**Publishing Notice**
Ya’ all are gonna have to entertain yourselves for a while. I’m taking a vacation from my computer. So unless I bump into Camilo, get my paws on Rafa, feel-up any soccer player with a last name ending in a vowel, or marry Carmelo Anthony, chances are I won’t be posting until July 1st.

MANDELA JOINS BARCA

Babes from the Barcelona fubol squad earned some major hot points today. The sexy Spanish beasts are in South Africa to play with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld, one of the 10 venues for the 2010 World Cup finals. Barca boys (from L): Lilian Thuram, Juliano Belltti, Andres Iniesta, Giovanni van Bronckhorst (4), and Oleguer, along with club manager Albert Perrin, presented Mandela with his own jersey. And the reason for the game? To honor the former South Africa President on his 89th birthday.

PEACE MATCH

Sergio Ramos playing soccer with children? Hello! Real Madrid landed at the Peres Center in Tel Aviv for an unprecedented Piece ‘Peace Match’ yesterday in Tel Aviv. The Peres Center’s ‘Peace Team’ is made up of both Palestinian and Israeli professional players. And it’s no surprise that Spanish champions Real Madrid beat the joint Israeli-Palestinian “Peace Team” 8-0. And they called it a friendly to promte peace? 8-0 isnt a friendly, Real should have stopped scoring after two goals…guess we wont be seeing the Peace Squad in the World Cup.

HUMANITARIANS

Today, Rockets C Dikembe Mutombo, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and former MLBer Edgar Martinez will be inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian HOF in Boise Idaho. This wonderful HOF annually inducts individuals who are “world-class in athletic ability, role models in their community and have a strong record of humanitarian efforts. Hence my love for Dikembe Mutombo. The mighty-mighty-fine man is the Hall’s seventh NBA inductee, an eight-time NBA All-star, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the most vocal/active humanitarian aside from Bono. Mutombo is being honored for his long-standing dedication to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other parts of the world. Through the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. Mutombo has contributed some $15 million toward the $29 million cost of building the new 300-bed Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in the capital city of Kinshasa. His foundation also supports the International Polio Victims Response Committee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and he is personally involved with the NBA’s Basketball without Borders Africa initiative, the United for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign and CARE.

THIERRY HENRY AND GISELE

I don’t really care that there was a photo-call announcing Ebel Swiss watches have signed a five-year deal with Arsenal. I do care how hot Thierry Henry looked when he received his watch from Tom Brady’s flawless arm piece Gisele Bundchen.

TIGER WOODS BUILDING AN EMPIRE FOR BABY SAM

We’ve all seen the wonderful photos of Andre Agassi and the Swiss-Mister slamming balls from atop the Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai, but now we have another reason to shift our attention to this undiscovered playground. Tiger Woods Design today began construction on the “The Tiger Woods Dubai” residential community in the United Arab Emirates, which of course, includes a 7,800-yard golf course. The development is located in the $7.5B Dubailand attraction “that will be twice the size of Walt Disney World” and include indoor skiing, an auto racing track and a rain forest. “I’m excited we’ve reached this milestone,” Tiger purred “I’ve worked very hard on the design of Al Ruwaya and am looking forward to seeing it take shape during the next few years of construction.” So are we Tiger, so are we.

TIGERS PROUD OF HIS ARMS

I have yet to hear someone talk about the US Open without mentioning the size of Tigers guns. Indeed. Tiger looks as if he’s been spending more time in the gym, than he has on the greens. And that’s just fine by me, given the end product. So I was more than pleased when I read a report from Julie Ward (USA Today) in which she writes that Tiger Woods “asked Nike to shorten the sleeves on his polo shirts an inch and a half,” and a result, Woods’ “well-defined biceps were on daily display” at last weekend’s U.S. Open. Nike Golf Apparel Divisional Merchandise Manager Mitzi MacCallum: “He felt like it would be a little more comfortable for him when he was playing.” On Sunday, Woods switched from the shorter-sleeved polo to a collarless “physique-revealing shirt,” which was “off-the-rack with no custom hemming.” Now if we can just get Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, Ian Poulter, Aaron Baddeley et al to bare a little more skin…

CARAMELIZE ME PA-LEEZE

The announcement sent shivers up my spine…Carmelo Anthony returns to Baltimore for his third annual Melo’s H.O.O.D. movement 3 on 3 basketball challenge. (I think my hood just moved)…On Saturday, June 23rd, the sexiest beast on the court, Carmelo Anthony, will return to his hometown of Baltimore Maryland for his third annual “Melo’s H.O.O.D. Movement 3 on 3 Challenge.” The event is designed to foster community support and outreach in Baltimore by providing a day of festivities for the entire family. (Oh, I’d be so kicked out if I were there…) The list of invited attendees reads like a page from my dreams…Allen Iverson, JR Smith, Chris Paul, Rudy Gay, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Troy Smith…for the full press release click HERE.

MEXICO AND BASKETBALL

In case you were unaware, there are a plethora of hot dudes playing hoops in the Latin American League. In efforts to find these hotties, En Fuego Hoops is hosting its first annual Latin National Basketball Players Camp. The event is to be held August 8th & 9th in my hood, San Diego, so don’t worry kids, I’ll be front and center checking these guys out. The camp is looking for participants who are interested in playing Professional hoops for the 2007 season. Seriously- if you can shoot hoops and want a Pro career, this may be your best chance. Coaches and presidents of the LNBP’s 24 teams will be in attendance and prepared to SIGN talented players. NCAA/Pro experience is encouraged but not necessary. Space is limited so you may wanna register NOW! (www.enfuegohoops.com)

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

TIGER BABY

Less than 24 hours after Tiger finished second at the U.S. Open on Father’s Day, Elin gave birth to the luckiest baby on the planet. Their first cub, a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods was born early Monday morning. “Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully,” Woods wrote on his website. “We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy.” His website also notes that photos of baby Sam will soon be available.

AGE OF INSANITY

Last night, while watching Age of Love, I swear I heard cougars around the world growling at their TV’s. And I couldn’t stop asking myself why in the world Mark Philippoussis would tarnish his Scudly image by appearing on the show. Notorious for dating much younger kittens, Philippoussis couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction when the Cougars were introduced. Now, I’m well aware of what goes on behind the scenes during the filming, editing and production of these reality shows. I thought for sure he had been tipped off, but if he had, he’s one hell of a good actor because the horror on his face was priceless.

“There’s a loss of privacy, sure, but it’s a good chance for people to get to know me, beyond ‘Mark the tennis player.’ I’m a simple guy, very easygoing. I just want to find someone that makes me happy, who makes me smile. And to have 13 women fight over me brings me joy.” – M.P. (ESPN) I, for one, have my money on a Cougar taking home the Scud, and not a Kitten. (After, I suspect, he bangs all the kittens?). The Cougars and Kittens have yet to meet…and when the bikini-clad kittens were shown frolicking in their room like a bunch of dizzy blonds, and the Cougars were shown in their room reading and doing needlepoint I about lost it. Come one people, that ain’t what Cougars do in their spare time. We hunt! ESPN’s Page Two Sam Alipour put it perfectly: The nearly extinct and highly territorial cougar, or Puma concolor, is a lean but mean stalk-and-ambush predator. Though the cougar prefers to dine on deer, it’s safe to assume it’d eat a kitten if desperate. Read more from Sam here, because I can’t take anymore of this ridiculous, yet entertaining, downfall of Mark Philippoussis.

LEWIS HAMILTON E-BAYS GO KART
After Lewis Hamilton won the US Grand Prix victory, bids for his customised McClaren Mercedes kart on Ebay went through the roof. The final price listed before the auction ended was about $83, 682. The winning bidder even gets the chance to collect the vehicle from Hamilton himself. “It is brand new with only one careful owner and this kart was customised for me, it is pretty fast, just how I like it. For anyone who aspires to be a Formula 1 driver, this is for you.” Proceeds from the sale of the kart, which is worth about £2,000, will go to baby charity Tommy’s.

ALEXI LALAS RIPS ON EPL

I really, really wish Alexi Lalas didn’t open his pie-hole. Seems that someone is a little touchy when it comes to soccer in the states and has gotten his panties in a wicked twist. “There’s no accounting for bad taste,” Lalas said in an exclusive interview with the Guardian. “That a segment of the world worships an inferior product (WHAT?) in the Premiership is their business. English football now has the haves and the have-nots. (WHAT?) It’s just that the Premiership have become so skilled in presentation. They took a page out of American football and so now they have Saturday Showdowns and Super Sundays. I love it. This is high-calibre marketing - taking an inferior product and improving it through packaging.” (Yeah, Kinda like what YOU are doing with Beckham?) “The experts in England talk about David Beckham as if he’s going into semi-retirement. (HE IS!) It’s insulting to say Beckham is on his way to Hollywood when he’s coming to play in one of the most competitive leagues in the world (NOT). There are a lot of stars who would struggle here. (Name one aside from Becks?) There’s this delusion that if it’s English then it’s great. But a whole world exists outside of England. (yeah, Italy) That’s reflected in the difficulties they had when everyone ran to the Premiership. Maybe it’s OK for the fan but, for the average development of the players, their game is struggling.” Throw stones much Lexi?

HOUSE OF HISTORY

German national football team goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had written information about Argentina’s football players before the World Cup quarterfinal match Germany vs Argentina. His cheat sheet listed various ways in which the Argentinean babes shoot their penalties (”Elfmeter” in German, “Riquelme - left high” or “Ayala - wait long, right”) And now the little paper, which Lehmann consulted before the shootout, has become famous. So if you really need to see it in person, you can fly to Germany and see it at the “House of History” in Bonn.

REMEMBER THIS?

Hopefully ya all remember this awesome campign from adidas? The “Bonded by Blood” campaign centered around New Zealand’s “All Blacks” rugby team, via, TBWA/Whybin, Auckland and was the Grand Prix winner in the Promo category at the Cannes Lions Int’l Advertising Festival, according to Brooke Capps of AD AGE. The campaign included a series of limited-edition posters that featured the blood of the team’s players. And now, there’s a fantastic video available of the hotties making the poster. I’m a bit squeamish when it comes to needles, but I watched enough to see a few topless beasts romping around the set. The video is available at SBJ.Com.

PRINESS KOBE CAUGHT ON TAPE?

An amateur video said to be shot in late May shows Lakers Princess Kobe Bryant “viciously criticizing the team’s management and the franchise’s best young prospect,” Andrew Bynum, according to Howard Beck of the N.Y. Times. A spokesperson for the nutballs who shot the footage, said that it was taken at a shopping center in Newport Coast, California. As a So-Cal native, I’ve never heard of Newport Coast and can only assume the idiot meant Newport Beach and was referencing the Fashion Island shopping mall. The money-hungry video hounds have posted a LAME teaser of the video on YouTube and have been “peddling it to news media outlets for the last two weeks.” Their well-informed spokesperson also said that they “intended to release the video by the end of the week, provided that it raises enough money through Web donations.” (LOL). Web-donations? Good luck. But the group says it will make the video public “after they have pre-sold 50,000 copies online” at $1.99 apiece, “to ensure they will make at least [$100,000] by making it public.” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/19).

FORBES ANNUAL CELEBRTIY LIST

Tiger Woods, U2, Beckham, Mickelson, Princess Kobe, Shaq, A-Rod, Ronaldinho, M-Jordan, Federer, Jeter, Rossi, and Kimi Raikkonen are just some of the Athlebrities who made the cut. Tiger Woods once again led all athletes with $100M in pay last year, ranking second overall behind only Oprah on FORBES’ annual Celebrity 100 list of the world’s most powerful and best-paid celebrities. The NBA and golf led the list with four beasts each, while F1 had three drivers included. Earnings estimates are for June ‘06-June ‘07. Figures include dollars earned solely from entertainment income. (FORBES, 7/2 issue).

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

LEWIS HAMILTON

What the hell is going on? Am I the only female with hormones going haywire over Lewis Hamilton? Aside from the broadcast, the only mention of Lewis Hamilton or the Grand Prix was from babe Paul Casey who gave a shout out to Lewis Hamilton while waiting to tee off at the US Open. Even Tiger Woods was keeping an eye on Hamilton. In fact, I heard more coverage of the Grand Prix from the hotties at the US Open!

Yes, Lewis Hamilton won his second consecutive F1 race. On the podium, flanked by the usual suspects, Alonso and Massa, Hamilton teared up, smiled, pumped his fist and displayed more emotion than I’ve seen in previous races. The incredibly humble beast didn’t ‘claim’ the victory as his own, but as he crossed the line, Hamilton yelled excitedly into his radio, “We brought it home. Fantastic guys, I love you all.” Hot, humble, talented, and making history…what a shame its just the hot golfers, Europeans, and I bearing witness to such an incredible talent.

WAG WEDDINGS

Off the market: John Terry, Michael Carrick, Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard. All four Euro soccer babes tied the knot over the weekend. Chelsea beast and England captain John Terry married sweetheart Toni Poole (sorry Ang) at Blenheim Palace in, Oxfordshire, on Friday. Party-king Wayne Rooney and Chelsea babe Frank Lampard were reportedly “in fine form at the bar, knocking back vodka cocktails and shots of sambuca before hitting the dance floor.” A source said: “Wayne was really going for it. He looked like he was having a boozing competition with Lamps, then started dancing like a wildman. He had everyone in stitches with a new dance technique which looked like a monkey jumping about in a cage.” The glitzy nuptials were dubbed the ultimate WAG wedding weekend. The off-field antics of the so-called WAGs - wives and girlfriends - of England’s footballers were as much the focus as their husbands and boyfriends’ on-pitch performances at last year’s World Cup.

US OPEN

Golf is so boring…its all old men…why do you wanna stay home and watch the US Open instead of sailing?

BECKHAM EXPIRED

David Beckhams final game with Real Madrid has finally come and gone. Marking the end of his ‘career’ before tainting Hollywood, Becks played his 157th game for Real which won its 30th league title against Mallorca 3-1. “I couldn’t have dreamt it any better,” he said. “It’s been about wining the title for the last six months, and we’ve deserved it tonight.It’s been an incredible experience but all I remember now are the great things. Winning this tonight now puts to bed everything else. It’s amazing to have my family here. They have been with me for four years in Spain…blah, blah, blah…..”everyone that supported me throughout my career”…yada, yada, yada….mum and dad, my sister and children. It’s incredible.”

Wait…real played Mallorca? This is one time that I can say thanks to Tom Cruise and Katie Cruise Hubbard for being in the crowd…perhaps our hidden treasure in this photo may have eluded us had Becks’ new best friends not been there…

DANDY ANDY RODDICK

Congrats to Andy for getting back on track…“This was by far the toughest match I’ve ever played here and I feel pretty lucky to be standing in the winner’s circle so hopefully I can carry the luck over to Wimbledon,” said Roddick, who is ranked fifth in the world.

HATING THE SPURS

It’s so easy to hate the Spurs. Actually, I don’t know who is worse, the team or the way Eva Longoria has to be plastered alongside her bugging soon-to-be-future-ex-hubby at every photo op imaginable. And I know I’m not the only hater out there…thanks to Girls Gone Sports for the lovely Spurs Suck photo and thanks to the anonymous friend of Eva’s, who recently narked to the NY Post that Eva’s Frenchman ain’t all that either: “He is just not gracious. He puts himself ahead of her. He always orders at restaurants before her and is rude to waiters.” Like I said: projected filing date for the divorce papers 8-8-08.

SHAQ AND CLINTON AND PROSTITUTES?

Thanks to the nasty boys at With Leather for the perfect photo for this wickedly scandalous story…On Friday, the Las Vegas po-po leaked the names of daddy-Shaq and hot former Pres Bill Clinton to be dragged into a prostitution case. Sin City madam, Esperanza Brooks, 36, was dropped their boldfaced names as she bragged about having high-powered clientele while being secretly recorded by an undercover cop, according to a Las Vegas police report made public this week by the department. “These are not your average girls. Some of them have worked with Bill Clinton,” Brooks told an undercover officer while assuring him of her girls’ cleanliness, according to the Vegas police report. The Post’s Marianne Garvey also reports Brooks boasted to cops that she had 40 women working for her. A spokesman for Clinton said, “Apparently, total fabrications that get made up in Vegas don’t stay in Vegas.” O’Neal’s reps failed to get back to Page Six for two days. Las Vegas Metro Vice Lt. Karen Hughes told local TV station KLAS that Brooks “sold herself as being involved in high-end prostitution, which means the girls are very top-notch - dealt with celebrities.” But legal experts were shocked at the unprofessionalism of the Vegas cops for allowing the unsubstantiated and wild claims about O’Neal and Clinton to be included in public documents. “The Vegas police allowed a criminal suspect to defame two prominent men while she didn’t even know she was being recorded,” said criminal defense lawyer Ed Hayes. “This would never happen in New York.” Brooks, arrested with four other women, worked by day as a cheerleading coach at the Andre Agassi College Prep Academy, a public charter school the tennis ace founded in 2001 in the ghetto section of Vegas. The two-week investigation ended when Brooks agreed to provide “blond” girls with “large breasts” to three Asian business partners invented by the undercover cop. The fee of $10,000 included a quantity of cocaine. When the buxom trio arrived at a resort on the Vegas Strip at 2 a.m., cops swooped in and arrested them, Brooks, and another woman booker. Brooks is being held on $28,000 bond on 14 counts of prostitution-related crimes. (NY Post)

NORM!

No one covers the underbelly of Vegas quite like Norm Clarke…which makes me question the above story because Norm didn’t mention it. In any case, here’s a few sightings reported by Norm…Baltimore Ravens star Jonathan Ogden and American track and field sprinter Maurice Greene, dining Saturday at Asia Nightlife Dining in the Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood Resort)…Golfing Hall of Famer and CBS broadcaster Nick Faldo, catching Danny Gans’ performance Saturday at The Mirage. Gans and Faldo met in February when Gans played at the Pebble Beach AT&T event. Before the show, Faldo and Gans talked backstage, exchanging golf stories and tips. ..New England Patriots wide reciever Randy Moss, staying in a Bungalow this weekend at the Palms Casino Resort…Denver Broncos standout Champ Bailey, actor Chazz Palminteri (”A Bronx Tale”), actor Arthur J. Nascarella (”The Sopranos”) and poker player Antonio Esfandari, partying at Pure nightclub Friday at Caesars Palace. …Supermodel Gisele Bundchen and beau Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, dining at N9ne steakhouse Friday at the Palms. … Brady’s new teammate, wide receiver Randy Moss, also dined at N9ne steakhouse. For much more check out Norm’s stellar work.

ANTE UP FOR AFRICA
On July 5 at the Rio in Vegas, Don Cheadle and Annie Duke will be hosting a “Star-studded” event to raise awareness for Darfur Survivors. (More info on Athlebrity Calendar Page) More than a dozen Hollywood celebrities and sports legends are expected to join poker’s greatest players to raise public awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur in a special “Ante Up For Africa” tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker. The brainchild of Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle and poker professional Annie Duke, the Ante Up For Africa tournament is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. July 5 in the WSOP tournament area in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Among those who’ve expressed their intent to play, subject to availability, are Cheadle, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilley, Hank Azaria, George Clooney, Matt Damon, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, James Woods, Charles Barkley and poker notables Duke, Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Robert Williamson III, Phil Laak, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Ted Forrest, Mike Matusow and Clonie Gowan.

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

NBA FINALS OVER

The most boring play-off series in the history of NBA Finals is finally over. The San Longoria Spurs humbled King James and his royal attitude, but in the end, I don’t care, I’m just glad its over. Granted, I didn’t waste my time watching James and his over inflated ego, or Eva stalking her prey, but I did enjoy the courtside hotties…Taylor Hicks and his ENORMOUS feet gave his Idol fans some love by performing the National Anthem, but I suspect all eyes were on the picture perfect Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen who were cuddled up courtside. Also in the crowd, sexy soccer (futbol) stud, Thierry Henry, who broke my heart by donning a Spurs jersey.

BALLS ON BALLS
It’s days like these that I wish I had gone to med school…Frenchman Marc Gicquel got slammed by a 130 mph serve in the testicles during the fourth day of the Halle ATP tennis tournament in western Germany yesterday. He received the proper treatment and went on to complete the match, but he had to withdraw today due to the “after effects of Thursdays injury to his testicles.”

Gicquel spent Thursday night feeling ill and vomiting, and said he didn’t have the energy to carry on against Finland’s Nieminen and had to withdraw. “I am very disappointed for sure,” said Gicquel. “But I spent most of Thursday night not feeling well and I was sick a few times. I think it might have something to do with my injury on Thursday. I didn’t have much energy and after the first set, I just knew I didn’t have enough left in me to go on.”

SEXY SIDNEY MAKES HISTORY, AGAIN

Just two weeks ago, Sidney Crosby was made the youngest captain in NHL history. And last night, Crosby walked away from the NHL Awards ceremony with the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award. The Hart trophy garnered Crosby another historical notch, making him the NHL’s youngest MVP since Gretzky. Crosby and his perfect lips received the trophy from six-time winner Gordie Howe: “To get that from him was obviously a huge honor. Everyone knows the history and what he’s done for the game,” said Crosby. The sexy skater led the Penguins to a 105-point season (the second best in team history) before they were eliminated in the first round by Ottawa.

VICTORIA’S SECRET WHAT’S SEXY
Victoria’s Secret released their 2007 ‘What is Sexy’ List and missed the mark by a long shot. Seems that the company is stuck in a time warp and named Derek Jeter as their Sexiest Male Athlete for 2007. (VS.com) I realize they are appealing to the masses, but at this point, even Phil Mickelson is sexier than Jeter. Maybe next year VS will do a little research before representing a has-been as the Hottest. Ever heard of Camilo Villegas? Adam Scott? Lewis Hamilton? Tom Brady? My Melo? Rafa? Andy? Blake? Beckham? Slater? Massa? Sidney Crosby? I could go on forever and not mention Jeter even once.

JONATHON VILMA: SHUT UP

Why is it that when Michael Vick gets in trouble, a giant rock is lifted and all the rejects come out to voice their opinions and then immediately decide they cant handle the backlash and redact their statements? Note to the idiots: if there is a microphone in front of you and the topic of dog fighting is brought up, just say “I’m opposed to it, its terrible, its cruel, its disgusting” or anything to that effect. Anything short of sympathy for ravaged, bloodied, abused dogs is unacceptable. Well all took notice yesterday when Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma crawled out from under his rock to compare horse racing to dog fighting. But of course, his comments were “misunderstood.” Speaking at the team’s minicamp Thursday, Vilma insisted, “my comments that were misinterpreted were that I am not for or against dog fighting or Michael Vick. It’s an unfortunate situation for Michael Vick whether he is involved or not.” (Points lost for doubting his involvement) “I was definitely not comparing the two, dog fighting to horse racing. You’ll have activists who are against both. They say in horse racing, you put a lot of stress on the animals,” Vilma added. “I’m indifferent and it’s a matter of wanting to stay away from the whole Michael Vick situation, whether he is involved or not. I’m not saying anything about dog fighting or anyone who might be involved in it.” Too late, you just did. And your indifference is appalling.

US OPEN ME

My ovaries are having their own dog fight right now as Camilo, Ian and Adam Scott tease me from the US Open.

HAPPY FATHER DAYS

I wanna take this opportunity to say Happy Fathers Day to some mighty fine beasts and give a shout out to any of them who’d like to have another baby, or simply allow me to call them daddy.

NEW ATHLEBRITY T-SHIRTS

For a limited time, I’ve released some new Athlebrity t-shirt designs. Artist Brendan Tierney ran with my ideas and produced some really cool designs for the site. (At least I think they’re cool) Due to the high demand for Brendan’s work, I’ve had to limit the number of shirts I can sell, because, quite frankly, they’ll be collector’s items within the next few years. Get ‘em while you can…more of Brendan’s work can be found at Tierneyart.com.

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

YES!

The 107th U.S. Open begins today at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, with ESPN and NBC providing our libidos a combined 30 hours of live coverage. ESPN will spoon feed us our golf babes today and tomorrow from 10:00 am-3:00pm ET and 5:00-7:00pm, while NBC will take the 3:00-5:00pm time slot each day. NBC’s weekend coverage will air from 1:00pm until the conclusion of play on Saturday and Sunday.

Adam Scott goes into the event brimming with confidence. And while searching for images of the Burberry beast clad in his perfectly fitted trousers, I came across something for which I am ashamed. Adam Scott was profiled in Men’s Vogue this year and I missed it! I do believe that I’ve earned a wicked spanking by Mr. Scott for overlooking this sporntastic article. Buried in the article is a brief mention of a (oh-god-no) Swedish girlfriend?

Scott’s drive to win a major is complicated by the fact that he tends to play masterfully in the weeks before a big tournament only to see his game fall apart under the lights. Despite winning the Shell Houston Open the week before this year’s Masters, he finished 11 strokes off the lead in Augusta. His greatest enemy, Scott fears, might be self-satisfaction—the Swedish girlfriend, the Bur-berry threads, the money pouring in from sponsors like Titleist and Rolex sapping his desire. “I think young players on the PGA Tour have to be careful not to be lulled into a false sense of security,” he says. “Because they can finish 20th on the money list and make a great living.” Last year, Scott himself finished third on that list, and owns apartments in London, Switzerland, and Australia, the last of which he uses for surfing getaways. One of the advantages of his no-worries personality is that he shrugs off the trappings of wealth like he does errant putts. (Adam Scott.com)

FIFA ARE YOU HIRING?

This is an open plea to FIFA to hire me to assist in their new study. Newsday reports that FIFA is “embarking on a testosterone-profiling study.” The project is “aimed at determining whether natural levels of the male hormone are based on geography.” FIFA spokesperson Andreas Herren: “What we want to find out is whether there are any differences in testosterone levels in different populations.” Soccer players will be tested from Africa and Asia, as well as “sample groups” of Caucasian, Hispanic and African-American players. Swiss, Italian, Argentine and Japanese players will also be screened…like I said, I’m here to help and would be willing to relocate to Africa in order to inspect testosterone levels of Didier Drogba (which are more than apparent in the above photo) and I also wouldn’t mind a research trip to Italy. (NEWSDAY, 6/14).

DAVID BECKHAM

Dude smiled at a press conference and looked mighty fine doing so. And then I read that the hourlong special, titled “Victoria Beckham: Coming to America,” is set to air at 8 p.m. July 16. “Viewers will get a firsthand glimpse into what it’s like to be one of the most sought-after celebrities in the world,” said Craig Plestis, executive vp alternative programming, development and specials at NBC Entertainment. “Victoria’s every move is documented by the paparazzi, but only our cameras have been allowed inside the world of what being Victoria Beckham is really like.” (Hollywood Reporter) I’ll only tune in if there are cameras in the bedroom.

COMMON GETS CONVERSE RED

While Common doesn’t fall into the hottest pro-athlete category, he does earn a spot here due to his work on the RED Campaign. Today, Converse announced that Grammy award winning hip-hop artist and actor Common will be the face of Converse (PRODUCT) RED. The Fall 2007 advertising campaign is entitled “Weapon of Change” featuring irreverent messages and bold illustrations encouraging consumers to be optimistic rebels and become agents of change. The Converse (PRODUCT) RED Weapon(R) will be available exclusively through Foot Locker, Inc. and on http://www.converse.com. “Converse approached me to join the (PRODUCT) RED initiative and affect change. I have always felt my purpose is to do for people. Converse and (PRODUCT) RED are about people — educating and reaching out to people to help humanity. I do this through my music, activism and with people I come into contact with everyday. For me, Converse (PRODUCT) RED allows me to help affect change and have an immediate impact on people. Knowing the contributions from this initiative help people who need it makes it incredible because there’s no such thing as small change,” said Common. Indeed.

ANDY RODDICK

With Pierce Brosnan watching, Andy Roddick won his third round match at The Artois Championships in London. It always amazes me that with his silly, sexy, skewed facial expression he somehow manages to remain Hot.

HOOP DIVA’S
Gotta give some love to Hoop Divas. San Diego based Marketing 101 has spawned the first ever basketball camp for women! (Well, maybe not the first, but the first I’ve heard about). Yes, women who love to hoop can now learn from the best while enjoying sunny San Diego. The sports and entertainment marketing company has represented some of the greatest names in the history of sports and have operated numerous NBA pro-camps in the USA, England, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Australia, China and the Philippines. (I’ve met the coaches ladies- and all I can say is Hello!) According to the CEO: “We thought that it was about time that someone did something for the women who love to hoop.” So get to it ladies and show Lebron who’s his mama. (hoopdivas.com)

NEW REJECT: JONATHAN VILMA

I don’t think I need to add any comments about how stupid some people are. The newest member of the Mensa rejects club is Jets LB Jonathan Vilma. In an interview with WFAN-AM’s Chris Russo, Vilma “expressed indifference toward dog fighting” and compared it to horse racing. Vilma: “Of course dog fighting is much more extreme, but you can equate it to horse racing. You have animal activists that (condemn) horse racing.” Vilma also “suggested that [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell is handing down longer suspensions because of blanket media coverage on the league’s lawbreaking players.” Vilma: “The media (are) taking these situations and blowing them up to a different stage, to a higher level than what they really are” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/14). Well said idiot, and that’s exactly what we are gonna do with you and your asinine comments. Dog fighting and horse racing? Are you mentally ill Vilma? Seriously? By no stretch of the imagination can you equate racing horses to the cruelty suffered by Michael Vicks dogs. And I also have to add that I’m sick of people who attempt to justify Vick because dog-fighting is oh-so-popular in the “south”. Wasn’t slavery really popular at one time too?

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

THREAT VIEWER

If you’re heading to the US Open to drool over Camilo Villegas, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, Tiger Woods or even Phil Mickelson, beware. In an effort to bolster security and public monitoring at the 2007 U.S. Open Championship golf tournament, Pittsburgh-area security and emergency response personnel will deploy ThreatViewer, a security product that provides remote monitoring capabilities in military, industrial and homeland security efforts. Yes- the U.S. Open now qualifies for the same security measures used by our government.

Perhaps spawned by the estrogen brigade that follows our babes or maybe just to bust those with cell phone or (gasp) perhaps to prevent those dangerous terrorists from interrupting the event- because god knows US golf is a high priority target. In any case, I suggest going in disguise to avoid being spotted by the ThreatViewer. The ThreatViewer works much the same way I do. It features multiple sensing options including sensors with panoramic imaging, pan-tilt-zoom camera, infrared imaging, gas detection, temperature measurement and humidity measurement features, among other options. Now, if I could only rig this thing up to my libido I’d be a happy camper.

STANFORD ST. JUDE CD

Heads up people…if anyone out there has a copy of this CD, I gotta get my paws on it. Last Thursday evening, the players party was held at the Majestic Grille in Memphis. The pros were asked to pick three or four songs for a CD, Stanford St. Jude Greatest Hits ‘07 which was used as background music during the party. Vijay Singh’s selections clearly reflect a love for ganja, as he picked tunes by Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac. Our sexy Columbian Camilo Villegas picked a few tracks from Max Graham and Hed Kandi- both of whom produce very funky, jazzy tunes ideal for lounging by the pool, while sipping Mojitos and having Camilo rub sunscreen over every inch of my body. Like I said, I need this CD. Why? Because the CD cover features a shot of Camilo hitting a ball down Madison. (commercialappeal.com)

TEE UP WITH TIGER

Gotta love this promo…Nike Golf and Golf Digest are offering a “Tee It Up With Tiger” sweepstakes, with 24 winners receiving a trip to play golf with Woods at the Reunion Resort in Orlando on September 19. Its simple- between now and August 10, 2007 buy boxes of Nike One Platinum and Nike One Black balls and look inside for one of the promotional colored balls, if you find one register it and you’ll be automatically entered in the Tee It Up with Tiger Woods sweepstakes. At stake, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tee off with the Tiger including: Airfare for one (so leave your friends at home), Two nights accommodations at Ginn Reunion Resort, Participation in a Tiger Woods Golf Clinic, an 18-hole golf outing, and one sporntacular hole played with Tiger Woods. Dates of Trip: September 18-20, 2007…

BABY WOODS

If you’re a Tiger fan, then you must be anticipating the birth of baby Tiger as much as I am. And now, Nike Golf will debut a new 30-second spot during this weekend’s U.S. Open, titled “Baby Woods,” as a tribute to Tiger Woods’ impending fatherhood. The ad features several Nike developers creating a custom set of baby clubs for Woods’ child, including a bag embroidered with the name “Baby Woods.” It will air on Golf Channel Thursday and Friday and during NBC’s coverage of the U.S. Open Saturday and Sunday. The spot was filmed at Nike Golf’s Research & Development facility in Ft. Worth and was created by advertising gods Wieden & Kennedy in Portland. “Baby Woods” can be viewed in todays SBJ.

LUDACRIS AUCTIONS HARLEY

Ludacris loves his Harleys and he loves his foundation, so why not combine the two for a good cause? That’s exactly what the sexy rapper did. Harley-Davidson donated a 2007 Fat Boy motorcycle for auction on eBay to raise awareness for the Ludacris Foundation’s ongoing efforts. Luda autographed the bike, along with Shaquille O’Neal (above), Serena Williams, Bow Wow, Cee-Lo, Common, Diddy, John Legend, Kanye West and will.i.am, among others. The auction launched on June 2nd and closed Tuesday with a final bid of $21, 200, all of which goes directly to Luda’s foundation.

LEBRON JAMES SUCKS

It makes me really, really happy to know that I’m not alone in voicing my opinion of Lebron James and his lack of efforts to help anyone except himself. Various quotes from new sources around the web: In Portland, John Canzano wrote that with James declining to sign a letter written by teammate Ira Newble calling for the Chinese government to pressure the Sudan gov’t to allow U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur, he (Lebron) “demonstrated his undying loyalty to LeBron Inc. and walked the fence with a sterile, lame remark about needing more information.” James on Friday also “waved off a question about Nike’s corporate responsibility and the work conditions” of the factory employees who make the company’s shoes. James: “Nike’s a big company, they’ll figure it out.” Canzano: “The hunch here is that he’s not ever going to choose to be socially relevant” (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/9). The NATIONAL POST’s Bruce Arthur wondered, “What consequences would LeBron James suffer for signing that letter? How would it hurt him? But LeBron wants to be Michael Jordan, and Jordan was the epitome of the soulless chase for money instead of social responsibility” (NATIONAL POST, 6/9). In Ft. Worth, Jeff Caplan wrote, “It would be shameful if his stake in Nike prevents him from joining Newble and his teammates. And it would be inexcusable if Nike is dictating those terms” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/10).Olympic Gold Medal-winning speed skater Joey Cheek, who donated his $40,000 Olympic bonus to Right to Play, said, “As an athlete, I don’t believe you have to be an activist or take on causes. There’s a smugness to that. But there are certain expectations of human decency.” (NEWSDAY, 6/10).

SEATTLE SODA

Jones Soda, which last month inked an exclusive five-year deal with the Seahawks for soft-drink rights at Qwest Field and its events center, is placing photos of Seahawks cuties Deion Branch, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Lofa Tatupu and Josh Brown on the company’s bottles this season. During games, Jones Soda will also have photographers “roaming the stadium taking pictures,” which will be placed on seahawks.com. Fans then can buy and customize their own 12-packs through Jones Soda’s Web site, myjones.com. (SeattlePI.com)

BOB WOOLMER AU NATURAL

Well, it looks like Pakistani national cricket team coach Bob Woolmer enjoyed every moment with his team before he was found dead last March. Jamaican police have confirmed that Woolmer was not murdered but died of natural causes. Jamaica Constabulary Force commissioner Lucius Thomas also ruled out match-fixing in relation to Woolmer’s death during the World Cup tournament in the Caribbean. Foreign pathologists “concur with the view that Mr. Woolmer died of natural causes” while in further toxicology tests, “no substance was found to indicate that Bob Woolmer was poisoned,” he said. Woolmer, 58, died soon after being found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica the day after Pakistan were knocked out of the cricket World Cup by Ireland.

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

RAFA-N-ROLL

BUMMER: The Federation Francaise de Tennis yanked my video!

“It’s a dream for me,” Nadal said. “I worked very hard to be the best.”
Not too many beasts can entice me to drag my butt outta bed at 6:00 AM on a Sunday but I gladly awoke today for a threesome with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The crowd was clearly behind Roger Federer, as were the commentators (who fell victim to the mute button after ten minutes) but Rafael Nadal showed everyone who is indeed the King of Clay during the French Open Final. It took our Spanish treat four sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4) to humble the Swiss Mister, who was so upset that he refused post match interviews. (Bad sport much R-Fed?) Congratulations to Rafa for humbling the snooty Swiss master, for making me scream in ecstasy this morning, and for being one of the most humble and deserving winners of this trophy. The second-ranked Nadal earned his place in history, becoming the second man since 1914 to win the tournament three consecutive times, and the first since Bjorn Borg in 1978-81.

No sympathy for Federer, who, for the third consecutive year in Paris sought to become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam events. “Of course, I’m a bit sad, a bit disappointed,” Federer said. “Eventually, if I get it, the sweeter it’s going to taste. So hopefully I’ll give myself more and more opportunities, over and over again. I know I can do it now, that’s for sure.” Really? Then why didn’t you do it? For some video treats, check out the Athlebrities group on YouTube.

LEWIS HAMILTON DOES IT AGAIN

The safety car was brought out 4 times, there were pit-stop mishaps, crashes, and penalties, but Sir Lewis Hamilton didn’t even break a sweat as he claimed victory at the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix. The 22 year-old British babe claimed his first career victory and essentially put himself on the international athlebrity radar. Expect his name to become a household word, as dude is rewriting Formula One history the same way Tiger revitalized the PGA. Granted, the comparison to Tiger isnt based on the fact that they are both mighty-fine bruthas, but due to the fact the both were born to dominate their sports AND Hamilton is the first brutha to win a Formula One race! Seriously, if ya haven’t caught Hamilton in action, then you are missing out on one of the most beautiful men in the world in the midst of making history. And I will continue to cram him down your throats every opportunity I get.

DIDIER DROGBA DANCE

Yesterday at the Felix Houphouet-Boiny stadium in Abijan, a celebration was held to honor Ivorian beast Didier Drogba. The event gave props to the beast for being the African Footballer of the Year and leading 2006-07 EPL scorer. Fueled by an overwhelming 5-0 victory against Madagascar in Group 1 of the African Nations Cup last weekend, Drogba and company littered the spornfest with unbelievable hotness while performing the “grippe aviaire” (Bird Flu) dance with creator DJ Lewis and gave me yet another reason to get my ass to Africa.

ADAM SCOTT STANFORD ST. JUDE

Another one of our babes took charge this weekend at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. Adam Scott looked oh-so-fine as he swung away in his Burberry gear and held onto a wickedly fantastic lead, that is, until the final round. With that trademark tongue resting perfectly on his lower lip, Scott completed his final round in a 5th place tie at –5, while Woody Austin came outta nowhere and took the title with a -13. Adam jump-started my libido yesterday when he led by three-strokes, shooting a 2-under 68, and giving me good reason to scream in the hole. “Three shots is nothing really,” Scott said. “That’s a couple-hole turnaround out there. I mean there’s plenty of trouble to get in on this golf course. The pins are in quite difficult positions, and they have been every day. If you get out of position, it’s hard to get back in.” And in case Mr. Scott needs a little help with those difficult positions, I’m here to offer my services to ensure he ‘gets back in’ during the next event.

IMPOSSIBLE?

Not such a pretty site on the greens this weekend, John Daly. On Thursday night, Daly got into a fight with wife. Then Friday morning, Daly claims he was awakened by his wife attacking him with a steak knife and shouting, “I will kill you.” She then called the po-po, took off and remains in hiding. “Officers located the kids, but were unable to find the suspect,” sheriff’s spokesman Steve Shular said Friday. According the PGA tour’s antichrist: “While I slept at home last night, I was the victim of an assault by my wife. This morning, I filed a complaint with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. They are investigating, and I’ll have no further comment on the matter while they pursue their investigation. My only concern at this point is for the safety of my children and myself, and we are working closely with local authorities and PGA Tour security officials to assure appropriate safeguards.” (Commercialappeal.com) Oh, the antics….don’t ya just love it. For me, I simply can’t hate a guy who chugs beer on the greens, smokes, lives in Hooters and shows up at en event with claw marks across his face. I’d also suggest that Mrs. Daly polish up her stabbing-skills, because it appears that she attacked him with her acrylics rather than a knife. Maybe the divorce will get pushed through now? Or maybe he’s just laying the foundation to keep her paws outta his wallet. Either way, light up my friend and go easy on the fries.

DAVID BECKHAM

Mom always said, don’t run with the ball in your hands…

THANK YOU

I don’t know who you are, but thank you.

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

LEWIS HAMILTON GAINING MOMENTUM

Beautiful British McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is finally getting a bit of non-UK recognition from the hoards of reporters at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in preparation for the Canadian Grand Prix which will be held there Sunday. If you’ve been following my libido, you should be aware that this beast finished third in his first race at Melbourne in March, then effortlessly won four straight second-place finishes, making him the first driver to reach the podium in his first five races. “I’m overwhelmed with my performance and the team’s performance so far,” said Hamilton. “I definitely didn’t expect this. I’m only 22. I have a long, long way to go. Michael (Schumacher) retired at 37, so I’ve got at least 10 years to race.” (Canada.com) Then I guess I’ve got another ten years of blogging ahead of me…

CONGRATULATIONS DUCKS

Canada must still be hurting after its brutal loss to the Anaheim Ducks, who skated away with the Stanley Cup Wednesday night. It was a stunning game, brimming with testosterone and bearded hotties that actually made this girl tear-up a bit during the Trophy presentation. Ducks D Chris Pronger, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere and LW Brad May appeared on the ‘Tonight Show’ with the Stanley Cup. Jay Leno asked how they celebrated the championship. Giguere: “We celebrated with our families, got really drunk and drank out of the Cup.” Leno: “Getting drunk with your family, that’s an old American tradition!” When Leno asked if announcer John Melendez could drink from it, Pronger said, “Sorry Jay, only hockey players can drink from the Cup. But I have a cup for you.” Pronger tossed Melendez an athletic cup. Hum, suddenly I’m really thirsty. Where’s that champagne…

ONE YEAR TO GO

Worldwide celebrations are underway for the UEFA EURO 2008 spornfest. One such event brings together former and current soccer babes to the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland for a friendly match 3454 meters above sea level. The EURO 2008 (European championships) will take place in Switzerland and Austria from June 7 to June 29, 2008.

JOEY CHEEK TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS
Joey Cheek is more than golden and I could easily set aside my drool and dedicate my blog entirely to him, every day, while emailing a copy to LeLame James at the same time. (No, I don’t care about the NBA Finals this year so you’ll have to go elsewhere to gather info on Eva and her Spurs). Yesterday, Darfur activist Joey Cheek testified at a Congressional hearing on the human rights situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan and the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in China. Pa-leeze take a minute to read a portion of his opening statement and visit Qsports for much, much more info on the movement, crisis and who’s getting involved.

JOEY CHEEK: After winning a gold and silver medal in the 2006 Olympic Games I donated all of the money I received as a medal bonus, $40,000, to an organization to aid refugees from the region of Darfur. I have been asked many times why I choose that conflict at that time and my answer is simple. I believed that no where else on earth was there a crisis affecting so many people that had such an inverse level of international attention and power focused on bringing it to an end. Although the level of attention focused on this conflict has improved over the last sixteen months or so since I made this announcement, there are still thousands of people being killed or raped and millions more who have been driven from their homes. Just a few months ago I traveled to Chad, where I visited refugee camps populated by tens of thousands of Darfuri citizens and heard firsthand of the tales of systemic murder, rape, villages being razed to the ground, and families being forced to flee for their lives. The images from those camps continue to haunt me. I am filled with rage when I think of the level of depravity to which some people can sink. COMPLACENCY IN THE FACE OF SUCH EVIL IS INDEED VERY HARD TO JUSTIFY. (Ah-hem, LeBron) That is why I have formed a new organization, an international coalition of athletes, titled “Where Will We B?”. I seek over the next year to bring in athletes not just from the United States, but every country in the world competing in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to stand up and say that we believe that the Olympic games should be more than just a sporting competition. We believe that no matter what nation in which you were born you deserve the same chance to fulfill their dreams as the great athletes competing at the Olympics. We believe that China, as host nation and a nation with extraordinary leverage, should take a leadership role in ending the atrocities for the people of Darfur. And we believe, that as athletes, we are leaders and role models in our community, and we will do all that we can to make all people aware of this crisis and that it can be stopped. (Qsports)

MICHAEL VICKS PROPERTY SEARCHED

“I hope I never see this place again,” the man said, refusing to identify himself.
Authorities swooped in and searched the home owned by asshole Michael Vick near Surry, Va., on Thursday, June 7, 2007. Federal law enforcement officials, armed with search warrants, descended on the home Thursday, suggesting that they’re taking over an investigation into Vick’s involvement in dog fighting. A search warrant affidavit said some of the dogs were tethered with “heavy logging-type chains” attached to car axles that allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact, one of myriad findings on the property that suggested a dog-fighting operation. Other items included a rape stand, used to hold non-receptive dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified to be used by dogs; a “pry bar” used to open the clamped-down mouths of dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting the authorities believe was used in dog fights.

MICHAEL VICK BUYS PROPERTY FOR HUNTING

Ya think the idiot would get a clue…new reports have surfaced that Michael Vick purchased 69 acres of land close to his dog-fighting house in Surry County for the purpose of hunting. Michael Vick’s financial manager Charles Reamon submitted paperwork to build on the property and Vicks real estate agent added another nail to the coffin when he said “As far as I know, they were going to use it for hunting, that’s why they bought the property.” More info on the downfall of Vick, including a video of the new property, can be seen here. (Wvec.com)

RAFAEL NADAL VS ROGER FEDERER

We got us one hell of a Final, no?

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