JAMES BOOTY BLAKE

Ain’t nothing like watching James Blake and his phenomenal booty bounce all over the court. Blake bounced something fierce last night, hitting balls in Roddick-like contortions, booty bouncing like a ball above the words in a sing along. And I can honestly say, I’ve never seen another player that can match Blake’s hustle. None. Not Roddick. Not Federer. Not even Nadal. Obviously, I’ve watched our beasts play at length, and I’ve noticed that once in a while a ball comes at Roddick or Nadal during a long volley, and they wont even attempt to make a return because it seems like an impossible shot. This frustrates me to no end. RUN for it, don’t just watch it…. anyway, my point is that I’ve never seen James Blake ignore a seemingly impossible shot- dude never gives up and I love him for it. Last night, Blake and Booty finally broke the five-set jinx and sent home Santoro (6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4) in the second round at Flushing Meadows in a 3-hour, 25-minute match that raised the No. 6-seeded American’s record in five-setters to 1-9. “I actually, honestly said to myself at the beginning of the fifth set: ‘I’m going to win this match,”‘ Blake said. “The whole five-set jinx never got into my head. But this time, I said, ‘I’m not going to let it happen.”‘

“That was just an unbelievable feeling at the end of the match to look up and see how pumped my box was, and to see how pumped the J Block was, and to know that they all believed in me when many people at desks in front of computers and in front of microphones didn’t, I know that. So I’m happy that they were so happy for me.” Last year, Nike raised $25,000 for the USTA tennis and education funds by selling J-Block T-shirts, hats and wristbands during the U.S. Open. This year, Nike again created a line of products specifically for fans of the King of Booty, and get this- paid for the group’s suite twice last year. “James is from New York, he’s American, it’s the U.S. Open, it was a no-brainer.” Nike Dir of Tennis Marketing Mike Nakajima said. (Tennisnews.com: Blake Interview)

MATERAZZI ‘UNA VITA DA GUERRIERO’
His life as a warrior…Italy’s World Cup winning defender Marco Materazzi said he had made a mistake when he taunted Zidane during last year’s final. “Six stupid words. I made a mistake but Zidane also made a mistake in reacting the way he did,” said the uncompromising Materazzi, who scored in the final and one of the penalties in the shoot-out.

Materazzi spoke freely at the launch of his book “Life of a warrior” (co-written with two Italian journalists) and set to be released just before the Italians face France in Milan in a Euro 2008 qualifier on September 8. “I understand why he reacted that way,” added Materazzi. “It all happened in a match of high pressure. But I don’t understand what came after when he was forgiven by everyone except me who had been head butted. If we made peace, no one would know about it, we would do it in private perhaps at my house or his. That’s why I didn’t want to say anything publicly. I left the talking to others but only him and me know what happened.” (AFP)

UEFA EURO AWARDS

Awards were handed out to some of our ultra-fine-Euro-soccer-playing beasts yesterday. Cant say that my libido disagrees with any of their choices…left to right: AC Milan’s forward soccer Ricardo Kaka of Brazil, Italian soccer defender Paolo Maldini, German midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Chelsea’s goalkeeper Petr Cech of Czech Republic. Hotties were (respectively) awarded: 2007 best forward, defender midfielder and goalkeeper during the ceremony of the UEFA European Club Football awards in Monaco.

AHMAD RASHAD CELEBRITY CLASSIC
Since its inception, the Ahmad Rashad Celebrity Classic has raised more than $400,000 for charity and attracted dozens of hotties from the sports and entertainment world. Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Marcus Allen and Michael Jordan were just a few that competed in the 2007 Ahmad Rashad Celebrity Classic, August 24th – 26th at the new Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug (Connecticut)

Included in the event Friday was “A Night of Temptations,” a VIP reception that featured good food, fine drink and the live music from the Temptations. Fronted by original member Otis Williams, it only took three songs before Taylor, Rashad, and yes- Michael Jordan were on their feet, singing and dancing along. “It’s a lot to get this tournament off every year, but I am glad to do it,” said Ahmad, the Emmy-winning sportscaster, who chose the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford as the beneficiary of the tournament proceeds. (monegasun.com)

FUN WITH HALLMARK CARDS

Hallmark’s Shoebox division is stepping it up! They’ve produced a “Fun With” series of greeting cards that includes Donald Trump, Simon Cowell, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise and Tiger Woods. Some of the cards depict the famous as paper dolls, outfitting them with “star” accessories. The “Fun with Tiger Woods” doll, for example, comes with keys to “the Buick he pretends to drive.” He also has “keys to sports car he really drives” and of course, a “photo of Swedish wife for comfort if he ever loses.” (Hallmark)

GERARD CAVLAN: RUNS DOG FIGHTING RING
You may not know who he is, but I suggest you remember his name. Ireland Gaelic football league star Gerard Cavlan has been implicated as a director of an illegal dog fighting club by BBC Northern Ireland’s “SPOTLIGHT,” which conducted a 17-month undercover investigation. The investigation found that Cavlan, an all-Ireland medal winner, is a senior figure in a dog fighting operation known as The Bulldog Sanctuary Kennels. Earlier this year, Cavlan, from Dungannon, was convicted of possessing a dangerous dog and fined £650. (Pit bulls are illegal to own in the UK) During secret filming, after being raided by the USPCA, Cavlan admitted to Spotlight that he still had “a dozen or 15 dogs”.

He also talked about the strength and skill of a pit bull terrier in a fight. “Sure he had him in the chest, and he shook him and he shook him for 25 minutes… if he hadn’t got you killed in half an hour… he was in trouble, you know. A real hard mouthed dog,” he said. Five of the 15 gangs found to be operating in Northern Ireland are based in Belfast and some of these groups have links to international dog fighting organizations. For more info on this dirt bag: Newsbbc.com.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL
“It is not a campaign to address the Michael Vicks of the world — it’s bigger than that. It’s about getting inside these guys and revealing something of their character, their values, what it takes to be in the NFL.” -BBDO Vice Chair & Exec Creative Dir Alfred Merrin

Now this is what I’m talking about. Concerned by “growing uneasiness among fans and marketers” about the off-field behavior of some athletes, the NFL today is launching a TV and online campaign, via BBDO Worldwide, N.Y., accentuating the positive aspects of the on- and off-field lives of its players. Six spots will run through the upcoming season and feature five players selected for their marquee names and clean-cut images. (NY Times) I’ve completely tested this campaign by watching each video several times. Our video babes are: Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, Titans QB Vince Young and Browns LB Willie McGinest, QB Brady Quinn and WR Braylon Edwards. The black and white videos are nothing short of sporntastic. Brady Quinn talks about the thickness of the play book, Willie McGinest calls his mama, Braylon Edwards cannot be any hotter in his spot, Hasselbeck deciphers “zebra-two-jet-x-y-shallow-cross” for his kids (priceless) and finally, Vince Young explains the meaning of his tattoos…(watch all the videos at the NY Times)

GQ MAGAZINES ‘YOUNG GUNS’

Damn…it took about one-tenth of a second for JaMarcus Russell to get me to toss out 20-plus-years of being “anti-fur.” I keep telling ya’ all that men’s magazines are where its at. Namely, this months edition of GQ which features a pictorial of (gulp)…Tony Romo along with Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell, Browns’ Brady Quinn, Cardinals’ Matt Leinart and Titans’ Vince Young. When you’re done drooling over the video, make sure you have a tissue handy because the pictorial at GQ is sick!

A CLUSTER IN THE GALAXY

Dear David Beckham: I’m really sorry you hurt your knee in Wednesday’s game and might be benched for up to six weeks. This really sucks for the Galaxy. I’m sure Alexi Lalas has already puked at least twice today. Poor guy seems pissed off at the country for taking an interest in you David Beckham, the greatest thing since sliced bread. And I’m really sorry you’ve been given the role of Atlas to save a team, which currently ranks last place in MLS. We do love you, but some of us are okay with your limited playing, because after all, your true value lies off the pitch, topless and without those Nike boots that keep fucking with your multi-million dollar lower body. One day, no doubt, you’ll shrug the MLS-globe off your shoulders and quit the circus, but until then, don’t worry about the Galaxy my friend, because it takes more than one man to save a sinking ship.

VICK UNKNOWINGLY DID SOME GOOD
The Humane Society of the U.S. says that the raid of Michael Vick’s property in Virginia in June has “prompted a surge in dog fighting busts.” Police pursued at least 42 new dog fighting cases in July and August, “up from 17 in those two months last year.” The Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) report that tips to them have doubled since mid-July. Both groups doubled their rewards last month to as much as $5,000 for a tip that results in conviction. The case has exposed the torture and killing of dogs in the blood sport and has led the public to report more abuse, says Alison Gianotto, founder of Pet-Abuse.com. The number of active cases in July was the most for any month since Pet-Abuse.com, a New York group, began tracking animal cruelty cases in 2002. (USA Today)

WATERMAN’S BALL RAISES $500K FOR OUR OCEANS
I just read a really disturbing report about a virus threatening dolphins off the Mediterranean coast. Dozens of dead dolphins have been washing up- alerting environmentalists to a virus they fear will become an epidemic, The region’s striped dolphins, a protected species, are being infected with a virus which has not been identified and has so far killed several dozen animals along the coast and may spread, the report said, quoting environmental experts. “We are at the start of an epidemic,” Javier Pantoja, a marine conservation official at the Environment Ministry, was quoted as saying. (Reuters)

At least we got some professional surfers and surf industry VIP’s trying to save our oceans. The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) annual Waterman’s Ball raised more than $500,000 to help protect and preserve oceans and surf breaks around the world. At the Ball, SIMA honored surfing icon Lisa Andersen as “Waterman of the Year,” Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam’s front man, as “Environmentalist of the Year,” and Randy Rarick, North Shore pioneer and surf contest guru, with the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Eight-time world surf champ Kelly Slater and seven-time world champ Layne Beachley also received “Special Achievement Awards” in honor of their record-breaking world championship title victories. “It’s strange to be recognized for doing environmental work because it’s like getting an award for breathing - it’s just something you have to do in order to stay alive,” said Vedder. “But what’s really important is to be here tonight with the people (environmental organizations) that do the real work. As a band we help raise visibility and we donate a minimal amount of money, but if the environmental movement is like a wave, the nonprofits are the surfboard steering us on the wave, and we (the band) are like the wax just trying to make things stick with the public.” (Surfline.com)

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

ANTONIO PUERTA
His death was reported in Africa, India, Spain, the UK, Finland, Ireland, France, and Australia…it was mentioned briefly in San Diego, Denver and Pittsburgh, among others, and barely made headlines in any other sports page. What a shame. The death of Antonio Puerta should not go unnoticed here in the States. ESPN can spend hours discussing the Beckham cam or Vick, but come on people- this kid is a national hero to thousands and he drops dead leaving behind a pregnant wife, a country in mourning and his team in shock-and no one here seems to care. Aside from a handful of friends, I feel as if Im the only one in the ‘blog world’ who noticed his passing.

In a testament to Puerta’s character, more than 25,000 people were waiting outside the stadium for the arrival of his coffin. There was applause and shouts of ‘Puerta Puerta’ just after midnight last night when fans were permitted to file past the coffin. The player’s parents, and his 8-month pregnant girlfriend led the mourners, who continued to file past the coffin in droves ALL night. The funeral took place at 2 pm this afternoon…rest in peace my friend, rest in peace.

IONIZE YOUR BODY
Who Knew? The Rugby World Cup, which begins September 7, will be the “most popular global sporting event of the year,” as it drew a worldwide TV audience of over 3 billion people when it was last held four years ago, according to a cover story in the Hollywood Reporter. Believe it or not, the event ranks third among the most-watched sporting events worldwide, behind the FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics.

I can honestly say that I have never had an interest in rugby or its players. But I do like the jerseys…some of the beasts competing in next month’s Rugby World Cup in France will be wearing jerseys that New Zealand-based manufacturer Canterbury claims will “improve their performance by ionising the body.” (Financial Times.) The process was developed though a “scientific formula developed” by a U.S.-based textile designer and a crazy redhead, that, when worn, the fabric “generates a small microelectronic charge in the body which stimulates the blood stream, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to major muscles.” It’s just too bad they didn’t make matching shorts…

BEN GORDON

And yet another fantastic event soared under the media radar..while ESPN and others continue to ignore these great events, I relish them. As do the peeps at PressPassTV.com. The third annual Ben Gordon Community Unity Weekend went down at Mt. Vernon (New York) last weekend and was a raging success. The Founder of PressPassTV, Dan Cohen covered the event and said “Ben Gordon is a genuinely good guy.” (Video will soon be available from PressPassTV, so make sure to check out their YouTube videos for some warm fuzzies and wonderful sporn.)

Ben Gordon, spending the weekend making kids smile…priceless. Read more about his future plans in the community here. Because really, don’t we all need just a little bit more good news in this day and age of stabbings, shootings, scandals, dog fighting, juicing, car wrecks, deaths, sexual assaults, and all that other bullshit? “I feel that it’s my duty to come out here and do something for the community, try to be a positive role model and not just go and be successful and nobody ever see me,” Gordon said. “Even though it’s only a weekend, I think it has a long-lasting impression on people, and I think it’s something that is valued and will be appreciated for years.” (JournalNews) Indeed it will Mr. Gordon.

ROGER FEDERER: FASHIONISTA?

Once again, Roger Federer has made me laugh and admittedly I have been secretly enjoying watching the Swiss-Mister as he frolics in stardom, especially with his newfound sense of fashion. Nike is providing Roger Federer with an all-black outfit for his evening matches…R-Fed will hit the court running in a tuxedo inspired outfit, complete with bonded satin tape down the legs of his shorts and warm-up pants. Federer: “People are a little bit intrigued of what I was going to wear. I’ve got a day session and night sessions outfits [for the Open]. I’m looking forward to playing at night.” (Huh? Are people really intrigued? Seriously?)

FIBA GAMES FALLING FLAT
What’s wrong with the FIBA games? During the NBA’s regular season, you gotta fight for tickets. I assume the priority in going to a game is to see the hotties in action? So why isnt anyone going to the FIBA games in Las Vegas? You can get a courtside seat for CHEAP, and ogle the hotties such a Dwight Howard and his forceful dunks, Kobe, LeBron, Melo, Kidd, Amare and others…so why am I reading that the arena is practically empty when our babies are shooting?

The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that the FIBA Americas Championship basketball tournament has “produced the buzz of a librarians’ convention” and has become an “average event with a foreseeable outcome.” Ouch! The U.S. team’s four preliminary-round games at the Thomas & Mack Center have drawn an average of 7,000 fans, and pre-tournament ticket sales were at 40,000. USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Managing Dir Jerry Colangelo said, “I don’t think this tournament was an easy sell. I think the crowds have been pretty good when we have played. I didn’t expect a sellout.” Here’s my opinion: if you love hoops and hotties, Vegas is the place to be right now. Forget trying to get an autograph from a playa during the regular season and get your asses out to Vegas, support our ballers and romp around the casinos, clubs and pools that are littered with NBA players hanging out in their free time.

ALL-STAR CLASSIC FOR WHEELCHAIR CHARITIES
The 15th annual All-Star Classic for Wheelchair Charities returns to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, September 9th at 4pm. Tickets are on sale at the MSG Box Office and Ticketmaster.com. Scheduled to play are Stephon Marbury, Ron Artest, 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Paul, Speedy Claxton, Sam Cassell, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Desmond Mason, Rafer Alston, Charlie Villanueva and Damon Jones. More players will be announced shortly.

The All-Star Game for Wheelchair Charities has been held annually since 1991 (skipping 2001), and has raised more than $1.5 million for patients at Goldwater Hospital. Wheelchair Charities, Inc., founded by Henry J. (Hank) Carter in 1973, is a non-profit organization, which assists in-patient and outpatients at Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island. The money has gone towards the purchase of motorized wheelchairs, computers, specialized beds and specially equipped buses. Wheelchair Charities’ mission is to improve the quality of life for paraplegic and quadriplegic patients at Goldwater.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

ANTONIO PUERTA DIES

“This is one of the saddest days in the history of FC Sevilla,” team president Jose Maria del Nido said, fighting to hold back tears.

Just three days after he collapsed during a match, Antonio Puerta has died. At approximately 4.30 p.m. (14.30 GMT) club Sevilla announced the death of Puerta, who had been in critical condition since Saturday.

Meanwhile, the team had arrived in Athens ahead of a Champions League match, which has now been postponed until Monday. Also, the club’s second match of the season against Osasuna has also been postponed.

“The Professional Football League wishes to pass on its most sincere condolences to the family of Antonio Puerta,” the league said in a statement. “It has also declared the next day of league play to be one of official mourning and asked all its affiliated teams to observe a minute’s silence before the games.” A wake open to the public will be held for Puerta starting at midnight Tuesday ahead of his burial on Wednesday afternoon, and his family has asked that his body be wrapped in a team flag, Sevilla said on its Web site.

The banner reads: Your goal changed our life-together we will fight for yours’… Antonio Puerta was born in the Sevilla district of Nervión, very close to the Sevilla stadium, Sánchez Pizuan. He’s loved by the fans and became famous for scoring the goal that saw them classify for the UEFA cup final for the very first time last year. Antonio leaves behind his wife, who is 8 month pregnant. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and all the fans.

Sorry kids, but I’m too heartbroken to blog about anything today.

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

THE REJECT SPEAKS

Michael Vick held a press conference today after entering his guilty pleas in Federal Court. In case you missed it…watch Michael Vick attempt to gain redemption and warn children to make “better choices”…I used very fiber in my body not to make comments during his statement, but unfortunately, when Vick announced that he had found “Jesus” you might hear me choke on my coffee…and no, he hasn’t even come close to redeeming himself in my book. A $140M loss and a prison sentence is what spurred Vick to make a public apology…sentencing is December 10th. Comments are open and I’m dying to hear what you all have to say…so hit me up- do you believe he’s sincere? Anyone feel that he’s redeemed himself? Anyone change their opinion after his speech? Talk to me!

PUERTA IN CRITICAL CONDITION
This really sucks…Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta remains in critical condition after he suffered TWO heart-attacks during his team’s 4-1 win over Getafe a day earlier. “He is in the intensive care unit where he has been given assisted ventilation and is experiencing hemodynamic instability. The prognosis is very serious,” a medical statement issued by the Virgen del Rocio hospital said.

The 22-year-old Spain defender fell to the ground after he made a goal Saturday in the 31st minute. He was able to walk off under his own strength minutes later after being treated by team doctors, but he again lost consciousness in the dressing room and was rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted to an intensive care unit. Monday’s medical report by Dr Francisco Murillo, head of the intensive care unit at the hospital, read: “Puerta still needs assisted ventilation and is sedated as a consequence of suffering from prolonged cardiac arrest. The cardiac arrest was caused by repetitive serious ventricular arrhythmias. After 36 hours, the patient’s prognosis is still critical following the cardiac arrest, which included brain suffering. When a patient is in a critical state there is always a risk. Also, after a cardiac arrest as prolonged as this it is too early to give a prognosis or to venture possible after-effects.” Like I said, this really sucks- 22 years old and a double-heart attack during a game with possible brain damage? I can’t think of anything worse except dog fighting. Best wishes to the young beast, my heart goes out to he and his family and we’ll be keeping an eye on his progress.

12TH HOLE
“Come say it to my face bud” Rory Sabbatini, addressing a spectator at the Barclays.

A priceless moment at the Barclays…final round, 12th hole, Rory Sabbatini going for Par, hits the ball, it spins around the lip of the cup, and karma spits it right back out onto the green. As Sabbatini was walking away, I don’t know who in the crowd said what, but Rory snapped “Come say it to my face bud”. Thanks to the fan that caused our Tiger-taunting egotistical Mensa reject to get his panties in a twist. “I put myself in good position on the front, then just started playing stupid golf and played my way out of the tournament,” the South African said.

Congratulations to Steve Striker for winning- the first time in 6 1/2 years and 146 tournaments. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Stricker said. Love to our sex kittens Ian Poulter (T9), Adam Scott (T14) and Camilo Villegas (T21) for giving us a bit of weekend eye candy. (Yahoo sports)

MARC CUBAN DANCING WITH STARS

Brace yourselves: A source told SI.com that Mavericks Owner Marc Cuban will appear as a contestant on the next season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” which debuts September 24…After I finished laughing my ass off, I checked his (yawn) blog for any hint of Cuban lacing up his dancing shoes, but twinkle-toes just seems pissed off at the Internet right now and not focused on dancing. If this isnt simply a really creative rumor, then god help us all.

SURFING BROUGHT TO A NEW LEVEL

Wanna surf with the Pros and not get wet? Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley is the only 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour event on the U.S. Mainland, and thanks to some cool technology, the event can be watched from any sofa in the world. The live web cast via www.BoostMobilePro.com utilizes a state-of-the-art digital mobile production truck with built-in satellite facilities, six cameras, broadcast quality long lenses (the same ones used for football, baseball and basketball), a wireless water camera, a crew of 23 people, and the motivation to produce the best surfing or non-surfing web cast on the internet. “We wanted to approach the web cast with the same production quality as the best sports TV show,” said Mark Fewell of Boost Mobile. “Surfing is one of the most exciting visual sports in the world and we want to show it in the way it deserves.” The event runs September 9-15th. For more info: Surfline.com.

ROGER FEDERER COMPARES HIMSELF TO TIGER

Finally, the U.S. Open begins today at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. Pa-leeze Rafa, pa-leeze, humble this egomaniac before his head explodes…Last Thursday, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour threw a dinner party for Roger Federer, who appeared on the cover of the May/June issue of Men’s Vogue. The Swiss-mister rubbed shoulders with designers Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta, because of course, he now is into fashion. Federer: “I know Anna very well, and then meeting the designers — these people are a big inspiration. I’ve gotten into fashion the last few years, done my own fashion statements on center court at Wimbledon.” Huh? You mean THAT white jacket? You wore the white blazer with the “RF” crest on it-the same one you wore at Wimbledon? “Anna said that was fantastic,” Federer said, grinning. “I think she’s also excited about this outfit at the Open.” Kill me now because he’s getting even worse, even comparing himself Tiger Woods…“He does things a little bit similar to me,” Federer said. “Like on the golf course, you think he’s serious, so focused, concentrated guy. But then you get little hints of actually what personality he has off the golf course. When he gets a bit angry or laughs or does a joke with other golfers. Off the court, he’s so laid-back, it’s unbelievable.” Yes Roger, we know you and Tiger are friends. But the thing with Tiger is, he doesn’t go around doing his own PR. And when he does, its with class, not a holier-than-thou-attitude…perhaps R-Fed should try to be a bit more like his hero? (NY Times)

TIFFANY TENNIS

Tiffany & Co. is offering jewelry for men and women around the U.S. Open. The 18K gold and sterling silver jewelry features the Open logo on charms and pendants shaped as tennis balls and racquets. The jewelry is inscribed with terms such as “Tennis Anyone?” and “Game, Set, Match” and are priced around $50 and up. The only piece of jewelry they are missing-which I would have bought- is a platinum Nadal bicep charm…(Tiffany.com)

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

MICHAEL VICKS FATHER SPEAKS OUT
*The NFL has suspended Michael Vick indefinitely*
“I wish people would stop sugarcoating it. This is Mike’s thing. And he knows it” – Michael Boddie, Michael Vick’s estranged father, rejecting the idea that Vick’s friends were the main instigators of the dog fighting ring..Michael Vick has admitted that he was involved in the killing of dogs. On Monday, he’ll appear before the judge to enter his guilty pleas, so, let the games begin. Vick will admit he was present when dogs were killed, but that he did not personally kill any of the dogs. According to the plea that was submitted today, most of the Bad Newz Kennels operation and gambling monies were provided by Vick. (no shit Sherlock) The statement said that when the kennel’s dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Vick’s three co-defendants — Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips. “Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels,” the summary said. (Bullshit) “Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of Peace, Phillips and Vick.” According to court documents, Vick was aware that his co-defendants killed a number of dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions. Blah, blah, blah…the more I read about Michael Vick, the more I wanna vomit.

Included in the dog fighting-gate saga is Michael Vicks father, Michael Boddie. I, for one, believe papa Vick. There are some who argue he’s capitalizing on his sons appalling behavior-maybe. There are some who say he’s a drug addict who hasn’t been there for his son-maybe. But there are some who hear his words and judge him credible. Today the Atlanta Journal runs an in depth piece about Vicks father and his sons deep involvement in dog fighting…. Michael Vick’s father said he pushed his son to quit dogfighting years ago or, at least, put property used for the fights in the name of friends to avoid being implicated some day. Michael Boddie, in two sometimes tearful interviews with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week, said some time around 2001 his son staged dogfights in the garage of the family’s home in Newport News, Va. Boddie also said Vick kept fighting dogs in the family’s backyard, including injured ones — “bit up, chewed up, exhausted” — that the father nursed back to health. Read it and weep. (AJC)

LADAINIAN TOMLINSON ‘DIAL DON’T DRIVE’

Number 21, Chargers reigning MVP LaDainian Tomlinson has the top-selling NFL jersey from April 1-July 15. And it doesn’t surprise me. The squeaky-clean NFL beast has nary a scandal in his past, and the god fearing RB is one of the nicest guys in the league. Last month, dude signed on with Palomar Pomerado Health for a cool $2M and will promote a program called “Dial Don’t Drive” that encourages people to dial 911 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. Not sure we need a reminder to call 911 if we’re having a heart attack, but hey, ya never know…you may find yourself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, wearing the wrong baseball hat….

YANKEES GANGSTA HATS

I smell a collectable about to be pulled from MLB.com…The Coalition to Protect Our Children, along with a group of East Harlem parents, is calling on the Yankees and MLB to stop selling New Era hats that add “gang colors and symbols” to some hats, according to David Freedlander of NEWSDAY. The hats include “a crown above the ‘NY’ or with a red or blue bandanna stitched in,” which are “well-known signs for street gangs.” Coalition President Johnny Rivera: “Any 11-year-old could buy one of these and get jumped if they walk in the wrong neighborhood because they don’t know the signs.” The coalition is “calling on area retailers to pull the hats from their shelves, but so far only one” has done so. Neither New Era nor the Yankees would comment, but an MLB spokesperson said the league was “not previously aware of the symbolism of the cap design and, of course, is very concerned about the issue” (NEWSDAY) Note: As of today, the hats are NOT on MLB.com…

DIRTY GHETTO KIDS

Where were these hot-dirty-skater-boyz when I was growing up? The only skate rats in my hood were white boys tearing it up in the ‘bowls’. I’m not complaining-growing up in LA watching the cast of Dogtown do there thing wasn’t difficult. But damn, I wish we had some flavor back then…namely, the Dirty Ghetto Kids (DGK) skateboard crew. The leader of the pack, Stevie Williams, was recently profiled in Rolling Stone, where he is described as “the skateboarding industry’s first black gangsta superstar.” Yummy! Reebok recently renewed a “seven-figure-a-year contract for his signature line of sneakers,” which features the DGK logo and he has talked with ad agency Leo Burnett about appearing on Frosted Flakes boxes. (Do people still eat those?) One Leo Burnett exec said, “We’re talking about a long-term relationship, like Michael Jordan had with McDonald’s.” Williams: “I’m open to anything that’s not going to jeopardize my integrity or my morals.” (Ooh-is someone scared of black people?) RS notes, “Due to his urban roots, trademark cornrows, tattoos and penchant for gold and diamonds, Williams is frequently tagged the ‘Allen Iverson of Skateboarding.’” But Williams is “as much Tiger Woods as Iverson. Like Woods, Williams isn’t the first professional black athlete in a traditionally white sport — he’s just the first to transform his identity into a lucrative brand name and cult of personality with massive crossover appeal.” (Rolling Stone) Indeed, cross right over here my sexy ghetto skater.

KEVIN GARNETT: WHAT’S INSIDE
And finally, I’ve been ignoring my lupine beast for far too long. In January of 2006, Kevin Garnett appeared in one of the best ads ever. Garnett’s adidas ‘What’s Inside” campaign highlighted the a3 Garnett ’06 signature shoe. The idea behind the enticing campaign was to celebrate the different characteristics that make up who Garnett really is. He is arguably one of the best players in the game and one of the biggest and hottest athletes in basketball. His determination and leadership on the court are what make him such an exceptional player and perhaps the most unique Athlebrity. This girl can’t wait to watch KG lead the Celtics this year, and in celebration of the fact, I am running the transcript from KG’s ‘What’s Inside’ commercial. This was originally posted on my blog in January 2006, and since then was removed, but I didn’t realize how many of you were reading it- so here it is, once again, just because you all asked so nicely…

adidas Garnett ‘06 - “What’s Inside” :60
Open on a science fiction battlefield. We hear spaceships flying overhead in an all-out attack on the planet. In the midst of it all, we see KG, dressed as a Field General, standing tall, barking out orders to his soldiers. KG: Call that pick out! Let me get a man over here! I got a man on the break!
His soldiers scrambling to follow his orders. Explosions! Chaos! But through it all, we see KG leading his troops as they protect their piece of earth. Suddenly — a Humvee next to KG gets strafed. KG doesn’t flinch – and waves his troops forward — running, leading his troops into the fray like he’s leading a break.
KG: Come on! Let’s go! Let’s go!
They scramble to keep up when — We see KG transition into an Action Hero, sprinting across an urban rooftop toward a burning building. He sees a woman screaming for help on a fire escape as the flames leaps around her. The fire escape gives way, and she starts to tumble through the air. KG shoots an arrow attached to a rope into the building — and leaps off to save her. He grabs her, then swings her to safety, the hero who always saves the day.
Just then, we pan down to see a little boy stepping out of a brownstone — 8 or 9 years old, but with KG’s head. Immediately, a girl tries to tag him, but he avoids it and starts running — smiling and laughing, pulling spins moves and jukes — like he does when handling the rock — he playfully avoids all the kids who are on the
sidewalk trying to tag him.
KG: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Laughter, joy, enthusiasm. Finally, he runs out of his scene and — We see KG transition into a gladiator in a Roman Coliseum. In direct contrast to the little kid, KG is all business as he battles his foes like he battles under the boards.
KG: Get off me!
The coliseum crowd roars its approval as KG knocks yet another gladiator to the ground, and celebrates his victory. Then — we see KG onstage at a comedy club. Dressed in a suit, and standing alone in the spotlight at a microphone, he already has the crowd cracking up — and unlike the KG we just saw, he is cracking up as well.
KG: (laughing) … no I’m serious. You said that too fast!
The crowd busts out — laughing and going wild.
KG smiles and holds up his hands.
KG: Thank you!
He backs away from the microphone, waving to the crowd. He turns and walks through the wall behind him when –
A light clicks on and we see KG — as player and man alone on the wooden floor of a basketball court. Holding a ball in his hands, KG looks around at the place where it all comes together — his cathedral, his home. He smiles, and starts to dribble, taking off toward the basket. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.
SUPER: IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING.

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

WAYNE ROONEY: BULL TERRIER

This made me laugh so hard, especially since my friends and I have been calling Wayne Rooney a “little bulldog” for as long as I can remember. Buddies Pet Insurance (UK) surveyed 40,000 new puppy owners to figure out what peeps are naming their furry little friends. And wouldn’t ya know it- Rooney is at the top of the list when it comes to pet owners choosing a name. The Manchester United and England striker tops the list ahead of Liverpool babe Gerrard and Chelsea skipper Terry. The other top four spots go to Owen, Drogba, Giggs and Ronaldo. And, ironically enough, the survey revealed that the most popular breed of the four-legged Rooney is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. “While fans choose a name out of loyalty to their team, the fact that so many Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners opt for Rooney, suggests the look of the dog has a bearing on the choice too,” said Buddies pet insurance chief operating officer Avi Levine. (www.buddies-direct.co.uk) Interesting… I predict, that by the end of the year, you’ll know at least 100 poodle puppies named Becks.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE PLAYS A KING

Justin Timberlake the love guru? JT is set appear in “The Love Guru,” a comedy written by Mike Myers, where JT plays an NHL Kings player. In the film, Myers plays a love guru who is challenged to settle a rift between a Maple Leafs player played and his estranged wife, who begins dating (JT) Grande “out of revenge.” First showing.com explains the plot: In the film, Pitka (Myers) is an American who was left at the gates of an ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus. He moves back to the US to seek fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality. His unorthodox methods are put to the test when he must settle a rift between Toronto Maple Leafs star hockey player Darren Roanoke (Malco) and his estranged wife. After the split, Roanoke’s wife starts dating LA Kings star Jacques Grande (Timberlake) out of revenge, sending her husband into a major professional skid — to the horror of the teams’ owner Jane Bullard (Alba) and Coach Cherkov (Troyer). Pitka must return the couple to marital nirvana and get Roanoke back on his game so the team can break the 40-year-old “Bullard Curse” and win the Stanley Cup.

DADDY TOM BRADY

Yes, Tom Brady’s ex-girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan gave birth to a baby boy yesterday. Moynahan’s publicist, said, “Mother and baby are doing well.” In Touch magazine reports that Bridget had to have a C-section to get the little guy out. ‘Insiders’ say the problem was that the baby was in a “transverse lie,” meaning he was laying across the uterus. But all is good, and Baby Brady weighs 7-pounds 14-ounce, and is 22-inches long. Unconfirmed rumors name baby Brady as William…and In Touch reports that Tom arrived at the hospital carrying a large bunch of orchids and white flowers shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday, but he was just minutes too late. (national ledger)
*Update: The baby has been named JONATHON!*

FED-EX WITHOUT TIGER

Personally, I don’t have a problem with Tiger Woods skipping the FedEx Cup, which begins today at Westchester Country Club in New York. On his Web site, Woods wrote, “I fully support the tournament and the new FedEx Cup playoff series, and hope they understand. I need a little break to get ready for the final three events because I think it gives me the best chance to challenge for the title. Plus, I want to be sharp for the Presidents Cup the last week in September.”

Sure it’s not the same without Tiger, but golf can survive without him for one event, so everyone needs to calm down and give him a break. After all, he’s got a new baby to think about, and we’ve got some cool coverage to look forward to. In addition to watching our sex kitten, Camilo Villegas get down and grassy, our libidos can feed on Adam Scott and Ian Poulter. I mean where else can you see these two fine men cross swords?

The PGA Tour has also pulled together some of our favorite beasts to appear on Golf Channel’s “Inside The PGA Tour” tournament preview show that airs each Tuesday at 7:30pm ET. The athletes, who appeared for free, host three or four segments during the show and share their experiences with the postseason. This week, Derek Jeter hosted Tuesday’s episode. Patriots LB Tedi Bruschi will host next week, Brian Urlacher will host during the week of the BMW Championship, Braves P John Smoltz and Hawks HOFer Dominique Wilkins will take their turn when the show rolls into Atlanta where the inaugural FedEx Cup winner will be crowned. Check out treats at PGATour.com, where Jim McMahon, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, Trent Dilfer and Grant Fuhr offer playoff testimonials.

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

STEPHON MARBURY DEFENDS VICK
Oh Stephon, why? Why would anyone in their right mind defend Michael Vick- I don’t care how much money Marbury donates or how great his affordable kicks are-but why make any statements regarding Vick, especially positive ones, when the entire country is ready to attack any/all who support the bastard? On the same day that Michael Vick pleaded guilty, Stephon Marbury opened his pie-hole and out came the most ignorant statement I’ve heard from a person in a long-time.

“We don’t say anything about people shooting deers and shooting other animals, you know what I mean?” Marbury said in an interview that was aired by Capital 9 News in Albany. “From what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors and I think it’s tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down … I think he fell into a bad situation.” (Newsday.com) From what he hears? I don’t know who Marbury has been talking to, or if he has any idea how stupid he sounds, but based on what he said, he has no idea what dog-fighting is all about. Think defenseless dogs, jaws taped shut, thrown into a ring and torn apart. Not- as Marbury would think- a deer wandering into view of a hunter’s scope. And I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a deer, fox, bunny, bird, or any other game animal, (cocks excluded of course) that are tortured, bound, gagged, electrocuted, beaten, hung, and inhumanly tortured prior to the hunter pulling the trigger. And by the way Stephon, hunting is legal, and this argument is getting really, really old. So pa-leeze educate yourself next time you open your mouth Marbury and get ready for the backlash.

SURFBOARDS FOR PEACE
“God will surf with the devil if the waves are good. When a surfer sees another surfer with a board, he can’t help but say something that brings them together.” Dr. Dorian Paskowitz.

We need more feel good stories like this, especially ones involving Kelly Slater. Three weeks ago, a story ran in the LA Times about a beach in Gaza called Al Deira. It featured a photograph of two Palestinian surfers with one old surfboard between them. “My son and I said, why don’t we go over and help them get some boards,” Dr. Paskowitz recalled. So, on Tuesday, Dr. Paskowitz, 86, a retired Jewish physician from Hawaii popularly known as Doc, along with his son David, delivered 15 new surfboards to Palestinian surfing enthusiasts there.

Using “every wily wit that any Jew could muster,” he talked the Israeli authorities into opening up the Erez crossing so he could deliver the surf boards, even though hardly any nonessential goods have been allowed into the Gaza Strip since Hamas took over there in June. (It has since then been closed) Backed by an Israeli benefactor and surf god Kelly Slater, Doc was able to spread a little surf love in a war torn part of the world. (NY TIMES)

ALONZO MOURNING CHARITY GOLF

“We continue to read about and witness the mounting evidence of the consequences our youth face when growing-up without a safe and supportive place to go in communities that don’t offer productive and enriching activities to support their dreams,” said Alonzo Mourning, Chairman Emeritus, Alonzo Mourning Charities.

NBA good guy, Alonzo Mourning along with pals big daddy Shaq and the Don, hosted the 4th Annual Zo’s Million Dollar Shootout at the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York on Monday, August 20. The three studs came together to support Alonzo Mourning Charities, a foundation that provides support and services to needy kids. It looks like the event went off without a hitch and raised a ton of cash for Alonzo’s Charities, but too bad D&D weren’t there, because I can’t find any coverage of it aside from a brief blog on the NBA site, in which the writer asked ‘game’ only related questions and nothing about helping the kids…oh well, maybe next year at least one person will figure out that some of us like to read more about the love and less about the game.

CAMILO VILLEGAS EVENT

Please tell me at least one of my readers was at the Golfsmith store in NYC yesterday between 5-7:00 PM, where Camilo Villegas was the special guest for a little Q&A session, swing tips and autograph signing? And on that note- what’s some love for our sexy lawn-crawling kitten without a shout-out to his younger brother, Manuel Villegas? Camilo’s younger brother (R) is starting to look a lot more like Camilo as each day goes by…and right now, the beast is swinging away on the fairways of the Olympic Club in SF, where the 107th Amateur is under way.

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