DUKE RAPE SCANDAL UPDATE
Keeping track of the Duke case has become much more fun now that the New Black Panthers are involved! Yesterday, Reade Seligmann appeared in court with his attorney asking that the case be “fast-tracked” in order to “resolve” the case in time for the start of the school year. The Judge laughed at this request and said the case “is not going to jump ahead of the line and be handled any differently.” As Seligmann endured the court-issued-spanking, one member of the New Black Panther Party yelled, “Justice will be served, rapist!” (The defendants are white, and their accuser is black.) District Attorney Mike Nifong said that he intends to try all three losers together and that he doesn’t expect any trial to begin before next year. Seligmann’s lawyer had planned to ask the judge for all evidence collected by the prosecution, however, Nifong one-upped the lawyer before court and provided the defense with a copy of his entire case file, including 1,278 pages of evidence, two videotapes and a compact disc containing photos. “We are here today to let Durham and the world know that the world will not only watch this case, but the world will finally see justice done to people who rape black women,” said Hashim Nzinga of the New Black Panthers party.

THE DETROIT TIGERS ARE HITTING MORE THAN HOMERS
Believe it or not, the Detroit Tigers have won seven straight games. This is the teams longest winning streak since 1993! “It’s pretty good, but nobody will care about that tomorrow,” said Detroit manager Jim Leyland, who is probably right.

Hitting more than homers is Dmitri Young. Ironically, the Tigers’ “designated hitter” was charged with domestic violence after his ex-girlfriend accused him of choking her, according to the Detroit Free Press yesterday. Young plans to turn himself into police on Monday. “It’s a bum deal,” Young told the paper. “Unfortunately, it’s public knowledge. I don’t see this person anymore.” Young, 32, and the 21-year-old woman were staying at a hotel in suburban Detroit on April 14 when she said he attacked her.

THIERRY HENRY TO STAY WITH ARSENAL

Captain Thierry Henry will stay at Arsenal, he announced today. The 28-year-old hottie had been linked with a move to (NO!)Barcelona but has agreed to stay with the Londoners. “My heart told me to stay,” he told a news conference.

DIDIER DROGBA “CHOCOLAT PLANTEUR”

The Ivory Coast’s hottest player Didier Drogba says he is fed up with Premiership football and is ready to ditch it for football on the mainland European continent. (*Drogba is from the Ivory Coast and will represent them in the World Cup. Outside the World Cup, Drogba plays for Chelsea in the European League.) Sexy Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists the unhappy Drogba will not be allowed to quit the club. Mourinho said: “Didier has two more years on his contract and he is one of the players I consider not negotiable - he has no possibility to leave…If he does not play with happiness, he does not play…a lot of teams would like Drogba but they can’t have him. That is the power of the clubs.”

I actually don’t care where, when or why he plays, I just want to see his wickedly hot Athlebrity smile as often as possible. Yesterday, the heart-stopping Drogba posed for the launch ceremony of the “Chocolat Planteur” in Boulogne-Billancourt. I am a chocolate freak and the Ivory Coast is the world’s number one cocoa producer. They had me at Drogba.

ADIDAS GIVES LOVE TO HISPANIC FANS

The Adidas’ World Cup advertisement poster is shown in a display with the Mexican Nationals team football boot at Adidas’ North American headquarters on May 5, 2006, in Portland, Ore. There are roughly 42 million Hispanics in the United States. Advertisers spent $3.3 billion going after $800 billion worth of Hispanic spending power in the United States in 2005, and the World Cup concentrates that market.

GERMANY-LAND OF WEIRD IDEAS

A visitor stands on a sculpture erected by the initiative “Germany - Land of Ideas”, depicting football shoes, in Berlin today. The initiative set up six sculptures to form a “Walk of Ideas” as an image campaign for the upcoming Soccer World Cup.

Other sculptures include (left to right) a pill, books, a car, a playhouse and Einsteins theory of relativity. Can someone pa-leeze tell me how a “pill” fits into this campaign?

SMOKING INDY 500 CIGARS

Emprise Cigars has announced the introduction of the “Indianapolis 500(R)” Cigar. The Cigar is handmade in the Dominican Republic, using the finest 5-year old long-leaf tobacco, grown from Cuban seed and finished with a Sumatra wrapper. The cigars will be available at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout Indy 500(R) qualifications, race day, and during the Allstate(R) 400 at the Brickyard(R). Apparently, you like your cigars and the initial demand has exceeded expectations. Smoke up! http://www.emprisecigars.com

COCO KRISPIES

Steve Comte, the agent for Coco Crisp, said that Crisp “is scheduled to shoot a spot for Kellogg’s next week, the inevitable tie-in to Cocoa Krispies finally coming to pass, as least on a local basis.”

ACTION JACKSON

Sexy Pacer Stephen Jackson has started the STEPHEN JACKSON ACADEMY in his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, a city that was devastated by Hurricane Rita. The K-6 school plans to open in August with a focus on academics and fine arts and will have a sports program. Jackson will serve as CEO. “This is very special, probably more than winning the championship,” Jackson said at the ribbon-cutting yesterday.

BET ON THESE HOTTIES
The BET AWARD nominees for best male athlete are…Kobe Bryant, King Lebron James, Shaq, Tiger and Vince Young. My vote, hands down: King James.

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