Alan Greenwood

The greatest quarterback of all time is a jackass.

Tom Brady may not be a complete and utter jackass; no one should be defined by a single moment in a lifetime of moments, good and awful.

But as bad moments go, Brady’s seeking to trademark the nickname “Tom Terrific” cuts deep.

Never mind the fact that Tom Terrific was coined by someone 50 years ago in reference to Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. Seaver was a major cog in the New York Mets’ rise from awful to world champions. He was not just the toast of New York but was quickly climbing up a pedestal then reserved for the likes of Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.

Had Seaver never thrown a pitch, Brady is guilty of jackassery in the first degree.

Does he have a legal right to seek trademark status to a nickname? Certainly.

Is he within his rights in trying to use that nickname on a new line of merchandise? Of course; it is American capitalism at its core.

Whether that core is replete with sleaze is up to the potential consumers of Tom Terrific Avocado Ice Cream, or whatever products Brady’s handlers are planning to label.

In the big picture of world affairs this is not even a flyspeck. That is why Brady comes off as a shameless huckster.

It is petty. And after everything Brady has done on a football field and for various charitable causes, seeing him dive into the shallow end of pettiness is sickening to watch.

TIME TRAVEL: June 6, 1994 – “The Senior Babe Ruth Nashua Mavericks opened their season Sunday with a sweep of a doubleheader at Bedford. In the first game the teams were tied going into the fifth when Greg West scored the game-winner for the Mavericks on a Kevin Webber sacrifice fly.

“Matt Berry went the distance for Nashua in the opener, striking out four and walking four.

“In the second game Jason Gliddon’s bases-loaded double in the seventh inning broke open a 2-1 game as he Mavericks went on to win 5-1. Jeff Wall got the win, pitching all seven innings while striking out three and walking three.”

AND FINALLY: Legal ticket scalpers had a big score delayed, or even eliminated, by the Bruins’ loss Monday night at St. Louis.

When Game 5 tonight at the Garden looked like it could be the Stanley Cup Final clincher for Boston, masslive.com reported that a seat in the balcony was going for $980.

On Tuesday, aa similar balcony location was available for $484.50.

One man’s advice: Show up at the Garden to deal with the street scalpers and don’t panic until the National Anthem is played.

Alan Greenwood can be reached at 694-1248, agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_AlanG.

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