LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN

All eyes are looking up to Yao Ming as the big guy kicks off Reebok’s largest Chinese marketing campaign titled “Fuel Yao’s Unlimited Power” in support of Yao’s journey to the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in his homeland. In a follow up to yesterdays post about Yao skipping practice for the Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies, it looks like the fine is gonna be h-e-f-t-y. Team rules stipulate a player must pay $2,500 for defaulting in the first training and pay double for the second consecutive default. Absence from the media day will cost him $20,000, adding up to about $27,500. Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey said the fine is unavoidable, but he does understand how important it is for Yao to take part in the Shanghai event.

TENNIS EDIBLES

I am loving this trend of hot tennis players cooking exotic dishes…first, we had Andy Roddick, Tommy Hass and imported treasure Rafael Nadal all taking part in the Dacor Taste of Tennis event in NY last month, and now, gulp- Carlos Moya (above) is making Pad Thai in Bangkok? The ATP promotional event is certain to garner the attention it desires…mainly, pumping us up for the Thailand Open that runs today through the 30th of September. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I need mo-mo-mo-Moya, especially if he’s mixing his hot peppers with my noodles. Look for my ‘tame’ review of the Décor Taste of Tennis event at Looktothestars.org.

The Décor Taste of Tennis event was beyond hot. Chef Marcus Samuelsson taught Andy Roddick how to make mango, raisin and jalapeño couscous with Moroccan-spiced lamb and a side dish of Delinda. And it wasn’t just Andy making me drool. Nicolas Kiefer served up some hamachi crudo, Tomas Berdych spiked some tuna with sesame oil, and sexy Croatin Mario Ancic drizzled olive oil over steaks in the same manner which I’d like him to drizzle baby oil all over my body. But the best food served by far was the imported tapa, Rapahel Nadal, who as usual, looked good enough to eat alive.

CHARITY FOLKS

The good peeps at Charity Folks are currently raising money to Save the Children. You can bid on a signed Guillermo Canas racket from the 2007 US Open (current bid $405), a signed skateboard from cutie-pie Ryan Sheckler (current bid only $150), and my favorite item, an autographed copy of James Booty Blake’s New York Times bestseller: Breaking Back, (current bid only $160). They are also auctioning off a ton of other items to benefit various charities, so check ‘em out at: http://www.charityfolks.com/

SHAKEDOWN IN ATP TENNIS?
Is nothing sacred anymore in sports? Especially in the pristine world of tennis? The UK Guardian reports that worlds number three, Novak Djokovic, said that he was offered $221,000 “to lose in the first round of a tournament in St. Petersburg last year,” but that he “flatly refused the offer and did not even” play in the event. There is no evidence that the organizers of the tournament were involved, but the ATP is focusing its investigations in Russia and Ukraine. Even the retired Tim Henman warned the authorities to be “very vigilant” about the dangers of gambling in tennis. “I personally have never experienced it but, listening to the players talking, it seems it goes on,” the former British No. 1 said. “Tennis doesn’t want to be associated with that.” Indeed it doesn’t.

SEXIEST MLB FAN?

Great idea coming from People Magazine, who have partnered with MLB in efforts to discover the “Sexiest Baseball Fan Alive.” The promotion is the first time that People has partnered with a major professional sports league and runs today through November with the winner to be named in the Nov. 26 issue in conjunction with it’s annual “Sexiest Man Alive” effort. But, its not limited to just the hot men who fills the stands, the sexiest baseball fan can be a male or female. The winner will be featured in the magazine as well as get tickets to a 2008 World Series Game. To nominate yourself, or one of your buds, check out peoplesexiestfan.com.

MAGIC MAN

Basketball legend Earvin ” Magic ” Johnson was the guest of honor in Athens today, where he attended a charity basketball to raise money for the fight against HIV and for the victims of the recent fires in Greece that killed at least 65 people. “Thank you for allowing me to come to your beautiful country” said Magic, who did not play in the game “this is to help all the people with HIV/AIDS and for the people affected by that terrible fire.” The government announced that the fire relief fund has raised $212 million in donations from the public and private sector. Yes, $212M…I’d say that should be enough to cover the fire damage, no?

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.