TRADING TURKEY FOR TAPAS

Keep them flying indeed! After the devastation blow to my libido in Shanghai, Rafa refueled my hunger in South Korea. The reigning God in the Church of Athlebritology, Rafael Nadal, participated in a teaching session for South Korean fans at the Olympic Gymnasium yesterday before his exhibition game against Him. Our sexy Spaniard was appropriately swamped by fans and adored by children, and caused me to scream Are You Kidding Me when I saw the photos. Forget the turkey this holiday, I’m eating tapas.

PEOPLE MAGAZINES SEXIEST BEASTS ALIVE
Gotta give props to People Magazine, who are usually spot-on when they name the Sexiest Men Alive. Can’t ever ignore Clooney, but dissing Rafael Nadal and Camilo Villegas in this issue is unforgivable. Making the cut this year we got Andy Roddick and his phenomenal belly, James Booty Blake and HIM, yes R-Fed. Can’t agree with Roger Federer being one of the sexiest men alive…sure he’s got game, but come on, just because he’s the best tennis player alive doesn’t make him one of the hottest…. Andre Agassi appears on their radar, as does big daddy Shaq. And making me giddy with delight, People Magazine includes sexy-surf-king Kelly Slater among the hottest. Look for other hotties in the double-de-licious “Twins” section that includes Tiki and Ronde Barber and Bob and Mike Bryan. Finally, love is given to hot ‘new comer’, Ian Poulter look-a-like and Take Home Hottie, Curtis Stone.

JEREMY ROENICK

Hockey hunk Jeremy Roenick will appears in Friday night’s episode of Ghost Whisperer. I thought for sure he would be cast as a scary ghost, but alas, the beast plays an assistant baseball coach.

COURTSIDE GYLLENHAAL

Jake Gyllenhaal and his Live Strong bracelet sat courtside at the Lakers-Clippers game last night and took particular interest in Kobe Bryant….

AL MVP

Looks like Derek Jeter didn’t make the MVP cut this year…Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau was named the American League Most Valuable Player, but I gotta stick to my estrogen and say Jeter should have won Most Visually Pleasing.

THANKSGIVING HOTTIES

Turkey day is upon us, and what would a holiday be without all the love our boys give back to the communities. Martell Webster of the Portland Trail Blazers made this kids day during the teams 11th annual Blazers Community Builders Harvest Dinner November 21, 2006 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon…Adorable as always, 76er Allen Iverson served food to the underprivileged at the First District Plaza on November 20, 2006 in Philadelphia.

And how cute is Timberwolves Ricky Davis and his kids? Davis donated and distributed Thanksgiving food to families at St. Anne’s Place, a shelter providing emergency services to homeless women and their children in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What a man, what a man…

Elton Brand of the Clippers helped pass out bags of groceries during the Clippers Thanksgiving Teamwork at the Table, which helps distribute food to the homeless at St. Joseph Center in Santa Monica.

Indiana Pacers Darrell Armstrong and Jermaine O’Neal dished out some food during the Pacers’ “Come To Our House” Thanksgiving dinner for Indianapolis area missions at Conseco Fieldhouse.

ESPN ANIMATED SPOTS

This week, ESPN will break four new spots featuring animated versions of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Gilbert Arenas, among others. I prefer my boys in the flesh, but the spots are an interesting carrot to dangle in an effort to promote its NBA coverage. Each spot will show hotties or teams “attempting to surpass something they already have achieved on the court.” Kobe’s spot, “The Feats” shows Kobe at a High Striker, the device found at carnivals that allows participants to test their strength, but instead of a hammer, Bryant “slams a Spalding basketball on the platform to send a projectile up the tower.” The ad references Bryant’s over-hyped 81-point game last season, as the tower is marked 70, 80, 90 and 100. “The Contenders,” focuses on teams in “prime position to vie for the NBA title.” Shaq, Dwyane ‘Lips’ Wade and coach Riley are shown with their championship rings, while Neanderthal Nowitzki and hot Mavericks coach Avery Johnson are “tying a heart together with ropes.” The voiceover, referencing the Mavs’ loss to the Heat in the NBA Finals last season, says, “Will the Mavericks mend a broken heart?” The spots will air in 30- and 15-second versions with the tag “Will you be there when …?” This is the first fully animated TV campaign for the NBA coverage, and like I said, I prefer my hotties in the flesh. What happened to the good old day of our ballers wooing the NBA Trophy?

Have a happy and hottie filled holiday. I’ll be posting periodically throughout the weekend.

As always, thanks for reading. Delinda
delinda@athlebrities.com