PUBLISHING NOTICE: I’m taking the rest of the year off!

HARDWOOD HERO’S

Yesterday, Chris Paul and Bobby Jackson of the New Orleans Hornets hosted a $10,000 shopping spree for 100 Central City New Orleans children at Toys “R” Us in Metairie, Louisiana. The event is part of the Hornets annual Season of Giving initiative, which features charitable events and donations in the weeks leading up to their “Holiday at the Hive” game Saturday, Dec. 22 against the T’Wolves. (Hornets)

Mad props to both Bobby Jackson and Chris Paul for making these kids smile, but word of advice to the Hornets, all players, organizers, pr people, parents, etc., Mascots are not fun, they are scary and more often than not, they produce nightmares. Case in point-check out the little girl (top left) getting mauled by that thing…

The Detroit Pistons cut the ribbon during a ceremony to officially open the Detroit Pistons 18th Live, Learn, and Play Center at the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit. (L-R) Head Coach Flip Saunders, CFO John O’Reilly, Jarvis Hayes, Amir Johnson, Santa Claus, kids and Jennifer Litomisky (2R) from Ronald McDonald House.

Stirring up my Live, Learn and Play hormones, was Amir Johnson (L) as he made this young patient smile and Jarvis Hayes for those dimples. The Pistons completed their renovations of the Ronald McDonald House next to Children’s Hospital to include a new hardwood floor, Pistons wallpaper, laptop computers, a flat-screen television, a Nintendo Wii system, books and toys. (Pistons)

I do not like the Dallas Mav’s, I do not like them so I sayz, I do not like them on the wood, but I just may like em in the hood…(sorry, I got Dr Seuss in my head). The Mavericks hosted a holiday party for 150 kids at GameWorks at the Grapevine Mall yesterday, where Erick Dampier won me over when he hugged 3-year-old Callie Jarmon. And I’ll give props to Dirk Nowitzki and Devon Harris for being there as well, but major props go to the young kid in green for making the rounds.

Caron, Caron, Caron…what am I gonna do with you and that smile? This holiday season the Washington Wizards have been busy performing their twelve random acts of holiday cheer around the Washington, DC community. As part of the program, Caron Butler donated 200 bikes (and helmets) to underprivileged youth to the Salvation Army. (dcmetrosports) Next up: Gilbert Arenas will host a skating party for local homeless kids on the 23rd for Gilberts Christmas Dream Skate Party.

The Portland Trail Blazers are blazing their way into my libido…namely Channing Frye and Martell Webster. The Trail Blazers entertained kids from the Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest and Children’s Cancer Association during the team’s holiday celebration today at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
And finally, for those of you who have watched Old School 873 times, as I have, then you’ll enjoy this parting video. Aside from Snoop’s magnificent performance alongside Hank the Tank, the movie also put the Dan Band on the map. Ideally, I would have posted the Emmy Award winning ‘Dick in a Box’ (video) featuring Justin Timberlake, but I felt it was time for the Dan Band to get some more love.
Have a safe and happy holiday…

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

JESSIE-GATE
Terrell Owens opened the door to Jessie-Gate and once again the media has run with it. In case you haven’t heard, this is big news, so big in fact, that it’s being watched closely by ESPN. So big, in fact, that Jessica Simpson is getting threatened by Cowboy fans on her website. So big, in fact, that it has overshadowed something much more important that Tony Romo has done.

But first, the big story…before Cowboys practice on Wednesday afternoon, Terrell Owens said Jessica Simpson was a problem for Romo. “Right now, Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium,” Owens said. “I think with everything that has happened, and obviously the way Tony played and the comparison between her and Carrie Underwood, I think a lot of people feel like she’s kind of taken his focus away.” And yes, this was a joke. Granted, Romo had one of the worst games of his career against the Eagles, throwing three interceptions, with no touchdowns and a 22.2 quarterback rating. What made me laugh is that someone actually took the time to research Tony Romo’s statistics for the games Jessica attended. November 22 against the Jets. 34-3 win, Romo’s stats 21-28, 195 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 Int; Nov. 29 against Green Bay, 37-27 win, Romo’s stats 19-30, 309 yards, 4 TD’s, 1 Int; Dec 16 against Eagles, 10-6 (loss) 13-36, 214 yards, 0 TD’s, 3 Int. Im not sure, but I suspect that Cowboy fans simply don’t like Jessie. Only time will tell if she can outlast, outwit and outplay those fans.

Buried under all this news, I found something much better to fixate on. While everyone’s busy blaming Jessica for Tony’s poor performance, he was out doing something meaningful. Prior to Sundays Eastern Illinois game, Tony Romo donated $100,000 to the university where he played quarterback. Eastern Illinois associate athletic director John Smith said it was the largest one-time donation he has received in his 11 years in athletics development. “What was really neat about it was even though Tony is making his living through athletics, he is giving a portion of it to communications studies, which shows he is interested in the entire university,” Smith said. “We are just appreciative and it’s neat to see how he remembers us.” It is indeed ‘neat’.

YOU’LL CAMBY GOOD TOO

So what does Denver Nugget Marcus Camby want to do when he retires from the NBA? He wants to be an elementary school principal. And for the fifth year in a row Camby took 15 Denver-area kids on a shopping spree. Continuing in the tradition of his Cambyland Foundations goal to educate, assist and inspire, Camby picked up the kids in a limo, gave em an autographed jersey, took them to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and set them free inside Macys. “It’s always important to give back to the community,” Camby said. The kids were selected by the Boys and Girls Club based on need, as well as attitude and commitment. (CBS4denver.com)

DID TONY PARKER-LONGORIA CHEAT?

Yes, it’s quite possible that Tony Parker didn’t have an affair with Alexandra Paressant. At least according to Eva’s publicist-er, I mean, her husband. Parker is now suing the website X17 for at least $40M after they broke the news of the alleged affair. The rumor is that Tony met Alexandra at his wedding after Thierry Henry introduced them. “No one from X17 attempted to contact Mr. Henry, who would have told them in no uncertain terms that this woman was not at the wedding,” the lawsuit said, adding that Parker has never met anyone named Alexandra Paressant. “If this woman exists, he has no way of knowing whether she is one of the many fans who have, from time to time, managed to obtain his cell phone number and called or left messages or who may have engaged him in conversation.” (mysananontio.com) To read the lawsuit filed by Tony Parker click HERE. And for more fun…check out Alexandra’s MySpace page, curiously, Tony Parker is the first friend listed, alongside Thierry Henry, David Beckham and James Blunt.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

My favorite humanitarian (aside from Bono), Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo has joined the Opportunity International Board of Advisors. This past July, Mutombo invited Opportunity International executives to the dedication of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center, named for his mother, which opened this past week. While there, Mutombo introduced Opportunity International to key government ministers to discuss the organization’s plans to provide microfinance services including loans, savings and insurance for the poor. Now, he is helping the organization prepare its entry into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “The only way we are going to eradicate poverty,” said Mutombo, “is for each one of us to do his part. Opportunity International and its people working in Africa are a solution to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing financial services to the poorest of the working poor. I am excited for them to build a bank near my hospital in Kinshasa.”

“What you quickly learn about Dikembe Mutombo,” said Christopher A. Crane, president and CEO of Opportunity International, “is that he is not a sports celebrity doing a little charity work. This is a man of deep commitment to the poor who puts his own time, energy and significant amounts of money into projects like his hospital. He influences others in a position to make a difference, whether they are NBA players donating time and money or doctors and government leaders contributing their talents to serve the poor, who have been underserved for so long. Dikembe Mutombo is the very definition of a philanthropist and we are honored to have him join Opportunity International.”

In September, Mutombo visited Mozambique where Opportunity International is already serving the poor. He toured the bank and visited loan and savings clients in marketplaces in the capital city of Maputo. “I used to work in a market like this as a child for my father’s small business. I sold bread and cheese and sausage,” Mutombo explained. “My father woke me up every day at 5:30 a.m. and I worked until it was time to go to school at 8 a.m. It was how I earned money for my education. My father was poor…Africa is beautiful, Africa is my birthplace. All we need is a hand up, not a handout,” Mutombo said at the end of his visit. “I believe we are all created equal in God’s eyes and that the Gospel teaches us to find a way to serve humanity. This is what Opportunity International and I are doing and we hope that many others will join us.”

ANDY RODDICK GOES GREEN?

Andy Roddick is expanding his off-court activities with plans for The Andy Roddick Foundation to establish the Andy Roddick Foundation International Tennis Center at CastleRock Texas. CastleRock is an “arts-based, resort-style 120-acre sustainable living and recreational community in the Texas Hill Country.” Interesting…The $8.2 million ARF International Tennis Center will serve as the central training facility for the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program, which provides the opportunity for at-risk youth to learn the skill and technique of tennis and to compete on local, state and national levels. And it will be the most sustainable and environmentally conscious facility in the United States-a first of its kind-which will integrate a retractable roof over its 17 courts, recycled rubber for court surfaces, solar panels as alternative power sources and extensive rainwater collection systems. “We are thrilled to establish an international tennis center in Texas to further our educational efforts with youth through tennis,” said Dr. Lawrence Roddick, director of the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program at the Andy Roddick Foundation. “Establishing our home at CastleRock Texas was a natural fit, connecting with its focus on maintaining a natural, green environment toward healthy, active living. We look forward to a long partnership together.”

RON ARTEST I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been ripping on Ron Artest. And now, I offer my apologies to Artest for calling him a Mensa reject all these years. I’m not gonna offer a run-down of incidents that caused me to use the nickname, what I am gonna do is blame the media for painting a nasty image of someone who is actually a really good guy. And yes, I take full responsibility for egging-on some of the bullshit.

So what changed my mind? His name is Michael Tillery and he recently interviewed Ron Artest for a magazine-which I choose to not name. When I read the original interview-prior to publication- I was blown away at Artest’s eloquence and intelligence, and even more impressed with his ‘giving back to the community’ attitude. After the interview was published, I found that it had been unfairly twisted and skewed to paint a drastically different image Artest. Obviously, people love to read about the bad stuff. Tillery: “I would see tidbits of him giving back to the community and wondered if this cat is so much of a monster, then why do children all over the nation seem to love him? He’ll tell you he’s responsible for the public perception of him because of his rebellious relationship with authority early on in his career. He’s made a fair share of mistakes, but it’s not the whole story and we all know how the media runs with negativity.”

Tillery, in part, asked Artest to speak about a recent trip to Africa that wasn’t publicized. “I keep it 100%.Off the court, I’m a very different person. I’m doing all kinds of charity things,” said Artest, “I do and have done a lot of good things off the court…People need to know that I’m a real person. You have all kinds of athletes catering to the corporate world for endorsements. Yeah I would love to do that but I’ll sacrifice that so the hood can get the attention it sorely needs.” Give Ron Artest a second chance kids…read the full interview at The Starting Five and you’ll see that he’s really not a bad guy.

KASEY KAHNE DON’T NEED NO ID

I was laughing my ass off when I read this. Why? Because its funny as hell to visualize…picture NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and his brother tooling around on a golf cart during the Ford 400 race. After the race, he and his bro try to access the parking area for drivers’ motor homes and come face to face with security officer Archibald Hutchison. Archi asked them for ID. Kahne said he didn’t need any. Archibald said “yeah you do” and Kahne punched him. (Now he is being sued for assaulting Archi). Kahne was charged with battery by Homestead police on November 17 and released. (Bloomberg News). You can read the police report here.

JONNY BE GOOD

After the Duke-Lacrosse scandal, I’m not so quick to judge, but I will certainly use this to niggle my Man-U fans….Manchester United player Jonny Evans has been released on bail after being questioned by police today about claims that a woman was raped at a hotel where the football team were holding their Christmas party. Evans volunteered for questioning after a 26-year-old woman alleged that she had been the victim of a sex attack at Manchester’s Great John Street Hotel. He was released on police bail and ordered to present himself to police on February 23.

Man-U players had booked the entire hotel on Monday night for the squad Christmas party. They told their wives and girlfriends to stay at home and invited 100 models and dancers, for what one observer described as a “drinking, lap dancing and gambling marathon”. But the party came to an abrupt halt at 4.15am yesterday morning when the police received a call alleging that there had been a rape in the building. “At about 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday December 18 2007, police were called to the hotel on Great John Street to a report that a 26-year-old woman had been raped.” The Manchester Evening News reported that the entire Manchester United first team - excluding Cristiano Ronaldo - attended their club’s annual Christmas party. And if anyone knows when and where Chelsea is holding their annual holiday party, please let me know…just curious…I wouldn’t show up or anything…(UKTimes).

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: ENOUGH ALREADY
Oh god, his ego is outta control…after reading about Alex Rodriguez, his ‘slumlord’ like activites, and his quest to be the poster child for MLB, I guess I shouldnt be surprised to learn that he has inked a deal with Guy Oseary. “He’s focusing on baseball and needs someone whose interests are aligned,” Oseary told Daily Variety, explaining the rare move of an athlete signing with a manager whose expertise is music and film. “This is to help him have more control of his image and brand.”

“As I embark on this new chapter in my career, I know that I have found in Guy Oseary someone who is aligned with my interests and who has earned a lot of respect in the entertainment industry,” Rodriguez said in a statement. Rodriguez obvioulsy feels he deserves a spot on the same pedastal as Madonna and Lenny Kravitz- two of Oseary’s other clients. Insert finger down throat now.

CURSE OF TONY ROMO

Poor Tony Romo. He’s got the looks, talent and women, but dude can’t stay focused on the field. Two of his worst on-field performances have happened when he’s had his chick in the stands. On Christmas Day ‘06, Carrie Underwood attended the game against the Eagles and this past Sunday current girlfriend Jessica Simpson was in attendance, also against the Eagles. ESPN’s Steve Young, on Romo’s celebrity girlfriends being a possible distraction: “If they come to the game, put them in somewhere where no one can see them, so no one can follow them and ESPN can’t come up with a stat that says every time somebody comes to the game, you don’t play well” (SportsCenter).

LEWIS HAMILTON CAUGHT SPEEDING

Yes, Lewis Hamilton has had his driving license suspended for a month after being caught speeding on a French motorway, police said on Tuesday Dec. 18, 2007. Hamilton was clocked going 196 km/h in a Mercedes on the A26 highway near the northern town of Laon on Sunday night. “He (Hamilton) recognized the infraction he had committed straight away,” the po-po said by telephone. “He was very courteous. The police officers then took him back to his hotel.” Hamilton’s car was taken away by police and picked up by a friend. But the police officers don’t watch Formula One, and didn’t recognize Hamilton until they looked at his identification papers. “They did not know it was him. All they saw was a car going too fast,” continued the po-po spokesperson, “He no longer has a permit on national territory, he cannot drive in France”.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

SUGAR PLUMS

Visions of Sweet Melon sliding down my chute, depositing a gift under my tree…Allen Iverson unveiling a fresh ‘Delinda’ tattoo on his bicep…Francisco Totti asking if he can ‘suck my thumb’…Didier Drogba pointing to me after he makes a game winning goal…David Beckham suddenly speaking in a deep voice….Rafael Nadal playing tennis in shorts instead of capri’s…just several thoughts that dance through my head while compiling my list for Santa. While I may not get all I hope for, there are a few happy children in this world thanks to some of our NBA hotties.

Love from Allen Iverson, his puffy jacket, and his family who paid a visit to the Warren Village in Denver yesterday. Warren Village is a housing complex that helps single parents and provides over 100 holiday meals for the families housed there.

The Chicago Bulls have been busy making kids smile. More than 200 guests dined with some Bulls during the third annual Chicago Bulls Holiday Party for DCFS (Illinois Department of Children and Family Services) at the Chicago Bulls/Chicago White Sox Training Academy. Andres Nocioni (L) floored me with this photo-I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, ain’t nothing hotter than a beast holding an infant…

Big smiles all around from Luol Deng (L) and Thabo Sefolosha who oversaw the distribution of toys during the seventh annual Chicago Housing Authority Kids’ Holiday Party hosted by the Chicago Bulls at the South Shore Cultural Center.

And don’t tell me these guys don’t love what they’re doing…check out Johan Petro of the Seattle SuperSonics as he takes a young fan for the ride of her life during a holiday shopping spree as part of the Sonics Holiday Assist program at Target…but I think Damien Wilkins had the most fun riding a bike around Target with a fan.

Hellooooo DeShawn Stevenson! Look at that sly, sexy smile as he and Brendan Haywood (Washington Wizards) deliver gifts as part of the Washington Wizards Annual Family-to-Family Holiday Delivery. Far right we gotta another hottie, Nick Young, making a little girls dream come true as the Wizards babes delivered gifts to four different local family homes in Washington, DC.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

GANSTA FOOD

I guess all you young thugs in NY better gobble up your ‘Thugs Chips’ before they get yanked from the shelves. N.Y. City Council member Leroy Comrie is all over former NBAer Larry Johnson and Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown for “marketing the gang lifestyle to inner-city kids.” According to the NY Post, Johnson and Brown are involved in O.G. Nation (O.G. means “original gangster”) a company that markets (oh!) snacks and beverages under names like “Thug Chips” and “Atomic Dogg.” O.G. Nation plans to “unleash a wave of thug-themed products to supermarkets in urban areas.” I can’t wait to get me some AK47 Cereal, Clipped Chips, Burn Powder kookies, or some Harlem Sunset iced-tea.

NHL USHERS IN USHER
The NHL has nabbed Usher to host two benefit performances during the 2008 NHL All- Star Weekend in Atlanta. Proceeds from the events, which will feature performances by hot-hot-hot Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean and platinum recording artists Jonas Brothers, will benefit Usher’s New Look Foundation. (A non-profit program established to expose young people to the business side of sports and entertainment.)

Tickets are available starting today at Ticketmonster or at the Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta. The NHL’s goal is to raise more than $200,000 for the Foundation, which has been a very personal project for the entertainer. The 2008 NHL All-Star Weekend in Atlanta will feature live national broadcasts of the Dodge/NHL SuperSkills event on Saturday, Jan. 26 and the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 27 on VERSUS in the United States and CBC and RDS in Canada.

LUKE WILSON IS A PUMA

This is the kind of collaboration I love. Actor Luke Wilson, an avid golfer, and Puma Business Unit Manager Bob Phillion have partnered to create a new line of ‘50s-inspired special-edition golf products. Phillion, on competing in the golf apparel industry: “We’re not trying to be the biggest company in either golf or lifestyle, but we are trying to be the most desirable. We do things like this special-edition collection with Luke and Johan Edfors to really drive buzz and demand and really create a cache around Puma Golf.” Just to hear Edfors name associated with the line makes me warm and fuzzy. Edors is always decked to the nines, as is another Puma golfer, Geoff Ogilvy. Not sure about the 50’s inspired theme? Other notable golf babes making heads turn and panties drop on the greens, are of course, Ian Poulter and his own style of flash, J Lindberg’s deliciousness ala Camilo Villegas, and Burberrys number one beast Adam Scott.

TOMMY HAAS GOES K-SWISS
Tommy Haas will be featured in the new global K-Swiss advertising campaign, which will make its debut in February 2008. K-Swiss inked an endorsement deal with the international heartthrob, who has over 11 career ATP titles and roughly 897 visits to my libido.

Tommy Haas will appear in the Spring 2008 advertising campaign, which was shot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and features the babe in tennis/lifestyle apparel and footwear. The only problem I have is that Haas could better sell the brand topless-perhaps dabbing sweat from his forehead with a shirt? “I remember seeing K-Swiss as a kid when I was starting my tennis career and am thrilled to be associated with a brand with such a strong heritage. I am obviously excited about the performance tennis styles but also eager to collaborate on off court opportunities as well.” Oooo-I got your off court opportunity right here Tommy boy. (Kswiss.Com)

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

TIGER ON TARGET

Tigers mother Kultida, baby Sam Alexis, and wife Elin watched as the worlds classiest man, Tiger Woods, won the Target World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday. Woods finished at 22-under 266, tying the tournament record first set by Davis Love III in 2000. He earned $1.35 million, which he will donate to his Tiger Woods Foundation. “As far as my tombstone is concerned, hopefully it will read more of what I am trying to do for kids,” he said. “That would be so much more ultimate than winning any golf tournament…the joy I get from winning a major championship, doesn’t even compare to the feeling I get when a kid writes a letter saying: ‘Thank you so much. You have changed my life’. Or: ‘I have turned my life around because of you. I was in a gang and now I’m going to college. No one in my family has ever gone to a college and now I’m the first one to do it.’ That, to me, is what it’s all about.”

But for Rory Sabbatini it’s about something else. In a startling move likely to change the course of his golf career, Sabbatini snubbed Tiger and withdrew from the final round due to “personal reasons.” Sabbatini now has the honors of being the first player in the nine-year history of the event to leave early. He was in last place heading into the final round, 28 shots behind, and was allowed to collect unofficial last place money totaling $170,000. “He should give that back to the foundation,” Fred Couples said.

A locker room attendant said Sabbatini cleaned out his locker Saturday afternoon and gave away sweaters, shoes, and hopefully food. He told them he was headed to Maui. “They don’t have any flights to Hawaii tonight?” Fred Couples said, shaking his head. “He’s messing with the wrong guy.” But Sabbatini’s agent claims it wasn’t the call of the island Rory was feeling, it was shin splints. “He had shin splints that were bothering him yesterday,” he said after talking to Sabbatini on Sunday morning. “He went home overnight and worked on them with his trainer, and they weren’t getting any better. He said he wasn’t going to risk it.” Tournament director Greg McLaughlin wasn’t informed until 8:30 a.m. but overheard the concierge trying unsuccessfully to book Sabbatini a limo for eight to get to the airport. “We’re disappointed that he withdrew,” McLaughlin said. “It’s the first time in the history of the event that we’ve ever had a professional not complete four rounds of competition.”

Woods, the tournament host, shook his head when asked about Sabbatini on his way to the practice range. After winning by seven shots, he said he was trying to sort through conflicting reports. “I’ve heard he had shin splints,” Woods said. “I heard he pulled out for personal reason. He packed his locker up at 3 o’clock yesterday, I think headed to Hawaii. A lot of different things going on. And I’d like to try and get to the bottom of it when I’m done here, and we’ll see what happens.” Like I said…say buh-bye to Rory.

FACELIFT
Im gonna be mixing it up a but here…as 2007 ends and we head into the New Year, I’ll be adding additional categories to this site. For example, any love I give to soccer will be filed under ‘the Beautiful Game’…any golf posts will be filed under ‘Fore Play’ etc…essentially making it easier for you to search my blog. All posts from 2005 until present will remain under the general category of hot pro-athletes news. Wish me luck….

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

The first thing I did this morning was turn on FSC for the Chelsea/Arsenal match. AS Roma and Torino were just wrapping up their 0-0 draw, when suddenly, the Torino babes began disrobing…some of ‘em right down to their skivvies. And with that- a very happy Sunday was underway.

CHELSEA

It had been 6 games since a player has scored against Chelsea, and on the cusp of halftime, ex-Chelsea babe, William Gallas, slammed the ball passed Petr Cech to give Arsenal a 1-0 led against Chelsea.

Captain fantastic, John Terry, left the field with a leg injury leaving them vulnerable to Arsenal, and in the end, my Drogba-less Chelsea couldn’t get the job done and Arsenal rightfully one. It was painful to watch as Arsenal took several shots on goal in the second-half and dominated the match, which now puts them one-point over Manchester United (who topped Liverpool earlier in the day) in the tightest title race in Barclay’s Premier League since 2003-4.

MAN-U TOPS LIVERPOOL

Carlos Tevez’s goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win at Liverpool and briefly gave Man-U the top spot in the Premier League-until Arsenal delivered its loss to Chelsea. The defeat drops Liverpool nine points behind United, making it unlikely that Liverpool will ever be getting their first league title in 17 years. (Arsenal-Man-U games recap)

AC MILAN

European champions AC Milan are celebrating a victory over South American champions Boca Juniors after the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup in Yokohama, where AC Milan defeated Boca Juniors 4-2. AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, Filippo Inzaghi, Kaka and others have given me reason to scream ‘Wonder twin powers activate…form…of…that…Trophy.’ Brazilian beast Kaka was given a Toyota Prius for being named most valuable player (MVP) in the final (which means no more piggy back rides for Inzaghi) and captain Paolo Maldini announced that he will retire from AC Milan at the end of the season.

No more beautiful blue eyes and tussled brown Maldini hair gracing the squad…which means that we’ll have to pay more attention to (front L-R) Filippo Inzaghi, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso; (rear L-R) Dida, (captain Paolo Maldini) Kakha Kaladze, Daniele Bonera, Massimo Ambrosini, Alessandro Nesta and Clarence Seedorf.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini: “Today I truly feel satisfied with what I have achieved,” said Maldini, “In June, I will absolutely retire without any regrets.” Maldini can hang his cleats up with pride, the 39-year-old has had an incredible career- five Champions League titles, two Intercontinental Cups, four European SuperCups and seven Serie A titles. “It’s great to have won this trophy because it’s difficult to be playing at 39 in a great club like AC Milan, Milan has allowed me always the possibility to play for important trophies. I have had everything in my football career but I have pain and I struggle. I still have a lot of fun but the pain is beginning to take over.” Maldini retired from the Italy national side shortly after the 2002 World Cup with a record number of caps.

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.