In case you missed it last week, the Associated Press moved a story highlighting the rebirth of the United States Football League. In it, the AP listed a group of potential home cities for new teams. Memphis, of course, was on that list.
So in Saturday's Commercial Appeal,
I reported on the story. I quoted
Steve Ehrhart, the executive director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and former general manager of the Memphis Showboats, who said he didn't feel as if the new group had demonstrated its legitimacy in terms of owning the rights to the USFL's name. A city official wasn't aware of conversations with the local government and the USFL, which would seem to be important considering the city owns the venue in which the new league would presumably play. I reached out to
Jaime Cuadra, who is in charge of the new league, but he didn't respond to an email.
Until Sunday.
Cuadra responded to my email by saying that the league has been in contact with local business leaders as well as Mayor
A C Wharton, and that he's "excited about the progress."
And as for the concerns Ehrhart mentioned, here's what Cuadra said:
Yes EndZone Sports purchased the rights to the trade name and trademark of the USFL aka United States Football League. We did not purchase all of the Intellectual Property Rights to the league just the right to the name and Logo. Team Logos and Nicknames and the memorabilia that makes up the history of the league is owned my many others including some of the former owners. We have spoken to several of the previous owners including Randy Vataha and Bill Tatham and have received well wishes on the project.
What Mr Ehrhart does not understand is that the USFL mark went abandoned many years ago because it was renewed and they were not in commercial use. Therefore they were available to the general public. One has to be actively conducting business under those names to retain them and keep them live. This was not the case.
That's probably about all you care about a squabble over rights, so we'll end it there. Plus, to be fair to Ehrhart, he doesn't intend to start a quarrel. He was just honestly answering a question with his feeling that he wasn't sure if the rights were owned.
So will there be a team in Memphis? I followed up with Cuadra and next thing I know I had an email from
Fred Biletnikoff. He said he's been in contact with Wharton, who referred him to
J. W. Gibson, a businessman and former Shelby County commissioner, as well as Ehrhart and Greater Memphis Chamber director of economic development
Ernest Strickland.
Obviously, the USFL folks are trying. We'll keep trying to see if they get anywhere.