in Oakland where the Warriors play. Then again, that is extremely realistic because it is an even year and well, you know.

Going back to Cuban’s trademark, ESPN received an online record from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office showing that Cuban is the registered owner of the phrase. He claims the intent to use it on all sorts of items including pajamas and t-shirts.

The trademark was first secured by an insurance agent in Florida way back in 2010, but was later transferred to Cuban, according to ESPN. Cuban claims to have paid around $40,000 for the trademark.

As for teams that have truly been the “City of Champions,” Pittsburgh and Boston have the greatest history for being referred to as that. Pittsburgh saw the Steelers and Pirates both win the Super Bowl and World Series in 1979, shortly after the Steelers also won in 1974, 1975, and 1978. That same decade, the University of Pittsburgh finished the 1976 season as the No. 1-ranked team in college football. Pittsburgh repeated as the “City of Champions” most recently in 2009 when the Steelers and Penguins both took home the title.

However, one city reigns supreme as the true “City of Champions,” Boston. Over the last 12 years, the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics have all won championships.

As for the Bay Area’s chances? Game one of the NBA Finals is tonight at 9:00 pm EST in Oakland. San Jose meanwhile trails the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals after Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime loss in game two.

[ESPN, Sports Illustrated]

About David Lauterbach

David is a writer for The Comeback. He enjoyed two Men's Basketball Final Four trips for Syracuse before graduating in 2016. If The Office or Game of Thrones is on TV, David will be watching.