Names & Faces: Wade Endorsement Dropped By Charter School
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Wade Dropped By School For Not
Fulfilling Endorsement Obligations |
In West Palm Beach, Jose Lambiet reported Heat G Dwyane Wade Friday was "fired from his endorsement contract with a chain of charter schools originally named after him and catering to high school dropouts." Mavericks in Education CEO Mark Thimmig said that Wade "didn't fulfill his obligations to the D. Wade's Schools," which were supposed to include "appearances in TV commercials." Wade's publicist Lisa Joseph said that Wade "retained a lawyer to deal with the new ding in his image and didn't comment." Lambiet noted officials earlier this year changed the school's name to Mavericks High Schools instead of D. Wade's (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 3/13).
MAKING THE CALL: NBC’s “Dateline” broadcast last night included unseen footage of Gold Medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps’s interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer about being pictured smoking out of a bong. The issue of dealing with Phelps’ sponsors was brought up, and Lauer said, “You had to call some of these sponsors who’ve paid you so much money and been part of your life for so long. Tell me what those phone calls were like.” Phelps: “I sat in a quiet room and I called every single one of them.” Lauer: “How’d you start the conversation?” Phelps: “Blah blah, ‘This is Michael. I just wanted to call. I wanted you to hear it from me.’ … Every single one that I talked to were extremely supportive.” Lauer specifically asked about Kellogg’s, which dropped Phelps shortly after the picture surfaced. Phelps: “I attempted to call probably four or five days in a row and there was no response” (“Dateline,” NBC, 3/15).
GOOD GOSSIP: Actress Leighton Meester has signed with Reebok to appear in a new ad campaign. Meester will be "showing off the new retro Top Down sneaker, part of Reebok's Fly Generation collection." The shoe will retail for $60 at Lady Foot Locker locations (PEOPLE.com, 3/12).
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