PARTY LIKE BECKHAM

When David Beckham inhales it garners international attention, and when he hits the clubs we get a full-blown red alert. Golden Balls went out clubbing with Galaxy coach Ruud Gillit, assistant coach Kobi Jones and crybaby GM Alex Lalas in Aussie land this week. They started at Star City’s 36 Degrees bar, before heading to Establishment where they stayed until 3am. According to reports, Beckham and his posse arrived at the bar around 12:30am and were given the VIP treatment at exclusive Hemmesphere nightclub, which remained open after hours to service the boys. Owner Justin Hemmes confirmed the football star relaxed in the level 4 lounge, before heading down to the ground floor public bar. “We opened Hemmesphere for them but after an hour or so, they headed downstairs. It was salsa night, so there were dancers around but I’m not sure if he (Beckham) got up at all,” Hemmes said. The party posse were expected again last night after Hemmes said Beckham told staff “he loved it and plans to come back.” (news.com.au)

DREAM FOR DARFUR
“The two roles China is playing – host of the Games that symbolize peace and supporter of a genocidal regime – are inconsistent and must be reconciled.”

As the world prepares for the 2008 Olympic in China, Dream for Darfur seems to be keeping it real. “Why are the major corporations sponsoring the Olympics – some of the most recognizable brands in the world – refusing to speak out against the world’s most wrenching humanitarian crisis?” One of the leading Darfur-advocacy groups, Dream for Darfur has released a report card on 19 top 2008 Olympic sponsors. Visa, Coke and others were graded on their corporate social responsibility and how they are responding to China’s support of the genocide in Darfur. The report accompanying the report card is called: “And Now … Not a Word from Our Sponsors.” One sponsor in particular, Anheuser-Busch has been given an “F” because they have so far refused to take a tough stand with China, whose oil-and-weapons relationship with Sudan gives it leverage with the African nation. Dream for Darfurs grades for 19 Olympics sponsors: C-plus: General Electric. C: Adidas, McDonald’s. D: Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, UPS. FAILING GRADES go to: Anheuser-Busch, Atos Origin, BHP Billiton, Kodak, Lenovo, Manulife, Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Staples, Swatch, Visa, Volkswagen.

Im not gonna get too political here, but I do think its important for everyone to be aware that about 300,000 people have DIED in the past four years in the Darfur region of Sudan, and millions have been displaced. China is widely seen as the key to solving the crisis because it is the primary investor in Sudan’s oil industry and the largest supplier of arms to Sudan. Please take the time to read the info available at Dream for Darfur and make up your own minds. And while you’re at it, know that Steven Spielberg had agreed to be an artistic consultant to the games when Mia Farrow urged him not to lend his name without also pressing China to back a U.N. resolution to send a peacekeeping force to Sudan. After Spielberg and others spoke out, China agreed to the resolution but has largely stood by as Sudan has thwarted the effort. There’s also a very informative article in STL Today.

THE BEAUTIFUL RACE: SUPER LEAGUE

Sports continue to morph into things I could only dream of. We’ve seen beach tennis, beach soccer, Frisbee golf, snow-cross, sky-surfing, ski-boarding and now, the SuperLeague Formula Race has been delivered right into my libido where it’s celebrating the convergence of soccer and motor sports. The series will field about 20 cars, all sponsored by soccer clubs. Nine teams have already signed up including AC Milan (Italy), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), FC Porto (Portugal), Olympiacos (Greece), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Flamengo (Brazil) RSC Anderlecht (Belgium), FC Basel (Switzerland) and Galatasaray SK (Turkey). Belgium soccer babes watched as Superleague Formula’s Alex Andreu (2ndL) and Anderlecht chairman Roger Vanden Stock (3rdR) unveiled the Anderlecht Superleague Formula car during its presentation on the pitch of the RSCA Anderlecht stadium, in Brussels. Unless I’m missing something, this is nothing more than Formula cars being sponsored by soccer teams and establishing their own race-which sits pretty well with me. I only wish they’d get our soccer babies behind the wheel. (F1SA.com)

MISCELLANEOUS

Dear god kill me now…. Jake Gyllenhaal is going to play Pro Football HOFer Joe Namath in a new film from Universal Pictures. Jake will play Joe in the as of yet untitled film to be written David Hollander…and the rumor mill has spit out the following info for all you Tony Romo fans-hot stuff has been confirmed as dating Jessica Simpson after spending Thanksgiving with her and her family in Waco Texas.

FALLEN SOLDIERS

The good peeps at USA Today ran a list of notable NFL players who have died during their playing careers since 2001. Korey Stringer, 27 - Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman died of heatstroke on Aug. 1, 2001. Pat Tillman, 27 - Former Arizona Cardinals safety died as a result of friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Thomas Herrion, 23 - San Francisco 49ers offensive guard collapsed after an exhibition game and died on Aug. 20, 2005. It was later determined to be heart disease. Darrent Williams (above), 24 - Denver Broncos cornerback died after being shot in a drive-by on Jan. 1, 2007. Damien Nash, 24 - Denver Broncos running back collapsed during a charity basketball game on Feb. 23, 2007. Marquise Hill, 24 - New England Patriots defensive end drowned after an accident while jet skiing on May 28, 2007. Sean Taylor, 24 - Washington Redskins safety died Nov. 27, 2007 after being shot in an apparent burglary.

They’ve also listed several NBA hotties that have been victims of violence. In the Chicago area we got Antoine Walker (L) and Eddie Curry (R) as home invasion victims, Washington Wizards forward Andray Blatche was shot during an attempted carjacking near his home in Alexandria, Va., in September 2005. Houston Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson was robbed at gunpoint in his suburban Houston home in early September. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Phillip Buchanon was bound and pistol-whipped during an invasion of his home in Atlanta in March 2006. (USA Today).

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.