Former NFLer BRIAN URLACHER is "suing a Florida hair clinic that he claims used his likeness without permission to advertise restoration treatments like the one he famously unveiled last year." Urlacher in '14 signed on to endorse Restore Hair, and he then "let his new hair down" in a January '16 "media blitz announcing his sponsorship." But less than a week later, the Charles Medical Group -- "another hair restoration clinic in Boca Raton, Florida, which Urlacher never agreed to endorse -- began mentioning his newfound follicles in service descriptions on their website" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/7).
EATS & INNS: A pair of restaurants backed by Astros Owner JIM CRANE are now "opening following a string of name changes." Potente, a luxury Italian eatery, "opened this week, while Osso & Kristalla, a casual trattoria next door, is slated to open Feb. 20" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/8). Meanwhile, Crane "just paid" $6.5M for a building in an office complex in West Palm Beach with "plans to redevelop it into a hotel" (THEREALDEAL.com, 2/8).
POLITICAL OUTINGS: PRESIDENT TRUMP said that he and Japanese Prime Minister SHINZO ABE will have "a lot of fun" playing golf together this weekend in Palm Beach after their planned summit talks Friday. Trump said that the "two leaders will travel to Palm Beach, presumably to his Mar-a-Lago estate, after their talks Friday at the White House" (KYODONEWS.net, 2/7). Meanwhile, Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN "wants to play" several Flyers alumni in an upcoming "outdoor game on Moscow's Red Square." Former Flyer JOE WATSON had "trouble putting a roster together because many alumni feared the current political landscape between the U.S. and Russia." Only "nine actual former Flyers are making the trip" (COURIERPOSTONLINE.com. 2/4).
TRUMP CARDS: Sports writer BART HUBBUCH yesterday sued his former employer, the N.Y. Post, alleging the paper “canned him to preserve a relationship” with Trump. He claims that he was fired “over an anti-Trump tweet” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/9)....Fencer IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD, the first female Muslim American to medal for the U.S. in the Olympics, said that she was “recently detained at U.S. Customs for two hours without explanation” (USA TODAY, 2/9).
NAMES: DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON is teaming up with Seven Buck Productions, Misher Films, WWE Studios and Film 4 to produce an upcoming feature film called “FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY.” The comedy-drama, which is written and directed by STEPHEN MERCHANT, is based on the true personal story of WWE Superstar SARAYA-JADE BEVIS and her family of pro wrestlers (Seven Bucks Productions)....The Saints and Pelicans are “actively involved in tornado emergency relief efforts and will host a drive to collect non-perishable food and items of need.” The teams will “work with the United Way, The American Red Cross and The Second Harvest Food Bank to collect” (NOLA.com, 2/8)....Former LSU RB LEONARD FOURNETTE yesterday launched BUGANation.com. The site will “offer a scholarship contest” for high school and college students throughout the state of Louisiana (NOLA.com, 2/8)....Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI on Tuesday night celebrated at Foxwoods’ Shrine Nightclub with his brothers GLENN and GORDIE, and hip-hop artist RICK ROSS (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/9)....ESPN’s DICK VITALE and the V Foundation for Cancer Research on Tuesday announced details of the 12th Annual Dick Vitale Gala. This year’s honorees are West Virginia basketball coach BOB HUGGINS, Notre Dame football coach BRIAN KELLY and ESPN’s CHRIS BERMAN. The event will be held on May 12 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla. (THE DAILY).
