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.