RICKY WILLIAMS

As predicted, Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL yesterday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the fourth time. The league announced the suspension after Williams’ appeal of his latest positive drug test was laughed at and thrown away. Previous positive tests were for that very dangerous drug called “marijuana.” The latest test apparently involved a drug other than “marijuana”, oooh, what could it have been? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the Betel Nut. (see posting for February 21st). Williams is now in deep financial trouble- he owes the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract when he retired in 2004. His return to the NFL was motivated partly by the need for a paycheck, however, it appears as though the Betel Nut was more motivating.

ANOTHER HOT GOLF CAT CRAWLING THE GREENS?
He’s not Camilo Villegas, but the next closest thing- Camilo’s brother!

Manuel Villegas spent one year with his hot brother at the UF before Camilo turned pro. During that time, Manuel insisted on calling the sexy cat “grandpa.” Apparently Camilo’s abundance of guidance and the perfectionistic tendencies garnered him the nickname. These two, count them, two Villegas hotties share a passion for lawn crawling. The difference? Camilo is very disciplined, and Manny just goes with the flow.

“There’s four million people where I live in Medellin, and there are only four golf courses,” purred Manuel, “When we were born, [my dad] decided to take my brother with him [to a golf course] because he played on the weekends and then my brother grabbed a club and just started hitting around and messing around. He liked it, and the same thing [happened] with me.” Although Camilo is away crawling the golf courses for our pleasure, Manny and he remain close. “Hopefully one day, I can play right next to my brother in the PGA,” Manuel said. “I want to turn pro, but [if I didn't] I’d probably have to go back home and work, which would suck. I would definitely not like that, so we’ll have to stick with turning pro.” The sexy cat Camilo supports his brother’s goal as long as it is what Manuel truly desires. “I just want him to be happy,” he said. “Sometimes you just do stuff, and you’re not happy but you’re successful, but happiness is what’s important.” If he does decide to compete in the PGA someday, Manuel is already expecting people to make the inevitable comparisons to Camilo, mainly the Camilo crawl. “It’s funny because sometimes I get introduced to people as ‘my brother’s brother,’ not as me,” he said. “It’s happened to me since I was so young. I just have to deal with it. “I know it’s going to be like that, and I’m expecting people to compare us, especially when we play the same sport.” M-E-O-W.

REGGIE BUSH IS NO DAVID BECKHAM

adidas formally announced today a multi-year partnership with hottie Reggie Bush. In a statement, adidas says Bush will be the “primary athlete for adidas football.” Bush will be featured in hot marketing and advertising spots, and will play a role (a small one I’m sure) in the development of the company’s football and training apparel and footwear. Before today’s big announcement, Bush appeared on CBS’ “Early Show” to discuss the deal and said his signature adidas shoe will come out in 2007. Mensa points both added and deducted for Bush saying he went with adidas “because the company will make him ‘the face’ of its U.S. football business the way it markets David Beckham for soccer around the world.” Now, props for recognizing that David Beckham is an Athlebrity god, but seriously Reggie, you are hot, but not Beckham hot.

KOBE BRYANT CHANGES HIS NUMBER

NBA VP/Basketball Communications Tim Frank said the league has given the green light for Kobe Bryant to change his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 24 next season. Bryant wore No. 24 when he played at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.

COUNTDOWN TO BONDS TIME

Barry Bonds hit his 710th career home run in the Mets 4-1 victory over the Giants. “It was nice,” Bonds said. “It felt good to hit the ball good today.” He arrived at home plate to chants of “Barry! Barry!” Bonds is five homers from passing Babe Ruth for second on the career list and 46 away from breaking Hank Aaron’s mark of 755. And if you think I’m not going to celebrate each homer because of the pea-brain lynch-mob mentality surrounding the steroid “scandal”, think twice. Barry Bonds is and always will be one of the greatest athletes of our time.

VODKA PARTY AT THE DERBY

The 17th annual Barnstable-Brown Gala on Friday, May 5th, brought to you by Priscilla Barnstable and Grey Goose Vodka, announced their star-studded guest list of Athlebrities, actors, politicians, singers and assorted VIPS who will attend the Kentucky Derby Eve festivities at Patricia’s estate. My favorite part of this “press-release” is, and I quote: “Guests will sip Grey Goose Vodka cocktails and raise money for diabetic research.” The list of “sippers” include: Ashanti, Tom Brady, Jermaine Dupri, Goo Goo Dolls, Dennis Hopper, Jewel, Chaka Khan, Nick Lachey, Tommy Lee, Ludacris, Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Bode the mouth Miller, Jerry (yummy) O’Connell, Smokey Robinson, Serena Williams and ZZ-Top.
What a fantastic idea- throw Bode the Mouth Miller into a Vodka orgy alongside ZZ Top and Tommy Lee. I’d pay to be a fly on that wall, or Vodka glass. Point of interest, the Barnstable-Brown Gala has been named by People as one of the top 10 parties in the country and by Gold Magazine as one of the top parties internationally. Anyone wanna take me?

JOGA BONITO SOCCER FIELDS
The global spirit of Joga Bonito (Portuguese for “Play Beautiful” ) is catching on thanks to Nike. They have committed $1 million to get people to pay attention to U.S. soccer. Starting today, Nike is donating three Joga Bonito soccer fields in Los Angeles, three fields in New York and four fields in Chicago. To kick off Nike’s national announcement of the Joga Bonito fields, U.S. Athlebrity soccer hottie Landon Donovan will visit kids at the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation & Parks’ Glassell Park for the dedication of the new soccer field.

“With the games in Germany right around the corner, this is an exiting time for U.S. Soccer. I’m happy that Nike is continuing to make such a major commitment to fueling the game in America with the donation of these 10 Joga Bonito soccer fields,” said Landon Donovan, the hot starting forward for the U.S. National Soccer team. “I’m glad I could be a part of today’s field dedication and know the kids will pass on the Joga Bonito or ‘Play Beautiful’ spirit that Nike intended.”

WANNA BE A BOSTON BRUIN?
The deal: Pay the $100, come to Boston, and let the Bruins put you through a bunch of skill tests. Out of about 200, only three will be invited to Bruins camp in September. This is a legitimate and hot way to try-out for the team. For more info: www.bostonherald.com

That’s it for today. As always, thanks for reading. Delinda