TERESA EARNHARDT’s lawyers recently "filed an appeal in federal court" after a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruling denied her challenge to the “Earnhardt Collection” trademark applied for by her stepson, KERRY EARNHARDT. Driver DALE EARNHARDT JR. said that Kerry Earnhardt deserves to be able to use his own last name on the line of homes. Earnhardt Jr. said, "This is a business venture that he’s put a lot of effort and heart and soul in that I think he deserves. So in this particular case, I side with my brother and his belief to be able to use the name as is -- without any alterations or changes" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/27).
SOCIAL STUDIES: Union MF MAURICE EDU, NYC FC F DAVID VILLA and Revolution F CHARLIE DAVIES appeared yesterday on ABC’s "GMA" to discuss their social media strategies. ABC's Dan Harris said to Edu, “You have a pretty big Instagram following. I understand you have 400 pairs of sneakers and you’ve been taking some pictures of your kicks on Instagram. Is that a way to brand yourself?” Edu: “In some ways. The beauty of Instagram and social media is you just get to be yourself, be authentic and me, I’ve grown up always liking sneakers and naturally I post sneakers and other fashionable stuff like that.” Harris noted Villa has “got a huge Twitter following” and it is clear he has "star power because you’ve got more Twitter followers” than Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY ("GMA," ABC, 5/30).
NAMES: NFL free-agent FB JOHN KUHN traveled with 98 Vietnam and Korean war veterans "on a Never Forgotten Honor Flight" to DC earlier this month. He is partnering with the USA Today Network–Wisconsin to "showcase military mail home from the Civil War through current operations." Twenty two letters "will be published weekly in full-page advertisements later this year" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 5/31)....Packers QB AARON RODGERS a few weeks ago played an offseason round of golf with PRESIDENT OBAMA, ESPN's TONY KORNHEISER and retired astronaut MARK KELLY. He discussed the experience on NFL free agent LB A.J. HAWK's podcast, "The Hawkcast," saying he shot a 75 (ESPN.com, 5/30)....Panthers QB CAM NEWTON for his new Nickelodeon series, titled "ALL IN WITH CAM NEWTON," brought 3-year-old ROSIE SMOLOWITZ to the White House "to interview MICHELLE OBAMA" (AP, 5/31).
