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.