Names In The News

ROB GRONKOWSKI will host a "GRONK BEACH" festival on Saturday, Feb. 1, on Miami Beach before Super Bowl LIV. The event will feature combine a "party with a music festival along with food and drinks." For the event, which will be held at the North Beach Bandshell from 1:00-7:00pm ET, Gronkowski is "teaming up with sponsor Monster Energy" and bringing in performers like RICK ROSS, FLO RIDA, DJ CARNAGE, KASKADE, DIPLO and 3LAU (AP, 11/19).

NAMES: DALE EARNHARDT JR. was named the "honorary starter" for next year's 62nd Daytona 500 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/19)....Twins RF MAX KEPLER is back in his hometown of Berlin for a five-day MLB "promotional tour" (AP, 11/18)....Actor MATT DAMON appeared on a recent episode of "THE BILL SIMMONS PODCAST," where he and Simmons "discussed their Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox fandom during an hour-long conversation" (BOSTON.com, 11/14)....TidalWave Comics this week will release a new print biography of LEBRON JAMES (THE DAILY)....Former NFLer CHAD JOHNSON will "host Bleacher Report's new B/R Betting Game Show" on Dec. 12 at the Caesars Palace sportsbook in Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/19)....Former FC Cincinnati VP/Partnerships & Business Development MIKE ALBANESE has "launched Hubble Partnerships, a partnership consulting and sales firm" based in Cincinnati (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/19)....Comedian DAVE CHAPPELLE yesterday spoke to the Lakers at Staples Center as part of the team's "Genius Series" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/19).