Pat Riley’s trademarks related to “three-peat” could have resulted in a significant financial gain for him had the Kansas City Chiefs clinched their third consecutive Super Bowl win. However, the legendary basketball coach and current president of the Miami Heat revealed that he does not retain that money for personal gain.
Instead, Riley chooses to donate any revenue he earns from the use of the “three-peat” term, which he has held as a trademark for around 35 years, to various charitable organizations. Among his preferred beneficiaries are groups that support military veterans and their families, with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation based in Tampa, Florida, holding special significance for both him and his wife, Chris Riley.
Riley emphasized that the contributions made by him and the Heat to veterans’ organizations are merely “very minor in comparison to what they deserve.” He expressed deep admiration for service members, saying, “These are very patriotic, brave and proud people. What they do in serving our country to keep us safe is one of the most courageous sacrifices an American can offer.”
Two decades ago, Riley and the Heat launched the “HomeStrong” initiative, which has seen the organization incorporate various programs over the years that honor returning soldiers and first responders during Miami games. This includes a special pregame ceremony. Additionally, in 2010, Riley held the team’s training camp at military bases in northwest Florida to further demonstrate support for the armed forces.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been a significant recipient of Riley’s charitable efforts, having received $200,000 from the couple in recent years, alongside another $100,000 donation contributed by a Heat supporter directed specifically towards Riley’s chosen charity. This foundation is dedicated to providing educational grants to children of fallen soldiers and Medal of Honor recipients, offering assistance from preschool all the way through college, as part of a “cradle to career” initiative. Furthermore, it provides financial assistance to Special Operations personnel who have been severely wounded, ill, or injured during combat.
Riley has held multiple “three-peat” trademarks since he began pursuing them in the late 1980s, at a time when he was coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, who were aiming for three consecutive NBA championships. Recently, he had struck an agreement with the Chiefs to utilize the “three-peat” term, contingent on their success in achieving a third consecutive Super Bowl title. However, the Chiefs fell short in their recent game against Philadelphia, losing 40-22, thus ending their quest for a three-peat.
Before the Super Bowl, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and some players half-jokingly voiced their support for the Chiefs, speculating that Riley might reward the team with a bottle of wine if they won. Spoelstra also hinted at a deeper narrative behind Riley’s connection to the term, a story that has largely remained under wraps. “There’s a great story to it,” he noted.
