WHO IS HOT ON THE GOLF COURSE? ADAM SCOTT.

Tied for first at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Adam Scott is hot. Scott fired a five-under par 65 to join US veteran Steve Lowery atop the leader board after the first round of the 5.8 million-dollar US PGA Byron Nelson Championship.

Tied for 66th Camilo Villegas played with his tongue in ways we have only dreamed of, before crouching down to line up his shot.

**Camilo Villegas Magazine Alert**

Our favorite kitty-kat has crawled his way right onto the June cover of Golf Digest. Included in the magazine is the ultra-handy “‘Pocket Tips” with Camilo Villegas illustrating his swing. Thank you Golf Digest.

BARRY BONDS IS TOPPS
While corporate marketers are shying away from Barry Bonds, fret not, there will be a plethora of hot products on the market once he hits No. 715. Bonds, now sitting at 713, made a great business decision when he withdrew from the MLBPA’s group licensing program before the ‘04 season. He has his own deals with companies to produce goods marking the big 715. Products awaiting Bonds’ milestone hit include “locker room” caps and T-shirts, collectible coins, “715″ pennants, a special two-pack of Ruth and Bonds action figures and a T-ball set.

Topps, one of the most active licensees, has issued a card for each home run between 700-715, and is running an in-pack promotion with a first prize of a complete set of those cards with pieces of game-used memorabilia affixed.

REGGIE BUSHS BATTLE FOR NUMBER 5 AIDS KATRINA VICTIMS

Mike Ornstein, the marketing agent for Reggie Bush, said that Bush “is so serious about not parting with [the No. 5] he will pledge 25% of his proceeds from jersey sales to [Hurricane] Katrina relief.” The NFL has a rule stating RBs can only wear Nos. 20-49, but Bush will wear No. 5 this weekend at a Saints minicamp. Ornstein said, “It’s such an antiquated rule. Why not allow a guy who has built up all this equity in this number to keep it?” NFL players receive 6% of the amount of each of their jerseys sold, and Ornstein said that those with the top-selling jerseys earned over $1.5M last year. Bell notes if Bush’s jersey is “similarly hot, the Katrina donation could be in the $400,000 range.”

FIFA MADNESS

The World Cup is coming and retailers are pumped up. Next month’s FIFA World Cup has created more excitement in the US than ever before. Macy’s in N.Y. has a window for World Cup merchandise and Dick’s Sporting Goods is putting a lot of jerseys on the shelves. If you need something to pump you up for the World Cup, please check out Joga.com.

THE VALUE OF WAYNE ROONEY
In Manchester, a report by London-based Media Planning Group has claimed that England F Wayne Rooney’s foot injury “could cost ITV more than $26.3M in lost advertising revenue if his absence leads to England getting knocked out in the early stages” of the World Cup. Talk about pressure on the little bulldog. No worries yet though, he is on the roster and expected to play.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

Last weekend, Oscar De LA Hoya wiped the ring clean with Ricardo Mayorgas face. The result? $43.8M in revenue for HBO PPV. De La Hoya’s fights have charted the top-five non-heavyweight PPV boxing events ever, and he is praised everywhere for building a kick-ass promotional company in an ethical manner not usually seen in boxing. If you missed the fight, HBO will air it, for free, Saturday night. I recommend you watch it.

RICK SUTCLIFFE HAS A FEW TOO MANY

ESPN baseball analyst Rick Sutcliffe during a guest appearance in Channel 4 San Diego’s broadcast booth for Brewers-Padres on Wednesday gave a “rambling, slurred interview” before his microphone “eventually was cut off,” according to the AP’s Bernie Wilson. Channel 4 GM Craig Nichols said Sutcliffe “used remarkably poor judgment. I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for the Channel 4 team, and I’m embarrassed for the viewers” ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Thursday night aired an audio clip of Sutcliffe’s appearance in the booth. “SportsCenter” anchor John Buccigross also read an apology from Sutcliffe: “I exercised bad judgment and accepted [an opportunity to go on the air with the Padres broadcast team], even though I was not in optimum condition to go on live television. I regret that lapse in judgment and my decision and I sincerely apologize.” Thanks to the advent of Youtube.com, you can view this historical clip, which clearly illustrates why drunk men don’t belong in the broadcast booth.

AND YET ANOTHER MENSA REJECT FILES SUIT
Yesterday, I informed you of the Mensa reject and his “class action” lawsuit which he filed against the Angels for not “getting a tote bag” during a promotional give away. Now, yet another Mensa reject has filed a “gender discrimination” suit, this time against the A’s. San Diego-based attorney Alfred Rava filed his suit this week in Northern Cali. Why? What prompted a lawyer to feel so discriminated against that he was compelled to clog up the courts? He did not receive a bucket hat that the team gave away at a game on May 8, 2004. Is it any coincidence that Rava is also the attorney for L.A. psychologist Michael “I-want-a-pink-tote-bag” Cohn? The asinine quest by these two crybabies leads me to our QUOTES OF THE DAY: In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes of Cohn’s suit against the Angels, “The notion that anti-discrimination laws should apply to such a situation is an insult to anyone who has ever suffered legitimate discrimination based on race, age or gender” ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser, on Cohn’s lawsuit: “This is the most frivolous, stupid lawsuit I’ve ever heard of.” I think we are all in agreement with that!

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