NOW WE’RE TALKING

“This can be the beginning of my future, when I retire and have more time,” purred the sexy Spaniard as he launched the Rafa Nadal Foundation in his native town, Manacor, on the island of Mallorca. “I am doing very well and I owe society,” Nadal said. I have never heard such sweeter words at a foundations opening…Rafael Nadal launched the Rafa Nadal Foundation under the watchful eyes of parents, his uncles and his four grandparents at the restaurant of the Manacor Tennis Club. “A month-and-a-half ago I was in Chennai, in India. The truth is we live great here. And if I can contribute something with my image…” he said. Contribute something with his image? I know he’s only 21, but hasn’t he caught-on yet that his image is outstanding? Rafa’s foundation seeks to promote sports as an integration tool for those most needy, mainly childhood and youth. Nadal’s mother will chair the foundation, his father will be vice-chairman, and his uncle/coach Toni will be his agent. “I have wanted people who are close to me to make me build the beginning of my future. I am 21, I hope to have a long career, yes, but this can be a start,” Nadal said. “It is a beautiful time for my life and for my career.” Indeed it is.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSPIRES

Sometimes bad acts can inspire good things, case in point-those racist idiots in Spain who taunted Lewis Hamilton. Thanks to them, the FIA has asked teams, drivers and tracks to back a ‘Racing against Racism’ campaign to be launched at the Spanish Grand Prix in April. “The FIA was appalled by the scenes of racist abuse targeted at Lewis Hamilton,” an FIA spokesman said on Wednesday. “Such behavior runs counter to the fundamental principles of equality enshrined in the FIA’s statutes. Formula One is a global, multi-cultural sport and has never encountered such scenes before and will not tolerate them in future. International motor sport can reach a huge global audience to send out positive messages of racial and sporting equality. We will be encouraging all those involved in motor sport to support our new campaign, from recent world champions to the next generation of potential champions at the grass roots of our sport.”

STEVE NASH TRASH TALKING
The hippest environmentalist in the NBA, Steve Nash, will wear the first basketball shoe made from manufacturing waste. The Nike Trash Talk is comprised of used waste leather and synthetic materials from the factory floor, as well as environmentally preferred rubber. Conforming to Nike’s ‘Considered’ design standards, the shoes were inspired by Nash’s passion for environmental awareness. “Any opportunity to promote the environment and preserve our planet is a step in the right direction. I’m very excited to be one of the first athletes to wear the Nike Trash Talk.” Look for Nashty to be wearing the kicks during tonight’s Suns-Mav’s game. “I’ve practiced in them and I like them. They look great and they feel great.”

Nike will release Trash Talk in three color patterns: An All-Star version, which Nash will wear during Sunday’s game, and two Suns versions, which will be sold at House of Hoops by Foot Locker in N.Y. and New Orleans this week for $100. Nash: “I had nothing to do with the price point, but I was definitely supportive about reusing.”

MCNAMEE V CLEMENS
Jumping aboard the best sports-opera around, MediaCurves.com conducted a national poll that revealed the majority of Americans view Brian McNamee as more believable than Roger Clemens after watching portions of their testimonies in front of Congress. (read the full transcript here) I’m still baffled as to why our tax money is being spent to hold Congressional hearings on baseball-but I am enjoying the dog-and-pony-show that goes along with it. If you’ve been following Steroid-Gate, then certainly you recognize the entertainment value of the scandal…but, there are bigger issues at stake and they extend beyond the bozos involved, so bare with me while I rant for a moment…first of all, I think both Clemens and McNamee are lying. You may recall that McNamee was accused of raping a woman? Last December, ESPN ran a piece that everyone should read. In part, it explains the details of McNamee’s 2001 rape-incident, where he (allegedly) laced a woman’s drink with a near fatal dose of GHB, before (allegedly) raping her in the pool. No charges were filed because the woman didn’t want to reveal she was having an affair with another married Yankees employee. When investigators realized this, they declined to pursue the investigation of McNamee. A few months later, the Yankees quietly let McNamee go. But Clemens and Pettitte kept using him as their personal trainer.

The actions the Yankees took to cover-up the (alleged) rape, to make the situation go away, to protect the married Yankee and their prized players of Clemens and Pettitte, makes me sick. MLB, in my experience, is beyond corrupt. No one can convince me that when McNamee was ‘quietly let-go’ by the Yankees, that this wasn’t the time he started to collect syringes-he may be a liar and a rapist, but he’s not dumb. He was, as they say, holding the smoking syringes to protect himself and his credibility. But this isnt an expose on McNamee, it’s about the way MLB buried and continues to bury it’s dirty little off-field secrets. I know I’m not alone in my belief that MLB has known about steroids use since its inception. They turned a blind eye in efforts to increase attendance while ignoring the victims left behind by its abuse. And you can bet there’s a long road of MLB-road kill left behind waiting to be discovered. That’s the bigger issue. And one day, I really wish the AP or some other credible outlet would contact this little-known blogger and ask her what she knows about steroids, a few Mitchell Report players and another cover-up that flew under the media-radar. Until then, I’ll just sit quietly and watch it unfold and wonder why hasn’t anybody asked me anything?

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.