Rapper Sues Oakley over Name of Sunglasses

"Oakley is keeping Pitbull in the dark, and he ain't happy about it -- he says the sunglasses giant is slapping his name on a line of shades without his approval, so now he's suing," according to TMZ. "In the suit, the rapper says Oakley is hawking Pit Bull (note it's 2 words) branded eyewear -- which is a major problem for him ... since Pitbull sells his own line of shades, including his Pitbull Dale Sunglasses. Pitbull says Oakley sponsored one of his tours in 2009, and he wore their sunglasses at the time -- which he says proves the company knows there's good money in targeting his fans. So, he thinks it's no coincidence Oakley is continuing to use his name six years later." Read more.

Tempest in a Teapot over Oakley’s

“Some Westmoreland County [PA} sheriff's deputies will be wearing stylish shades this summer — at taxpayers' expense,” reported the Trib Live.  "The county has purchased $112 Oakley sunglasses for 14 deputies under an annual uniform allowance that usually pays for shirts, pants and other less tony items. Taxpayers paid more than $1,500 this year for the fancy eyewear. But officials said on Tuesday that taxpayers will no longer pay for the high-end sunglasses.” Read more.

Oakley’s Video of Bubba Watson on a Hovercraft Goes Viral

“On April 2, eyewear and apparel maker Oakley posted a YouTube video titled “Bubba’s Hover” that shows last year’s Masters champion Bubba Watson zipping around a golf course in a hovercraft. “It takes you everywhere you want to go, through sand traps, through waters, shortcuts, into the woods, out of the woods,” Watson says of his upgrade from the standard four-wheeled golf cart,” reports Business Week. “The video is real. Or at least, that’s really Watson zipping across a water hazard at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix. But it is not, as the clip suggests, the result of his idea for ‘improving some of the limitations of existing golf carts.’ Instead, it’s the result of Oakley’s idea of creating a viral video to promote one of its athletes. Oakley wanted it to get passed around. As of this morning, it has been watched more than 3 million times. The company also wanted people like me to call. I did.” Read more.

MLB’s Rangers Don Oakley's

“The Texas Rangers today announced that the club and Oakley have entered into a multi-year partnership beginning with the 2013 season,” according to a post on the team’s page. “One of the world's leading sports brands, Oakley will be the Official Eyewear for the Rangers. The partnership will also include signage at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. World-class athletes depend on Oakley to compete at their highest level possible. Texas Rangers who wear Oakley sunglasses or prescription eyewear include Adrian Beltre, Lance Berkman, Nelson Cruz, Craig Gentry, Ian Kinsler, and David Murphy.” Read more.

Surfer Gabriel Medina Signs with Oakley

“Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina has signed up to endorse Oakley Eyewear,” notes Sports Pro Media. “The 19-year-old from Sao Paulo, who finished tenth on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, joins an Oakley roster that includes several top surfers, including Julian Wilson, Bruce Irons, Jordy Smith and Kolohe Andino. Oakley plans to release Medina's signature series of sunglasses by the end of this year.” Read more.