Tiger Woods, Joe Montana, Monica Seles and Andre Agassi
are suing FL-based Planet Hollywood, "accusing the embattled
theme restaurant chain of breaching endorsement contracts
during its recent bankruptcy proceedings," according to the
AP's Mike Branom, who notes the suit was filed Friday in
U.S. District Court in DE. The athletes want Planet
Hollywood "to remove their names, images and memorabilia"
from its All Star Cafe restaurants, as well as pay
"unspecified damages and legal costs." Richard Chesley, a
Chicago attorney who is representing the athletes, said that
a judge "terminated their contracts" with Planet Hollywood
last month. Branom notes that Planet Hollywood "currently
owns only three" All Star Cafes, having "sold, franchised or
closed nine others" recently (AP, 12/19). In Orlando, Jerry
Jackson notes that the athletes have asked for damages for
"not being included in Planet Hollywood's bankruptcy
reorganization plan." But Planet Hollywood Chair & CEO
Robert Earl said that the athletes "will get back their
shoes and shirts and have their names taken off menus" at
the Cafes. Earl added of the athletes, "We have not called
on them in some time (to actively promote the company).
This is just a formality." Meanwhile, Earl said that
Shaquille O'Neal is the "only All Star Cafe athlete asked to
continue with the company as a celebrity promoter" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 12/19). The NATIONAL POST's Charlie Gillis writes
that the four athletes are "arguing the chain breached its
endorsement contracts with them by giving" Wayne Gretzky
$450,000 in cash payments that they were "never offered."
The athletes allege Planet Hollywood broke a "favoured
nation" clause that "ensured them better deals than any
other sports heroes." But Gillis notes that Gretzky
"quietly cut his own agreement" and received seven $75,000
payments from the company (NATIONAL POST, 12/19).
