Sources said that at a breakfast last week for U.S. Senator TOM COTTON (R-Ark.), White House Chief of Staff JOHN KELLY marveled that PRESIDENT TRUMP had "spent a long time the day before on the phone" with Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK "talking about the status" of TOM BRADY (N.Y. TIMES, 5/3). Meanwhile, Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and WR MATTHEW SLATER recently "passed off a gift" to Combined Jewish Philanthropies President BARRY SHRAGE. The duo "presented Shrage with an honorary jersey from their team during his organization's 'Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future' tribute dinner to mark his more than 30 years of running Boston's Jewish federation" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 5/2). Also, Boston chef and restaurateur STEVE DIFILLIPPO is teaming up with Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port to "raffle off the opportunity to play football" with Brady (BOSTONHERALD.com, 5/3). Finally, Brady "isn't expected to attend" the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (BOSTONHERALD.com, 5/2).
NAMES: Blackhawks President & CEO JOHN MCDONOUGH yesterday was the "keynote presenter at the ninth annual DuPage County Regional Business Outlook" in Outlook Terrace, Ill. McDonough told the audience that he "prefers a culture that is 'conformable uncomfortable' and he goes out of his way to hire 'young, dynamic' professionals who can handle it" (DAILYHERALD.com, 5/2)....The Nashville Predators Foundation yesterday "distributed 149 grants totaling a record $607,639 to area charities." It was the "largest one-time contribution the Predators Foundation has ever made" (TENNESSEAN.com, 5/2)....Broadcasting & Cable named NBCU Chair of Ad Sales & Client Partnerships LINDA YACCARINO one of its ’18 HOF honorees (Broadcasting & Cable)....Former NFLer MARQUES COLSTON has partnered with Main Squeeze Juice Co., a start-up franchising business with two current locations in Lake Charles, La., and Katy, Texas (NOLA.com, 5/2)....Longtime combat sports announcer MAURO RANALLO and his lifelong battle with mental illness are the subject of Showtime Sports’ new documentary, “BIPOLAR ROCK N’ ROLLER,” which premieres May 25 (Showtime)....Eagles coach DOUG PEDERSON will release a memoir, “FEARLESS,” on Aug. 28 (AP, 5/2)....Heat G DWYANE WADE appeared on “ELLEN” yesterday and surprised JAMES SHAW JR., the “Waffle House hero who stopped a gunman in Tennessee last month” (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 5/3).
