Tim Tebow to Jets: Tebow Pits Nike vs. Reebok in Courtroom Battle

As if the newest addition to the New York Jets isn't causing enough friction in the media and among his new teammates it appears that quarterback Time Tebow is now at the center of a potential courtroom battle, as ESPN New York reports that Nike has filed a federal lawsuit against Reebok, accusing the latter company of "unjustly enriching itself" by selling unauthorized Tim Tebow apparel.

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Nike Inc. claimed in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court that Reebok International Ltd. has used Tebow's name on Jets-related apparel without permission since it was announced last week that Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to New York. The Tebow trade occurred just before Nike replaces Reebok on Sunday as the supplier of NFL team uniforms.

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Reebok, which has been the NFL's official apparel supplier of the National Football League for the past decade, apparently decided to make one last grab for sales before Nike unveils their uniforms for all 32 teams next week and begins a five-year run as the NFL's licensed apparel manufacturer, and that didn't sit very well with the boys from Beaverton.

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The lawsuit said demands for Tebow-related Jets apparel was intense last week during a normally subdued time for NFL merchandise sales.

It said Nike, based in Beaverton, Ore., believes Reebok was shipping large volumes of Tebow-related apparel products to retailers for sale to the public this week, damaging Nike's ability to capitalize on a "unique and short-lived opportunity."

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Given Tebow's immense popularity and the size of the New York market it's hardly a surprise that Reebok would attempt to cash in on one last golden opportunity before ceding control of licensed NFL apparel (and the untold millions it poured into Reebok's coffers) to Nike, nor is it a shock that the move wasn't well received by Nike.

However, it appears that at least for now Reebok won't be pocketing any more money from the sale of Tim Tebow apparel, as CNBC's Darren Rovell tweeted Wednesday evening that a judge has granted a temporary restraining order against Reebok that bars the company from making or selling any more Tebow apparel until the matter can be resolved.

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BREAKING: Judge has granted Nike a temporary restraining order vs. Reebok. Reebok must stop producing & selling Jets Tebow product

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) March 29, 2012"

Nike's complaint against Reebok also involves the third-year signal caller himself, as Pro Football Talk reported Wednesday that Tebow's camp wasn't any happier with Reebok's rush job than Nike was.

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Tebow also has been involved in this battle between billion-dollar shoe and clothing companies.  The 19-page complaint alleges that, as of Friday, March 23, an “authorized representative of Tebow” sent a letter to Reebok informing the company that it had no right to use Tebow’s name on any Reebok-manufactured products.  As of Monday, March 26, Reebok allegedly did not respond.

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Either Reebok had the authority to sell the apparel (as they will surely contend) or they didn't (as Nike claims), but either way it's highly probable that some sort of settlement will be reached before armies of sneaker-wearing attorneys descend on U.S. District Court.

However, if nothing else Wednesday's legal action by Nike shows that Tim Tebow's seemingly innate ability to polarize people extends from the playing field to living rooms to boardrooms and even possibly into courtrooms as well.

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