NBA 2K8 HOTTIES

I’m not a video gamer by any means, but I wouldn’t have scoffed at the chance to check out club Tenjune in NY last night for an NBA 2K preview. Cover boy Chris Paul and Baron Davis were in the house along with Q-Tip. The 2K8 soundtrack features Common, Q-Tip, Run DMC, J-Dilla, Quasimotto, Cut Chemist, Devo, Stone Roses, Fishbone, Tommy Guerrero, Breakestra, G-Love, Quantic and others. Dime magazine reports that Baron Davis (thankfully growing the beard back) was really getting into the game. ‘At one time he was playing as the ‘02 Draft class and led a furious comeback against the ‘01 Draft class behind digital Gilbert Arenas, J-Rich and Pau Gasol. Baron was yelling at the video game ballers like he was in the middle of a real-life playoff game or something …while one of the 2K Sports producers was showing some of the game’s new features, Kobe hit a jumper and Baron yelled out “Jelly!” … (Dime Magazine)

MATT BARNES AND HIS INK

Oh. My. God. “They’re just so addicting. The next one will probably be flames on my right wrist because I play like I’m on fire.” Golden State Warrior Matt Barnes, commenting on his tattoos. I don’t know how many of you share my obsession with hot ballers and tattoos, but Im pretty sure you’re gonna jump aboard the Matt Barnes train. (You know I never point you in the wrong direction.) A few months ago, Barnes was fortunate enough to cross paths with this crazy redhead. At the time, he was wearing long sleeves, but had I known what was under that shirt, I would have ripped it from his body and performed a proper inspection of his ink instead of wasting time chatting about hoops. In any case, Barnes garners hot points for several reasons. One, he is hot. Two, he is one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met. Three, he can play some wicked ball. Four, he’s covered in ink. Thanks to this spornworthy-oh-my-god-are-you-kidding-me video from DIME magazine, the Golden State beast gives us a full rundown on his tattoos in one the sexiest I-still-don’t-know-I’m-hot clips. Listen and watch the topless hoops stud as he describes how the Warriors got their ‘We Believe” motto from his ink. You’ll be a believer before the video is done buffering.

BEN WALLACE & THE NBA WIVES

This is the kind of thing that really makes me mad…last night at the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center in Harlem NY, big beautiful Ben Wallace and his wife Chanda attended the NBA Wives charity event held at the Center. And would believe that its not mentioned anywhere…I’ve scoured the Internet for any little tid-bit, but seems that we got another event which flew under the radar…in any case, if any of you are in NY City tomorrow (Saturday), Big Ben will appearing at the Manhattan Mall on 6th Avenue and 33rd Street and the Menlo Park Mall on 55 Parsonage Road in Edison NJ, to launch the Big Ben Wallace Collection of kicks for Steve & Barry’s.

HOLLYWOOD UNITED
Now this is what a call a beautiful team. The Hollywood United soccer team to be exact. Headed by actor Anthony LaPaglia, the amateur club hosts a roster of some of the finest celebrities and former hotties and even have a new uniform sponsor: adidas. Twice a week, the men get together to hoop it up in the Los Angeles league as well as charity and tour games. Unlike Jerry Bruckheimer and his Bad Boys of Hockey, LaPaglia isnt hiding his boys under a veil of secrecy, in fact, he wants to own a MLS team. “This is the most democratic sport in the world,” said LaPaglia, the lead actor in the TV crime drama ‘Without a Trace’, “When you cross the white line, it doesn’t matter if you are educated, uneducated, poor or rich. Everyone is the same.”

The hot ‘celebs’ playing for Hollywood United include: Vinnie Jones, soccer pro turned actor (”Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch,” “X-Men: The Last Stand”): Jason Statham, actor (”The Transporter,” “The Italian Job,” “War”): Richard Gough, soccer pro and manager (Glasgow Rangers and Scotland national team): Danny Cannon, director and producer (”Goal! The Movie” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”): Frank Leboeuf, former soccer pro (Chelsea and France national team): Jimmy-Jean Louis, actor (”Heroes”): Steve Jones, musician, 80’s flashback inducer from The Sex Pistols: “Playing with these lads is one of the highlights of my life,” said Steve Jones, who helped bring punk music into the mainstream as the Sex Pistols’ guitarist. “I try to play twice a week, even if my back is killing me, and it gets rid of the mundane monotony of life. Here is the only place I can get this sort of camaraderie.” Alexi Lalas, soccer pro turned MLS president and big cry baby; Eric Wynalda, soccer pro hottie (USA’s all-time leading goal scorer and one of my childhood buds): Vivian Campbell, musician (Def Leppard): Ray Winstone, actor (”King Arthur,” “Cold Mountain,” “The Departed”): Ian Astbury, kick-ass musician (The Cult): Billy Duffy, musician (The Cult). For more info and upcoming events, check ‘em out at www.hollywoodunitedfc.net. And look for the team this weekend in Las Vegas where they’ll be dedicating a new McCarran Marketplace Park and a soccer field. The semi-pro Hollywood soccer team will kick-off the first official game on the fields and a local youth league game will follow immediately afterward. The event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m., will take place at 5800 Surrey St., just west of Eastern Avenue off Russell Road. Refreshments will be served and the event is open to the public, so go!

FORE PLAY

Thank you adidas! The company is bringing its TechFit PowerWeb technology to its golf line. The line “features form-fitting underwear reinforced in specific muscle areas to aid better posture, diminish fatigue and ‘promote solid and consistent ball-striking,’ among other claims. And no, I didn’t make this up, but I gotta say anything that promotes solid and consistent ball striking has me sold. The form fitting underwear is already reinforcing specific muscle areas on Reggie Bush and Djibril Cissé. Like I said, thank you adidas.

A TEARFUL GOODBYE

Chelsea fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge last night to say their goodbyes to Jose Mourinho and to protest his sudden departure from our boys in blue. It broke my heart to read that Didier Drogba broke down in tears and I wasn’t there to comfort him. And the mighty beast isnt just nursing a broken heart, but a knee injury which could keep him sidelined for up to six weeks, or until he gets over the loss of sexy Jose…just in case you’re not tuned into just how much Chelsea fans adore Mourinho, check out this priceless video from the protest at Stamford Bridge, and pay close attention to the fans in the background. I say goddamn I love this game!

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.