CHELSEA IN GHANA

“As a Chelsea and Ghana player it is great to make a commitment to helping children in Africa and other areas of the world. I am particularly looking forward to getting involved in my home country”.
Michael Essien, Right To Play Athlete Ambassador.

A few smoking hot Chelsea babes, including Michael Essien, and their sultry manager Jose Mourinho, have arrived in Ghana for the first humanitarian mission between Chelsea and Right to Play. Chelsea’s first global charity partner, Right to Play aims to improve the lives of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

“Everyone at the club is fully behind the work of Right To Play and we are all proud to support them,” said Mourinho. “Sport, particularly football, has a certain power. It is a world language, something where cultural difference does not matter. Because it is the world language you can reach everybody and if you have a big status in the game you have a big responsibility to use that power properly. And what better way to use it than for kids around the world to be healthier, fitter, fight disease, war, poverty. Football can and should help with this. It also reminds you that there are more important things than football.”

CALM DOWN

Everybody just needs to calm down. Yes it is true, for the first time since 1973, no men from the US will play in the second round at the French Open. All nine American hotties entered in the clay-court Grand Slam lost their opening matches. Robby Ginepri, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Vince Spadea, Justin Gimelstob, Amer Delic, Robert Kendrick, Sam Querry and Michael Russell, gone. But why such angst? I’ll certainly miss James Booty Blake, and didn’t enjoy the condescending look on Igor Andreev’s face when he sent Andy Roddick home packing, but there’s still pa-lenty of ultra-fine creatures to captivate us during the event.

Hottie Mikhail Youzhny, the sexy Russian Justin Timberlake look-a-like who lost the Dubai Final to the Swiss Mister, is still a very active participant in my dancing ovaries. Spanish treat Carlos I-need-mo Moya, has a very strong foothold on my libido, as does blonde from down under, Lleyton Hewitt. And of course, Spanish delicacy Rafael Nadal is driving this cougar insane. I love my US hotties, but for this event, I’m honed in on a little European flava.

MOMENTUM

Nike. Just the word itself turns me on. In their latest spot, Momentum, they essentially capture every beautiful nuance of the finest Spanish treats. The TV spot currently airing in Spain, stars (ah-hem) our tapa, Rafael Nadal, Pau Gasol, Ronaldinho (who is actually Brazilian), Sergio Ramos and Fernando Torres. The hotties are seen in a Fight Club scenario where a rowdy crowd eggs them on. Nadal responds with a series of nasty volleys that sent me over the edge, Gasol dunks a basketball against four defenders and Ronaldinho juggles a soccer ball before shooting a 25-foot basket using his foot. The crowd is silenced. Tag: “Just do it.” Also, be sure to watch the making of Momentum for extra, must-see footage of the beasts in action.

STREET CENSUS

Speaking of flava, you gotta check out this new website. Street Census ‘brings you the latest on what’s in and what’s out, what’s hot and what’s not and ranks them for your pleasure.’ Their latest list? The top 10 worst-best athlete rappers. You can listen to Allen Iverson’s 40 Bars, C-Webbs Gansta Gansta, Haters by Mensa reject Ron Artest, and even princess Kobe rapping with 50 Cent. All top ten athlete-rapper songs are available, so if you’ve got your earplugs ready, check it out. Other cool ‘lists: ESPN’s 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time, and the Top 5 Blaxplotation Flicks. I’d like to see a Top Five Most Overlooked Hotties List and a Where the Hell is Carmelt-in-my-mouth-Anthony in-the-off-season chart.

LOAN ME DAVID BECKHAM
So David Beckham gets recalled to England’s national team and the Galaxy gets their panties in a twist. Once again, everyone needs to chill out. FIFA has warned the Galaxy that they will not be able to prevent David Beckham from playing in friendlies for his country. Galaxy President & GM Alexi Lalas “only wants to release [Beckham] for competitive internationals, but FIFA insists the club will have no choice if Beckham continues to be picked by England manager Steve McClaren.” Lalas said, “I don’t want to stand in the way of a player representing his country but we have to be prudent and understand they have to be the appropriate games. I would think they would have to be competitive matches.” In London, Sam Wallace reported Beckham has a clause in his contract with the Galaxy that “stipulates he can play for England whether he is selected for Euro 2008 qualifiers or friendlies.” Beckham is “adamant that he will not be prevented from representing England and would even invoke FIFA regulations that dictate players must be released for international duty.” (ESPNSOCCERNET.com)

First of all, Beckham has already generated enough revenue for the Galaxy to pay his salary plus-some. Secondly, this is the way the rest of the entire world plays soccer, lending out their players to various clubs. The Galaxy could actually benefit from Beckham playing in the friendlies if they would embrace this move and use it an opportunity to introduce US soccer fans to European soccer. And although US Soccer will never reach the same religious proportions as it has elsewhere, can’t we just stop trying to dominate everything in the world and take a cue from Beck’s, because after all, they’re not called ‘friendlies’ for nothing.

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