WE NEED NETS
Unbeknownst to me, yesterday marked the first Malaria Awareness Day. Who knew? I guess I had my Kyle Korver blinders on…in any event; American Idol, ExxonMobil, Magnum Photographs, the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the President’s Malaria Initiative (lol) have all joined the cause. Simian President Bush and his Lady have also called on all Americans to donate $10 towards the purchase of a mosquito net for a family in sub-Saharan Africa. (Because god knows that’s the closest he’s gonna get to actually helping the cause). I’ve gotta make one rip on ExxonMobil as well. If they donated 1% of their profits towards this cause, we wouldn’t need an initiative. But I’m not here to get political, just to urge you all to buy a net and save a child. If my urging doesn’t work, perhaps David Beckham can entice you?

Beckham is featured in a Public Service Announcement urging fans to donate $10, the cost of one mosquito net, towards the fight against malaria. Malaria kills over 3,000 children every day in Africa, yet the disease can be easily prevented with a $10 mosquito net. In the announcement, David Beckham kicks a soccer ball into a goal with a missing net. The PSA closes “We need nets” and points viewers towards MalariaNoMore.org. It’s a great spot, check it out.

HELLO

I don’t know what part of heaven this beast fell from, but I like it. The former Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback was supposed to be unable to run for up to 12 months following a nasty injury in his foot last October, but yesterday, he was zipping through 100-yard sprints and my blog, while sporting a sexy new tattoo across his chest.

RAFAEL NADAL REACHES 69

Oh yes, our little tapa finally reached the magic number. Rafael Nadal has extended his winning streak on clay to 69 matches, advancing himself to the quarterfinals of the Barca Open.

EDS BYRON CHOPPER

Those boys from “American Chopper,” Paul Sr., Paul Jr. Mikey, have unveiled the three (identical) choppers for EDS. EDS will award one of the motorcycles to the winner of the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, the first time in PGA Tour history that a custom “chopper” has been awarded to a tournament winner. (Little do they know that I come along with the bike.) EDS will donate one of the custom choppers to an online auction to benefit Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, the children’s charity associated with the tournament. The third chopper will be retained by EDS and used to raise awareness of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and the charity it supports. The auctions went live yesterday and runs until Wednesday, May 2. For more information, or to place a bid on these cool rides, visit http://www.eds.com/auction .

NASCAR SHOES

Beverly Hills-based Genius Fashion, have created a line of NASCAR themed women’s shoes which will debut next month at Belk’s and online at Zappos and NASCAR.com. The company said its shoes, which range from $69-250, offer “distinctive hints of the racing culture, such as tire treads on the soles of the shoe, and small checkered flags on some designs.” Cool idea, but I’ll stick with my Prada’s.

WAS IT BLOOD ON THE SOCK?

Would you put it past any sports team to work the PR angle? Rumors are flying that Red Sox Curt Shilling actually painted his sock red for Game Six of the ’04 ALCS series. A Red Sox official said that the team “may seek a retraction” after MASN’s Gary Thorne said on the air during last night’s Red Sox-Orioles game that he had been told by Red Sox C Doug Mirabelli “that was not blood, but paint,” on Schilling’s sock. (Boston Globe) Thorne: “It was painted. Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR.” During a break later in the game, Thorne “confirmed that’s what he said, and that Mirabelli had told him so in a conversation ‘a couple of years ago.” But Mirabelli said after the game, “I never said that. I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood.” Edes notes the suggestion “has been made in the past. … But it has never been stated so matter-of-factly, and with a Sox player’s name attached.” And if Mr. Shilling did in fact paint his sock for PR, it was a genius move, but maybe he deserves an asterisk by his name for that game?

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