NBA HOTTIES REQUIRED

The crisis in Darfur has finally made it all the way to the N-B-A- via Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Baron Davis, Derek Fisher, Emeka Okafor, Matt Barnes, Andrew Bynum, Ira Newble, Eric Snow, Luol Deng and others…Aid Still Required is determined to make sure we are all aware of the conflict in Darfur by filming a set of PSA’s starring our super-fine-big-hearted-ballers. “We believe everyone, everywhere is entitled to live in dignity, health and peace,” said Hunter Payne co-founder of Aid Still Required. “The people of Darfur have been utterly denied this. Villagers are being systematically tortured, disfigured and slaughtered. Collectively we have the means to stop the violence and to restore their lives. Who are we if we stand idly by and watch yet another genocide take place? We must act and we must act now before more unspeakable atrocities take place.” Get involved people!

CHAMPIONS OF MY LEAGUE

AS Roma babes, led by Francesco Totti©, have assured us that there will be Italian representation in the final eight of the Champions League, after spanking Real Madrid 2-1…Totti, in an ‘are-you-kidding-me-moment’, attempted to comfort Fabio Cannavaro…our Chelsea babes also advanced to the quarterfinals after beating Olympiakos 3-0 Wednesday, goals compliments of Lampard, Ballack and Kalou, but I had to run a photo of John Terry with his shirt off because its been a while since my eyes have seen his pasty-hotness. Arsenal, Man-U, L’Pool and Barca have also made it to the final eight.

GOLDEN BALLS

Just what David Beckham needs- another endorsement deal. Sharpie has found a spot alongside adidas, Georgio Armani, Pepsi, Motorola and Coty (among others), as one of David Beckham’s latest sponsors. The two-year deal marks the largest global integrated campaign in Sharpie’s history and includes Sir Golden Balls acting as their global ambassador…plus, if you’re felling lucky, a worldwide promo will be held in which one fan will win a meet-and-greet with the beast.

ROLLER SOCCER

Gotta give a massive shout-out to actor Luigi DeBiasse (not pictured) who I chatted with during the WPT last weekend. If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m sometimes outta the ‘actor’ loop, so I had no idea who this beast was until I Googled him- in any case; Luigi tipped me off to one of the coolest sports around-Roller Soccer. Luigi said this sport has all the necessary ingredients to be the next big thing and I couldn’t agree more- there’s even a RollerSoccer World Cup in SF this August (where it first started in 1995) and hotties around the world have plied their skills at this beautiful union of wheels and balls. Check it out…RollerSoccer.com.

GREG ODEN TEAM

Greg Oden was selected first overall draft by the Portland Trail Blazers in June of 2007, and in September his NBA career was put on hold due to an injury, which has him benched for the remainder of the season. So what’s a baller to do with all this free time? Give back, of course. Yesterday, Oden launched ‘Team Oden,’ a program designed to help attract volunteers to Oregon Mentors. The cool thing about this is that Oden has purchased a block of tickets to each Trail Blazers home game for mentors and mentees, plus, his Team Oden logo is classic-his silhouette holding a ball above two children: “It’s kind of mean.” Oden said, “I’m not even giving them the ball!” (www.oregonmentors.org)

SAVE BOOM BOOM

Who knew? The oldest gay bar in the western US is located in Laguna Beach, and in late 2005, the landmark Boom Boom Room dance club and the adjoining Coast Inn were sold to make way for an 11-room hotel and restaurant…and there’s nothing like the destruction of a historical landmark to get people fired up. Joining the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, basketball greats Dennis Rodman and John Amaechi are the latest kats to voice their support to save the landmark gay bar in Laguna Beach. Help save the Boom…

As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.