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.