VIVA ITALIA
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They came. They saw. They conquered.

I’m willing to bet that Dolce & Gabbana had a hand in dressing the best soccer team in Europe. With AC Milan flags hanging from the cockpit window, the Champions landed at the Milan airport looking exceptionally fine in their red-black color scheme, holding roses and donning those sexy medals around their necks. And yes Paolo, I will accept the rose. The hotties then took the Trophy on a parade through the streets of Milan, circled my ovaries, and landed dead-center on my libido.

ANDY RODDICK GETS PUMPED

Oh Andy, Andy, Andy. If ONLY those were your arms you might not have lost today. The eternally sexy Roddick was spanked outta the quarterfinals of the Hypo Group International by Frenchy Gael Monfils. Perhaps Andy has been distracted by the latest cover of Men’s Fitness? The obvious doesn’t need to be stated, Andy got airbrushed. Which is a shame really, cuz dude if fine without any touch-ups, and I actually prefer a leaner Roddick. Andy responded to the Photoshop job performed on his cover shot: “I spent the last few weeks in Austin really focused on my training and getting back into shape…but pretty sure I’m not as fit as the Men’s Fitness cover suggests…little did I know I have 22 inch guns and a disappearing birth mark on my right arm. I saw the cover for the first time when I landed after Rome…it was pretty funny…I walked by the newsstand in the airport and did a total double take …I can barely figure out how to work the red-eye tool on my digital camera…whoever did this has mad skills…maybe Rafael Nadal wants his arms back?…if you can manage to stop laughing at the cover long enough, check out the article inside, the photo shoot on the boat was pretty cool..and I recognize the person in those photos…”

MONACO HEATING UP

If these beasts can’t sell you on Formula One I don’t know who can. Brazilian Ferrari driver Felipe Massa: HOT. British Honda driver Jenson Button: HOT. German BMW-Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld: HOT. Italian Toyota driver Jarno Trulli: Hot.

And British McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton: HOTTEST. If you’ve been following my libido, you know that Hamilton is quickly becoming the Athlebrity of the Year. Why? Because after the second practice session of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, Hamilton came in third. Alonso clocked the best time followed by Finnish Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen and then Hamilton. But it came with a price. After a nearly perfect season so far, the 22-year-old rookie suffered his first crash during the second practice for this weekend’s event. (Hamilton was unhurt, but his car suffered some damage on the left side.) “Today was the first time I ever drove a Formula One car around Monaco and it was awesome,” Hamilton said in a team statement. “I found out how unforgiving the track can be when I went off in the second session. … I made a tiny mistake and the back of the car slipped a little and that was it. There is just no room for error in Monaco.” Hamilton won in Monaco in Formula 3 and GP2 over the last two years, and is now looking for his first Formula One victory. He comes to the race as the youngest driver ever to lead the championship, after finishing in the top three in his first four races, a Formula One record. The drivers have a traditional off-day on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday. Sunday’s race is 78 laps. (MetroNews)

NEW HOOPS SITCOM?
According to one of my favorite bloggers, Quibian Salazar-Moreno (AOL Black Voices), Kenny Smith is teaming up with Jamie Foxx to produce a new project for TBS. “It’s a show that we are developing,” Smith told The SportsInterview.com. “It is myself, Jamie Foxx, our writers Lamont Ferrell, and Jamie Foxx’s team consists of Marcus King. We have been doing an interesting show about an NBA player that has to live at home. That’s the basis of it. It’s a sitcom, obviously. A guy living at home with his family, a young guy who just makes the NBA.”

CHRIS PAUL HELPS REBUILD

Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) unveiled of a new basketball court at Sarah T. Reed High School as part of the Toyota Tundra Turnaround program in New Orleans. Reed Athletic Director Gavin Lewis said his school had to play all of its home basketball games on the road last season because Hurricane Katrina flooded its gym and Sarah Reed has not recovered as quickly as some of the other areas in the city. “These students need this because there is nothing out there right now,” Lewis said. “Not many stores have opened or community places for kids to do something. So to be able to have something where they can come and play basketball or volleyball like this gym is exciting for the area.” It’s also very exciting for us Athlebrities-who-give-back-are-hot subscribers. “I love to give back, and what’s special about New Orleans is the people,” Paul said Tuesday. “I’m excited about getting back here. Everywhere you go, anybody find out that you are with the Hornets, they say like, ‘Man, we support you.’ I love that feeling.” And for that, Chris Paul earns a mighty-mighty-good-man nod. (Nola.com)

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

It’s oh-so-sultry in Surrey England right now as some fine creatures from the wonderful world of golf tee off for the BMW Championships. Giving me reason to watch, flash-kat Ian Poulter, and two Swedish babes, Johan Edfors and Robert Karlsson. I have no idea who Karlsson is, but my eyes are enjoying him. And I know I don’t need to sell you on Edfors…those arms, white pants and ideally poised belt buckle? I’d say a fitting substitution for our missing kitten Villegas.

ANTE UP FOR AFRICA
This may be a bit random, but I gotta give props when they are due. Actor Don Cheadle and poker player Annie Duke announced the Ante Up For Africa tournament July 5 at the ’07 World Series of Poker, which will help raise awareness about the crisis in Darfur. There will be a $5,000 buy-in, and while players are not required to make a donation to enter the tournament, Duke and Cheadle are asking winners to donate half of their prize money to the Enough Project and the Int’l Rescue Committee. Wonder if Lebron James knows how to play poker?

BORJE SALMING BARES ALL

Dude is 56 years old and NOW he takes it all off? Hockey HOFer Borje Salming has posed for 31 nude paintings by artist Johan Wattberg. Ten will be displayed in Stockholm tonight and the rest will be shown in Toronto this fall. The paintings aren’t quite eligible for our sporn collections but would certainly give Oscar Wilde fodder for a Dorian Gray sequel.

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